55 Eckford Street, Williamsburg

[Gulcrapek]

~17 floors
Architect: Scarano & Associates

www.scaranoarchitects.com > multifamily > 55 Eckford Street

"Building a structure that takes advantage of the Manhattan skyline views and the adjacent Maclaren Park in the Northside section of Brooklyn required a slender tower design. While the resurgence of this massing type, in certain limited districts, is an example of how a variety of building masses can coexist along a single block; it shows that tall can be beautiful too.

Varying the exterior finish materials from masonry to stucco on a prefabricated panel allowed for a unique look that breaks down the building's perceived height to a scale that is contextual to the neighbors, and identifies the different unit type's, duplexes and flats.

By retaining the existing two-story factory as a base for the new building, tenant amenities such as on-site parking, a meeting room, private gym, sun deck, wine cellar, bike and storage rooms and a large lobby were made possible. The resulting development creates a lifestyle and a look that any owner would envy."

[ryan]

www.scaranoarchitects.com is very frustrating!! I finally got into it using an outdated version of IE (on a mac), but I can only see thumbnails.

Anyway, WOW re: 55 Eckford - it's only 2 blocks from my apt, and it's going to make such a difference! When I moved in I couldn't believe those 2 blocks along McCarren park were so desolate given that they are only a 5 minute walk from Bedford (love it or hate it) and that the rest of the neighborhood is all residential. Why the park would be surrounded by industrial buildings is intriguing at best. 17 floors will dwarf anything for miles. The view of midtown beyond the park is beautiful from the sidewalk, so I can only imagine the penthouse view...

I've been watching 297 Driggs for months (it's at about 5 floors now) and I was shocked when I realized they were building an elevator core! I wish I could post the pic from the cursed scarano site, but it's flash. It's maybe average for Manhattan, but for Greenpoint? Hands down the most attractive recent construction (not that there's much). Seems to me most of the recent construction around here is cinderblock with tawny bricks (gag), pipe railings and a/c boxes that seem to suffice for architectural detail(!) Gulcrapek - could you post the blurb for 297 Driggs?

Cheers to Scarano (except for their website). Now, can someone do something about the vinyl siding and tin & plastic awnings?

[Gulcrapek]

"We designed 297 Driggs Avenue to create a highrise gateway to much smaller, modest residential buildings and introduce a fresh attitude toward visual qualities in the heart of East Williamsburg .

With large balconies, glass curtain wall and exterior wood panel cladding, the new fourteen-family building offers buyers private elevator access to each unit, with only two units per floor, and, in turn, offers the community a rich scenic venue.

Set against the backdrop of small wood-sided homes, the building recasts a lifeless setting into a vibrant "people place."

The design, which replaces a formerly vacant site, includes 9,700 sf of apartments, and 10 parking spaces. "

[ryan]

Thanks Gulcrapek.

Still psyched about the building, but a bit nauseated by the PR in that blurb. "Wood-sided" belongs in quotes, as 99% of the wood is aforementioned vinyl. And I might be wrong, but I don't believe the site was vacant - I thought it was brick industrial like the rest of the block. Worst of all, putting a parking lot at this intersection would be a crime - I hope it's an underground garage, because the intersection really deserves ground floor commercial space. "recasting a lifeless setting" is a joke considering the building is surrounded by hip/packed bars. Makes it sound like they're doing community service in Bushwick...

[TLOZ Link5]

By Bushwick you mean East Williamsburg, right Ryan? :mrgreen:

[Gulcrapek]

Ah, the renaming frenzy again. Re: parking, if there was any OG poarking I'm sure it'd be behind the street facade.

[ryan]

By Bushwick you mean East Williamsburg, right Ryan? :mrgreen:

Funny that they're calling this and 297 Driggs East Williamsburg. If anything they should call it North Williamsburg, even though the Greenpoint Gazette is on the next block.

G- hope you're right about the parking, but I still hope for ground floor commercial. Prime bar space with Matchless and Enid's on the other corners...