Restoring the Old Nassau Brewery

Comments

• whynot_31

  January 2015 edited January 2015

  Yes, the large site was recently broken into 2 sites. 
  

  
  

  The northern, non-brick, portion was sold and is in the process of become a modern residential building. We are been jabbering about it here: The part of the Old Brewery that is becoming a huge complex (Franklin & Dean)

  
  

  It was believed that the owner would used the proceeds of that sale to renovate the southern, brick portion. And, it seems said beliefs have merit.
  
  So, let's use this thread talk about the Southern portion.   The brick part that lines Bergen. 

  
  

   Here's an ancient shot of the brick part of the complex:
  
  Here's a "present day shot":
  
  
  
  Here's a rendering of what it should look like in a few years
  
  (note, the low lying buildings on the right are becoming a mid rise glassy building as we speak)
  
  
  
• theburgerking

  January 2015

  Yeah just read this as well.  This is great!!!
• whynot_31

  January 2015 edited January 2015

  It is a big enough development that I have given it Brooklynian's highest honor:
  
  Inclusion on the list of "Big 16 developments in western Crown Heights" http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/44634/links-to-the-big-16-developments-in-western-crown-heights/p1
• goldemi1

  January 2015

  This is such great news.  I had heard rumors that the building was beyond salvaging, and feared it would become another glass condo.  Fabian is the brooklyn hero of the day.
• crownheightster

  January 2015 edited January 2015

  Fabian is not just a hero. Fabian is a GOD. Or, at least, in the running for the most loved developer in Brooklyn.
• goldemi1

  January 2015

  Just curious why Fabian went with the above direction, when in June the story about this property showed it going in what looks like a more income-generating direction:  link

  
  

  
  
• whynot_31

  January 2015 edited January 2015

  @goldemi1
  The site has been broken into two.
  
  The northern, non-brick, portion was sold and is in the process of becoming the modern residential building by ODA that you link. It lines Dean Street.   We have been jabbering about it here:   The part of the Old Brewery that is becoming a huge complex (Franklin & Dean)

  
  

  The southern, brick portion was not part of that plan. It is being restored, and will become mixed use commercial and residential.
  
  

  
  

  The southern portion is at the top of this aerial view:

  

  The part in the yellow square at the the bottom of the photo is becoming a modern, glassy structure.   Discuss it here:   The part of the Old Brewery that is becoming a huge complex (Franklin & Dean)
• antivirus

  January 2015

  Both Fabian's plan and the the new ODA designed building will be amazing for the area. Regardless of what people think about the design, its time to accept that certain buildings can not be preserved. The real estate market is just as any other ordinary commodity; the owners are there to make money on their product. It boggles me to see people whine about the new glossy developments in Brooklyn. If you dont like whats being built then either dont rent it or buy the property for yourself and deed it to the public for recreational space, where the "artists" can draw inspiration from the asbestos filled rundown buildings. 
• goldemi1

  January 2015

  antivirus, its that mentality and definition of commodity that is the problem leading to the loss of character and beauty in neighborhoods.  One definition of the word is a mass produced unspecialized product, a class in which an unique historic structure doesn't belong.

  
  

  The problem is not with buildings that cant be preserved, most people accept that reality.  It's when the developer does have an option but chooses bigger/glassier out-of-context units for the profits. I lean right, but support government intervention to protect neighborhoods from vultures. 
• whynot_31

  January 2015 edited January 2015

  In this instance, the government was able to offer incentives that were significant enough to "cause" the owner of the property to save the large brick portions.

  
  

  I don't know whether this stems from the owner's appreciation of the structures, or whether it made the most financial sense to do this.

  
  

  ...I can't say I care which was the motivating factor.   

  
  

  I will simply say that I believe I will like having this big complex of brick buildings continue to be on my regular dog walks.
• ehgee

  January 2015 edited January 2015

  @antivirus I have a feeling that people would like new development in Brooklyn a lot better if they hired, say, this dude to design the buildings:

  http://www.meleca.com/?var1=http://www.meleca.com/content/projects/multi.php

  If his fee pencils out for building in Pittsburgh and Columbus it sure as shit pencils out for Brooklyn. There's a lot of amazingly schlocky architecture on half-million one-bedrooms. That's why we're pleasantly surprised at how nice these projects are. I'm in favor of supply meeting demand in the apartment market. But I'm also in favor of new development that doesn't look like a pile of turds.
• rogers_sterling

  January 2015

  Anyone who lives on that block will appreciate the fact that the beautiful artist rendering of the site includes that shitty red van that is always parked on Bergen on either side of Frankin.
• mcpoet

  January 2015

  http://ny.curbed.com/archives/2015/01/21/apartments_shops_to_remake_decrepit_crown_heights_brewery.php
  

  "the factory building will be adapted by architect Formactiv into a 50,000-square-foot mixed-use complex that will house ground floor retail and 38 apartments. The building may also host an underground restaurant in its 1860 lager vaults. Très Brooklyn."

  Wasn't sure if anyone had seen this particular tidbit regarding the redevelopment....
  
• whynot_31

  January 2015 edited January 2015

  The commercial aspects of this development will create a large commercial district that attracts people from far and wide. It will be anchored by:
  
  -1000 Dean
  
  -Berg'n
  
  -the warehouses that are rapidly being converted into gyms (ie Crow Hill Cross Fit) and entertainment complexes, such as Global Square: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/37947/893-dean-st-to-become-a-beer-garden-located-btwn-grand-and-classon/p1
  
  -the retail that will be available as part of the new building that will be constructed at Dean and Franklin.
  
  -The transformation of buildings along nearby Atlantic, such as this one: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/44908/980-atlantic-avenue-presently-a-parking-garage-near-grand-avenue-would-like-major-makeover/p1
  
  -Nearby residential construction which causes the demographics to not only change in composition, but in shear quantity: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/34884/compare-supermarket-brings-in-the-builders/p1
  
  I don't think the vast majority of people in the area understand the huge transformation that will occur by say, 2018.
  
  While large, this development is just a part of a puzzle that is rapidly evolving.
  
  
• whynot_31

  June 2015 edited June 2015

  Renovations on the brick portion of the site have yet to begin.
• whynot_31

  December 2015 edited December 2015

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  Update:  They have begun installing the framing for the dormer on second highest roof.    Visible in this rendering above the U in Nassau.
• howncreights

  December 2015

  looks good but there is still a TREE growing out of the building
• whynot_31

  December 2015 edited December 2015

  yes.   Three trees can be seen in this somewhat recent google streetview shot, and at least one tree is still clearly visible from the street.    

  
  

  
  

  
• whynot_31

  December 2015 edited December 2015

  Aforementioned dormer:

  

  The remaining tree can be seen just to left of the traffic light, growing from the top of a window opening.
• whynot_31

  January 2016 edited January 2016

  "The building will include 32,493 square feet of residential space for 36 units. Retail space and restaurants will be located on the ground and below-grade levels, and the remaining square footage will take on some form of manufacturing use. Commercial Observer reports an $18 million construction loan was recently secured, and completion is expected in early 2017."

  937 Bergen

  945 Bergen

  http://newyorkyimby.com/2016/01/1809209.html
• ehgee

  January 2016

  So somewhere under $500k per unit construction costs, accounting for the manufacturing/retail units.
  
• whynot_31

  February 2016 edited February 2016

  TRG will soon begin marketing the retail units:
  
  "We are very excited to begin marketing the historical Nassau Brewing Company in Crown Heights" 

  https://twitter.com/Laurenmusacchio/status/704329140481220609

  
  

  
• whynot_31

  March 2016 edited March 2016

  The remaining tree growing on the side of the building has been removed.

  https://twitter.com/thecitywanderer/status/707665350251438080
  

  
• whynot_31

  May 2016

  Exterior work has begun. I presume they will install a roof on the shell simultaneously.
  
  
  
• whynot_31

  June 2016

  This site continues to be one of the sites I believe will make a large impact on western Crown Heights:  http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/47007/the-big-18-developments-the-whynot-31-wont-stop-talking-about?new=1
• whynot_31

  August 2016

  
  
• whynot_31

  November 2016

  Nov 16:  Work continues on this site, but very little is evident from outside other than the brick work.

  
  

  The completed apartments will be quite large, and I'm interested in what the ground floor commercial/industrial space will be.
• naturegirlbk

  January 2017

  And will this building be rental units, not condos, as well??
  
• whynot_31

  January 2017

  This building might become condos.
  
  I don't think it has accepted any of the incentives that would require subsidized rentals.
  
  So, the developer could wait to see whether market conditions favored market rentals or market condos as they near completion.
• whynot_31

  May 2017

  36 units, occupying 32k sf.
  
  So, these individual units will be larger than many rentals that have come on the market recently.
  
  As pointed out above, the builder already spent about $500k per unit before construction began.
  
  So, I am going guess we will see high end condos, but ones that lack amenities for families with kids because the local school district is not deemed "ready yet" by couples with school age children who have $1M to spend.
  
  ..that's about $950 a sf for a 900 sf apt.
• whynot_31

  September 2017

  Embassy bar may open in this site. h/t @joshb http://imbibemagazine.com/angus-winchester-on-the-embassy/
• whynot_31

  September 2017

  Advertisements for the retail space are now up by TerraCRG, however nothing about the complex yet appears on their site: http://www.terracrg.com
• whynot_31

  October 2017 edited October 2017

  Thread about the high end bar, The Embassy, that will open in the basement and on the first floor of the complex: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/47384/the-embassy-bar-opening-in-old-nassau-brewing-caves#latest
• whynot_31

  January 2018 edited January 2018

  The rest of the first floor is now seeking tenant(s): http://www.terracrg.com/listings/for-lease/nassau-brewing-company-redevelopment-space-f/
• whynot_31

  February 2018 edited February 2018

  Know as 616 Franklin and 620 Franklin. ..but no lea$e detail$ revealed. http://www.terracrg.com/listings/for-lease/616-franklin-avenue-space-f/
• whynot_31

  February 2018 edited February 2018

  The owner of the bar that will be located in the basement and part of the first floor, reports that overall building work is behind schedule. http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/47384/the-embassy-bar-opening-in-old-nassau-brewing-caves

  https://twitter.com/anguswinchester/status/967299581481443328