With the ascendance of the “industrial chic” aesthetic, the intense gentrification of once-working-class South Brooklyn neighborhoods, and excellent transit access into Manhattan, Gowanus has transitioned from a smelly post-industrial no-man’s-land into an intensely desirable residential neighborhood. Unfortunately for would-be residents, there are few lots zoned for development, aside from those occupied by the Lightstone Group’s large project at 363-365 Bond Street.
But there are a few buildable sites on the western side of Bond Street, which had designations allowing housing development thanks to the residential character of surrounding blocks, retained in the 2009 Carroll Gardens/Columbia Street rezoning.
And one developer found such a lot at 399 President Street, paying a bit more than $1.8 million for what was a single-family home with a plain brick front and no apparent style for around $250 per buildable square foot.
The property is now in the midst of being transformed into an enormous two-family home. The structure was enlarged from 2,000 square feet to 7,000 square feet, with its two stories raised to three. (The developer repeated the same trick behind this property, at 442 Union Street.)
399 President Street will have two duplex units – the first with the full first floor and part of the second, and the second with part of the second and all of the third level. There will also be a two-car garage on the ground level.
Issac & Stern are the architects, while a Clinton Hill-based LLC associated with Jacky Bain is the developer. Construction appears to be wrapping up now.
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