Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Adaptive reuse: Manhattan vs. Queens

Manhattan

Queens

Would you rather live in a building that's been totally restored down to the shutters and paint detailing or one that had its iconic smokestacks removed and then had a bunch of glass and off-color metal dumped on top of it?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes thats the piece of crap down by Gantry that removed every trace of the buildings history.Its also suppose to attract shallow morons who have millions to plop down for a part time home.Ugly,and not worth a penny.Looks like a neuvo dumb hotel.

Anonymous said...

Those smokestacks were ugly. When someone complains about losing smokestacks, you know not to take them seriously.

Anonymous said...

The trend is the preservation of industrial buildings. And the Powerhouse was a classic, even featured in Georgia O'Keeffe paintings. The previous commenter shows his contempt for Queens history. Typical commenter who has migrated over from LIQ Shitty to spread his hate of everything not yuppie.

Anonymous said...

The previous commenter shows his contempt for Queens history.
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No the previous commenter, although wrong headed, is the example of the steady drumbeat of prodevelopment we get from our community board, politicans, newspapers, and in some cases, even civics (hello Dutch Kills chuckle chuckle chuckle)

It does reflect the intential failure of the preservation community in embarking in a public education program.

So any blame for those comments should be laid at their feet. They know what the deal is, but refused to do a useful thing about it (except of course to keep us in the dark and anytime we try to get organized, trip us up)

Anonymous said...

The only reason places like the Sohmer Piano got landmarked is because it was visible from Manhattan.

This place was too, but the developers trumped Manhattan's efforts and since it will be boxed in by new development, not really a problem afterall.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I know all about the history of the smokestacks. They were ugly and I'm glad they are gone. The brickwork of the building is nice, and I'm glad that is still there. I would have liked the exterior of the factory attached to it to have been preserved as well. But the smokestacks were ugly. So what if O'Keefe put them in a painting?
Again, when you are so narrow-minded against development that you complain about smokestacks, you can't be taken seriously.

Queens Crapper said...

When you are so narrow-minded against preservation that you complain about smokestacks, you can't be taken seriously.

Anonymous said...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the Domino sugar factory is 10x uglier than the powerhouse was, but there was an organized effort to preserve it.

Anonymous said...

Why not just remove the smokestacks and fix up the rest of the building? Why did they have to add that nasty crap on top?

Anonymous said...

Powerhouse = crap

Anonymous said...

This is exactly the type of tripe the "new" LIC goes for - ugly and cheap looking.

Anonymous said...

Smokestacks are a reminder of the area's industrial past. The hipsters moved here precisely because of that vibe, the yuppies don't want to have to look at it. They want to leave their mark on the area and they are in a way that's not good.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I know all about the history of the smokestacks. They were ugly and I'm glad they are gone.

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Ok Rembrandt, what do you think looks good?

Anonymous said...

Crapper, your attempt at wordplay made no sense, as usual.
To the above poster - I said I thought to exterior walls - the brickwork, arches, etc. - looked good. Read the comments, and then respond.

Anonymous said...

So who wants to talk about the old turbine hall next door that was illegally demoed?

Anonymous said...

Mr. pro-development LIQ Shitty lover has his panties in a bunch because multiple people think those smokestacks represented their neighborhood better than the new version of the old building.

Anonymous said...

I think Manhattan developers use Queens to experiment with their buildings. If it goes bad, like this one did, the locals won't mind. In fact, they'll brainwash themselves into thinking this is neighborhood improvement, led by their community board, which is made up of other developers and realtors.

Anonymous said...

BEWARE OF LIC!! Believe a real state broker or leading economists?! Before even considering buying, read what they are saying about Long Island City being amongst the most vulnerable NY neighborhoods to see further dramatic declines in 2009-2010, written by 2 leading real estate economists:
1. "Supply concerns will mount in Long Island City, Midtown West, the Financial District and southeastern Harlem, where deliveries will be elevated and the threat of shadow rentals persists," Edward Jordan, regional manager of the Manhattan office of Marcus & Millichap, said. A shadow market exists when homeowners turn to renting out their units because they cannot sell them, which in turn increases the rental apartment stock."
2. "In the outer boroughs, sales are slow, especially in Williamsburg, downtown Brooklyn, Park Slope and Long Island City. For example, in many developments in Long Island City, certain developers have not registered a new sales contract for close to a year. Developers of many condos where sales have stalled are now resorting to renting the units."

Anonymous said...

Yes maybe its a developers experiment in bad architecture,but its still ugly and poorly built.Thats no secret so buy and rent away.Sounds like a yuppie class war will break out in the building because the ones on top are super snazzy units for movie stars.Dont they film those new dumb gossip terd rich kid upper east side shows there?

Anonymous said...

the powerhouse was no clasic. It was a polluted eyesore. Good riddance!

Anonymous said...

Apples and oranges, apples and oranges...

Anonymous said...

This 'developer' is now bankrupt. He scarred our neighborhood, shit all over it and now can't wipe his own ass. This building will sit silent for years until it is torn down or made into a much needed hospital or geriatric facility, after the entire scourge of transplanted millionaire assholes that are getting their Volvo's broken in now on the streets of LIC lose every last cent of their trust funds and have to go home to live in mommy and daddy basements in CT.

ps - There aren't any "hip' people in LIC anymore. They all left in the 80's like I did.