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February 28, 2006

Fort Greene: Cumberland Condos Coming

condo
We got accosted by a Cumberland Street old-timer when she saw us snapping photos of this development at Number 239. Turns out someone was taking pictures of her house recently and she didn't like it one bit. Anyway, this place is fair game. From the looks of it, there no one will be closing on these apartments for a few months. Anyone know anything about the project? At least the windows will be a decent size.




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:28 AM | Comments (13)

Comments

Don't know anything about the project, but...as you point out about the windows...at the very least, they have been pretty much aligned with and are of similar size to the windows of the neighboring buildings. A glimmer of hope that it might actually fit into its surroundings? Not sure what that open center section will be, terraces?

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2006 10:40 AM

I think it is a prime spot for development, but I was bummed when the frame house sold its lovely garden, complete with koi pond and tastefully done running stream and stand of birch trees to build the condos. They also had a nice separate frame garage/workshop shed in the back corner of the lot.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2006 10:50 AM

saw these recently. there is something across the street in what looks to be some former church or firehouse...

Posted by: ltjbukem at February 28, 2006 10:53 AM

Didn't we go over this? The owners of the frame house own the property and are doing the developing. They've been there since (at least) '85. There might be some bad blood between them and other "old-timers" (i.e., the one who accosted you) who may resent the property being developed. Also, keep in mind that the block is landmarked, so they've probably jumped through a TON of hoops to get this done and spent a lot of time on the process. Maybe related is an odd (to me, at least) little thing on their Pshark listing showing an easement put on the property in 2004 with the National Architectural Trust. I'm guessing that might be related to getting this development done in a landmark district? Anyone know more than I? (That wouldn't be too hard.)

Posted by: Mr. Minerva at February 28, 2006 11:21 AM

Sounds like a facade easement, not related to development.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2006 12:35 PM

Ah ha! A facade easement. Of course. How silly of me.


What the heck is a facade easement?

Posted by: Mr. Minerva at February 28, 2006 12:59 PM

we talked about this a while ago..4 luxury units priced way too high (1.2-1.4??)...gym and swimming pool..anyone, anyone..."artists" own the lot...nice "sculpture" installation out front at christmas...

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2006 1:41 PM

yes, starting to ring a bell now...who's marketing these?

Posted by: ltjbukem at February 28, 2006 1:44 PM

A&H?? I seem to remember...

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2006 1:47 PM

hey maybe the same guys who is burning down the other buildings can burn down the ones on both sides and the condos can expand...now thats what I call progress!!!

Posted by: Umar at February 28, 2006 6:49 PM

I lived direclty across the street from this place, at 23X, for three years. The frame house on the left used to have a beautiful lot-sized garden in this space with a shed in the back. The house to the right of the garden went on the market a few years back and it was pretty evident (I toured it) that the house was ready for demolition--it had some nice bones, details, and features (a little Munster-house-ish) but had been used as a quasi-flop house for some time, so it was kind of a disaster area inside. This whole new condo building is no surprise. Welcome to "Brownstone" Brooklyn. Let's hope the finished product has more architectural integrity than the awful brick house with the garage down the street from it that went up in 2002.

By the way, I have a pretty good idea of who the Cumberland Street old timer who accosted the photographer was, and she's not that bad a person 'in real life,' really. It's just that the street had a lot of charm years back that I fear it might be losing.

Posted by: BJ at March 1, 2006 9:38 AM

Hey BJ, who's the old-timer? I wonder if it's the same one that accosts me from time to time. Locals want to know!

Posted by: Chris at March 8, 2006 5:55 PM

Does anyone know any recent information about this Cumberland project?

Posted by: guest at October 1, 2007 5:05 PM

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