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Does anybody know what's going on with the giant vacant lot across from 491 Sterling, between Washington and Classon? Lately, a bulldozer has been spotted there, and yesterday I saw a lone guy digging a trench with a shovel. I would presume at some point this will be massive new apartment building?
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City records show that the tax lien was recently sold to the Bank of NY Mellon, and that the mortgage holder, Seaway Capital Corp has taken title to the land. My husband and I observed two men inspecting the property. The chain link fence sprouted a gate recently and the digger appeared.
In June and July filing were made related to the previously approved plans to build a residential builing on the site. My guess is that the owner going to build the previously approved residential building, expect it to progress at a snail's pace.
They might be doing soil testing.
It is amazing to live in one of the few parts of the country that is having new investment and development.
http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/07/development-in-works-for-empty-lot-on-sterling-place/#disqus_thread
If they build 5 stories, yet construct only 38 units on that spot, my sense is the units will be large.
photo from http://bktothefullest.blogspot.com, and believed to be taken in approx July 2012.
Over the last two weeks, this lot has had some more activity.
-A new construction fence.
-Work permits
-an Excavator.
In July, it looks like it changed hands. This site reports that one of prior owners received a prison sentence: http://bktothefullest.blogspot.com/2012/07/breaking-ground-in-prospect-heights.html
Related: http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/Property/149831/504-Sterling-Pl-Brooklyn-NY-11238/
Related thread: http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/topic/stalled-construction-at-500-sterling-to-resume-site-sold-for-68m?replies=6#post-764055
Fun with circular thoughts!
Plans on file for this site:
http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=4&passjobnumber=301837092&passdocnumber=03
5 Stories high:
http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/WorkPermitDataServlet?requestid=6&allisn=0002449399&allisn2=0002037420&allbin=3029438&passjobnumber=301837092
On Wednesday it looked like the basement has been pretty well excavated.
That, or they've decided to build a huge swimming pool instead.
Interesting, I think that big concrete retaining wall was poured years ago during the first go at developing the site; that hole was filled in when the initial building plans fell through?
Hopefully this time it will stick...
Attached filesWhen I looked through the construction fence today, I saw that big concrete things seemed to have been since constructed in the mud puddles in the above photo.
There is also a excavator and a construction trailer on site.
Brownstoner ran a story on this lot today. Luxury rentals seem to still be the plan...
http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/06/site-work-begins-for-luxury-rental-devo-in-crown-heights/#disqus_thread
500 Sterling
July 13:
If one peeks thru the construction plywood, one can see structural steel rising from the aforementioned concrete things. Soon, the steel will be visible above the plywood walls.
August 5:
Steel is now visible above the plywood.
Early Sept: Prep work for cement work (floors, basement, etc) is evident.
Sept 14: The steel is rising nicely. Once complete, it looks like there will be a driveway in the right side, and parking in the back.
Sept 24:
I did some digging, and found an article from August 2013.
http://blog.buzzbuzzhome.com/2013/08/500-sterling-place.html
Since the time of the above article, DOB approved the plans submitted in July: http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/JobsQueryByNumberServlet?requestid=5&passjobnumber=320778798&passdocnumber=01&restore=1
And, during the process, minor changes have been made to the plans. For example, the building we now contain 64 units, as opposed to 62.
As of Sept 24, this is now believed to be the most recent rendering for the building:
photo and quote: http://adamamericare.com/projects
It has grown again. Instead of 64 units, we are now getting:
"Seven stories and 77 units with a total of 53,086 square feet"
http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/10/size-of-luxury-rental-build-in-crown-heights-doubles-rendering-shows-boxy-build/#comments
And instead of Crown Heights, we are now getting Prospect Heights! Are they going to move the building?
This building might be nice enough that it attracts renters who will shop via Fresh Direct, as opposed to Compare (Crown Heights) or NSA (Prospect Heights).
Will they "belong" to either neighborhood?
October 26, 2013:
The steel continues to rise...
I dunno. I shop at Key Foods on 5th Ave and Sterling Place. What neighborhood does that make me a part of?
Existential questions have no answer.
Noticed a rendering up at the site:
Attached filesThose side balconies are right next to the auto garage...
The garage could be pretty quickly torn down, and the lot could feature a similarly sized residential building.
Looking forward to that day, as long as it doesn't block my view of the museum!
Looks like they're finishing up most of the steel this weekend:
Yes, I got a pretty good look at the site this weekend.
The steel seems to be 95% in place, and they may have reached its terminal height.
They are now applying cement to the beams on the lower columns, and starting the underlying work for the outer walls.
I like how this building has open space on its left and right, which will allow those units to get natural light.
The parking looks like it will be below ground, which (in my view) will improve its visual appeal.
Readers, this development is one of the Big Developments happening in western Crown Heights in 2014 that we will be watching closely.
To learn about the others, see this thread: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/37490/the-big-6-developments-in-western-ch-in-2013-the-big-11-developments-in-2014#Item_29
Dec 15, 2013
The sign on the front says the building will not be complete until February 2015. Based on the progress they've already made, I'd have to assume the building will be finished much, much sooner than that. Would also really love to know what rents will be in here.. the $3500 2BR is seemingly becoming fairly common in this neighborhood.
Not everyone views the school district as subpar, or staying that way.
They might get $825 a sf. if they go condo.
Scaffolding gone:
I'm thinking the units will be ready for occupancy in October 2014, if they keep up their present rate if progress.
When he sells, he will do very well. He will either never have to fix car again, or (if he is merely a landlord) never have to be the landlord to an auto shop again.
The apartments have most of their finishes in place.
http://m.buzzbuzzhome.com/500-sterling-place
Look closely, down the ramp:
The arrangement seems to require that someone (the super?) have access to all of the vehicle keys, and that residents relegated to the elevated spots be patient before they get access to their cars.
Quick trips to Fairway seem problematic.
www.brownstoner.com/blog/2014/06/listings-are-up-for-crown-heights-building-on-sterling-place/
The building's website, 500sterling.com, refers to the area as a "new neighborhood." SIGH.
Those units are about as expensive as I thought they would be.
Not big either.
http://500sterling.com/availability.php
It looks like all of the apartments that are listed are staged.
I expect the apartments to turnover about once every three years, 33% a year. It will be filled with young people and others in transition.
IKEA furniture seems a good bet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/realestate/a-brooklyn-apartment-search-ends-in-crown-heights.html
http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2014/10/06/luxury_rentals_in_clinton_hill_500_sterling_place_75_leased.php