The Simone, 35 McDonald Avenue: Review and Ratings

Review of 35 McDonald Avenue by Carter Horsley

This surprising and handsome, 5-story building at 35 McDonald Avenue at Terrace Place and 20th Street directly across from the Greenwood Cemetery in the Windsor Terrace section of Brooklyn was erected in 2005 and has 35 condominium apartments. 

It is on a triangular lot and is called The Simone. 

Basile Brothers Group was the developer. 

It was designed by Bricolage Designs and an April 25, 2017 article by Carly Miller at bklyner.com noted that its partners, Douglas Pulaski and Henry Radusky "were found fined for flouting Department of Building regulations and were the architects for a building collapse in Brighton Beach in 2011 that lead to a construction worker's death.  The article quoted Assembly Member James Brennan in the Daily News that "they have been known by the Buildings Department for many years to operate on the fringe." 

It’s six blocks from the F/G trains at Fort Hamilton Parkway and eight from 15th Street-Prospect Park station. It’s next to Green-Wood and less than mile from Prospect Park.

Bottom Line

Like a complex, wind-up toy about to spring into astounding action, this handsome low-rise building across from Greenwood Cemetery is sort of a tribute to very intellectual architects such as Le Corbusier and Peter Eisenman.  All it needs are some diving, or rather jumping, boards to entertain its neighbors in the cemetery.

Description

This red-brick building with white railings has a very complex and interesting plan with numerous cutaways and loggias and setbacks and a curved and landscaped driveway. 

No dogs are allowed.

Amenities

The building has a curved, landscaped driveway, a bicycle room, central air-conditioning, a garage and a video intercom. 

Apartments

Penthouse 5A is a two-bedroom unit with 1,796 square feet with an dining entry with a 412-square-foot terrace that leads to 28-foot-long living room that has it own terrace of the same size. 

Apartment 5C is a one-bedroom unit with a 7-foot-wide entry foyer that leads to a 23-foot-wide living room with an open kitchen with an island and a 24-by-16-foot terrace.

Apartment 4A is a two-bedroom unit with a 22-foot-long living room that opens onto a 12-foot-wide dining area with an open 12-foot-wide kitchen with an island.  The unit has an 879-square-foot terrace accessed form the living room and one of the bedrooms.

Apartment 4E is a two-bedroom unit with a 22-foot-long living/dining room with a 16-foot-wide open kitchen with an island.  The bedrooms both open onto a 28-foot-wide terrace.

Apartment 1B is a two-bedroom unit with a 9-foot-wide entry foyer that leads past a 12-foot-wide kitchen with a breakfast bar to a 26-foot-long living/dining room that opens onto a large terrace that is curved at one end.

Apartment 1F is a two-bedroom unit with a 22-foot-long living room with an open kitchen with an island and it opens onto a 42-foot-wide "outdoor living" area.  The bedrooms both open onto a 25-foot-deep, curved patio.

Apartment 1D is a two-bedroom unit with an entry next to a 15-foot-wide kitchen with an island and an 18-foot-wide living/dining room that opens onto a 42-foot-wide patio that is also accessed from the bedrooms.