Louver Condominium, 91-93 Metropolitan Avenue: Review and Ratings

Review of 91-93 Metropolitan Avenue by Carter Horsley

In October, 2011 Modern Spaces, a real estate brokerage based in Long Island City took over the sales and marketing of the residential condominium bulding at 91-93 Metropolitan Avenue and renamed the project Louver House, reflecting the vertical louvers on its façade.

The building was formerly known as 268 Wythe Avenue, and it may have had some construction "issues" that a tipster alleged "may have led some early buyers to back out of their contracts," according to a June 26, 2011 article by by Sara Polsky at ny.curbed.com

The article said that the tipster passed on a 20-page inspection report that indicated the building "may be taking on water" and recommended "repairs on everything from the roof and balconies to the indoor common spaces, plumbing and elevator" and estimated that the "total cost of the suggested repairs - with the caveat that the inspectors didn't perform any physical tests - is $1,150,730."

The article said that apartments are "back on the market (with prices ranging from $625,000 to $769,000 for active listings, and four units [are in contract."

The handsome, 7-story residential condominium building was one of the best looking new projects in Brooklyn in several years when it opened in 2009.

Designed by MDIM, an architecture firm founded in 2005 by Ralf Mayer, it has 13 apartments and is distinguished by its vertical wood slats that not only lessen its heat "load" like the horizontal brise de soleils widely used in Europe for many years, but also give the building a distinct "crafted" personality that distinguishes it not only in Williamsburg but also in the city.

The building has several inset large balconies on its Wythe and Metropolitan avenue façades which are symmetrically alike. The building, however, is not in the form of a box and the architects placed the firestairs at a 45-degree angle with the building at the rear.

The building was developed by Morris Gold and is two blocks from the East River, two blocks from Bedford Avenue and a short walk to the L subway station.