Facade Rises at Apartments Replacing Suburban-Style Bank Facing BQE in 'Burg

The eight-story, 123-unit rental apartment building replacing the suburban-style bank in the middle of a parking lot near the BQE entrance on Metropolitan topped out some time ago. Although scaffolding obscures the details of construction, windows are in and brick veneer has risen on the five residential floors comprising the building’s middle section.

A recent visit revealed thin gray brick reminiscent of Heath Ceramics’ iconic 1960s designs stacked vertically, punctuated by occasional stripes of horizontal running bond brick. The building, located at 402-416 Metropolitan Avenue, appears to be a somewhat rare case of infill improving on what was there before.

Although the new building is many times more massive than the 19th century row houses down the block — home to the Reliquary Museum, among others — its height fits in better with the streetscape than the previous one-story incongruous CapitalOne bank sitting in the middle of a parking lot.

The design by Kutnicki Bernstein Architects features a rounded front with curved glass windows facing the corner. That bevel, the building’s height and its topper of two set-back stories recall 19th century Parisian apartment buildings. The high-ceilinged ground-level retail spaces with big windows are pedestrian friendly.

The lot was purchased by an LLC named 420 Metro in 2020 for $19,000,000. Developers Yoel Hershkowitch and Joseph Banda of Ranco Capital are involved, according to The Real Deal.

Around 1940, the property was home to a mix of 19th century buildings, including an early wood frame house and, on the corner, possibly an empty lot, old tax photos show. Fingers crossed there won’t be any issues with vehicles making left turns to enter the BQE going astray.

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