gowanus canal is already synonymous with superfund. why not make it official

Posted by: pfa at November 12, 2009 2:00 AM in response to To Superfund or Not To Superfund, That Is The Question

Now as that so hard?

Posted by: pfa at October 14, 2009 2:52 PM in response to 2 Lefferts Comes Into Focus, Exceeds Expectations

the design seems to try and evoke the tenement buildings that were torn down to make way for this project.

Posted by: pfa at October 13, 2009 5:09 PM in response to Development Watch: 433 3rd Avenue, Now and Later

380K for a 1 bedroom in a building that's built to last 50 years? I don't see how you can justify the investment.

Posted by: pfa at October 6, 2009 1:21 AM in response to 476 Sterling Condos Now For Sale

what!? a measly four stories?

Posted by: pfa at October 6, 2009 1:14 AM in response to Development Watch: 227 Grand Street

I've walked by that house a few times and it appears that nobody is living in it. I wonder if the owner (new owner?) was scheming to "improve" it with an awesomely cool addition and then flip. It's gotta be costing money to have the property just sit idle...

Posted by: pfa at September 25, 2009 9:02 PM in response to Horror Show Friday: 1715 11th Avenue

can't we do some landscaping type stuff on the median on 4th avenue, like they do on park avenue in manhattan? maybe widen the sidewalks while we're at it; there's got to be ways to make 4th avenue less dreary...

Posted by: pfa at September 16, 2009 7:26 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 500 4th Avenue, #PHG

I wonder if Radusky reads Brownstoner? Does he understand he's building crap and is just in it for the money? Or does he think his buildings are like, real architecture and is somehow managing to get rich by passing on his gift to all of us? If it's the former, he's a greedy scumbag; if it's the latter, then he's, well, a dimwit.

Posted by: pfa at August 25, 2009 3:39 AM in response to Development Watch: 400 Bedford Avenue

Onsite parking is required for 50% of the units? I don't get it. Shouldn't they be encouraging LESS reliance on cars? Isn't there a subway line on 4th avenue?

Posted by: pfa at August 20, 2009 4:12 PM in response to How the Argyle Greets 4th Avenue

Oh my freaking God

Posted by: pfa at August 7, 2009 3:48 AM in response to Aesthetically-Challenged on Columbia Street

why does Henry Radusky suck so much?

Posted by: pfa at July 31, 2009 3:46 PM in response to Development Watch: 51 Woodhull Street

my brick townhouse was built in 1903. after 106 years, it looks beautiful. will we be able to say the same for this place in 2115? (let's pretend we'll still be alive then)

Posted by: pfa at July 31, 2009 3:42 PM in response to 614 7th Avenue: Five Weeks Later

the new design for the arena is dull for sure, just like the atlantic terminal and the atlantic center. there's a weird kind of bland, witless consistency. on the more positive side: 1) they are low rise structures, and 2) none are built for the ages. I thirty years or so, they'll be knocked down and hopefully be replaced by something good.

Posted by: pfa at July 29, 2009 2:01 AM in response to Reality Check Rendering of Yards from MAS

Greenwood Heights is becoming the architectural version of the island of misfit toys.

Posted by: pfa at July 23, 2009 8:18 PM in response to 300 20th Street Hits the Market

$2500? Considering how little the developer obviously spent building materials (though to be fair, the brickwork doesn't look so bad), he can easily charge a lot more reasonable rent, say, $1800 -- which I still think is generous for that area.

Posted by: pfa at June 30, 2009 12:03 PM in response to 23rd Street Tear-down Hits Rental Market

seems like all of the houses on the west side of the block (and some on the east?) were built by the same developer. great cohesiveness architecturally, very charming, and yes, kind of on the small side. every second or third house has a cleverly designed terrace above the porch roof that is accessed through something like french doors. no railings, though -- which I think lends it a cleaner look...

Posted by: pfa at June 8, 2009 1:40 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 16th Street

another clumsy edifice left to our grandchildren. it seems the developer didn't skimp in materials; if only a decent architect could have taken a little time to help him refine the design. coulda been something special...

Posted by: pfa at June 2, 2009 10:34 AM in response to 114 India Hits The Market

such a hamfisted design. so lacking in balance. so hard to look at. just depressing.

Posted by: pfa at May 27, 2009 6:44 PM in response to The Sunset Park Condo That Helped Fuel the Rezone Fire

why not protect the field with a layer of asphalt

Posted by: pfa at May 27, 2009 6:41 PM in response to Slope Turf Field Getting Heavy Use But Controversy Brewing

green roof? please don't let it all go to waste...

Posted by: pfa at May 26, 2009 8:09 PM in response to Development Watch: New Sunset Park High School

such a nice building. good bones, as they say. it's nice to see at least some section 8 folks in nyc are living in a decent place. I hope the new owners doesn't go all slumlord on 'em.

Posted by: pfa at May 14, 2009 6:03 PM in response to Bay Ridge Apartment Building Sale Biggest of Year So Far

It's not a superfund site already?!

Posted by: pfa at April 21, 2009 4:25 PM in response to Closing Bell: Tonky Octopus Gets Updated

you mean it's not already a superfund site?

Posted by: pfa at April 9, 2009 11:35 PM in response to EPA Proposes Adding Gowanus Canal to Superfund List

dirty stinky hippies

Posted by: pfa at April 6, 2009 5:42 PM in response to Closing Bell: Woodstock 40th Anniversary at Prospect Park?

just classical and opera? no black dice, sonic youth, cat power, wilco, etc? I find hipsters as annoying as the next guy, but I went to the mccarren park pool shows anyway 'cause I like the music. Are these new classical/opera offerings geared to appeal to the new arrivals living in Toll Brothers behemoths? And I ain't necessarily poo pooing opera, but I do fear a creeping homogenization/whiteification/blandification... Or did that train left the station long, long ago...

Posted by: pfa at March 31, 2009 2:45 PM in response to Closing Bell: East River State Park Now Concert Venue

go carts! pleeeeaaase!!!

Posted by: pfa at March 20, 2009 11:54 AM in response to City Planning Interim Amusements for Coney Island

go carts! pleeeeaaase!!!

Posted by: pfa at March 20, 2009 11:54 AM in response to City Planning Interim Amusements for Coney Island

cheap, middling quality materials. ham-fisted execution and design. and they're calling it "high end luxury". I'm sure it all meets code -- but what architect, what builder can put up such schlock and really be proud of what they've made?

Posted by: pfa at March 6, 2009 2:51 AM in response to 151 Carroll Street To Be Rentals After All

wow. thanks mr. jackson.

here's the thing, though (and forgive me if I sound naive). I don't think that the folks who compiled the building code imagined that builders would manipulate them to produce such contorted structures. The fact that people will actually live in these structures and that that they (the buildings) will themselves "live" in our neighborhoods for a long time seems to be an afterthought.

It's like letting bankers operate under minimal supervision -- they make tons of money for a while, but leave everyone else holding s#@t sandwiches...

Posted by: pfa at February 20, 2009 7:13 PM in response to What's Up with 718 6th Avenue?

ok, not trying to be snarky here... but the a/c-unit-through-the-wall thing. what is the rationale -- from the developer's point of view and from the buyer or renter's perspective? Also, is the fedders company just an innocent bystander here or do they promote this architectural practice? On another note, what's up with the crazy roofline on this building?

Posted by: pfa at February 20, 2009 4:15 PM in response to What's Up with 718 6th Avenue?

yeah, guess I just blocked third and bond out of my mind 'cause the guy's doing such a great job compared to the schlock/fedders box builders.

Posted by: pfa at January 9, 2009 6:04 PM in response to Horror Show Friday

can't we have a developer/builder come on this site, ever? It would be wonderful to be able to engage in a thoughtful discussion with them about things like architectural considerations, FAR calculations, building costs, profitability estimates, community standards, landmarking, dealing with city and state agencies, their personal "vision"... isn't there anybody willing to talk???

Posted by: pfa at January 9, 2009 5:42 PM in response to Horror Show Friday

according to their website, the building was going to be "vivacious"

Posted by: pfa at December 19, 2008 3:02 PM in response to Trouble At at Fourth Avenue Tower-to-Be

1) there is no such thing as "airy natural light"

2) the projects across the street exude more grace

3) when will they stop inflicting such horrors on our community!?

Posted by: pfa at December 12, 2008 9:17 PM in response to Tuscan Townhouses Have Risen

removing the parts in the front and the back that jut out would bestow a sense of proportionality. second, you can remove the silly looking balusters and put in a proper cornice. and if you still have any money left, it'd be great to take out the a/c units and put in some larger windows. A 500K job, perhaps?

Posted by: pfa at December 11, 2008 6:29 PM in response to Checking in on 221 Conover

why does bricolage build ugly buildings?

Posted by: pfa at December 5, 2008 2:46 PM in response to Brand-New Rentals at 379 Lefferts Avenue

On a crowded train, I'll stand right in between the leg-spreader's legs.They spend the rest of the ride doing their best to not appear uncomfortable.

Posted by: pfa at November 10, 2008 11:05 PM in response to Quote of the Day

I don't see a single fedders unit sticking out of it. Can't these guys get anything right?

Posted by: pfa at October 29, 2008 2:50 PM in response to Development Watch: 272 19th Street

I was looking to rent in BayRidge a year and a half ago and called a broker about an apartment she'd listed on craigslist. She's like, "look, I should warn you, it's Victorian, so that means it's old and it's got all these moldings and stuff..."

Posted by: pfa at October 20, 2008 6:53 PM in response to Another Bay Ridge Teardown

schprecken zie Rental?

Posted by: pfa at October 16, 2008 3:45 PM in response to Checking in on 138 Seeley

sad thing is, the developer/builder KNOWS he's built a classy, bee-oo-tee-ful house.

Posted by: pfa at October 16, 2008 12:24 PM in response to The Charming Paint Peeler Reincarnated

I lived in SP. Definitely a Long-Ass commute to manhattan. 45 minutes when all the planets are in alignment. 1 hour normally (and it's a long-ish walk to the train station from the address in question). great mexican/latin-american cuisine, a few good pizza joints, not much else. Very working-class and immigrant demographic. Depending on your proximity to the train station, your commute can take just as long from Bay Ridge, the next neighborhood over.

Posted by: pfa at October 11, 2008 1:43 AM in response to One Sunset Park Hits the Market

jackie loves, it's annoying when you brokers post on this site and pretend to be real people.

Posted by: pfa at October 11, 2008 1:42 AM in response to One Sunset Park Hits the Market

there's something inviting and pleasant about those big B&N stores (I admit this reluctantly). the fact is, those kids just don't have anywhere to go after school. there'a a much broader problem here...

Posted by: pfa at September 13, 2008 2:04 PM in response to Wild Teens Trash Court Street B&N, Assault Manager

it seems to make more sense to install a bike rack perpendicular to the road -- so that when you lock up your bike, it's parallel to the street instead of jutting into pedestrian traffic. I notice lots of bike racks are installed facing the road, so that if used correctly, your bike's back wheel ends up in everybody's way.

Posted by: pfa at September 11, 2008 7:14 PM in response to How to Get a Bike Rack Near You

appears to have good ceiling heights. they went cheap-o where it comes to window coverage. bigger window openings would have given the overall structure more balance. the undersized windows also don't seem to open fully; again, too bad, since better air circulation would have allowed for big savings in energy cost, especially in the summer.

why does scarano hate architecture?

Posted by: pfa at August 30, 2008 12:06 AM in response to Scarano-on-Fulton Finally Finishing Up

Clumsy, ugly building, windows that only sorta open, eight foot ceilings, motel-thick walls. Welcome, yuppies.

Posted by: pfa at August 12, 2008 5:19 PM in response to Checking In On 349 Metropolitan Avenue

it's situated between two incredibly busy commercial traffic zones, third avenue and fourth avenue, both of which have at least six lanes (maybe eight?)

Posted by: pfa at July 24, 2008 6:18 PM in response to Development Watch: New Sunset Park High School

like red hook, industry city is set apart from everything by the gowanus expressway. still, turn of the century factory buildings, the cobblestones, the train tracks (some of which remain in use), the waterfront, etc., make it more dumbo than dumbo. if you wanna be a pioneer, this is probably new york's last frontier.

Posted by: pfa at July 23, 2008 12:23 PM in response to Industry City, a Photo Tour

Nanook, you seem to be accepting the notion that low income neighborhoods like yours can only afford uninspired, poorly/cheaply built homes. The fact is, it doesn't have to be like that. It is possible to build an attractive, functional building using lower cost materials and techniques. This isn't being done for lots of reasons, but mostly because of the stupidity and greed of the developers who put up the monstrosities Brownstoner disapproves of.

Posted by: pfa at July 18, 2008 3:26 PM in response to Who's Gonna Buy This Stuff Now?