132 Second Place back in 2008
In late March 2011, after the stoop was removed
And now...
Granted, the old brownstone at 132 Second Place was never one of Carroll Gardens' grandest homes. It had lost its cornice, but after more than a hundred years, it still had some original details above its windows and above the front door.
That, however, changed in 2005. And things have gone downhill for this century-old row house ever since.
A major vertical and horizontal enlargement of the building quickly turned into a comedy of errors. Numerous DOB violations and stop-work orders were issued. Add to that a change in ownership and a time in limbo after the Carroll Gardens Wide Street Text Amendment and Contextual Rezoning, which all contributed to long delays.
But more than anything, it was the shoddy work that dragged this construction out so long. First,in 2006, the structure's back wall collapsed into the neighbor's yard. After some stop-work orders, work resumed and a fifth floor was added to the existing structure.
New permits were approved in March 2011 and work resumed in ernest. By that time, the building's stoop was removed to make an entrance on the lower garden level. In addition, some of the façade's details have been hacked off. I am sure the rest will be removed as well.
In the last week, the fence surrounding the front yard has been removed and workers have been erecting a very high, unsightly cinderblock wall, which interrupts the lovely flow and openness of the street's signature front yards. One of my reader calls it "the wall of shame."
I couldn't agree more.
Could things get any worse for this 'former' brownstone?
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