Schermerhorn Street: Not Crappy for Much Longer
Much of Schermerhorn Street between Adams and Nevins was razed in the 1920s to make way for the A and C subway line. (One treasure destroyed in the process was Frank Freeman-designed, Richardsonian-style Germania Club at 120 Schermerhorn, at right.) Until very recently, it seemed like this stretch of downtown would never be more than…
Much of Schermerhorn Street between Adams and Nevins was razed in the 1920s to make way for the A and C subway line. (One treasure destroyed in the process was Frank Freeman-designed, Richardsonian-style Germania Club at 120 Schermerhorn, at right.) Until very recently, it seemed like this stretch of downtown would never be more than a dismal drag of drab commercial and municipal buildings. Now, as The Brooklyn Paper reports, Schermerhorn is getting a new lease on life but not forgetting its more humble history. A slew of new projects are springing up, some of which have significant affordable-housing components. There’s the State Renaissance Court, the 158-unit mixed income (low, middle and market-rate) development and the Schermerhorn House, which is being developed by the same team that did the 14 Townhouses and where half the units will be reserved for the formerly homeless. In addition, you’ve got the 25-story 189 Schermerhorn and a 20-plus-story rental building set to break ground at 230 Livingston. To cap it off, Sam Chang is planning a 80,000-square-foot hotel at the corner of Schermerhorn and Nevins. As Frank Terzulli, of Winick Realty Group, said, If we close our eyes and open them up three years from now, you’d think you’re somewhere else.
Schermerhorn Rising [Brooklyn Paper] GMAP
Germania photo from the Brooklyn Historical Society
Sterling Silver, you certainly did hit a nerve with some of our newer neighbors… and you’re correct…
“why not plan for this new city to include everyone.”
Thank you for your well mannered and beautifully articulated responses to some of the rudest and most immature postings directed your way.
Re parking lot next townhouses: Eventually to be filled in with rental apartments, market rate I think.
me again with the question of the parking lot. I meant parking lot along Smith St. from Schermerhorn to State with the big stadium lights shining into backs of 14Townhouses.
Is anything slated for that side of the block?
According to the New York Sun, there is a 16-story, 300-room all suite hotel, the Cambria Suites Brooklyn Bridge, going up at 75 Schermerhorn Street..which I believe is the parking lot next to 110 Livingston? Construction begins in the fall.
It sounds like a great project, but I believe the height is unnecessarily low in an already decided urban section of Brooklyn. These buildings should be 30+ stories.
The best thing about this story is that the local community leaders actually support it. This is unheard of in downtown Brooklyn development, even with affordable components. This is a rare event where replacing a broken glass-strewn parking lot with housing isn’t railed against as corrupting the “character of the neighborhood”. Thank God!
I’m glad there is affordable housing going up on Schermerhorn. Kudos, and applause all around. I never claimed to be in on the planning of every building in Brooklyn. Glad to hear about it.
My only goal, especially as a sole citizen with little clout, power, money or prestige, was to draw attention to the lack of mixed income housing in a fast developing part of Bklyn – downtown, where everyone has a stake. City Planning is supposed to be just that – planning. Why not plan for a part of this new city to include everyone? That’s all I want.
The fact that it pissed people off, got me accused of saying things that are not found in evidence, and were the opposite of what I did say, and made me a lightning rod for every nut who ever frequented this forum, means that I struck a nerve, and I’m glad. What’s wrong with healthy discussion and debate on important issues that affect all of us?
Love the 14 Townhouses. They’re modern, look great and fit in with the old architecture in the area. Sadly, all the other buildings going up on Schermerhorn are fugly, with a capital FUG.
PeteBklyn — The rest of the block on the west side of Hoyt is also part of the TIme Equities/Hamlin development. The State Street side will have another 10 or 12 townhouses (no idea if the same design team that did 14 townhouses is involved) and the Schermerhorn corner will have some type of retail.
In other words, if you live at the corner of Hoyt and State (as I do), at least another three or four years of god-awful noise starting every morning at 7 AM.