Record hits today due to 70 Washington buzz

Thanks to our fellow real estate bloggerati curbed and brownstoner, our own Brooklyn blog Set Speed experienced a record number of hits.

One woman's review of Habana Outpost

A woman posted a Chowhound thread on her dining experience at Habana Outpost.

Highlights:

1. Good corn should be better come corn season
2. Fake cubano sandwiches
3. Bland chese and avocado
4. Kudos to the Mexican soda
   

A tour of the 70 Washington St Condominiums

Happy Memorial Day weekend, fellow real estate fanatics! In our continuing series of sneak peeks at Brooklyn's latest new condominiums-du-jour, today we bring you the it-condos of the minute - the 70 Washington St complex in DUMBO. For those who missed the prior installments, feel free to check out the Greene House here or the Nexus here.

At the appointment today, we had to sign a waiver form that, among other things, said that we could not videotape or photograph anything from the condominium project. I admit that I broke this stipulation.

A temporary elevator sent us up to the 11th floor. We were led to the model apartment by apartment show-ers, who possibly were getting paid $100 a day to do this. One of them was a quite attractive 6-foot tall woman.

Highlights, you say? Besides the Thermador electric ovens, the Viking cooktop, the SubZero fridge, wine cooler or the minimalist white shaker style cabinets, I saw that each unit comes with a full-size Bosch washer and dryer, with a 220V plug! 8 inch solid birch doors, beautiful Dornbracht fixtures, sexy glassed-in showers, and the huge windows.

Floorplans were laid out over the marble kitchen island and buyers were transacting. Others, like myself, were severely priced out and were left to decide which units below the 7th floor they could afford. Why 7th floor? Well, that's because the parking lot right next to the complex is owned by Watchtower/Jehovah's Witnesses and they are allowed to build up to 7 floors.

They weren't too liberal with the schedule A - there were no price lists floating around and only those who were serious enough to inquire were given a price sheet temporarily.

Welcome to our tour of the 70 Washington Condos.

The model apartment was located on the 11th floor, replete with outstanding views of the Brookyn Bridge and lower Manhattan. You could also sneak a look at the cabanas on top of the Sweeney Building.

Ft. Greene supper club - here we come!

Back when we noted the article on the Ft. Greene supper club called Coach Peaches, we asked our readers if anyone knew where it may have been. Still no answers, but after posting on Chowhound today about the new Japanese restaurant on 5th Avenue called Sakura, we were pleasantly suprised to see an email from them saying that they were adding us to their email list for future dinners!

I still hold that their location is somewhere on Flatbush. Until someone proves me wrong, I stand by this.

70 Washington sold 140 units last weekend

The price points for the new condos are: 700 sq ft for $600K, 1300 sq ft 2 bedrooms for $1.27MM and 1500 sq ft units for $2.2MM.

The DUMBO buying frenzy continues: Two Trees Management Co. opened its
sales office and one model apartment at 70 Washington Street at 2 p.m. Friday,
and as of Sunday evening 140 units had sold. "It was beyond words," said Toby
Klein, handling sales for the 259-unit conversion project. "They sold so fast,
we haven’t even had time to count the exact number or enter them in the
computer. We have piles and piles of signed contracts and checks for the 10
percent deposits that are required." Klein said that her staff of five brokers,
each with a runner, had over 150 appointments over the three days.

"And we were working off a list that was two-and-a-half years old," she
said.

People were waiting in line long before the office and model opened at
8 a.m. each day, but only those with appointments were allowed up by the
doorman, who indicated some people were even offering bribes. The models can
still be seen only by appointment and there is currently a waiting list of about
2,500, Klein said.

According to Klein, prices have been raised 10 percent so that now the
smaller one-bedrooms with 700 square feet are priced at about $600,000, a
typical two-bedroom with 1,300 square feet on a high floor with a view has an
asking price of $1.27 million, and the larger units with 1,500 square feet and a
view are about $2.2 million.

Six rooftop cabanas also sold over the weekend. Previously introduced as
"Tar Beach" at the nearby Sweeney Building, an earlier Two Trees conversion
project, the 22 cabanas — all with views — will be finished with privacy fences,
running water and electricity. The asking price is $200,000.

Highlights include a health club, dedicated parking in an adjacent garage,
and a common rooftop terrace for all residents.

Completion is anticipated for December, but occupancy might begin as early
as September.

DanceAfrica bazaar at BAM

For those who want some local action this weekend, check out the DanceAfrica bazaar
at BAM this weekend. A New York Times article profiles how a store owner from Burkina Faso is coming to Brooklyn to sell her goods.

The article also talks about how Carol's Daughter on Dekalb and S. Elliott found fame via the bazaar.

For sellers of African and Africa-inspired goods, the bazaar has become a
colorful kickoff for the summer street festival season, drawing vendors from all
over the world and merchandise from just about every country in Africa. These
days, the swirl of face painters, tie-dye fabrics, embroidery, regal head
scarves, colorful boubou gowns, $1 straw hats, instruments like beaded gourd
shekeres and jimbe drums, jerk chicken and roasted corn outside the academy
threatens to dwarf the dance inside.

First offer accepted Greene Scene

Some lucky (?) buyer has an accepted offer on a 2,029 sq ft duplex unit for $1.175MM at the Greene Scene Condos. If I had the flow, I would've went after the penthouse units at the Greene House Condos instead. The penthouses there were about 1500 sq ft for $1.2MM.

I would've gladly gave up 500 sq ft of livable space for the outdoor terraces..And the doorman..and the gym..and the 1 block walk to the C train..

Greene House Condos not looking so bad after all.

An interior shot of a model unit at 70 Washington.

DUMBO alert : 70 Washington condos come to market

The next installment in the camp-out, sign up, make-an-appointment-to-buy-a-condo arrives this weekend at 70 Washington Street in DUMBO. Having signed up a few months ago, we received an email stating that there are over 3,000 people on their list and that we have only a scant 24 hours to make an appointment this weekend or else you'll lose your place. In what may be an all-time record, they are showing the condos this weekend from 8AM to 7PM each day.

The official website has a listing of available units (and those that are already in contract) with floorplans, sizes, monthly charges and real estate taxes BUT no asking prices.

Features to note:

• Sub Zero refrigerators, Viking cooktops, Thermador ovens, wine coolers, Dornbracht fixtures, sleek European radiators
• High ceilings, bamboo flooring, glass bathroom tile
• Master bath Jacuzzi tubs, walk-in showers
• 24-hour concierge
• state-of-the-art telecommunications and satellite capabilities
• every unit equipped with a laundry/storage room
• dedicated parking
• roof deck & fitness center
• 22 rooftop cabanas
• a limited number of duplex units

Habana Outpost opening weekend crowd

Habana Outpost opening weekend featured the Cuties' Carwash replete with tight shorts and tees

The strong buzz on Habana Outpost

More hype on the opening this weekend here, here and at their official website.

Peep Mark Ronson dj'ing their opening weekend blowout. Oh, on the menu, Brooklyn Lager drafts are only $2.50. This will surely bring in the boho hipsters who don't have deep pockets, unlike some of those Wall St. suits who are gentrifying the nabe.

Rant directed towards Aguayo & Huebener

From the brownstoner site:

If Aguayo and Huebener were doing their job, we wouldn't have to ask where this
house is. Look at their site: no floorplans, no maps and poorly presented
photos. And they're selling multimillion-dollar houses. People at this site love
to trash Corcoran, but if this house were with Corcoran we'd have far more
information. It just galls me that Brooklyn-based brokers like A&H like to
posture as the local little guys who give better service than those big, mean
Manhattan firms, and yet are arrogant and complacent enough to offer their
Brooklyn clients such poor service. I mean, come on: Peggy Aguayo and Roslyn
Huebener have made a buck or two in the past few years. They could afford to
staff up a better website.

Ft. Greene dining news - A Table and Habana Outpost

More news on the Ft. Greene dining scene for my faithful readers.

1. According to this link, Habana Outpost they will be serving the food out of the truck. Not sure if this makes sense. It also looks like the owner of the corner lot is staying true to his roots and having carwashes and selling clothing from up-and-coming designers. For those who recall, the lot was used this same way last summer. Lately though, it seems like the owner was making some extra money by renting out the lot as a personal parking lot of sorts to some people in the neighborhood. Whatever the case, he must be doing pretty well, as I saw a late model Range Rover parked in there this morning.
2. A Table is due for a comeback, so says our beat reporter. Rumors were that marital un-bliss forced the closure of this sometimes-loved, sometimes-hated French bistro. Now that the legal matters have been put to rest, it seems one of the two will be starting up the restaurant again, in the same space.
   

The front entrance of Habana Outpost

The outdoor space of Habana Outpost

Ft. Greene preparing to heat up for the summer Cuban-style

On the northeast corner of South Portland and Fulton, there seems to be a new dining establishment that may be opening up. A Google search confirms this -- It is called 'Habana Outpost.'

In preparation for those warm rays, the Fort Greene branch of SoHo's hip Cafe Habana is opening on May 21. Beyond Cuban sandwiches and sides of black beans, Habana Outpost: Brooklyn (at 755-757 Fulton St. and S. Portland Ave.) will be the city's first solar-powered restaurant. Inside, the summers-only spot will sport a Cuban mural and a bar made from a 1949 GMC truck; outside will be seating and a market. Thanks to the environmentally and community-attuned owner Sean Meenan, there'll be movie screenings, children's events, and you can drink your margarita from biodegradable cups, too.

Interestingly enough, the owners have chosen Nolita in Manhattan and Ft. Greene in Brooklyn to be the anchors of their Cuban eatery empire. For those wondering about the GMC truck-cum-bar, I recall the truck being parked in the corner parking lot.

With the health-related demise (?) of Cafe Lafayette, I'm sure the neighborhood foodies will welcome this place with open arms, for the summer, at least.

Construction update for Sunday, May 15

Picture taken on Dean between Underhill and Washington. Note that the beginning of the railings for the balconies are being put up. Also note the new windows/doors being put up leading to the outdoor balconies.

This picture was taken on Sunday afternoon at about 2:30PM, and YES, those are workers you see on scaffolding doing something to the building. Has someone lit a fire under the developer's ass to finish this baby up fast?!

New residential going up at the NW corner of Pacific and Underhill. Anyone know the skinny on this one?

Short history of 88 Lafayette: crackhouse, squatters, investor purchases building, attempts to put in glass curtain in rear wall, rats flee into neighboring houses, pipes burst and floods two days before Christmas, EPA, NYFD show up, issue violations against building, months pass, workers show up again to start doing work, city posts STOP WORK ORDER

Rockwell Pl condo sells on BHS

Brown Harris Stevens had the listing for this condo that we saw on craigslist a few months ago. Asking was $649K.

More favorable comps for the Washington Condos

Here's a Corcoran listing that's going for $720 a square foot on Prospect Pl between Underhill and Washington. At a paltry 750 square feet for a rich $539,000, I'm wondering who is going to pay for this when you can get something in a better locale in Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Ft. Greene, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, ad nauseum.

You can get a co-op at the Griffin for 2/3rd the price. Or even the 614 sq ft units for $582K at the Greene House Condos.

Makes the Washington Condos, one of which was 1475 square feet for $545K look like the real estate crime of the year.

Any thoughts?


NB: THIS IS JERRY MINSKY'S LISTING. IF ANYONE CAN SELL AN OVERPRICED PROPERTY, IT'S GOING TO BE JERRY, RIGHT? LET'S SIT BACK AND WATCH HIS MAGIC.

New Ft. Greene restaurant alert

The old space formerly occupied by Tommy's Blue Corner is going to be replaced by Rice, a Thai restaurant with locations in DUMBO and the Nolita.

The living area of the Ft. Greene Place townhouse

Ft. Greene Place townhouse featured in Home & Garden

Today's Thursday Home section features a modern construction of a townhouse that once stood on a weed-strewn lot (probably with more than a few rats). The artistic couple and their 6-month old baby inhabit the multistory townhouse replete with his and hers studios and concrete floors....ahhh.....Set Speed has been known to covet concrete floors.

They purchased the plot of land for $180K in 2000 or 2001 and put in over half a million in renovations.

Over at brownstoner, much chatter over old vs new...

An ode to the Brooklyn stoop

From today's NYTimes:


Stoop Warming Is a Sign of Spring
By BRENT STAPLES
The unseasonably cold spring has imposed an unfortunate side effect on my Brooklyn neighborhood - the delay of "stoop sitting" season.

For most Americans, the front-door step is a miserly shelf barely large enough for the morning paper. But for those of us who live in brownstone New York, the front stoop is often a grand exterior staircase decorated with ironwork that leads from the sidewalk to the main entrance. This style was imported more than three centuries ago by settlers from the low-lying Netherlands, where the threat of flooding made it wise to build parlor floors high above street level.

Space-starved New Yorkers quickly turned their stoops into alternative living areas that were heavily used in summer. As a British traveler wrote in the 1820's: "It is customary to sit out of doors on the steps that ornament the entrances of the houses. On these occasions, friends assemble in the most agreeable and unceremonious manner. All sorts of cooling beverages and excellent confectionary are handed round, and the greatest good humor and gaiety prevail."

These rollicking stoop scenes calmed down considerably when air-conditioning came along and let people spend torrid nights indoors. But dinner parties at my house often resolve themselves on the stoop, as they did in the 19th century, with talk, a nightcap and more talk as guests ready themselves for the journey home.

People tan themselves or read on the high stoops of Brooklyn. There are also the famous stoop sales, where households can sell off unwanted possessions. But the stoop sitter's most crucial function is to stir the social mix by inviting conversation from passers-by. Neighbors who have not been seen all winter inevitably stop at the stoop to pass on news of births, deaths and plans to retire to Florida. New neighbors pass by shyly at first but eventually stop to join in. Dogs participate, too, scooting up the steps to greet the sitter.

This process is way behind schedule this year, thanks to the bone-chilling spring. But those ice-cold steps will need to warm up considerably before the stoop sitters can settle into place and get the conversation started.

Ft. Greene condo prices skyrocket

We first posted about the new condos going up on Adelphi between Lafayette and Dekalb a while back. We noticed that one of the units had an accepted offer, but upon checking the Brooklyn Properties site today, we noticed that not only is the accepted offer no longer, but they have raised the asking prices on these 18% and 31%, from $795K and $895K to $945K to $1.175MM!!

What chutzpah! If all four units go for asking, this will set some sort of psychological benchmark for the Ft. Greene new condominium market.

West Village brouhaha

Oh Steven Gaines, you published your book too quickly! Gaines' new book, due to be released in June, chronicles the (mis)adventures of Manhattan's fabled and infamous coop boards.

As if in real-time, over at the West Village Houses, just south of STOMP (southern tip of the meatpacking district), this Mitchell-Lama complex prized for their generous layouts and oh-so-hot location are in the middle of converting all their units from rentals to cooperatives.

As if it needs to be said, in this Manhattan real estate zeitgeist, no one will be happy for too long, despite the opportunity for someone to buy their 800 sq foot 1 bedroom for an absolutely-Ft-Greene-pre-2002-price of $170K.

Over at the West Village Housing Tenants Associates website, there are enough posts to make the curbed editors work OT for the next week.

Among the goodies:

• some tenant left a homemade pig's head on a certain person named Katy. Without having read all the posts, I think she may have been one of the tenants association's honchos. As one disgusted fellow tenant remarked, 'what's next? a burning cross on their lawn?'
• a veritable craigslist-ian post on people looking to trade up from their 2 BR to a 4 BR
• as one astute tenant wrote: "As reported today in the New York Post, the average 2 bedroom Co-op apartment is now selling for $1,152,180; the average 3 bedroom Co-op is now selling for $3,287,693; the average 4 bedroom Co-op is now selling for $5,978,034. WHY ARE THERE STILL PEOPLE IN WEST VILLAGE HOUSES THAT OPPOSE THE REVISED RED-HERRING?????????"

This, and many others are here: http://www.wvhta.org but beware that you need to register.

Building collapse in Ft. Greene causes death

A building collapse in Ft. Greene last night took the life of a 23-year-old woman. The building collapse took place on Park Avenue, right underneath the BQE, between Cumberland and Carlton.

Admittedly, a bad picture I took today, but here's one nonetheless for those asking about construction updates. Seems to show some progress, although a lot of the (cheap-looking) windows are smashed or are broken. I'm sure they'll fix it before the building is done though. The scaffolding on Underhill is now gone, which is a good sign of progress. Sheetrock/plaster is going up, from what I can see from street level

The Washington Condo website (www.thewashingtoncondo.com) has been updated with a snazzy design. Unlike before, where they mispelled Huebener as Huebner, they have corrected it this time around.