A Carroll Gardens Condo Convertor

The Brooklyn Eagle has a little story about how a Carroll Gardens architect has found success as a developer. Although it's not uncommon for architectural firms to invest in their projects (see: SHoP), it isn't frequently seen in our neighborhood.

"“The demand is there for well-designed conversions, particularly, and they sell quite well,” he told the Eagle. 

“And that fits with our philosophy. We care about the design and the neighborhood is one that appreciates that.” Noting that he looks for “underutilized” properties, he admits he finds them in “motley” ways.

“We looked where we live and at what we loved and by luck and good fortune we found projects we wanted to do,” he said."

It's a little ironic that the before photo included in the article is was of one of the uglier buildings in the area (seriously, how small can you make the windows?), but developer is such an ugly word.

Union Protests Outside of 360 Smith

Update: According to the 76th Precinct: "The demonstration is not connected to the 360 Smith Street site. The union is protesting low wages being paid to the workers of a drywall company working in a brownstone on 2nd Place."

This blog is staunchly pro-union (in most cases). This morning there was a protest outside of 360 Smith Street by the Carpenters' Union. As with all unions, I'm sure that they are starved for work. One can't see much carpentry work being done on the site, but this could be a negotiations tactic for upcoming work. The Carpenters' Union has been hit especially hard with the development freeze around the city, so one can understand why they are grasping at any jobs that they might potentially have.

More details as they become available.

Marty just doesn't get it

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is a hell of a nice guy from what we can all tell. he's open, energetic and entertaining. However, sometimes his stances could use some rethinking. Witness his objections to the Prospect Park Bike Lane. With word coming that DOT Commissioner Janet Shadik-Khan will plow ahead with the bike lane, Marty is supporting the minority of Brooklynites that own a car, and protesting the bike lane, with some help from CBS.

""We all don't live on 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. We don't all have on every corner a subway stop, a bus. We don't. So it has to be is a balanced approach responsive to the conditions in each borough," he said.

Markowitz was upset by a plan to install a bike lane along Prospect Park West that would affect traffic in an already congested area. One lane of traffic would be eliminated for a bike lane and the parking lane would be moved over one lane, reducing the number of traffic lanes on the street to two, according to Markowitz."

No Marty, we don't all live on 42nd Street. But most of us, who you represent, do not own cars.

Wonder if he has ever tried to cross PPW?