Controversial landlord Mendel Gold is behind one of the projects, 485 Tompkins Ave (left) and Pine Builders Corp. is behind 375 Stuyvesant Ave (right)
Tomorrow, proposals for two Bedford Stuyvesant sites will go before the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
The first is 485-487 Tompkins Avenue, a two-story building that was formerly the site of Edelstein H Automotive Supply and is now aiming to become a 14-unit, 5-story (likely) luxury rental through an interior renovation and vertical enlargement. The conversion, if approved, will contain 9,913 square feet of residential space.
The developer is none other than Mendel Gold, who has "perfected the art" of purchasing rent-stabilized buildings, harassing tenants to vacate the property, and flipping those apartments for a massive profit, according to an extensive investigation of Brooklyn slumlords conducted by Patch last year.
In 2016, Gold clocked in at number 97 on the city's annual "100 Worst Landlords" list for 300 HPD violations and 44 DOB violations. Clearly, this has little to no effect on him: the DOB continues to approve his new building applications. And honestly, 485 Tompkins Avenue probably won't be an exception.
Permits list Diego Aguilera Architects as the architect of record and NV Design Architecture is designing.
The first is 485-487 Tompkins Avenue, a two-story building that was formerly the site of Edelstein H Automotive Supply and is now aiming to become a 14-unit, 5-story (likely) luxury rental through an interior renovation and vertical enlargement. The conversion, if approved, will contain 9,913 square feet of residential space.
The developer is none other than Mendel Gold, who has "perfected the art" of purchasing rent-stabilized buildings, harassing tenants to vacate the property, and flipping those apartments for a massive profit, according to an extensive investigation of Brooklyn slumlords conducted by Patch last year.
In 2016, Gold clocked in at number 97 on the city's annual "100 Worst Landlords" list for 300 HPD violations and 44 DOB violations. Clearly, this has little to no effect on him: the DOB continues to approve his new building applications. And honestly, 485 Tompkins Avenue probably won't be an exception.
Permits list Diego Aguilera Architects as the architect of record and NV Design Architecture is designing.
All 485 Tompkins Avenue renderings by NV Design Architecture
Rendering of 485 Tompkins (middle)
Existing site condition
Just four blocks away, developer Oren Evenhar, the chief executive of Pine Builders Corporation, and architects DXA Studio are proposing a 5-story, 7-unit condominium to replace an attached garage located directly behind 375 Stuyvesant Avenue, the site of a historic mansion built circa 1914. The proposal includes rebuilding and relocating the garage that suffered fire damage in 2014, salvaging and reusing the brick, and restoring the facade of the mansion. Of course, not everyone is on board with the development; some believe (video) the garage should remain untouched.
Existing aerial view
Proposal
Oren Evenhar should be quite familiar with the LPC process, he's behind the renovation of the long-neglected, landmarked Paul Robeson Theatre, which was approved last year. Of the space, Evenhar told Curbed, “The original approach was, maybe we convert it into residential. But it has too much charm."
That same sort of respect seems to be applied to this proposal. While this development will be a new structure, it's proposed facade will reference the mansion as well as the surrounding historic neighborhood with red brick, terracotta louvers, and charcoal gray metalwork. Inside, there will be five full-floor condos ranging from one- to two-bedroom layouts. Residential storage and a bike room will be in the cellar. Private outdoor space will be available for the ground-floor unit (backyard) and the penthouse unit (rooftop terrace).
All renderings of 375 Stuyvesant Avenue by DXA Studio
Facade detail
Evenhar is also behind the waterfront condo 50 Greenpoint, which launched sales early last year (current availabilities start at $1.495M but started off at an affordable $699K).
The LPC meeting takes place tomorrow, October 2nd at 1:30 pm (PDF).
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Sandra Herrera
Sandra Herrera is a writer, editor, and graphic designer based in Brooklyn, NY.
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