Ward's Watch: Prepping By The Parapet
While there haven’t been signs of backhoes, cranes or other tools of the trade on display at Ward’s Bakery when we’ve checked in on it the past couple of mornings, yesterday we did spot some workmen of some sort surveying the scene of last April’s parapet collapse. Meanwhile, we’ve been hearing more whispers questioning whether…
While there haven’t been signs of backhoes, cranes or other tools of the trade on display at Ward’s Bakery when we’ve checked in on it the past couple of mornings, yesterday we did spot some workmen of some sort surveying the scene of last April’s parapet collapse. Meanwhile, we’ve been hearing more whispers questioning whether Ratner’s really got the dough in this environment to get the project done. As one developer told us, “I don’t see how it pencils out.”
Closing Bell: Ward’s Bakery Demolition Imminent [Brownstoner] GMAP
Ward’s Bakery Collapse: The Photos [Brownstoner]
“I know I’m willing to pay higher taxes to make sure this crown jewel gets built. ”
I’m willing to pay higher taxes to ensure that this crap doesn’t get built.
2/20, 6:00pm guest: Check your facts. There were indeed plans in place to renovate the Ward Bakery for adaptive mixed use. Not sure what point you’re making when you say, “Great! Everyone knows that very, very few industrial buildings in NYC have been converted to residential. We need as many as we can get!” This building is about to be demolished so are you being sarcastic or did you just not know that detail either?
2/20, 8:05pm guest: If you lived btw Atlantic and Fulton on Carlton, you either lived in the Atlantic Terminal Publc Housing complex or in the Atlantic Commons middle income development across the street which, in the late 90s, was brand spanking new. Maybe you didn’t like living in the PJs but it’s apples to oranges compared to the buildings in the AY footprint and not really relevant to this discussion.
that nonsense is interesting.
2 problems.
Carlton between Atlantic and Fulton is no in the footpint.
this isn’t the late 90’s.
sounds like YOU haven’t lived in the area in a while.
I used to live on Carlton between Atlantic and Fulton in the late 90’s and early 00’s. This area was and is a dump. Any attempt to say otherwise is a complete lie made by someone who never lived in the area.
every building with a cracked wall should be seized by the government and given to Bruce Ratner! and if the building has inconsistent heat too, then Bruce should get the building next it too, because that kind of shit is contagious! and if the owner takes an offer, well then the whole area is a “dump.” and if a building is converted to residential… yup, its a “dump!”
you make some real sense there. you should become a dump expert.
“As I stated, the Ward Bakery is a gem.”
Actually, it’s a closed, obsolete former factory that definitely has interesting architecture, but is not a “gem.” If it’s such a gem, why has no one sought to develop the property?
“On the same block is a large former industrial buildings that had been prepped for conversion to loft apartments (the yellow bldg with red window trim).”
Great! Everyone knows that very, very few industrial buildings in NYC have been converted to residential. We need as many as we can get!
“Then there’s the former Spalding bldg on Pacific and 6th Ave which was already functioning as a condo.”
A historic building, true, but residents were quite quick to realize 2X their investment when Ratner inquired.
“Then there’s the condo bldg on Pacific Dan Goldstein still inhabits.”
Former residents (with the exception of spoiled rich-boy, NIMBY Goldstein) complained that the building was a DOG – inconsistent heat, cracked walls, etc. Goldstein himself got locked in an elevator at one point! The building was by most accounts a very expensive failure.
AY would be a dump.
FRC has used “blight” as a plank in their legal argument to justify the use of eminent domain. The irony — and the injustice — is they themselves have manufactured the blight through the demolitions. It’s called creating facts on the ground.
Btw, who said you worked for Ratner? Don’t be so defensive.
How do Ratner’s demolitions constitute blight?
Cherry-picking four buildings does not refute the “dump argument”. I could just as easily point to the four decrepit buildings in the footprint (and, yes, that includes the Ward Building) and conclude the opposite.
Citing the Dean Street townhouses is irrelevant, as 1:54 already exempted them. I agree that they are attractive and will be a loss. But that block also contains some ugly buildings closer to Flatbush. IMO, losing a few townhouses is a fair trade for an arena and high-rises containing several hundred units of affordable housing.
Remember that blight also means underutilization, something that definitely applies to a low-rise area near one of the biggest transit hubs in all of NYC. And don’t forget the railyards, which constitute about 35% of the footprint.
As usual, you assume that anyone who supports AY is not familiar with Prospect Heights. My wife and I own an apartment in the area and plan to stay.
And, no, I don’t work for Ratner, so please spare me that tired line.