Residents of Bushwick are already used to the sight of nearly constant construction. Next year, another building will spring up and join the ranks of spots driving up area rents.
As reported late last week by New York YIMBY, a lot at 16 Charles Place which was bought in 2011 for $5,000,000 by Israel Perlmutter will soon be the site of a new building—apparently the impending construction on both the M and the L trains is not stopping the gentrification train as forcefully as some had hoped.
The architect, Karl Fisher, has designed the exterior to look like a classic loft conversion similar to the facade of 949 Willoughby Avenue, another mega building around the corner where the cheapest open listing is a studio for $2,295 a month.
16 Charles Place will feature 39 units spread across 25,959 square feet for an average size of only 664 square feet, which would be palatial for a studio and nearly Williamsburg-level cramped for a two bedroom.
But even if new residents don’t get the space they need in their apartments, the building promises recreational space on the first floor and fantastic access to the already-cramped confines of Little Skips.
Patrick Costello of Christmastown, a Christmas tree stand operating on Charles Place, confirmed that he would not be setting up shop on the soon to be changing block this year as a result of the development, but he hopes to return to the same location next year.
On the other hand, Darcey Leonard of Tarot Society, which is located down the block from the new development, says that “‘horrible'” would sum up how I feel about this development project. During the building of this project they have shown a consistent disregard for my business and contempt for parking code that I expect will continue when the quiet dead end street we are on turns into their parking. It will affect my business in a detrimental way and is tone deaf to the community that already exists around this structure.”
Nothing new for Bushwick and a reminder of how developments might affect business owners and residents long before the first new tenants move in.
Featured image: Rendering of 16 Charles Place courtesy of Karl Fisher Architect.