Overbuilt in Prospect Heights: 330 Park Place
When we wrote about 330 Park Place back in January, we tried to retain a glimmer of hope that the developer, who’s bulking the building up from 2,500-square-foot one family to a 6,300-square-foot five-family, might not completely destroy the streetscape in the process. We stopped by last weekend and, needless to say, those hopes were…
When we wrote about 330 Park Place back in January, we tried to retain a glimmer of hope that the developer, who’s bulking the building up from 2,500-square-foot one family to a 6,300-square-foot five-family, might not completely destroy the streetscape in the process. We stopped by last weekend and, needless to say, those hopes were unfounded. Not only does the building feel more out-of-scale in person than on film, one can also see certain details which reveal the extent of the developer’s slavish devotion to FAR maximization at the expense of proportion, design and neighborliness. The crowning jewel? He’s built the right side of the building out by a foot or two into the alley way on the west side of the house, so that the body of the house no longer lines up the the edge of the porch molding. Check out the photo on the jump. It’s ridiculous! GMAP P*Shark DOB
330 Park Place: As Bad As Everyone Feared? [Brownstoner]
Developer Non Grata: 330 Park Place Destruction [Brownstoner]
There was a time when nobody in Prospect Heights believed that developers would actually buy intact historical houses to demolish them and build new. The belief was that the market for brownstones (and other historic houses) was strong enough that demos would never be justified economically.
It’s now clear that the potential for building out to maximum FAR is attractive enough to encourage a developer to destroy historic buildings and create out of context structures that erode the character of our neighborhood. The potential for spillover from Atlantic Yards makes this situation especially troubling.
We need the LPC to move on historic designation for Prospect Heights ASAP or we stand to lose this architectural and cultural assets of this neighborhood to overdevelopment.
It does not look that different than the rest of the block from a size perspective.
Look at 11 2nd Place for a development that’s way out of wack, this is not. We will have to see what’s going to happen with the exterior … but c’mon people
to anonymous 2:29. This site may be called brownstoner but try to explain all the recent advertising “dreamin in Orlando” flats in Italy, Vancouver Real Estate. Stop talking yourself into a mission. YAWN.
to anonymous 2:29. This site may be called brownstoner but try to explain all the recent advertising “dreamin in Orlando” flats in Italy, Vancouver Real Estate. Stop talking yourself into a mission. YAWN.
Park Place:
The house to the left was built slightly later than the brownstones, maybe 1910(?).
It was the home of a wealthy industrialist, built of brick. It is a single family home. About 5 years ago new owners added one story to it, in identical brick. We are not talking about vinyl siding here. Other than that there has been no modification to the exterior. To compare this to the atrocity that Simcha builders is creating is not a valid comparison. 330 is one of a trio of freestanding houses that all have porches which create a beautiful seen together. That is what is being destroyed.
1:21PM- The access ramp is a requirement of code if this is to be a multi family unit of a certain size. That’s like complaining that someone installed seatbelts in an old car.
Two other things:
1. This isn’t the first 20th century house or reno on that block. The house to the left is totally weird and 20th century brooklyn too. It’s also ugly by brownstoner standards.
2. Many are posting that this site is about brownstones, so we should all agree that this house is ugly. The house under discussion is not and never was a brownstone. Lots of the houses on that side of the block were never brownstones.
None of these objections help make the house pretty. However, it’s worth keeping a truthful perspective.
Dear Wednesday,
You may not be aware but this site is about brownstones – the name gives you a clue. If you don’t appreciate this kind of architecture and interest in preserving it you probably don’t belong here – you might want to find something more to your liking elsewhere.
Dear Wednesday,
You may not be aware but this site is about brownstones – the name gives you a clue. If you don’t appreciate this kind of architecture and interest in preserving it you probably don’t belong here – you might want to find something more to your liking elsewhere.
get a life, dude. it’s sad.