Landmarks Rejects ODA-Designed Crystal-Inspired Facade for Dumbo Factory Conversion
The Landmarks Preservation Commission Tuesday sent a striking modern facade design by ODA Architecture for a 19th century brick factory building at 10 Jay Street in Dumbo back to the drawing board. Several commissioners, including chair Meenakshi Srinivasan, praised the design (she called it “exceptional”) but ultimately the board decided the approach wasn’t the right…
The Landmarks Preservation Commission Tuesday sent a striking modern facade design by ODA Architecture for a 19th century brick factory building at 10 Jay Street in Dumbo back to the drawing board. Several commissioners, including chair Meenakshi Srinivasan, praised the design (she called it “exceptional”) but ultimately the board decided the approach wasn’t the right one for the historic district, Curbed reported.
The 1898 brick factory building with arched windows was designed by George M. Newhall Engineering Co. for the Arbuckle Brothers sugar refinery. It has been used as a warehouse since the 1940s, and in that decade also lost its original facade on the north side, which faces the water. Owner and developer Glacier Global Partners plans to convert the building into 46 apartments with retail on the ground floor. (It’s unclear whether Glacial is planning condos or rentals.) It intends to restore the three original facades on the building, a plan Landmarks approved. In December, ODA filed an application for a building permit.
In addition to sugar crystals, the north facing facade was inspired by the Manhattan Bridge and the existing steel and brick of Dumbo, said the story. We’re not sure how we feel about the commission’s decision: We’re all for exceptional architecture in Brooklyn, but we’re also in favor of preserving Brooklyn’s historic areas.
One of the commissioners said he felt the building stood out too much, saying “Look at me!” rather than “Look at the historic district.” Click through for a photo of the building today and a schematic comparing past and present.
What do you think?
Crystal-Inspired Facade Proposed for Dumbo’s 10 Jay Street [Curbed]Â GMAP
10 Jay Street Coverage [Brownstoner]
Renderings by ODA via Curbed; photo by Scott Bintner for PropertyShark
No mention of all the small businesses that are being forced out of 10 Jay to make room for more luxury apartments?
I have to say it really goes well with the glassy carousel. That’s pretty nice. I also have no idea why that would be rejected.
The way it happens is that Two Trees pays a lobbyist to direct political donations to Christine Quinn, with the implicit support of David Yassky. Voila! The 60 Water site isn’t located in the historic district. The other disappointing aspect of this generic monstrosity (well put) is that it looks nothing like the original renderings that TT showed the neighborhood and used to get through ULURP. They sold everyone a bill of goods and now everyone has to see that eyesore right next to the Brooklyn Bridge.