PLG real estate: On the chopping block?

After all that focus on the controversial Lincoln Road project, it's been a while since some of us have taken a good walk around the neighborhood, other than the streets we typically use to get to the subway or the park. This morning, my route took a detour and I noticed a few signs of change (and no, I'm not talking about those lovely daffodils and crocuses sprouting up everywhere).

There's been continuous concern in the neighborhood about the destruction of classic homes and the construction of cookie-cutter "Fedders" style buildings in their places. This type of transformation is running rampant on blocks like Fenimore III (between Rogers and Nostrand), where a number of new 3-family homes have gone up in the last few years. Many of these new homes have remained on the market since construction a while back. And lately, we've seen an influx of developers with their eyes on bigger chunks of pie.

So here's the scoop on some new stuff for sale/going on in the area:

The first reflects the conversion of two lots, currently occupied by a couple of now vacant  Victorians (first photo at right), into one large lot with plans for a 7-story 62-apartment building (rendering at far right: David Kohn via Property Shark) at 186-190 Lenox Road. As of this posting, plans for the building have been rejected by the DOB, the old houses are vacant and boarded up, and the two lots are currently BACK UP FOR RESALE per Google. (As an aside, this rendering seems to follow the "no context" model that we saw on the Lincoln Road renderings. Is that supposed to be Brooklyn Hospital in the background?) There's a very nice row of brownstones directly adjacent to this lot, although the majority of Lenox Road in this area is already home to some large 6 or 7 story apartment buildings. While I'm a fan of development if it's nice, I'm not a big fan of abandoned buildings with no immediate plans for improvement.

The second property on the market, 285 Fenimore between Bedford and Rogers, is located on the (currently) un-landmarked side of Fenimore II. This block has thankfully been spared the fate of some neighboring blocks in terms of tear-downs, but could easily fall prey to the same type of destruction we've seen elsewhere in the neighborhood, particularly as foreclosures are on the rise and we begin to experience the economic downturn that has already hit the rest of the country. This property, listed by Century 21 Kings, was recently advertised in the NY Times  and was described in terms of lot size with no accompanying photos. Am I overreacting in thinking this one's marketed to developers?  Maybe, but I sure hope some house-seekers step up to the plate on this one. This is a nice block and possibly a very nice house.

Due to the current mortgage crisis, will properties potentially just sit there, empty, for years to come while developers scramble for financing and DOB approval? What can we as a community do to prevent property neglect and abandonment by developers if/when times get tough?

Comments

[Tomg]

This house too (a very rare design) is also in danger of being squashed

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2007/07/111_clarkson.php

The only idea I can think of to try and prevent more teardowns is try and promote historic district expansion.

[jessica]

Tom, while I do think it's a shame that that particular house is in danger of demolition, I just want to clarify...

It's not that I am anti-development (I actually think the Lenox Road building, if it ever gets off the ground, could be nice), it's that I am against people buying and then abandoning buildings for future development. We have enough empty lots in the neighborhood as it is.

If we're going to take down old buildings, I'd like to see some quality housing go up.