Friday, August 9, 2013

The Pink Elephant of Union Turnpike

This aerial shot is of 76-84 176th Street in 1996. You can see what looks like a small 1-family house on an irregular corner lot. Cue the bulldozers!


Whoa, this is one interesting piece of architecture. We're squeezing some kind of restaurant in this space. Why? Because we can!

This building was allegedly completed in 2008, but has been sitting vacant since that time. Why? Well, I can't think of another time when I saw "TOO MANY OBJECTIONS TO LIST" on an application on the DOB's website. No C of O. What a surprise.

How would you like this thing pressed up against your house?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like it. It's so,so, Queens. Yes that's it. Queens.

Anonymous said...

Maybe this would be a good topic for the upcoming "Quintessentially Queens" symposium by Queens College.

Anonymous said...

Our future with the Vallones.

Anonymous said...

All of that pavement was laid without any permits for a pavement plan (BPP).

Pissedoffteacher said...

That has been like that for more years than I can remember. We always knew there was a problem. It sure is ugly.

Anonymous said...

Concrete. Concrete everywhere.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if this is another case where the (former) owner of the adjacent house built to the edge of the property line anticipating that the footprint on the old house next door would be providing sufficient space. Then along comes a new owner for that lot and builds to his edge of the property line and you are left with this mess.

Notice the full concrete pad frontage - no doubt to accommodate cars in private spots and removing the public's access to the parking at the curb.

Anonymous said...

They always say that you can't eat the ambiance in a restaurant.

Anonymous said...

How could the DOB approve those plans?

Queens Crapper said...

The house on the right is not built on the property line.

Anonymous said...

The property originally had a one-family house, but since it is zoned with a commercial overlay, this is what came next.

The owner owns a number of rental properties in the area.

Anonymous said...

There were a number of Stop Work Orders over time that were all lifted....but the outcome of this complaint is telling:

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/OverviewForComplaintServlet?requestid=2&vlcompdetlkey=0000869098

Ned said...

Restaurant ? Hmm I dont think they will be serving food.
This looks like one of them corner bar/private massage split level joints they have all over Bangkok.
Complementary glass of snake wine with full service or 375 Thai baht's (around 12 us bux)
They are usually pink or red stucco too....so I been told