New condos planned for Parade Grounds
The Brooklyn Eagle reports on a new 23-unit condominium building near the Parade Grounds (south side of Prospect Park):
The building at 34 Crooke Ave., between Parade Place and St. Paul’s Place, will have luxury condos with high-end appliances and finishes, according to Gilad. Prices will range from $339,000 to $525,000... building amenities will include a contemporary-looking lounge area complete with Wi-Fi and a cappuccino machine, private outdoor spaces and a common roofdeck with showers and views of Prospect Park, onsite parking, a gym and a virtual doorman.
Ready for the bad news? The building is being designed by the notorious Scarano Architects (headed by Robert Scarano), known for breaking building codes, cheating zoning laws and endangering workers. Also, those who care about contextual design will be sadly disappointed. As developer Boaz Gilad bragged to the Brooklyn Eagle, the condos "will stand apart from the pre-war apartment buildings that have dominated the area..."
Sigh.
(Thanks, Mike Hansen!)
Is this building going where the hospital is?
Posted by: geekyfemme | December 28, 2007 at 08:24 PM
This Boaz Gilad is a real slumlord. He had bought the building we were living in and proceeded to allow illegal construction at all hours of the day and night. He said he'd give us time to move out (since he was asking for over $400 more a month) but then served an eviction notice. BUT, we won the case, citing 'constructive eviction' amongst other things, and we got him to pay us moving expenses as well. Since he wanted us out, he agreed to all our terms. It was not fun though. This man is a liar and only out for his own interests. Beware!
Posted by: BklynMom | December 28, 2007 at 10:17 PM
No, geekyfemme. The now-closed Calendonian Hospital was on Parkside Avenue. Crooke is two blocks south of Parkside.
Posted by: Charles | December 29, 2007 at 12:37 AM
On the bright side, this condo development might bring some new life to Crooke Ave. The building appears to be going up in the location of a Victorian which was (last I checked) pretty run-down. Crooke Avenue could use some loving.
Feel free to disagree with me on this one, but what would constitute "contextual design" here? Although there were at one time a number of single family homes on this block, a wood frame house is currently just as out of place as a contemporary development would be. While I'm not big on Scarano developments, to say the least, this design looks nicer than the typical Fedders/Friedrich crap that often replaces the old wood frame homes around here. The height appears to be in keeping with the surrounding pre-war buildings and they're not trying to make it look "olde time" with replica historical cornices and the like.
As an architect, I'd like to know (really!) what sort of new buildings people do like. I'm all for preserving old buildings, but assuming you have an empty lot, what would you like to see?
Posted by: jessica | January 02, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Interesting to read that Boaz Gilad is still in business, despite his reputation. Anyone unlucky enough to deal with this creep has found nothing but trouble - beware.
Posted by: zaob | January 09, 2009 at 05:06 PM
I have nothing but contempt for Boaz-Arik Gilad and the entire ORE team. Doing business with Gilad is like sticking your head into an alligator's mouth.
Posted by: light | March 05, 2009 at 03:35 PM
I agree 110%, and apparently he's a tax cheat, too. Enter his name into ACRIS: he's got a nice fat federal lien recorded against him. L'chaim, IRS!!
Posted by: GeNdRoK | May 20, 2009 at 02:51 PM