Williamsburg’s Rife With New Buildings Again

In case you haven’t noticed, development is booming (again) in Williamsburg. The Post has the details on over 1,300 new units that will (supposedly) hit the market by the end of 2014 (most of them rentals, but condos seem poised for a rise from the ashes too). As Brownstoner points out, it’s pretty clear the Post hasn’t even scratched the surface – anecdotally, it seems as though the majority of the formerly-stalled sites in the area are back in action, and there are a lot of development sites that the article misses. To Brownstoner’s list (11 Broadway and 65 Hope), I’d add South 6th and Wythe (pouring foundations), North 6th & Wythe (almost topped out), South 1st near Kent (back in action), Grand & Driggs (closed in) and about a dozen small sites between Broadway and McCarren that are actively under construction.

As the Post says, “Think the L train is crowded now? Brace yourself.”. Indeed.

Brooklyn Brewery WAREHOUSE Sold

11/29/2011 | Comment

Regarding the earlier confusion (mine and others) as to exactly which part of the Brooklyn Brewery recently sold, I received the following from the Brewery’s PR:

BROOKLYN (29 Nov 2011)—Recent reports have misleadingly indicated that The Brooklyn Brewery building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has been sold. The Brooklyn Brewery operations are housed in two locations: one at 79 North 11th Street in which the brewery, tasting room and corporate office are situated; and another across the street at 118 North 11th Street, the ground floor of which is occupied by our warehouse. It is only the building holding our warehouse that has been sold – our lease at this location does not expire until 2025. The notion that The Brooklyn Brewery is in danger of losing its home is erroneous.

Brooklyn Brewery’s Home Fetches $16M

A five-building complex on North 11th Street, which include the current home of Brooklyn Brewery, has sold for $16 million. The new owner plans to convert the buildings to residential use. Fear not, though – the brewery has a lease through 2025.

(Crain’s says that these buildings were originally built to house a Dr. Brown’s soda factory, but the buildings that house the brewery (and the Brooklyn Bowl) were built between 1886 and 1907 as part of the Hecla Irons Works. The other portion of the development site was once part of the N.Y. Quinine and Chemical Works.)

Oops – wrong side of the street. The properties that sold are not where Brooklyn has its brewery and tours, but the warehouse on Berry. The site is the eastern half of the block fronting Berry, between North 10th and North 11th Streets. Four of the buildings were built by Hecla Iron Works (including the building that housed its offices and showrooms on North 11th (1896-97, Niels Pouslon, architect), which is a city landmark); the fifth building, 56-60 Berry, is a three-story reinforced-concrete bottling plant built by the Carl H. Schultz Corp., a manufacturer of mineral water (1928-29, Francisco & Jacobus, architects). Schultz had acquired the entire property in 1928 for use as manufacturing and bottling. In 1929, Schultz merged with Schoneberger & Noble (manufacturer of Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray soda) and the Brownie Corporation (manufacturer of a chocolate soda) to form the American Beverage Co. So the site did manufacture Dr. Brown’s soda, but it wasn’t built as such. (The origins of Dr. Brown’s turn out to be very murky – I have a research team on it.)

Western Carpet Warehouse Sells for $27.5 Million

Brownstoner recently (OK, a week and a half ago) reported that the Western Carpet warehouse on Wythe between North 4th and North 5th has sold for a hefty $27.5 million. This is one of the last really big development sites in the prime Northside area that was rezoned in 2005 (the other being the warehouse across the street on North 5th, which apparently is owned by the same family.

Chris Havens, in the comments says that the new owner is merging two zoning lots to put all of the development rights on the Wythe Avenue site. But the property appears to be a single zoning lot already, and in a height-capped contextual zone, using additional air rights is a tricky proposition.

NY’s Most Loathed Architect

The Post sure didn’t pull any punches in its profile of prolific architect Karl Fischer. Fischer is responsible for some pretty questionable buildings (I still can’t figure out where the entrance to 20 Bayard is), but he is far from the worst practitioner of architecture in Brooklyn.

On the other hand, I think it is telling that his “least favorite” buildings in NY are the Herman Jessor-designed co-operative village buildings in Corelears Hook (Seward Park Houses and Corlears Hook Houses) – some of the most successful working-class housing developments in the city, and the culmination of four decades of progressive housing in the neighborhood. The designs might be simple, but the planning and execution are wonderful. And they’re still standing (and in demand) 50 years later.

Conversion Beginning at Old Pfizer Plant

The huge Pfizer plant on the south side of Flushing Avenue – which is being rehabbed for smaller-scale industrial use – is already partially rented.

Tower Has Its Own Lawn, But Neighbors Still Look For Their Open Space

144 North 8th Street (you know, the Finger Building) has a ton of open space, but the rest of the community is still waiting for theirs.

Williamsburg Slab Hotel “Unlikely”

Remember that lovely rendering of a set-back slab hotel that would go next door to the Williamsburgh Savings Bank building on Broadway? Turns out that it is very theoretical:

“Our architect did a design on spec — we don’t have that kind of money,” said [Juan] Figueroa, [owner of the site]. “I don’t know why he put it out there. He’s crazy to put it out there like that.”

So much for the “international design competition” the architect says that he was part of.

(Figueroa’s larger point is worth noting – someday he hopes to put a hotel on that site, just not necessarily this hotel. Maybe he’ll opt for a plan that has developable floor plates?)

Tower Day #2: Klein May Move Forward in Greenpoint

11/02/2011 | Comment

Greenpoint Waterfront: The Future
(Rendering by City Planning)

More tower news (it’s Greenpoint’s turn)! Matt Chaban in the Observer has a piece on the imminent launch of phase one (at least) of the 10-tower project at the very north end of the Greenpoint waterfront. The project would be completely as of right, thanks to the 2005 rezoning, and would presumably benefit greatly from the construction of Barge Park to the north, if that ever happens. As with other waterfront developments, the project will include the buildout of a waterfront esplanade and the construction of 20% of the units as affordable (onsite, I believe).

Tower Day #1: Williamsburgh Savings Bank Hotel Tower

11/02/2011 | Comment

WilliamsburgHotel, proposed

The Architects Newspaper has the winning renderings from an “international design competition” for a hotel on the parking lot to the west of the landmarked Williamsburgh Savings Bank, which look pretty amazing in a 40-story sort of way. Brownstoner wonders how theoretical this project is, and the answer is probably “extremely”. The developer is not named , nor are the other competition entrants (the design is from Oppenheim A + D [warning: Flash site]). It is not clear if this is requires zoning waivers, or if the project is using development rights (and waivers) from the landmark bank next door. Etc. Etc.

Still – pretty pictures (pigeons and all) to contemplate.