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April 26, 2007
Slick as a Brick: Oro Moving Along
When we walked by the Oro Condominium project on Flatbush Extension at Johnson Street late last week we were struck by how much brick had gone up already. It looked to us like they were up to about 25 stories. Only 15 to go! Have any readers gone into contract on one of these?
Oro: 306 Gold Street [Douglas Elliman] GMAP
Oro Watch: Still Building, Now Selling [Brownstoner]
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Comments
that building is going to be beautiful
Posted by: aj at April 26, 2007 12:51 PM
they've already sold over 50 units.
good news. and yes, i agree it's going to look beautiful. i didn't realize till today that it's the same guys that designed the time warner center.
anyone know when the proposed improvements to lighting, landscaping, etc. are supposed to begin on flatbush??
Posted by: anon at April 26, 2007 12:53 PM
how many total units in this one?
Posted by: anon at April 26, 2007 1:04 PM
It may be a nice building, but Im still struggling with the location. Its not that far from the train, but there is basically nothing for a 5 block radius. I trust that the area will look totally different in 10 years but how different can it be? I cant imagine that Tillary Street will change much and Metro Tech, while far better than the stretch of Myrtle that used to be there (I doubt most b-stoner readers were around then), its still not the most charming place in the world. So what's the attraction? A luxury condo at a reasonable price?
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 1:19 PM
Anon 12:53 - don't be misled. Ishmael Lyva is the Architect of Oro. Skidmore Owings and Merril was the Architect of the Time Warner Center. Leyva probably only designed the layouts and interiors of the residential portion, but likely had nothing to do with the design of the rest of the building or the skin.
Posted by: Dave at April 26, 2007 1:26 PM
That area will develop considerably after this building fills up.
But I hate to say it - from the outside, the shape of this building is pretty overdesigned and tacky. What's up with all those curves? I hope it doesn't end up looking like an elongated Morton Square. The photos of the inside looks great, so perhaps the exterior will end up being more graceful than its current shape suggests. You really can't have a proper impression until a building's its skin is on.
Posted by: Ed at April 26, 2007 1:45 PM
"That area will develop considerably after this building fills up."
I agree.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 2:08 PM
this are will improve dramaticaly especially after this is done and Belltell lofts are done.
Posted by: tejero at April 26, 2007 2:32 PM
love the building, love what downtown brooklyn is becoming.
this is a solid investment.
also a nice way to get in on the rebirth of what i think will be quite a destination city in the next 10 years.
yep, brooklyn folks.
Posted by: anonymous at April 26, 2007 3:26 PM
I'm not a huge fan of curves, but you have to admit, it's a teeny bit more of an effort on the developers' part than, say, a square-cornered office-tower looking building, like the ones going up nearby the bridges. Also, I like the simple squareness of the windows. I think it might not be totally horrid.
Which is saying much these days.
I also really like the shape of the Forte. I know they were just following the lot line, but hey, love the triangle.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 3:41 PM
All this development will definitely help the area, and create the critical mass needed to bring in real and substantial retail... I think the real play value play remains in the University Tower's
Posted by: local at April 26, 2007 4:29 PM
hey 4:29 - I've lived in NYC for 8 years and am now priced out and I actually just bought in University Towers.
Re: your comment...interesting about the value - how so? Thanks.
Posted by: kk at April 26, 2007 4:48 PM
I'm really not digging the bulbous shape of the building. But perhaps it's context appropriate. It's certainly got an over-the-top, ostentatious, ghetto fabulous flair to it.
Posted by: Ed at April 26, 2007 4:53 PM
Other than the old housing (brownstones) brooklyn is all about ghetto fabulous. rotten location, though
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 5:12 PM
it's sad when a curved window gets credit as an innovative or creative design. this building will be nice, but may suffer from an upper-east-side malaise look in 10 years. that said, the area will be great.
Posted by: anon at April 26, 2007 5:15 PM
BUT...in 10 yrs I'll be too OLD to enjoy it...i want change now..gaddangit:)
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 5:28 PM
give the area 1-2 yrs, tops.
Posted by: anon at April 26, 2007 5:52 PM
dowtown brooklyn in 2010 is going to be freaking awesome!!
i'm actually being serious.
if i hadn't just bought in park slope, my money would be on downtown bklyn.
Posted by: anon at April 26, 2007 6:00 PM
Ghetto-fabulousness is not necessarily a compliment by any stretch.
Posted by: Ed at April 26, 2007 6:40 PM
I find the color of the bricks pretty wan. I guess that they were going for something gold (Oro) but ended up with something that is neither here nor there. Also, I don't need all the recreational amenities that are promised and would prefer a lower sales price, but that may just be poor me.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 6:54 PM
Yes, Ed, we've (or at least most of us, I'd wager) sensed your displeasure. I actually don't much care for the look, either. But it seems to be selling well, at prices that are hardly ghetto-anything, so who's to account for taste?
Posted by: EJ at April 26, 2007 6:55 PM
This thread seems to be tainted by the overly complementary and the overly upbeat. I wonder if the developer's minions have been posting today.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 7:23 PM
No, downer, it's actually exciting to see some serious buildings going up (instead of the ghetto unfabulous crap with the balconies in the other thread).
By serious I don't mean HOLY MOSES look at that cutting edge design! I just mean shit that's exactly on par with what is being built along Battery Park in downtown manhattan.
What's wrong with finding that fun?
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 7:31 PM
this development is supposed to have 2 side by side towers, right?
and the the 40+ story avalon building is set to go up right next door.
i agree wholehartedly with the rapid change that lies ahead on flatbush ext running all the way up to AY. i was giving some hard thought to oro, but ended up buying at jcondo in brooklynish brooklyn. i'm a sucker for views.
i remember the pre-metrotech days pretty well. yessur.
Posted by: BrooklynRenaissance at April 26, 2007 9:09 PM
Why don't they have any high end units like 3 bedrooms with terrace, etc? I see nothing available beyond 2 bd/2 bath. Am I missing something or did they simply decide that niche was not something they were going to market to? Or did they sell them already? I'm genuinely curious.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 10:25 PM
if you go to the oro website it looks like there are 4 3 br units in the entire building - 2 each of 2 different layouts - all on top 2 floors. i haven't seen them in elliman's listings, but i suspect that if you go into oro's sales office and inquire, you could buy at the current OP/amendment price. please let us know the pricing if you find out - very curious.
Posted by: BrooklynRenaissance at April 26, 2007 10:51 PM
OK..thnx BR...I'm not the poster that asked about the 3 bdrms.. but I've been wondering about them, also. As you say they are not on elliman's site..but i read somewhere they were available
Posted by: Anonymous at April 26, 2007 10:56 PM
love downtown Brooklyn, I love Brooklyn. I am happy :)
Posted by: anon at April 27, 2007 8:06 AM
Anyone care to elaborate more on the University Towers if you have info? I think Downtown Brooklyn is expanding and growing, which is a good thing. The NY Times ran a great article about real estate growth in the area. If you build it, they will come.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 27, 2007 9:14 AM
Too far from the subway and too far from anything else. How is this a good location?
Posted by: Anon at April 27, 2007 10:41 AM
Too far from subway? Three minutes walk to Deklab Q,R,M,B that takes you to manhattan in one stop -- all of them lines that take you to EVERY part of manhattan. A couple blocks further, and you're at 4,5,N, A, C,
And then there's that bridge which, if you're like me and enjoy death-defiying biking to commute, it's 10 minutes to get to work in Soho.
How CLOSE to transport do you want to be?
ps. I don't even like that friggin hideous building but let's not play dumb here. Location is fantastic.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 27, 2007 11:45 AM
That is a cut/paste job -- I've seen this comment in a past Oro thread...
Posted by: EJ at April 27, 2007 12:25 PM
'twas so good the first time..they had to put it in syndication..lol
Posted by: Anonymous at April 27, 2007 12:42 PM
ha.S
Posted by: anon at April 27, 2007 5:30 PM
This building will be a great investment - I've looked at it in detail and compared it vs. renting and other Brooklyn developments. Agree with the prior posts that the area will improve hugely.
Posted by: anon at April 27, 2007 8:15 PM
THe builder /devoloper is United Homes...anyone know about them?
Posted by: Anonymous at April 28, 2007 5:03 PM
United Homes is building this??? Don't trust them. They are crooks, big time. they're just about the quick buck. Anyone buying at their property, a quick word of advice - if they make any kind of representation, make sure they back it up and put it in writing...otherwise, trust me, it aint gonna happen.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 29, 2007 7:09 AM
Is that true (that UH is the developer/builder)? Really? Hmmm... they've gotten a bad reputation in the press in the last few years. Don't have any firsthand experience with them, but I'd be a little wary and do some research on them if I were looking to buy there.
Posted by: Anon at April 29, 2007 10:02 AM
YUP ! United Homes, developers Ron Herscho and Dean Palin.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 29, 2007 11:26 AM
I was looking into going in on this building but am concerned about the negative feedback regarding the developers. Anyone have links to articles regarding their past projects?
Posted by: Anonymous at May 9, 2007 1:12 PM
My husband and I have already put a down payment on a unit in this building. Here is some info I have...
The developers are fine - not any worse than others I have encountered. I have been living in one of their buildings for the past 2 years and am overall satisfied.
For those of you that are unfamiliar with the location, it is less than a 5-10 min walk from the A, C, F, M, Q,R, and yes, the Manhattan Bridge. This area has caught the eye of many developers. You will not be able to recognize it in 3 years.
Sure, I am not in love with the design of ORO, but I will be living in it, not staring at it from the outside. The floor plans are actually quite nice, better than other nearby condo buildings my husband and I looked at before deciding on ORO. Most units have ceiling to floor windows which is a nice touch :).
The developer releases units in increments so if there is a floor plan you like, but is not available, you may be able to acquire it if you wait. Go talk to a sales agent, they are very accommodating.
If you are interested in this building, I would go to the ORO office located at the corner of Prince and Johnson to develop your own opinion. It is a nice building located in the right place. A hop, skip, and a jump away from Manhattan.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 9, 2007 2:40 PM
Does anyone else realize that the location is AROUND THE CORNER from one of the worst projects in Brooklyn? "Recreational Gunfire" is the norm from that place.
Posted by: Anonymous at May 27, 2007 2:50 PM
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