Development Watch: Night Lights at MEC
The $138 million new academic building at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights has been in the works since 2002, but now the building is finally taking shape. Located at Bedford and Crown, the Academic Complex I will house the college’s School of Science, Health, and Technology. Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects, renderings of the…
The $138 million new academic building at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights has been in the works since 2002, but now the building is finally taking shape. Located at Bedford and Crown, the Academic Complex I will house the college’s School of Science, Health, and Technology. Designed by Polshek Partnership Architects, renderings of the five-story, 194,000-square-foot brick structure seem quite pleasant—not too ostentatious or dominating for the neighborhood. We’ve included this nighttime photo because, while under construction, the building gives off an eerie and somewhat astrological glow that is always surprisingly pleasant when we bicycle by along Bedford Avenue. The building is scheduled to be complete around August 2010, according to the school. GMAP P*Shark DOB
Fair point Moret, the success of places like Franklin Park and Abigals aside, Crown Heights have allowed Bed Stuy and even Lefferts Gardens to catch up and pass it in terms of “more refined” retailing. I would like to see more, I just don’t know if “gentrification” is the word I would use.
I agree Crownlfc, more lively indeed…just not enough! I feel that the shops on that strip….and the corresponding Nostrand strip satisfied my basis for the infrastructure needed to accommodate gentrification very well but needs to finish the job. Within walking distance we have a butcher, bakery, fish market, hardware store & supermarket….not to mention the various fruit stands etc. but outside of the Tavern (which will be renamed shortly) there’s no decent restaurants or wine shops (although the liquor store sells wine ).
As far as basic needs go, I’m fine…I just wish I spent more time spending my *entertainment* dollars in the area.
Interesting comment moret about your wishes. The school has already made that block of Bedford more lively, and once this campus opens even more so. Rogers Ave is still a ghost town. Unfortunately, Empire blvd/Bedford has gotten yet another storage depo where the roller skating rink was. I was hoping for a gym.
I live a stones throw past New York Ave and agree, it’s a wonderful neighborhood….although I do wish that gentrification would turn Bedford between Eastern Parkway & Empire around.
This is really great… It will be really interesting to see what the new president, William Pollard, will do with the amazingly transformed college. This new building (and the other new buildings) are only a small, but very visible, part of Dr. Jackson’s huge legacy.
What Montrose said!
Cool. Good school, great asset to the Crown Heights South community.