Former laundrymat building at St. John's and Underhill

Subject: Former laundrymat building at St. John's and Underhill

....looks like work soon begin again!

As a result of creative use of the building code, this two story building is being "modified" from 2 stories to 8 stories.

...by keeping the facade of the bottom stories intact, they will be able to avoid certain unpleasant aspects of the code for "new" buildings. They are JUST adding six stories, and a elevator. ....just a "small modification", don't mind us.

Anyway, for a while the project appeared stalled, but now they have a new permit for the work and work is likely to begin again.

Given the recession, I thought for sure that the space would be likely to become a two story storefront. ...Maybe a run down laundrymat, then a laundrymat/apartment.

I can almost guarantee you that the original facade will be just that and will not structurally support the upper floors. Once the rest of the building is done, they will demolish the original facade, like they did when they turned that nice old building with the porch on Park Pl between Vanderbilt and Underhill into an ugly apartment building. It's a sleazy tactic, but at least in this case, we won't be losing much.

the building with a porch on park was SO beautiful, especially with the semi-matching one next door. such a shame!

wasn't there a post a while back from a guy whose family used to own a shop on that location? Had a photo and we all posited that the original sign might still be there?

I can't find the post - wrong location?

wrong location. right intersection, but the other side of st johns.

DD, you are thinking of the DisAssociated (now reincarnated as the much improved St. John's Marketplace).

No, I think DD is thinking of this thread, with the old grocery store on Underhill between St Johns and Sterling.

hmmm. Maybe.

But a shot of the grungy DisAssociated photo as a before, and a shot of the St. John's Marketplace would be a nice addition.

...time elapse 6 months!

I have an unexplained dislike for the building and proposed addition... I really don't know why... maybe it's the whole pimp-out-an-'87-Corolla-and-sell-as-a-sweet-ride kind of deal...

blue under chassis lights would be appropriate if they keep the facade of the first two stories.

...but I think they'll find a way to tear them down after the building inspection is over.

WhyFi wrote: I have an unexplained dislike for the building and proposed addition... I really don't know why... maybe it's the whole pimp-out-an-'87-Corolla-and-sell-as-a-sweet-ride kind of deal...

You're missing the point. The whole "addition" thing is a scam. They have no intention of keeping any part of the old building. They're going to build a whole new building around or connected to it, maybe keep one wall that's not as a structural element, and demolish the rest once the new building is up. The whole idea of calling this a modification is to circumvent all the regulation and community board involvement of a new building.

A completely amateur list of potential advantages, include avoiding:

Having to listen to community board members stating the building is out of scale with the local neighborhood.

Having to listen to community board members stating the building will block thier light.

Having to listen to community board members stating the building residents will make parking harder.

Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (the present structure predates the act).

New Fire Code (wider hallways, interior stair cases, and often hall sprinklers are mandated in new buildings).

etc, etc.

Do we have an architect or other building code genius as a lurker?

Yeah, I know - I guess I should have put "addition" in quotes. Quite frankly, it's the whole space bugs me - it's a little, ugly, triangular footprint. Two floors for one family would make a cool living space, but anything less would be... "why?" And you know that it's not going to be just apartments... it's going to be touted as luxurious/modern/whatever.

yes, in the prior press release it touted how the keyed elevator would open into the living room, and every unit would be a whole floor.

...splitting the cost of elevator (installation, ongoing maintenance, etc) between only 8 units is going to be very expensive. [7 units if they make the first floor retail (which they won't b/c they'll need to get all of their $ back fast).]

The prior drawing made it look very much like a mini Mier (sp?) bldg.

Yeah, and I just can't imagine how the floor plan would be laid out to make it an un-awkward space... it's not that much square footage and it a fuggin' triangle, fer chrissakes.

Carnivore wrote: No, I think DD is thinking of this thread, with the old grocery store on Underhill between St Johns and Sterling.

ding ding ding!