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February 28, 2007

Razing 328 Grand: What a Waste

328grand022807.jpg
When we first saw the dumpster in front of 328 Grand Avenue, we assumed that someone was going to do a cool loft renovation with possibly a rooftop addition. So we were distressed to learn from the demolition crew that the entire building is being taken down to make way for a new condo development. What a waste! The facade would make a beautiful base to build something more modern on top of. Only demo permits are online so we don't know what lies in store for the site. Anyone heard anything? GMAP




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:31 AM | Comments (19)
Categories: Brooklyn, Clinton Hill, Development

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Comments

Developers could at least keep portions of old buildings, if even just the facade as a decorative element. And do they never re-use old bricks? New bricks almost never look good; they look cheap and tacky.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2007 10:38 AM

so true

Posted by: brownstoner at February 28, 2007 10:41 AM

Mr. B.

The GMAP link ain't working for me on this posting and a few others....

Posted by: LInkster at February 28, 2007 10:48 AM

The GMAP link has the URL put in as a style instead of an href. Not sure if it's a problem with your CMS or not.

Posted by: Adam at February 28, 2007 10:53 AM

I understand that it is being developed by the same people that built the lovely building right across the street, and that it is going to be the same design.

Posted by: Anon on Greene at February 28, 2007 11:02 AM

I heard its going to be a rental building

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2007 11:07 AM

Yuck. Say it ain't so!

Posted by: brownstoner at February 28, 2007 11:17 AM

Wow, it used to be that you guys started complaining once three bricks were stacked. Now, the old building hasn't even been torn down and you're already complaining about how the new condo will be inferior.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2007 11:21 AM

If it's built by the same crew as across the street, it's a pretty safe bet. Check out their handiwork here:

http://tinyurl.com/3yxwem

Posted by: brownstoner at February 28, 2007 11:26 AM

i understand the love of all things old and quaint around here, but do you REALLY think the existing building is something to get up in arms about? it's a crappy old warehouse or whatever it was. deep breath.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2007 11:26 AM

anon 11:26 - if you've seen the building across the street you'd be grossed out. the warehouse is actually really cool - and I agree with b'stoner that they could do an incredible "modern" reno inside and build on top - they'd probably sell like hotcakes and for top dollar, whereas what they're planning will probably sit for a long time with little movement. the demographic who's buying in that area and willing to pay, is not looking for sh#t like the one across the street or around the corner next to eddie's. it's not a sentimental attachment to old and quaint, but rather something attractive and cool vs. deeply cheesy "luxury" apts...

Posted by: miss priss at February 28, 2007 11:33 AM

"anon 11:26 - if you've seen the building across the street you'd be grossed out. "

fair enough, i haven't seen it.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2007 11:41 AM

Nice theory, except that the apartments in the building across the street rented like hotcakes. Even Mr. B. acknowledged that fact sometime way back when.

Posted by: Anonymous at February 28, 2007 12:12 PM

my friend lived in this building for years in the late 70s/80s - both parents were artists and they rented some space to pratt students. it was an INCREDIBLE space - huge and authentically lofty. it is so sad to see what they are doing to it.

Posted by: ruby at February 28, 2007 12:39 PM

my friend lived in this building for years in the late 70s/80s - both parents were artists and they rented some space to pratt students. it was an INCREDIBLE space - huge and authentically lofty. it is so sad to see what they are doing to it.

Posted by: ruby at February 28, 2007 12:39 PM

my friend lived in this building for years in the late 70s/80s - both parents were artists and they rented some space to pratt students. it was an INCREDIBLE space - huge and authentically lofty. it is so sad to see what they are doing to it.

Posted by: ruby at February 28, 2007 12:40 PM

Yes well, the hotcake market does indeed validate the crap ass developers, at least on a immediate ROI basis, but aren't they really selling themselves short? Is it not hard to imagine utilizing at least the wonderful facade of this warehouse? Thereby differentiating the building and allowing for premium pricing. Unfortunately their short-sightedness of designing and building on-the-cheap will be Brooklyn's longterm disfiguration.

Oh for those "crappy old warehouses or whatever" in Dumbo, Soho, the West Village, Red Hook, etc!!!

Posted by: SeamusMacD at February 28, 2007 2:12 PM

what is interesting about this section on the border of bed stuy clinton hill are the small factories interspersed. there are some on greene/grand-franklin clifton/grand-bedford, stuff on quincy & lexington.too bad all of this can't be turned into interesting housing.

Posted by: jam at March 1, 2007 10:47 AM

I agree the building across look ugly, so it the one next to it. To knock the building to put up another ugly condo, it useless. I don't want Brooklyn or my neighborhood to become another Manhattan. The new building could partially block my view, and will block my neighbors if it over 4 floors. I am curios to see what is plan for the site. We should stop the development of another ugly building.

Posted by: scruf at June 7, 2007 4:32 PM

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