Scaturro Goes Condo, Knickerbocker Goes Upscale
The Scaturro supermarket has been closed for a couple of years now, the blue sealed-up windows in its hulking brick facade taunting those of us who know the potential this prime block of our main drag has. There have been rumors for a while that the building would be converted to condos and the ground floor would become “progressive” retail. Soon, those big arched windows will be glazed and the whole building brought back to life.
Our own Armstrong did some sleuthing behind the scaffolding that recently went up, and found out that The Hudson Companies plan to turn it into a 49-unit condominium of “modern, loft-like apartments.” They will add a new top floor “containing dramatic penthouse units.” Almost half the apartments will have some outdoor space. They will also join 225 Troutman as one of Brooklyn’s first LEED certified developments — Bushwick, for a change, is on the cutting edge of green!
“Prices are very much up in the air right now. Who knows where the market will be in 6 months? A year?” says my contact at Hudson. “We’re not trying to make some million-dollar ultra-luxury Williamsburg rip-off apartments that happen to be in Bushwick.” There will be a handful of studios, with the rest of the units divided between one- and two-bedroom layouts. Unfortunately, the developer is not likely to approve anything more kitchen intensive than a café — “we don’t want to have to vent exhaust near people’s terraces.”
Two pretty rust-colored neighboring buildings on Hart and a couple of others on Knickerbocker that are also currently bricked up will be incorporated into the development. The parking lot on DeKalb will be retained. The sign for Manhattan restaurant Turks & Frogs on the scaffolding is likely just some advertising the scaffolding company does, according to the agent. It will be taken down to avoid undue overjoy among the passersby.
Knickerbocker Condominiums
320 Knickerbocker Avenue
October 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Glad to see more LEED-certified developments are coming to Bushwick.
As for the “progressive” retail store on the ground floor, I hope they consider a grocery store. We need a greater variety of food in Bushwick. I’ve been wishing for a Fairway supermarket in our neighborhood ever since I walked into their Red Hook store.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I heard the Apple store is going in.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
A flagship Fendi store will take up the entire block. Europeans are hot on Bushwick.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
i hate to see a building going to waste… but i hate this too.
hi hater?
October 15th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
What’s there to hate about?
You prefer an empty building that has potential to house crack heads,drug dealers or god knows what else?So let’s hear your plan
October 16th, 2008 at 8:29 am
They should totally put in a Guitar Center or a Chuck E. Cheese…
October 16th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Maybe an “adult” store with peep booths?
October 16th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I suspect that by the time this project is completed, the developer will have come to their senses and this will end up a rental. With all the product coming on-line all over W’burg/Greenpoint, it is exceedingly unlikely that there will be much of a market for these condos. As rentals, they should do fine and it will still bring lots of new folks with disposible income into the area.
As for retail, this is going to be a tough sell. The area has an abundance of low-end stores and most “progressive” retailers, whatever that means, do not want to be in a strip of 99 Cent stores and bodegas. Restaurants and bars are generally the most adventurous about “transitional” areas and I can certainly understand a developers resistance to these tenants in a upscale residential building.
All and all, I am thrilled that they are reusing a good solid building instead of tearing it down and putting up more new, ugly, cheaply built crap.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:33 am
I hate this too. I’d much rather see something that the neighborhood needs– a community center? a movie theater?– something we could ALL benefit from, not just the very very few. Why do we need more condos? To turn Bushwick into the next Williamsburg? Jeeeez.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Too late bushwick girl ,it’s already happening
October 25th, 2008 at 12:29 am
It’s the owner’s decision, not yours. If you’re so in tune with what we need, I have a great idea - call AMC, Regal, whoever - get them on board and the approach the owner.
Otherwise you’re just whining.
October 27th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Hey Bushwick Girl - isn’t housing needed in NYC also? And you’d really rather see these historic buildings torn down and a multiplex put up instead? What?!?
November 7th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Did I see a Stop Work Order on this last week?