It's Taken A Long Time, But 132 Second Place's Make-Over A Bit Closer To Completion

132 Second Place back in 2008

Losing its stoop in early 2011

Construction of cinderblock wall surrounding front yard, Spring 2011

New cornice, summer 2012

The conversion of the four-story brownstone at 132 Second Place to a five-story (presumedly condo) building has taking a long time, but it now looks as though at least the façade is complete. In the process, it has lost a stoop, but gained a cornice.

It all started in 2005, when the home was sold for $1,850,000 to Mohegan Holdings, Co. LLC.
Shorty afterwards, work began on a vertical and horizontal addition. That's when things quickly turned into a comedy of errors. First, the NYC Department of Buildings issued a violation for demolition work done 'without proper permits'. Then, after proper permits were filed in the fall of 2006, the back wall collapsed into the neighbor's back yard. Construction stopped and the windows were bricked up. The building languished in limbo for the next few years.

In 2007, the deed to the property was transferred from the Mohegan Holding Company, LLC to a Henry Azcue for $1,825,000. New work permits were issued by the NYC Department of Buildings in 2008 and work finally resumed, but then stopped again.

It wasn't until the spring of 2011 that construction seemed to finally move along. However, progress has been sporadic at best and I was told that the inside looks as though it still needs lost of work

Over the last year and a half, a fifth floor was added, the rear extension was completed, and a new brownstone coat was applied. In the last few weeks, a cornice has been attached.

It's only too bad that the brownstone lost it's stoop. The new entrance definitely makes it look more like an apartment building. And the new aluminum awning just accentuates this.
And have you noticed that t is crooked?

Reader Dinah sent the photo below and wrote:
'Pardon me for asking, but is this "rooflet" supposed to be crooked? I got gestures and attempts to explain in English, but English was not the workers' first language, so I took my picture, shrugged, and moved on.'

photo credit: Dinah G.

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Construction Of New Building On Union Street Causes Huge Headache For Neighboring Building Owners

Late last week, excavation work for a new single family building at number 467 Union Street caused severe structural cracks to the neighboring buildings at 463 and  465 Union Street.  In response, NYC Department Of Buildings imposed a complete Stop Work Order for number 467 and served a Vacate Order to number 465.

Once featured as a House Of The Day on Brownstoner, the original building at 467 Union Street was marketed by Corcoran as a teardown.   After some time on the market, it  was eventually sold for $377,000 in March 2012 to Jill and John Bouratoglou, the husband and wife team behind Bouratoglou Architect, PC.  Shortly afterwards, permits were filed with NYC Department Of Buildings for a  four-story, one family house.
Work on the site began in early June 2012. Almost immediately, there was trouble.  After several complaints to DOB, a Full Stop Work Order was served by the Brooklyn Borough Commissioner on August 22, but rescinded on August 28th.
Then on August 29th, more cracking appeared on the façade of the neighboring building, prompting DOB to serve a new Stop Work Order to 467 Union Street.  But the agency also served a vacate order to the owner and tenants of Number 465, stating that the structure had been undermined by the excavation.

Not the best start for Bouratoglou Architect, PC, and a real nightmare for their new neighbors.

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A Jungle Grows On Smith Street

Once upon a time, several one-story buildings stood at the corner of Smith and Douglass Street. About 15 years ago, one of them housed SUR, a popular Argentinian steakhouse that helped spark Smith Street's revival. Another was home to a bicycle shop, if my memory serves me right.

By 2006, the stores closed, and shortly afterwards, the buildings were demolished, presumably to make way for a new building.

Since then, the big empty lot at 232-240 Smith Street, has been sitting empty and in the last few years, its owner, SON CLAIRE REALTY LLC, has amassed not only a Stop Work Order from DOB, but also a very impressive amount of violations for 'work without permit' as well as for 'failure to maintain construction fence" from NYC Department Of Buildings.

In addition, fines adding up to several thousand dollars have been imposed.

Yet, on a regular basis, sections of the plywood fence continue to warp or to fall down as well as restrict half of the sidewalk on the Smith Street side.

Over the years, trees and weeds have taken over the lot.  Neighbors continue to call 311, without much result, it would seem.

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Quirks And All...339 Union Street Renovation Almost Complete

Work on the brick townhouse at 339 Union Street has been going on for the last few years now. Original plans for an interior renovation of the four family, four story building were first filed with NYC Department Of Buildings back in 2009 by Adam Aaron Architect, PC., of Avenue T in Brooklyn. Interior demolition started soon afterwards, but the site was hit with a Stop Work Order in 2010. Apparently, the work did not conform to the approved permit and did not include the horizontal extension that was being built onto the rear of the structure.
By early 2011, amended plans had been filed and construction resumed. A few week sago, the plywood fence surrounding the site has been removed, revealing some real quirks. Obviously, esthetics weren't high on the list of priorities. Just take a look at the new parlor floor windows. Or how about the new front door that isn't even centered in the opening?
One wonders what the inside looks like.

The building belongs Arthur Haruvi of Simry Realty. (Read more about Haruvi here)
No word yet on if the four units will be offered s rentals or condos.

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After More Than Five Years, 'Remuddling' of 132 Second Place Almost Complete

132 Second Place as it looked back in 2008

In early 2011, after the stoop was removed

Existing iron fence being replaced by cinderblock wall in May 2011

132 Second Place just last week with new cement scratch coat on façade

Extension on back of building

Construction at 132 Second Place, between Smith and Court Streets, has been going on for such a long time now, that it seemed it would go on forever.  However, after a few months of steady work, it appears that sometimes soon, this condo conversion may finally be completed.

It all started in 2005, when the home was sold for $1,850,000 to Mohegan Holdings, Co. LLC. 
Shorty afterwards, work began on a vertical and horizontal addition.  That's when things quickly turned into a comedy of errors.  First, the NYC Department of Buildings issued a violation for demolition work done  'without proper permits'. Then, after proper permits were filed in the fall of 2006, the back wall collapsed into the neighbor's back yard. Construction stopped and the windows were bricked up. The building languished in limbo for the next few years. 
In 2007, the deed to the property was transferred from the Mohegan Holding Company, LLC to a Henry Azcue for $1,825,000. New work permits were issued by the NYC Department of Buildings in 2008 and  work finally resumed.  But not for long.  

It wasn't until the spring of 2011 that construction seemed to finally move along.

A fifth floor was added, the rear extension was completed, and a new cement scratch coat was applied to the façade (which hopefully, will be followed by a layer of brown cement shortly.)  

Unfortunately, the old brownstone lost its stoop in the process and an unsightly cinderblock fence now replaces the original iron fence.

One can't argue that the original brownstone was one of Carroll Garden's grandest homes before this 'remuddle' started.  It had lost its cornice long ago, but this hundred year old building still had some wonderful detail on its façade.

What replaces it is devoid of any character or charm.  How very sad.

What's your opinion?

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