Curbed has taken a look at the floor plan of one of the fancier apartments planned for 20 Henry Street, and quotes a tipster as saying “it’s one of the worst 4BR floorplans she’s seen”. Take a look here, and let us know what you think.
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46159
Chicago-based Potbelly Sandwich Shop is opening its first Brooklyn location and tenth New York locale at 345 Adams, next to Panera Bread, along the corridor’s new “Restaurant Row.” A sign in the window promises, “A warm new neighbor, coming soonish,” Brownstoner reports. The eatery, which serves breakfast, sandwiches, soups and baked goods, will occupy 2,500sf. Word is that Chipotle is also coming to Downtown Brooklyn, at the corner of Willoughby and Jay.
Crain’s New York Business reported in December that two other restaurants will be joining the Adams Street collective this fall: Sugar and Plumm, a combination restaurant, ice cream parlor & chocolate retailer; and American BBQ and Beer Co., both developed by Sugar and Plumm Co., from Mark Advent, creator of Las Vegas’ New York, New York hotel and casino.
All are located around the corner from Fulton Mall, adjoining the burgeoning Willoughby Street Pedestrian Plaza. The building at 345 Adams is almost fully leased now, with only 1,000sf of retail still remaining available, according to the New York Observer.
Also new in the building is the 15,000sf Bright Horizons, a childcare facility.
(Photos: Potbelly: Brownstoner; 345 Adams Street: New York Observer)
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/46115
It appears the historic Williamsburg Bank building at 1 Hanson Place, which stood for decades as the tallest structure in Brooklyn, at 512 feet & 37 stories, is now just one of the crowd. As gentrification continues in Downtown Brooklyn, at least a half-dozen highrise residential towers are in the works.
The New York Observer tallies the progress, noting the skyline along Flatbush Avenue “has been utterly transformed” in recent years, as six new apartment towers rose during the last building boom: the Toren, the Brooklyner, the Oro, Avalon Fort Greene, the DKLB and Forte.
Adding to those projects (with BHB research from Brownstoner, Real Deal, Curbed):
* The Oro 2 at the corner of Gold and Johnson Streets is now getting off the ground, which will rise to 35 stories with 208 apartments.
* Billionaire John Catsimatidis is preparing the second of four buildings on Myrtle Avenue between Ashland Place and Flatbush Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn. At the end of June he filed for a 15-story mixed-use building with 160,000sf of residential and 13,000sf of commercial.
* 29 Flatbush Avenue, where construction is well under way. The 42-story rental building is slated for 2013 completion.
* Two Trees is developing a formerly city-owned property at Flatbush & Lafayette near BAM, which is said to include a residential tower and public open space.
* City Point Phase 2 facing Fulton Street Mall, is set to begin construction in the coming months. The nearly complete Phase 1 (due to house Century 21) comprises 45,000sf of retail space; while Phase 2 will include a 250-unit 19-story tower and a 400-unit 30-story tower—both residential rental—connected by a four-story structure containing a half-million square feet of retail. Phase 3 is supposed to be a 54-story tower, but so far remains penciled in on the drawing board.
* Still in the planning stages: The Hub from movie moguls David and Douglas Steiner, which calls for a 52-story, 720-rental unit tower at Flatbush and Schermherhorn.
* 85 Flatbush Avenue Extension—a triangle-shaped parcel at Flatbush, Tillary and Duffield—remains ripe for development, after Brooklyn-based North Development Group, led by developer Isaac Hager, planned to build a 21-story, 108-unit residential condo tower at the vacant site, which stalled at year-end 2011.
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45622
So we were apparently a little tardy in our weekend post about the closing of Montague Street’s Hallmark store. Let’s make good by sharing the latest on the building planned for 172-174 Montague, which will replace the two-story structure that once held Eammon’s and Hallmark.
First, the Brooklyn Eagle reveals that new owner “BH 1 CD LLC,” is operated by principals Eli Stoll and Charles Dayan. A little more digging by BHB shows that the company is based at 499 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. As previously reported, the 8,150/sf building (and 5,000/sf lot) sold for $12 million. The current 50-foot wide and 95-feet deep structure—which also has a cellar—was originally constructed in 1925, and does not fall within the Brooklyn Heights Landmark District and thus is not subject to its 50 foot height limit. According to Property Shark, the building was most recently assessed at a value of $1,699,650.
With a C5-2/DB zoning designation, the property is approved for 60,000 buildable square feet and “significant air rights,” with a demolition permit already issued by the Department of Buildings, the Eagle says. Originally, an application was filed to construct a 19-story, 66-unit mixed-use residential building—but was nixed by DOB July 10.
Besen & Associates, which brokered the deal, says the seller Robar, LLC (a private investor) “resisted the temptation to sell his air rights on several occasions after receiving unsolicited offers,” according to David Davidson, who represented the seller with Besen’s Lynda Blumberg. That includes a bid from the developer of the 34-story Archstone luxury rental next door, at 180 Montague Street. It was built in 1999, and sold in 2006 to residential REIT Archstone Smith for $101 million.
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45576
As previously reported by BHB, the two-story commercial building and its air rights at 172-174 Montague Street were sold in June, with plans to turn it into a highrise condo development. As we also noted, Irish pub & restaurant Emmonn’s In Brooklyn at 174 shuttered June 17.
As expected, the Hallmark store next door at 172 Montague has now officially closed its doors, as well. The shop opened in 1991. Here’s some gruesome trivia: In 2003, 37-year-old co-owner Barry Curwin killed himself with a handgun inside the Hallmark store.
The 8,150-square-foot property at 172-174 Montague sold for $12 million, according to the New York Observer. The building has a C5-2/DB zoning designation, giving it air rights of up to 60,000 square feet. Residential rental building The Archstone next door at 180 Montague Street, built for $101 million in 2000, is 33 stories. Its 186 units range from $2,497-$3,037/month for 1 bedrooms, and $3,903-$4,128/month for 2 bedrooms.
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45475
A group of concerned residents who reside at 200 Hicks Street are taking to task the new owners of the Bossert Hotel at 98 Montague Street. Brooklyn Heights rez Elizabeth Bailey and her comrades believe the conversion plan currently before the Bureau of Standard and Appeals could create serious noise, traffic and safety issues in the area.
She writes to the Brooklyn Heights Blog: “Although residents of Brooklyn 
are happy, mostly, about our borough’s resurgence, or rather, emergence, those of us who live here because it is a quiet, safe place to live and bring up children, are worried that these developers are showing little regard to neighborhood concerns.”
New owners David Bistricer and Joseph Chetrit are seeking a variance to convert the hotel to a “commercial transient facility,” from its status as visitor housing for previous owner Jehovah’s Witnesses. The BSA has scheduled a hearing on the application September 11.
The group of residents at 200 Hicks, located at the northwest corner of Montague, say that the plan could deter the Heights’ peaceful persona “if it is done without regard to the nature and character of our residential community.” Bailey points to a New York Times feature on the Bossert from November 2011, in which Brooklyn Heights Association executive director Judy Stanton notes concerns about upkeep, “since Watchtower society placed a premium on maintenance, including the surrounding sidewalks and parks.” Stanton also intimates that the neighborhood may become livelier if the Bossert is converted into a high-end hotel.
Bailey writes, “The developers are proposing to increase the number of rooms from 224 to 302. Although they speak of creating a boutique hotel, over 300 rooms is a pretty big boutique. They also have plans to build a ground floor restaurant, event spaces (weddings and bar mitzvahs, etc.) and a bar on the rooftop. The developers contend that the increase in traffic on the busy corner of Montague and Hicks from their proposed hotel will be negligible.” She finds this “hard to believe.”
“There have been many articles in the New York press about the negative impact of noisy bars—particularly rooftop bars—on residential neighborhoods,” Bailey adds, citing Times’ stories here and here.
“We understand from press reports that both Chetrit and Bistricer have been publicly criticized for various aspects of their past real estate ventures. Among other controversial matters, Chetrit is one of the investors in the Empire Hotel near Lincoln Center, which has been the subject of a three-year battle that a West 62nd Street coop had to wage in the courts over ‘torment’ from the noise from its rooftop bar well after midnight,” Bailey says. “The developers are also involved with the Chelsea Hotel, which has been the subject of recent controversy. Noise and traffic: That’s what Brooklyn Heights residents are worried about.”
The 200 Hicks Street group proposes that restrictions be put in place on the proposed hotel/bar: “The aim is to limit the increase in noise and traffic that would compromise the safety and the character of this neighborhood.” Bailey invites public discourse of the issue, and is available via email at Elizaabailey@mac.com.
Comments from the BHB community?
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45367
Today’s New York Times has a front page story highlighting local skepticism about the proposed fieldhouse and velodrome in Brooklyn Bridge Park. In addition to quoting Brooklyn Heights resident Peter Flemming, whose objections were noted in our ealier post (linked above) and in the Eagle, the Times story notes the concerns about traffic raised by Candace Lombardi, identified as a seventeen year Heights resident. In addition, it quotes Fulton Ferry Landing Association president Joan Zimmerman as objecting to the fieldhouse’s proposed location at one of the Park’s narrowest points, and asking why this can’t be made green space. But Regina Myer, Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation’s president, is quoted as saying this space would be used for a maintenance facility in any event, and that such a facility will be included within the structure of the fieldhouse/velodrome.
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45023
Karl and his cam got quite the workout Friday evening. Following his visit to the opera in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Dellarocco’s “soft opening”, he asked Glenn Markman about his views on his and his partners’ new venture, Dellarocco’s, and got an answer that extended to discussion of the new Beach Shack, Brooklyn Bridge Park, downtown Brooklyn, the Nets, the Bossert Hotel, Brooklyn real estate in general, and prospects for the future. Video after the jump.
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/44986
At last! Dellarocco’s of Brooklyn, the new local brick-oven eatery at 214 Hicks Street, one door south of Montague, is set to open for business Tuesday, July 31. The eatery held a soft opening Friday, featuring pizzas cooked in its wood-burning brick oven imported from Italy, which were oh so delectably light & tasty. The restaurant also features a wine & beer cafe, offering local Brooklyn brews. And for dessert: hand-made cannoli. Update: Our man Karl was on hand with his cam. Video, as well as more text and photos, after the jump.
Dellarocco’s is owned & operated by Brooklyn-bred brothers Greg and Glenn Markman and Joseph Secondino (who has known the bros for 30+ years). The three are also partners of the Heights Cafe next door at 84 Montague Street. Dellarocco’s has a separate kitchen and operates as an independent biz. (See photos below.)
The tasteful boutique-style dining room boasts 15-foot ceilings, with a menu specializing in personal pizzas. It is open seven days a week, from noon to midnight. As you might guess from the image, delivery is also available. (Photos: Chuck Taylor)
Dellarocco’s owners Joseph Secondino, Glenn and Greg Markman.
Hopeful signs of success for the local eatery.
Joe, Glen, Greg… owners of Dellarocco’s Of Brooklyn.
The owners with Chef Pasquale Cozzolino in center.
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/44910
The $40 million, 2,499-seat Fieldhouse/Velodrome proposed for Brooklyn Bridge Park has been personified as a community recreation center, with an indoor bike riding track as its centerpiece. But Peter Flemming, Co-Chair of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Community Council and a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee of the Park Corp., says the plan that’s been shared with the public is a ruse.
He tells the Brooklyn Eagle that the proposed Fieldhouse is actually “a specialized velodrome masquerading as a community recreation center—and it doesn’t belong in Brooklyn Bridge Park… Painting stripes on a horse doesn’t make it a zebra.”
Flemming says that the Velodrome will primarily serve specialized competitive track cyclists who come from around the world, accompanied by hundreds of vehicles and thousands of spectators, to the detriment of BBP: “It’s a pipe dream. The number of people who really want it you can count on the fingers of your left hand. What is it doing in our park? Why help the city build a huge stadium in a tiny waterfront park for this quaint, obscure, bizarre sport?”
The Eagle explains: “A velodrome is a racing track, banked 45 degrees or more at the curves, for competitive bicycle racing. Competitors ride special fixed-gear bikes without brakes, and must travel at least 16 miles an hour to avoid tipping over. There is only one other indoor velodrome in the United States, the Home Depot Center Velodrome in Carson, California, though there are dozens of outdoor velodromes.”
Brooklyn Bridge Park proponents say the Fieldhouse, backed by founder and chairman Joshua P. Rechnitz, is envisioned as a “flexible public indoor athletic and recreation center” that includes a public boathouse, restrooms and space for the park’s maintenance and operations.
Greg Brooks, executive director of New York City Fieldhouse, argues in the Eagle that the entire community will make use of the facility, and says it will “save the park millions in capital costs. That’s money for maintenance, restrooms, storage for kayaks, all capital costs the park will not have to spend or maintain.”
Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park, adds, “The proposed Fieldhouse will bring park users and the community the all-weather sports and recreation venue that has always been included in the General Project Plan for the park but was unattainable due to financial constraints. We will continue to work with the New York City Field House to address the community’s concerns and ensure that this project adds positively to the park experience.”
There’s much more to the story in the Brooklyn Eagle. See the article here.
(Photo: Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy via McBrooklyn)
Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/44836