Man on the Street: How's the Novo Look to You?
We chatted up some Slopers to get their opinions on the design of the the Novo, the biggest condo to hit 4th Avenue since the thoroughfare was upzoned a few years ago. The people we talked to weren’t feeling a lot of love for the building… “I’ve been inside, and the units are nicer than…
We chatted up some Slopers to get their opinions on the design of the the Novo, the biggest condo to hit 4th Avenue since the thoroughfare was upzoned a few years ago. The people we talked to weren’t feeling a lot of love for the building…
“I’ve been inside, and the units are nicer than they are at the one a few block away [the Crest]. But there’s nothing architecturally interesting about it. It’d be a shame if all up and down 4th Avenue we got buildings like this as a result of the upzoning.” -Patrick
“I never really paid much attention to it. It’s just sort of there.” -Linden
“It’s pretty ugly and out of character with the area. The problem with this place is that it’s been about three years in the making and they’ve used non-union labor and haven’t been very friendly with the neighborhood…Basically, I think it looks like a low-income housing project.” -Jim
“Hideous. An eyesore. Horrible. It doesn’t fit in with the neighborhood.” -Julie
“Looks like a big brown turd.” -Boris
4:34: There was no affordable housing requirement.
J a c k a s s
O n
I n t e r n e t
S t a n d s
T a l l
Wasn’t there some kind of affordable housing element to the up zoning of Fourth Avenue ? If yes, is it being built somewhere else in Brooklyn?
*sigh* … why must I endlessly defend one of many points I made in a previous post from the “nameless guest troll who thinks he understands statistics.”
There are 37 total apartments in contract, that is the total data set. (Your 70+ comment is irreverent as it includes 38 listed at asking price but unsold apartments. Only sold apartment prices are relevant.)
The relevant data set for a discussion of “affordable” apartments is, in my opinion, studios and one bedrooms. Out of the 37 sales listed on StreetEasy, 9 fall into this category.
I cited 4 of those 9 apartments by apartment number in my post as proof that Novo had *affordable* units.
APT PRICE BEDS BATHS SqF P / SqF
#4A $309,000 1Â bed 1Â baths 562 $550
#4J $345,000 1Â bed 1Â baths 621 $556
#4F $345,000 1Â bed 1Â baths 615 $561
#4C $419,000 1Â bed 1Â baths 670 $625
$573
That’s $573 per SqF. If you include the more expensive 1 bedrooms and the expensive studio, the $573/SqF goes to $616/SqF.
Now please go away (and I’m sorry I had to make you look foolish but you brought it upon yourself).
“If this building is a sign of things to come, 4th will look more like Manhattan than Brooklyn”
nevermind that Brooklyn and Manhattan include many different nighborhoods with many different makeups and looks –
But compared to what 4th Avenue has looked liked (depressing as all hell) – then let it look look Manhattan – it would be a blessing.
Citing 4 units out of 70+? That’s statistically insignificant.
Going back to my cave now…
So: The Novo apartments are crap, and nobody would want them. Also, they are too expensive, as proven by what all the people have paid for them.
What’s the point in arguing how “affordable” a market-rate apartment is? 550/sf or 650/sf, they’re more affordable than they would be on 8th Avenue. And they’re more affordable than they would be had Boymelgreen built a building that I (a neighbor) would prefer to look at (much less ever buy in).
You can bitch about them not being prettier or not being cheaper, but unless you want to subsidize the place, it’s ridiculous to bitch about both.
Ouch! The “guests” [in no conceivable way] got me!
Thanks for referencing the “overall” sales stats from StreetEasy which include sales data from numerous 1,200 to 1,500 square foot penthouse listings. I guess my source footnote with specific apartment numbers wasn’t enough to stop your flame.
Is it relevant for apartment hunters looking for “affordable” units to consider the 3 bedroom, high-floor per square foot sales statistics? I think not.
Back to your cave, troll.
38 active sales listings: $769 per ft² (avg)
37 previous sales listings: $654 per ft² (avg)