Mirroring Trends in Borough, Twin Apartment Buildings Replace Frame House in East ‘Burg
Twin apartment buildings designed by prolific Queens-based architect Gerald Caliendo are rising at 9 and 11 Orient Avenue in East Williamsburg. The site was previously home to a 19th century Italianate wood-frame house and garage.
Like the development now sweeping Flatbush, many apartment buildings have replaced older frame houses on large lots in this section of East Williamsburg in the last decade. The most notable to meet the wrecking ball was a Second Empire mansion on the same block at 59 Orient Avenue that starred in the film “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” then was taken over by squatters.
The film’s director, Michel Gondry, reportedly lived on the block, but didn’t save it. It was demolished in 2010 and is now an eight-unit rental building.
$3.55 Million for a Frame House in Flatbush? This Must Be Another Teardown
Most likely setting a record for the neighborhood, this detached frame house at 154 Lenox Road recently sold for $3,550,000. The sale hit public records earlier this month. The two-and-half-story house is large for Brooklyn at a hair over 3,000 square feet. And it has a garage in the back.
But we’re willing to bet it’s not the spacious wraparound front porch or whatever period details remain inside that helped this seller get such a high price.
A Five-Story, Eight-Unit Building Will Replace This Frame House on Decatur in Bushwick
Plans were filed last week for a five story building to rise in place of this wood frame house in Bushwick. As with many wood frame houses that are being torn down around the borough, this one at 1255 Decatur Street is small and sits on a relatively large lot.
The original house is quite small, only 25 by 32 feet and set all the way back at the end of the 100 foot long lot — an unusual configuration for Brooklyn. The new building will be much larger — 5,311 square feet.
Eight Apartments Likely to Replace Small Italianate Wood Frame House in Gowanus
Earlier this month a demolition application was filed for this Italianate style wood frame house in Gowanus. The building, at 139 15th Street, is small, only 20 by 30 feet on a 22 by 95 foot lot.
However, the lot has a FAR of 2.93 according to building permits. A developer can build a 6,164 square foot building on this relatively small lot.
And it seems that is exactly what is going to happen. Way back in 2011 plans were filed for an eight-unit building with five stories, if you include the penthouse.
Dixon Restores Landmarked Wood Frame House on Clermont in Fort Greene
Dixon is renovating a landmarked mid-19th-century wood frame house at 266 Clermont Avenue in Fort Greene and is restoring the outside per the LPC requirements, as we saw when we happened by recently. When it is done, it will look similar to the twin house next door.
Dixon is restoring the two full-length windows on the parlor floor and putting in a new front door. It will also add back a missing cornice, according to the rendering posted on the construction fence, and install new two-over-two windows.
Actress Christina Ricci Buys Townhouse in Fort Greene Asking $1.995 Million
Actress Christina Ricci is moving to Fort Greene. She and her husband, James Heerdegen, bought a townhouse at 67 Adelphi Street, The New York Post reported. The sale has not yet closed, so we don’t know the amount, but it was most recently asking $1,995,000.
The house is a wood frame and is 25 feet wide and semi-detached. It likely dates from the mid-19th century, but in other respects doesn’t seem especially distinguished inside or out.
Porch Restoration Under Way for Prominent Stuy Heights House
We were excited to see the long-crumbling porch on one of Stuy Heights’ most important houses is getting a redo when we passed by recently. The landmarked house at 339 MacDonough Street stands out in many ways.
It is one of three big, standalone wood-frame houses on huge lots on the block — a rarity in these parts, although not on this special block.
Bed Stuy’s Pre-Civil War Carpenter Gothic Church Is Mid-Demo
The Carpenter Gothic church at 809 Jefferson Avenue, one of Bed Stuy’s oldest structures, is now a mere shell. Demolition to make way for apartments and a new church started in January.
From the street, it appears the building has been hollowed out. The historic stained glass windows and other features have been removed. The church was standing in 1854, old maps show, and may even date from the 1840s, as we have said.
The photo above was taken last week. All the others were taken yesterday. Click through to see more.
809 Jefferson Avenue Coverage [Brownstoner] GMAP
Bed Stuy Teardown Trades for $1.7 Million, Apartments Planned
This freestanding wood-frame home on Jefferson Avenue in Bed Stuy traded for an eye-popping price of $1,700,000 in January and is slated for demolition. The house at 827 Jefferson Avenue has been greatly altered over the years, but is an Italianate likely dating from the 1860s or so.
This house recently flipped between developers. An LLC, 827 Jefferson Ave, bought the property for $1,200,000 at the end of August — a high price for this part of the neighborhood. At the end of January, the company turned around and sold the house to the similarly named 827 Jefferson LLC and 829 Jefferson LLC for $1,700,000 — a price that is likely a record for this area.
A new development is in the works.
Demo Planned for Wood Frame House on Franklin in Bed Stuy
The Building Department Monday approved a demolition permit for a wood frame house at 123 Franklin Avenue in the northwestern corner of Bed Stuy. The freestanding three-family house sits on an oversized lot. The developer also owns the neighboring empty lot at 125 Franklin Avenue.