Developer to Air Out 345 Adams Street

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There are portions of 345 Adams Street, a city-owned building mainly occupied by the Department of Finance, that sunlight has never touched. Other parts, as in the last eight feet of the building’s magnificent 16-foot ceilings, were blocked after the hideous but energy-efficient drop ceiling trend hit the nation by storm. But that will change now that Muss Development owns “the disgustingly ugly, city-owned office’s” first two floors, 35,000 square feet, which the adjacent Marriott and Morton’s Steakhouse landlord intends to make beautiful and rent as retail space. Greenstone Realty CEO Robert Greenstone said Muss would remove the mezzanine and carve windows into the first two floors extending from Morton’s to Willoughby Street. A third floor of “knock out windows” would be added in case the city wants to use them and sidewalk lights would illuminate the building at night. “We were going to put sconces on the walls but it looked too ordinary,” said Greenstone, who is marketing the space. He provided us with renderings of the $18 million renovation that he said would be split between two high-end retailers. Of course Apple was brought up, but this time it’s totally serious. (Did anybody really think the ultra-sleek iGadget manufacturer would move into the landmarked One Hanson Place, which though magnificent inside, is as far from the Apple aesthetic as possible before teetering into the viking look?) “They love iconic corners,” Greenstone said of Apple, which he’s worked extensively with in the company’s effort to find their first Brooklyn throne. He said “One Hanson Place looks iconic but it’s not iconic,” mainly referring to what’s outside (this is where architecture becomes important ). But 345 Adams Street is across from Borough Hall, Cadman Plaza and Brooklyn Heights, making it a top contender for “that iconic corner,” said Greenstone. For those of you unfamiliar with the area, see jump for pictures of what’s outside those future windows, taken from 16 Court Street …