New Permits (And Hope) For 250 and 252 Smith Street?

For many years now, three row houses on Smith Street between DeGraw and Douglass Streets have been empty and have slowly deteriorated to the dismay of local residents and business owners. Owned by Fae Holdings Woodside, LLC  of Queens,  250, 252 and 254 Smith Street were once home to Refinery, Flirt, A-Plus For Learning and Area.  but about seven years ago, those businesses were asked to move.
Construction work on all three buildings began shortly afterwards, but NYC Department Of Buildings slapped  several violations onto the properties for "work without permits."
Though several permits were eventually taken out, work stopped and the three buildings began to deteriorate.
Just last week, Carroll Gardens Patch reported that the Fire Department inspected the properties and marked all three with an X, indicating that conditions in the buildings were dangerous and that responders should not enter in case of a fire.

But just as it seemed as though the buildings were doomed,  new permits have been posted for both number 250 and 252 Smith Street.
The DOB permit for 250 Smith Street is for the conversion of 'apartment at first floor to store (restaurant and bakery)" and to "create eating and drinking at cellar."  The owner is also seeking a new Certificate of Occupancy.
The permit for number 252 Smith Street is for a "horizontal extension of 8' and interior rehab to the existing building."
A crew was already working on number 252 this morning.
No new permits for number 254 as of yet.  Hopefully, the building will see some love as well.

Read More

Artist Andrea LaHue Brings Her "Random Acts Of Flowers" To Neighborhood Construction Fences

On construction fence at 320 Court Street

Construction fence on Smith Street near Douglass Street

2009 'random act' on the construction fence at 250 Smith Street

Sunflower on 340 Court Street construction fence

There is nothing more drab than a plywood construction fence. Unfortunately, since the downturn in the real estate market, some fences, such as the one surrounding the Clarett site at 340 Court Street or the one on Smith Street near Douglass Street, seem to have become permanent fixtures in our neighborhood.

However, this summer, Los Angeles-based artist Andrea LaHue has used a few fences in our neighborhood as canvas for her beautifully painted blossoms. According to her web site, the artist has painted 80 plus flowers in 33 US cities as part of her cross-country "Random Acts Of Flowers" project. She writes: "The interaction with all the communities is surprisingly the same... Flowers make everybody happy!"

Thanks, Andrea! Have enjoyed those giant blooms on my walks.

Here is Andrea LaHue's video on her work around the neighborhood.

ShareThis

Read More

Caught Red-Handed: Behind Plywood Fence at 250 Smith Street, Work Not Conforming To Permit

Once the home of the 'Rosemary Room': 250 Smith Street

Something did not seem quite right with the construction at 250 Smith Street from the start.
For one thing, it has been going on forever. Second, the permit issued for a renovation of existing commercial space to a restaurant and bakery on the first floor and an eating and drinking establishment in the basement did not match the scope of work going on behind the plywood fence
Occasionally, when the door was open, one could see that there was a lot of digging going on and a lot of dirt being removed. It also looked as though part of the building's back wall had been removed.
Obviously, others had noticed too, including the Buildings Department.
On January 14, 2009, a D.O.B. inspector responded to a complaint that the work at the site was done without displayed permits.
A violation and stop-work order were issued. The inspector noted:
WORK DOES NOT CONFORM TO APPROVED PLAN. REAR CELLAR EXTENDED. POSSIBLE SECOND STORY TO BE ADDED.
I guess there are still owners and builders out there who think they can add a story to a building without anyone noticing...


For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

Read More