Erik Stinson in The Atlantic:
Nü Williamsburg dates back to a 2005 change to zoning laws allowing for the construction of new residential units in the areas of North, South, and East Williamsburg, semi-defined divisions of the sprawling Brooklyn neighborhood. In 2008, the housing boom busted, but, slowly, many of the then-new projects are being completed and filled.
But why does Nü Williamsburg need an umlaut?
Rumour has it that Whole Foods supermarket may open a branch in its place.
New one on me – it is worth noting that the site (on the west side of Kent Avenue) is not zoned for residential use. So absent a rezoning application, it won’t be a condo. But as far as I know, retail (or hotel, restaurant, club, etc.) are all as-of-right uses.
Monster Island will be holding a farewell block party on Saturday, 10 September.
Conveniently located across the street from the Levee – my how that corner of the neighborhood has changed…
Along with praise for a Toll Brothers project in DUMBO* comes this dig at Northside Piers:
The buildings were, in effect, exactly what you’d expect, aesthetically, from a builder of mass-produced McMansions: shiny, modern and drab.
I’ve long been on the record as preferring the shiny, modern “drabness” of FX Fowle’s NSP to the shiny, modern cacophony of its next-door neighbor.
*Full disclosure – a project I worked on.
Per the last post, industry is alive and well in Brooklyn, it’s just different than what a lot of people think of as industry. But hotels and nightlife – two uses that are as-of-right in industrial zones – are probably the biggest threats to the viability of all that.
Brownstoner reports that 111 Kent Avenue, the Michael Muroff-designed condo at the prime corner of North 7th and Kent Avenue, is ramping up its sales effort as a rental. The project, which began life as a condo development, had been stalled for ages. Now it is back, as a “boutique rental residence” (boutique would be one of the last words that come to mind looking at this building).
Yet more proof that the market for rentals in former condo developments is particularly strong in North Brooklyn.
Crain’s reports that the former Matchett Candy Factory at Wythe and South 4th, one of the handsomest old factory buildings in Williamsburg, is fully rented. Further evidence (viz. 175 Kent) that the market for rentals in former condo developments remains very strong in North Brooklyn. (The market for condos isn’t doing too bad either, but clearly the market right now is in rentals.)
This isn’t really news – the developer has been talking up some sort of gallery or museum for months. And the Crain’s report doesn’t really add much in the way of definitiveness – the whole project, including the vacant lot next door, is still pretty ill-defined.
The architect for the project talks up the challenges of creating a museum in a landmark interior (can’t hang art on the landmarked walls?!?). Which is pretty rich when you consider that parts of the Metropolitan are landmarked, and they get by just fine. Even better, apparently without irony, the rest of the Crain’s article is about the challenge of fitting drugstores, and a host of other corporate retail establishments into landmark interiors. if Duane Reade can figure out to squeeze themselves into a landmark interior, you’d think a museum would be a piece of cake.
It will be interesting to see what this developer comes up for the space – no doubt it’s a challenge dealing with designated interiors, but he’s not the first to cross this river. Yes, it will be some of mix of hotel, gallery/museum and catering hall. But so far, the only thing that is definite is the catering – the knee-jerk, least creative use for bank interiors. And we knew that a year ago – the fact that the development team is still floating vague ideas doesn’t inspire confidence.
[via Brownstoner]
The hulking steel skeleton of stalled development at Bedford and North 4th is back in play at bankruptcy court, as two developers fight for control of the property. The property had been tied up with urban renewal restrictions through 2009, though the current owner had proposed a deal to get out of those restrictions back in ’07 or ’08.
From Curbed, 11 Broadway gets a new (tan) facade. The building is about halfway up, and Curbed reports that it is slated to open (possibly with a grocery store) towards the end of 2012.
