Under the Radar: Greenpoint Standard-Bearer
Only a couple of blocks from McCarren Park, this 1910 vinyl-sided 20-footer is asking $920,000. Perhaps more interesting given the building boom in the area is that, according to Property Shark, there’s another 2,500 square feet of unused FAR. We’re surprised more people aren’t replacing the siding with some old-fashioned wood. What’s that cost? $10,000?…
Only a couple of blocks from McCarren Park, this 1910 vinyl-sided 20-footer is asking $920,000. Perhaps more interesting given the building boom in the area is that, according to Property Shark, there’s another 2,500 square feet of unused FAR. We’re surprised more people aren’t replacing the siding with some old-fashioned wood. What’s that cost? $10,000? $20,000? We’d surprised if that weren’t a value-enhancing move.
547 Leonard [Greenpoint Properties] GMAP P*Shark
Don’t forget – they also closed down the firehouse on North 9th street!
I’ve lived in Greenpoint for the last 14 years and what a way it’s come. The Asian Long Horn Beetle zapped all the mature trees (we got new ones), the sewage plant got bigger (no surprise), the waterfront development pendulum has swung back and forth so many times I’m dizzy, and the development is on fast forward.
Good point in the last post Alan. The Historic blocks are beautiful. The rest are sadly dealing with renovate and build what you will. There are some amzing place that defy explanation: they look like lego meets lsd. High rise here and there, lots with new construction that look so out of whack…ugly.
But then you have the owner-occupied 2-4 family houses (sometimes bigger) that are trying to renovate with style. Get rid of asphalt or vinyl siding and replace with wooden shingles; bring back cornices. There are some places on Calyer and Noble that are really pretty. Thing is – many of these houses hide beautiful innards.
I grew up in Park Slope, but I don’t like how crowded and ritzy it’s become. Wonder what will happen given the real estate boom in the Point as well. Middle class needs champions to help them live and grow – and STAY in Greenpoint.
And what will all these new residents (once the condo towers are built) do to the already congested L train line? Not sure how the MTA can solve that double tube situation.
I live in a Polish neighborhood, so when I talk about Poles, I am stating it as a fact, not as a derogatory term. (English is the second language on our street). So calm down Will and others. This is our world. It is a fact that Poles live here, sell here, develop here. Some have done lovely things. Some have done ugly things. The primary point is that there is not an architectural legacy that helps guide development as you have in other Brooklyn areas. Here, the sheer volume of vinyl siding has left an aesthetic void that has permitted a wide variance of construction styles. Your lead item here, mentioning FAR as opposed to aesthetic issues, seems to position Greenpoint as a focus of exploitation rather than responsible stewardship.
what is wrong with Diane?
Exactly. It’s not outlandish, so if background is not an issue, why was it mentioned, then repeated? And then topped off with the classic “those people” epithet.
Aside from all that, the house is ugly, so I don’t know what all the aesthetic tears are about.
I don’ get it — why is it so outlandish that Poles would be doing most of the flipping in a heavily polish nabe? or so offensive to point it out? I’m half Polish, btw.
OK, Alan. It all makes sense now: Two tear-downs on your block–Polaks involved in both of them. Therefore, “those people” don’t treat houses with respect. Let’s keep those Polaks outta Greenpoint. “Quite atrocious,” really. I’m so glad you’re part of the New Brooklyn.
To put my politically incorrect post in context, there are two tear-downs on our street where Belvedere is going to max out the FAR in quite atrocious style. And we live on Java Street, a nice block. He is a polish developer, doing really bad architecture. You can google them to find more.
Here again. I love Greenpoint, and my eastern european brethren. But the native aesthetic is a bit off. But knowledge is power, so perhaps we should be posting more GP items, to get some folks in here doing it right. Historic district is pretty great, but the rest of the nabe is unprotected and at risk. It just bums me out when all Brownstoner can think of is maximizing FAR value. Seems at odds with his beloved historic interests.