The Sad Transformation Of One Smith Street Block In Boerum Hill As Yet Another Original Building Is Demolished

Smith Street, looking towards Atlantic Avenue in April 2018

Original building at 157 Smith Street in April 2018, before demolition

Before demolition

157 Smith Street, now all gone. 

The empty lot at 157 Smith Street

Just a small reminder of the original structure.

For decades, much of Smith Street in Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill has remained unchanged. The charming commercial stretch was lined with three to four story row houses, with just a few taller five to six story buildings spread along the blocks closer to Atlantic Avenue.

Unfortunately, we are seeing the north end of Smith Street change at a rapid pace, as some of the original houses are being demolished to make way for taller glass structures which don't even try to fit into the existing streetscape.

Part of the problem has to do with New York City's 2011 contextual rezoning of Boerum Hill, which raised the allowable Floor Area Ratio on Smith Street from Warren Street to Atlantic Avenue to R6A, which allows a building to rise to 70 feet.
(In contrast, the southern end of Smith Street was zoned R6B with a 50 feet height limit as part of the Carroll Gardens Contextual rezoning, approved in 2009.)

The temptation to build up to the allowable height limit can be perfectly illustrated on the block between Wycoff and Bergen Streets.  First, a three story original wood-clad building at number 159 Smith Street was demolished to make way for a much taller modern steel-clad apartment building with commercial space that remains unoccupied to this day.

Recently, the original structure next door at number 157 Smith Street was totally demolished, though the building permit issued was for a "proposed vertical and horizontal extension to existing building," only including "a partial demolition of existing structure."

What will replace it, according to a rendering, looks equally out of place as the new building at # 159.

According to Zillow, 157 Smith Street changed hands in 2016 for $3,750,000. That is a lot of money and one can hardly blame a new owner for wanting to maximize every inch of floor-area allowed by zoning. However, one does have to scratch one's head as to why someone buys a beautiful old building in a charming old neighborhood just to turn it into a stark modern glass structure.

At this rate,  the southern end of Smith Street will lose much of its flair.

What do you think, dear Reader?

As a reminder, this is what the two buildings at 157 and 159, together with their identical neighbor at #161 looked like in 2014. To date, 161 remains unchanged. For how long.

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Another Charming Old Brick Building On Smith Street To Get The Glass Treatment In Upcoming 'Remuddle'

If the new silver-toned building that replaced a sweet wooden clapboard building at 159 Smith Street isn't ugly enough in Boerum Hill, it may soon have an equally out of place neighbor.
Just recently, Rime, a sneaker store, moved out of 157 Smith Street and a construction fence was erected around its façade. A NYC Buildings Department permit indicates that this nice original old three-story brick building with a lovely cornice will soon get a vertical and horizontal extension.  According to a posted drawing, it will be stripped of all its charm in the process.

According to Zillow, 157 Smith Street changed hands in 2016 for $3,750,000. That is a lot of money and one can hardly blame a new owner for wanting to maximize every inch of floor-area allowed by zoning.  However, one does have to scratch one's head as to why someone buys a beautiful old building in a charming old neighborhood just to turn it into a stark modern glass structure.

What do you think, dear Reader?

Below is a photo taken in November 2014 of the three original buildings at 157, 159 and 161 Smith Street. Soon, only 161 will remain unchanged.

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After Years Of Construction, The New Building At 159 Smith Street Is Revealed, And It's....(Fill In The Blank)

Original wood-clad house at 159 Smith Street before it was demo'ed in late 2013

The new building at 159 Smith Street in March 2017

This is what a "proposed 2 story addition to an existing 3 story mixed-use building" looks like, according to the NYC's Department of Building.

PMFA has been following this particular construction ever since a green construction fence was erected along the original wood-clad building at 159 Smith Street, between Wycoff and Bergen Streets in Boerum Hill, in late 2013. A few days later, a demolition crew completely tore down the existing building.  More than three years later, a completely new building has taken its place.e

The original three-story mixed use structure was certainly in need of some attention. However, with its height, ornate cornice and window details, it fit perfectly between its two neighbors. Most importantly, it had probably stood there for almost a century.

The new building (and it is new from the ground up, regardless of what the permit says) is almost done now.  It seems massive next to the neighboring structures. Its façade is rather stark and modern.

Personally, I think it is horrendous, but would like to hear what you have to say.

How would you complete the sentence:

"The new 159 Smith Street is revealed, and its....(Fill In The Blank)"

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Good Grief! Is THIS What Will Replace The Sweet Wood-Clad Building That Stood At 159 Smith Street?

Photos above taken of 159 Smith Street in December 2013

Below, the site the way it looks now.

What will be built in its place?

Every time I walk down Smith Street past the spot where, until recently,  a charming old wood-clad building stood, I get sad.

The three-story mixed use structure at 159 Smith Street, between Wycoff and Bergen Streets in Boerum Hill, was certainly in need of some attention. However, with its height, ornate cornice and window details, it fit perfectly between its two neighbors.  Most importantly, it had probably stood there for almost a century.

I knew its days were limited when, in late December 2013,  a green construction fence went up and a  NYC's Department of Building  permit for a "proposed 2 story addition to an existing 3 story mixed-use building" was taped to the plywood.

Sure enough, days later, a demo truck pulled up and tore the entire building down, leaving a huge hole.

For months, there was no activity at the site.  Just recently, however, work resumed and a banner with an architectural drawing was hung on the construction fence.

If the drawing is just halfway accurate, we can expect a rather bland 5 story glass box. Obviously, neither the architect nor the owner were going for 'contextual'.

Speaking of owner,  the building belongs to  dentists Bella and Garry Levingart, whose office used to occupy the ground floor of 159 Smith Street.  They relocated to 208 Smith Street shortly before the building was torn down.  They also have an office on Central Park West in Manhattan
Interestingly enough,  Dr. Garry Levingart has some rather negative YELP reviews.  His wife Bella's reviews are even worse.

Can someone please explain to me how a permit for a two story addition would allow the entire building to be taken down?  I know it has something to do with how much of the existing building's foundation is left, but the original structure was razed all the way to the cellar.

What's your thought on the new building?

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And It's Gone: Small Wooden House On Smith Street Bites The Dust

Photos taken last week above.

And photos taken this afternoon.

This won't come as a surprise to most, but the three-story mixed use building at 159 Smith Street, between Wycoff and Bergen Streets in Boerum Hill, has now totally been demolished, leaving a rather sad hole on that block.

Strange how a NYC's Department of Building's permit for a two story addition resulted in the total demo of this decrepit, but sweet little house. It was the only wood clad building on the block and was most certainly the original building on that site.

I first posted photos of 159 Smith Street last week, when it became clear that it was in the process of being taken down.

Some see this as progress. I see it as a bloody shame.

Click on the links below for more photos of the building.

Small Wood Clad House On Smith Street Soon To Be Altered

As Expected, Little Wooden Row House On Smith Street Being Demolished

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As Expected, Little Wooden Row House On Smith Street Being Demolished

On Wednesday

and today

As some PMFA readers predicted, the decrepit, but charming three-story mixed use building at 159 Smith Street between Wycoff and Bergen Streets in Boerum Hill  is currently getting demolished. A crew is currently hauling debris out and dumping it into a a giant truck.
On Wednesday, I had posted photos of the only wood-clad house on Smith Street, which had retained its beautiful cornice and most of the details around its windows. The building was supposedly getting a two-story addition and permits had been filed with the NYC's Department of Buildings. However, no permits for the total demolition of the building have been posted.

What a sad end to this wooden house that has been standing there for more than a hundred years. I am glad I took photos of it earlier this week.




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Small Wood Clad House On Smith Street Soon To Be Altered

I always wondered about the unusual three-story, mixed-use building at 159 Smith Street between Wycoff and Bergen Streets in Boerum Hill.  Amidst a row of brick buildings that seem to have been constructed at the same time, it was the only one that had wood cladding.  Over the last few years, the paint on the cladding had begun to peel and the house looked in need of  care, but it had a certain charm and had kept its  original ornate cornice as well as nice window details.
Sadly, instead of getting renovated, the building will soon be altered.  Permits for a two-story addition have been approved by NYC's Department of Buildings.

Not only will the addition make the building stick out from the others on that block, the work will most likely include a new façade.  Most probably, the cornice may not survive this alteration either.

Some roof demolition has already begun.

Of late, the building's storefront had been the home of Dr. Garry Levingard, a dentist, who relocated to #208 Smith Street recently.




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