Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
New York Shitty Day Ender: Turn Out The Lights
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
(Or, 239 Banker Street Revisited)
Today on a lark I decided to swing by 239 Banker Street (formerly known as the Sweater Factory Lofts) to see what’s shaking. I was not disappointed.
After I shot the above photograph a gaggle of hipsters took notice and stopped. One of them (who I would presume to be their leader) initiated contact:
I’m guessing you broke that glass because the landlord ripped you off?
I turned around, pointed to the plywood gracing the entrance and replied:
Like I would live in a place like this? I don’t think so.
There was a pregnant pause and then my new friend told me about how the former tenants of this building were ordered out of the building, screwed out of their security deposits and so on and so forth. Although I know of all of this already I listened attentively as he gave me the whole run-down. After he concluded his speech out rolled the corker: he was one of the tenants vacated from this building! There is undoubtedly a life lesson to be had here, dear readers. I will leave it to you to ascertain what it is. But I digress.
When this gent finished his tale of woe I brought it to his attention that he and his neighbors were not the only people Max and his funky bunch owe money to:
(Insert punchline here.)
Miss Heather
P.S.: In (somewhat) related news it would appear that someone has egged the entrance to the Pencil Factory Lofts.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Greenpoint Lofts Going Rental…
and residential? The latter being the in the true north Brooklyn tradition (READ: illegal living space).
Not only are there “for lease” signs gracing the place formerly known as The Greenpoint Lofts but I have intriguing information from a tipster we’ll call Q. It started like this:
Hey Miss Heather,
My name is Q and I stumbled on your blog during my search for a work/live space. I noticed you had quite a few entries about the place I was considering on 231 Norman…
This raised some serious bells and whistles for yours truly. You see, 231 Norman is by definition (and Certificate of Occupancy) a commercial space. Living is not allowed. I brought this and a number of other concerns to this person’s attention including (but not limited to):
1. The slew of complaints and violations for this property per the Department of Building’s Building Information System…
2. What happened at 239 Banker Street). He/she replied:
…No, the property was not advertised as live/work space. I saw it as a commercial property and I thought it would be possible to convert because the set up of this particular building seems to lend itself to that quite well. On the other hand, I think there is a bit of wink-wink-nod kind of thing going on about the whole live/work set up. I had a pretty big discussion with the realtor about putting in some amenities to make it a work/live set up and he informed me that there are people who have done that in the building. In addition, he didn’t say that my plans to convert the place to make it more “livable” was anything illegal. Of course, if one is to be a cynic, one could say that he is just eager to make a sale…
If 239 Banker has taught a number of unfortunate folks (and yours truly) an unpleasant lesson it is this: exercise due diligence. Do not take a broker’s word as gospel. This is not to suggest there are not reputable, ethical, dedicated brokers out there. There are— but there are many who are not. Especially in these lean economic times.
It goes without saying that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your instincts and do not fool yourself into thinking that illegal conversions (even if given a blind eye by the developer and/or the real estate agents who represent his/her) cannot or will not effect you.
They can and will. The last I heard the residents of 239 Banker Street have yet to get back their deposit money. There’s a distinct possibility they never will. Don’t become a statistic.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: Feministing
Filed under: 11222, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
From Banker Street.
Miss Heather
Note: The second image hails from none other than the SWO’ed and vacated Sweater Factory Lofts.
New York Shitty Day Ender: All Apologies
Filed under: 11222, 11237, Asshole, Bloomblight, Bushwick, Dog Shit, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit
From 239 Banker Street.*
Miss Heather
P.S.: Those of you who are wondering about 718-STANDUP’s provenance you can see it here. I suppose Max was a supporter of Isaac Abraham for the 33rd City Council District.
*Formerly known as the Sweater Factory Lofts.
Reader Comment Du Jour: Advice For Someone DOB’d From The Sweater Factory Lofts?
Most folks (myself included) would consider the evacuation of 239 Banker Street to be yesterday’s news. However, when the following comment came to my attention today I simply had to post it here. Action writes:
The vacate happened 3 days before I was supposed to move in. I’m working with Brooklyn Civil Court to start the process to get my money back. Does anyone know of alternative routes to take? Maybe a class action case?
I do not profess to be an attorney (or even playing one on t.v.). Although I have some tenant-landlord court experience Action’s problem is way off my radar. Does anyone have some advice or thoughts for Action? If so please leave them in the comments. Thanks!
Miss Heather
BREAKING: The Sweater Factory Lofts Gets DOB’d Again!
Remember the Sweater Factory Lofts?
You know, the building at 239 Banker Street that is zoned as a hotel but is actuality being used as residential space? The one which despite being fined $5,000 for violating a long standing Stop Work Order kept on working anyway? Day and night. Well, something very interesting came to pass there this afternoon.
Anonymous writes (at 3:19 p.m.):
Breaking news! That building next to what was studio B is being served vacated notice right now….
Unhappy residents on an unpaid vacate(ion). I’m sure Curbed will be interested. Building dept guys didn’t like me snapping pics.
WOW. I wonder how my buddy Max took the news? Just under two weeks ago he sold the Greenpoint Hotel for a paltry $3.5 million— and now this!?! I’m not too sure what motivated the Department of Buildings to issue a vacate order but if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say non-compliance with fire code had something to do with it.
Miss Heather
UPDATE, 5:27 p.m.: Apparently the Red Cross has been brought in to help displaced tenants from this building (pets and all) find a place to hang their respective hats. Per a reader:
The DOB showed up today, I think, around 2, and cleared the whole building. There’s an order to vacate posted on the front (“occupancy is perilous to life”), and a (new?) stop work order plastered on the front door, plus about a 6 yellow sheets that I didn’t get close enough to read, mainly because all the tenants were trying to read them. Probably on their arrival home from work. I do feel a bit bad for those who moved in without a clue what they were getting themselves into.*
The Red Cross is outside finding people places to live, the landlord is scurrying around, and the tenants are outside with suitcases and their cats in carriers.
Curious what finally caused the DOB to crack down?
UPDATE, 7:29 p.m.: Musings on ‘point offers his expertise:
It’s not a fire issue, FD would have been present. It’s probably a combo of two things: it’s a factory, not a residence and structural issues; the facade seems to be falling off. The DOB is loathe to vacate solely because of occupancy contrary to the CO (see 475 Kent) but “perilous” is usually code for “we think it might fall down.” I haven’t been following this or researched it but that would be my guess. If it’s not, I wouldn’t want to be living at 475, because they’re just as susceptible to just such selective enforcement.
*I agree. The Red Cross should NOT be pressed into providing housing to individuals whose only mistake was not being informed consumers. This organization was not founded to assist people who have found themselves homeless as a result of a landlord’s malfeasance and this city’s ineptitude and/or lack of responsiveness when it comes to protecting and serving its citizens. The blame for should be laid where it is truly due:
- This city and the agencies charged with enforcing housing/building/fire code. Had the standing Stop Work Order on this property been enforced, this would never had happened.
- The landlord: for not obeying the the aforementioned Stop Work Order and having a disregard for the safety of his tenants.
- The real estate agents who leased out these “residential” lofts knowing full well that they are illegal and hazardous. Anything for a buck.
UPDATE, 11:44 p.m.: another reader sends photographs:
Maybe this one will stick?
New York Shitty Day Ender: What A Difference A Stop Work Order Makes!
foodiej81 writes (in regards to this post):
This weekend as we were walking by 239 Banker my partner and I noticed that the door was unlocked so we decided to take a stroll through our new neighborhood “hotel”. Well there are definitely people living there, there is mail being delivered and I saw a man taking his dog out for a walk. The “apartments” are still under construction though. We have an acquaintance that put money down on an apartment but is now waiting for a refund because they were told the place will not be ready for another month. Word is they are renovating one dwelling at a time because they have run out of money and won’t be able to finish the project till 70% are rented.
I also saw two men waiting outside the building at around 730 on Monday night; two traditionally dressed Jewish men pulled up in a minivan and met them to show an apartment. I don’t know if anyone has been there recently but the message on the door is asking for “max” to get them a real front door…Regardless I called 311 yesterday and sent in 3 anonymous complaints regarding the building at 239 Banker. It’s a ridiculous project and I wish the DOB would be more proactive in following up on the stop work order.
He (or she) is not the only who feels this way. Follows are a few photographs I received just this evening (in an email entitled “Stop Work Order In Action!) from an anonymous tipster which show just how seriously Max and his funky bunch are taking their recent visit by the Department of Buildings (and the $5,000 fine they were issued as a result).
Note the numerous residential garbage cans at left. I wonder what they’re doing?
Installing and patching drywall— silly me.
Workers taking a breather at the freight elevator. It’s a tough job working after hours and violating a Stop Work Order!
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: The Sweater Lofts Get DOB’d
Anonymous writes (in an email entitled “DOB is SO STUPID”):
“NO VISIBLE MEANS. OF EGRESS INTO BUILDING ” are you fucking KIDDING me?
I guess they didn’t notice the front door(s).* This is sort of funny given the tenants of this building clearly have.
As Kurt Vonnegut would say:
So it goes…
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: If Anyone From The Department Of Buildings Is Reading This
If you want access to 239 Banker Street (AKA: The Sweater Lofts) today is your big day!
As of 4:40 this afternoon, Sunday, July 26, they were working.
As you can see the freight elevator is open!
What’s more, they were even thoughtful enough to post plans in said elevator for the edification of passersby. (Click on the above jpeg to see the “floor plans” for this “hotel” in their replete glory).
Hope this has been helpful,
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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