Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
New York Shitty Day Starter: Ask & Ye Shall Receive!
Filed under: 11215, 11222, Abjectecture, Gowanus, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, King's Crap, Park Slope
It has come to my attention that Brownstoner saw fit to feature an apartment for sale hailing from none other that Belvedere XX. Ostensibly because someone took umbrage with me calling this edifice a piece of crap*— which I assure you it is. Belvedere XX is also known as 185 India Street and the neighbor of Lofts “Greenpoint Rental Shitshow Part 1” 305.
Crap likes company. Especially on McGuinness Boulevard.
But this post isn’t about Belvedere XX, Brownstoner or McGuinness Boulevard. It’s about Belvedere XXXVI and “Park Slope”. On January 25, 2010 I wrote in this post:
…The Belvederization of Park Slope?!? Needless to say I had to get to the bottom of this (inasmuch as one can without G train service). We headed to the closest Belvedere without delay.
Sure enough, it is true! Replete with all the accoutrements we have grown to expect from Belvedere: commodious roof decks and balconies. Needless to say I must see this. However, I am more or less precluded from going to 175 12 Street personally. I am not only too busy with matters north Brooklyn but quite frankly doling out $2.25 in subway fare strikes me as being far too much money to outlay on such an endeavor.
This is where you come in: could some kind soul get a photograph of this property and send it to me via email at missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com? I’m dying to see Belvedere XXXVI. Especially in light of the fact this edifice is conveniently located near Lowes, the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and the aromatic Gowanus Canal. Who wouldn’t want an eyeful (or noseful) of that!
Well, I asked for it and I got it. Rowan 5 writes:
Here ya go. The Belvedere is closer to 3rd ave. It’s surrounded by frame houses mostly, with a giant high rise luxury building at the corner of 4th and 12th.
It’s not a bad-looking block but Park Slope proper it is not.
Most definitely not.
I love the prominent poster on the front door advertising Greenpoint and Williamsburg condos…
So there have you: Park Slope Gowanus is the new Greenpoint!
Miss Heather
*I have been told by an anonymous source that someone who bought a unit at Belvedere III, which is admittedly the Pete Best of the Belvederes, ended up re-selling at a loss. Apparently he bought one of the quasi-legal “studio” apartments they are known for (READ: a minuscule first floor apartment with a fully appointed basement including— I shit you not— a sauna). It had problems with flooding.
Spotted at Lofts 305: Department of Homeland Security
There are very few things which make stop dead in my tracks. Vehicles belonging to the Department of Homeland Security’s Explosion Detection team are among them. I found the above vehicle parked squarely in front of the entrance of Lofts 305 at 11:30 a.m. this morning. After I got over the initial “wtf” factor I asked a couple of contractors working nearby what gives. They told this chap was simply buying some lunch. This, of course, does not answer why this vehicle is here in the first place— but I decided not to push my luck. As far as Lofts 305 is concerned, I do not rule anything out of the realm of possibility.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Degentrification Watch: Lofts 305 Still Sucks
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Remember this edifice? It is located at 305 McGuinness Boulevard. I have written about this testament to the failure of the “gentrification” of Greenpoint on far more occasions than I care recount. Look ’em up on my site. That said, I really enjoy comparing this to this. That’s some damned good Photoshop work! But I digress.
My friends at Curbed scooped me on the infamous lock-out back in April. Today, I will recount to you a few problems a current resident is experiencing at 305 Lofts. While you read the following I want you to bear in mind this person, whose identity I will keep anonymous, is paying $2,800 a month in rent for this “experience”. Here’s the back-story:
- The reason this person lives at 305 Lofts is because he/she originally signed a lease (and tendered a security deposit of $3,000) for an apartment 110 Green Street: another nondo known as The Viridian.
- The organization behind this atrocity went bankrupt and his/her agent (under the hire of Cityspaces) showed him/her 149 Huron Street (the now failed Geo Condominiums— see a pattern developing here?). After noting the buckling wood floors (and less square footage) he/she refused.
Then the agent took him/her to 305 McGuinness Boulevard. AKA: 305 Lofts. He/she signed a 2 year lease and now regrets it. BIG TIME. Among other things:
- His/her apartment is still unfinished— as is a great deal of the building.
- The tap water is white or brown— this varies by apartment.
- The tiling in his/her bathroom is cracking and laden with mold. This has to be doused with bleach every day.
- His/her oven does not work properly due to lack of sufficient insulation/cabinetry.
- The landlord— or someone purporting to represent the landlord, one never knows with this place— has made it known that anyone involved in forming a “tenants’ group” will be evicted.
Nice, eh?
By the way, landlords retaliating against tenants for organizing is illegal. Then again, given all the problems with this property it is all too clear they don’t care— and why should they? The people behind 305 McGuinness have been hit with several violations for endangering public safety. The fines assessed (and paid) range from $480 to $2,000. This is what public safety (READ: a human life) is worth per the Department of Buildings.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Gentrification Watch: Lofts 305 Gets That “Lived In” Look
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Today at long last I had the time to stroll down one of my favorite north Brooklyn thoroughfares: McGuinness Boulevard. The recent spate of rotten weather and entertaining friends and family has precluded me from doing so with my usual frequency. This is a shame as I discovered today there is plenty of Greenpoint glory afoot! CASE IN POINT: Lofts 305
The above photograph was taken today at around 1:00 p.m. I know what you’re thinking:
I don’t see anything amiss here. What’s the big deal?
I beg to differ. You see, some person or persons decided to give this building a make-over (or would that be make-under?) using what appears to be a can of black spray paint…
and a pellet gun.
What’s even more fascinating is which windows our perpetrator elected to target.
Perhaps I am being a wee bit conspiratorial here, but it would certainly seem like someone isn’t too keen on Loft 305’s advertising campaign. In light of recent events it does beg the question as to whether the author of the above misdeeds was a neighbor or a disgruntled tenant.
Miss Heather
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