Monday, July 18, 2016

Fedderization along Metropolitan Avenue

This was an empty lot used primarily for parking cars. Now it's a development site.
55-35 Metropolitan Avenue is ugly as hell, Fedders and all, but its saving grace is that it is only dumping 2 more units into the mix instead of 8 or 10.
Why match the existing rowhouses on either side when you can just dump a big steaming pile in the middle and make your development stick out like a sore thumb?
Block the air and light of the tenants to the east and make sure the people living to the west are greeted by a giant wall as they exit their homes.
And why would this development qualify for an after hours variance permit? It's a standard development project.
And why do they need pile drivers?
Naturally, NY Yimby is cheering this on. (Their commenters aren't, however.)

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

How far back can that new building possibly go? The house on the right has side windows. The rooms must be tiny. Perfect example of Queens Crap - almost as good as the main photo on this blog.

Anonymous said...

Well, it could be worse. The developer could have purchased the air rights of every adjacent property and built a 15 story tower like they did on the corner or Metropolitan and 118 Street in Kew Gardens several years ago.

It could be worse. They could have installed balconies on the upper floor that would have become cluttered with folding chairs, bikes, floor mops, dead potted plants, and drying laundry - for the entire neighborhood to see and enjoy.

Sad - the motto of Queens should be "Well, it could be worse".

Anonymous said...

Pick up any one of the useless weekly rags that used to be community newspapers.

Take a look at your useless elected officials that use to be community focused.

BLAME THEM!

Anonymous said...

Think of the bright side, the ugly structure frees up a curbside parking space.

Anonymous said...

Real Queens Crap !
How the fuck can this happen ?

Anonymous said...

Damn that building is ugly. And what happens to the people living next door who's windows are now covered by bricks?

Though I don't understand why Anon#2 thinks balconies would be worse. They'd break up the bland, boxy front of the building and make it less unpleasant on the eyes.

Camel bladder said...

If anyone thinks that balconies installed on shit like this isn't ugly go take a ride along Linden Place in Flushing from 32nd Ave to the Whitestone Expressway. The description about mops and dead plants doesn't do justice. Those balconies have become the most discussing garbage strewn and grease stained eyesores you can imagine. It does make the perfect entryway to beautiful downtown FRUSHING.

ron s said...

To paraphrase "My Cousin Vinnie"..
Yeah, you blend!

Anonymous said...

I never did like that fence anyway.

Anonymous said...

we don't need a fence, we need a wall

Anonymous said...

The city council could do something about this but you have to understand other things, as transgender bathrooms, the plight of the immigrant from Upper Silesia is taking up much of their time.

Be patient.

Sooner or later you will be dead and the problem will resolve itself.

Anonymous said...

More than half of Queens is already 'FEDDERIZED'.

Anonymous said...

I thought the city changed its policy on solid metal roll down gates several years ago to mitigate graffiti.

Anonymous said...

@Camel Bladder: A quick look at the street you mentioned on google maps shows that most balconies are uncluttered. And the buildings they're on would be even blander, plainer, and uglier without them.