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The Curious Case of 341 Eastern Parkway - formerly known as "The Hole". - Page 6 — Brooklynian

The Curious Case of 341 Eastern Parkway - formerly known as "The Hole".

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Comments

  • whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    My understanding is that the bank opens on to EP, and Starbucks would open onto Franklin.

    EP has rules that (with few exceptions) mandate that only professional spaces (banks, religions, MDs, daycares, Dentists, etc) can be accessed from it.

  • Interesting...  There seems to be quite a bit of sectioned off outdoor space which would be optimal for outside seating similar to the Dunkin Donuts on Nostrand and EP.  If the bank has the corner spot, interesting to see what will be done with the outdoor space. 
  • Yes, I have thought about that as well.

    I suppose the Starbucks could effectively lease that area for its customers. I believe Dunkin Donuts effectively complied with the rule by placing their entrance at an angle, or it may have replaced a non-conforming store and been grandfathered in.

    image

    I do not think the rule affects whether outdoor seating is allowed.
  • Leasing the outdoor space with the bank in middle just wont be the same as being connected, and the bank may not like the idea people congregating right outside its windows.

    I noted the angled entrance for Dunkin Donuts as well.  Other corners on EP have the same.  I was also thinking that if Starbucks had the corner spot, they can have the actual (main) entrance on Franklin.
  • Yes, they could reconfigure the doors and glass pretty easily.

    It is also my understanding that only the developer's contractors can work before the TCO is awarded.

    So, the build out for Capital One and Starbucks can't yet happen.

    ...and that ugly fire standpipe jutting from the building onto the sidewalk must remain for now.
  • southeast
    edited June 2014
    Oh, that standpipe(!), I almost hurt myself real bad on that.  If you are rushing between the subway entrance and the gate around the outdoor space, you can easily slam your hip into it.

    Also, did anyone else realize that that whole outdoor area smells like urine?  (It may have just been this past Sunday night, but it was quite strong.)
  • Holy cannoli! $3400 for two-bedroom apartments!
  • Quote: Studios will start at $2,200, one-bedrooms at $2,700, and two-bedrooms at $3,400. "Duplex penthouses" will start at $3,800.
  • The Jeffersons must be rolling in their graves. That's Park Slope pricing.
  • Here are all the listings with floor plans.

    I should be sick and home from work more often. So much posting can be done this way...
  • whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    So far, it seems they are only listing the units on the lower floors.

    How long before the commercial strip across the street looks nothing like this photo?

    image

    How long before 90% of 341 EP is rented?
  • I personally hope it wont be long. That bodega on the SW corner is really awful...looking forward to a bit of beautification and appealing go-to spots in lieu of all the seedy advertisement-covered glass that dominates these storefronts...
  • As you are aware, several of the stores in the photo are already gone. Once 341 EP fills up, the strip will likely be influenced by their means and preferences.

    I read leases can begin early as July 1.

    I suspect the building will be 75% filled with tenants by Sept 1.
  • That block of Franklin Av. is going to look more like 5th Ave. in no time. Yogu Moo will be replaced by Pinkberry, the bodegas will become pricy boutiques, maybe Union Market will open a new location.

    And we'll all be forced to move to Sheepshead Bay.
  • southeast
    edited June 2014
    That ugly fire standpipe jutting from the building is [almost] gone. A pipe coming out of the ground is wrapped up and is the only part that remains.
  • whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    Now if they would only contact me to schedule the viewing I requested....

    Note: I am interested in seeing the units, but not in renting one.

    @AP- Sheepshead Bay is sorta nice.

  • @AP- Sheepshead Bay is sorta nice.
    Whynot, I didn't mean to imply that Sheepshead Bay isn't nice, just that it's FAR out into Brooklyln, comparatively.

  • whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    The bodega on the far left of the above photo is on a prime corner, and isn't yet changing in response to the neighborhood.

    When it is time for its lease to be renewed, it will be lucky if it can afford Ralph Avenue.

    That corner might become "boutique pet supplies and grooming".
  • homeowner
    edited June 2014
    Whynot, re: your question about the non-conforming use of the Dunkin Donuts, I think that that building may be grandfathered. Before the health center was there (the brown build out in the picture above), that building used to house a large fancy sit-down (white tablecloth) Chinese restaurant. They shut down and moved out in the mid-80's and I'm not what was there until the health center came along. But I wouldn't be surprised if the usage for that entire ground floor area predates the prohibition.
  • That makes sense.

    While I don't dislike Starbucks, I am still kind of sad that the restaurant considering the space (mentioned way up the thread) didn't happen.

    If configured to abide by the zoning rules, it could have utilized the front area for outdoor seating. It is easy for me to envision people there dining on $28 entrees while drinking wine.
  • southeast
    edited June 2014

    DNAinfo: Starbucks to Open First Crown Heights Location This Fall

    Starbucks said Wednesday it will open a new location in Crown Heights this fall at the new residential building at 341 Eastern Parkway.

  • whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    Those wondering exactly how the store will be laid out should consult the drawings on Page 2 of this RFP in PDF:

    http://visiblecc.com/planroom/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Bid-Set-Plans-Starbucks-Brooklyn-EastParkway_CDs_05-23-14_MEP.pdf

    ....more than you ever wanted to know :)
  • southeast
    edited June 2014
    Seems like they are going to share a wall with supermarket/Pulp and Bean.  Or am I reading this wrong?
  • http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2014/06/starbucks-is-coming-to-crown-heights/

    First Starbucks east of Flatbush Ave.--a most interesting factoid!
  • whynot_31
    edited June 2014
    Southeast-
    You've got it. I can't convert page 2 to a jpeg and upload it at the moment, but the entrance will be on Franklin (as discussed above), and I believe they will take up all the space that wasn't taken by Capital One.

    If you have time, dig into that RFP to see if it contains any info about Starbucks having exclusive rights to the outdoor space on Eastern Parkway.

    ...or, create and upload that jpeg.
  • Whynot, re: your question about the non-conforming use of the Dunkin Donuts, I think that that building may be grandfathered. Before the health center was there (the brown build out in the picture above), that building used to house a large fancy sit-down (white tablecloth) Chinese restaurant. They shut down and moved out in the mid-80's and I'm not what was there until the health center came along. But I wouldn't be surprised if the usage for that entire ground floor area predates the prohibition.
    It's kinda silly they don't allow outdoor dining along the Parkways— they're supposed to be modelled after Parisian boulevards, and what's more Parisian than an outdoor cafe on a boulevard?
  • Just saw the building in person for the first time today (no longer use the Franklin 2/3/4/5 on a regular basis) and oh my is it ugly. What was the design process like?

    "Let's see... Cinderblock base, check. Cheap faux brick facade in jaundice yellow, check. Hey, I know, why don't we make the top look like a condo in downtown Houston."

    I'm not in love with the Meier building on GAP (it looks out of place), but I would much rather see that here than this piece of shit.
  • Still no C of O:

    http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/COsByLocationServlet?requestid=1&allbin=3397468

    My understanding is that they can't begin to show the spaces, or allow Starbucks and Capital One begin buildouts until they get one.

    Hopefully they get it this week.
  • A TCO (temporary cert of occupancy) is typically issued first and allows the building to be used. They are allowed to show the apartments, but they can't sign leases until the TCO or C of O is granted. Closing out all of the final inspections and paper work to get the TCO is a slow process that can be held by the Dept of Buildings for minor issues. I think the building will lease out very quickly due to high demand in the area, so it makes sense to wait until the TCO is issued. 

    The retail spaces will pull their own permits for the interior fit out. This will happen on a separate schedule. The drawings posted by WhyNot31 appear to be "bidding drawings" not filing drawings. So they are using these to hire a general contractor, and will probably file for permit after the GC is hired.  
This discussion has been closed.