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Empty lot — and empty promises? — at Court St project

By Mike McLaughlin
The Brooklyn Paper
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The Brooklyn Paper / Tom Callan
The big empty: The Clarett Group has halted construction — temporarily, the company says — at the former Longshoreman’s medical office at the corner of Court and Union streets.

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The developers of a controversial residential project on Court Street have quietly halted construction for at least six months, raising anxiety that the empty lot will haunt the main drag of Carroll Gardens during this increasingly dire economic downturn.

Clarett Group’s seven-story apartment building and townhouse complex between Union and Sackett streets, on the site of a razed longshoremen’s medical clinic, has been temporarily shelved, the developers have told Councilman Bill DeBlasio (D–Park Slope) and Assemblywoman Joan Millman (D–Carroll Gardens), two lawmakers who have been in contact with the Clarett Group because many constituents have questioned the size of the proposal and its sleek modern look.

Brooklyn Bridge Realty

Now many of those critics worry the undeveloped site — possibly another victim of mayhem in the real estate and credit markets — will turn into an eyesore.

“It was a monstrosity of a building, but I am not crazy about having a hole in the ground!” said Carroll Gardens resident and blogger Katia Kelly.

A spokeswoman for the company, which also built the Forte tower in Fort Greene, would not discuss the new construction schedule, which originally called for the project to be done by the end of 2009, a timeline that seems unattainable.

But the spokeswoman, Alison Maiore, did tell The Brooklyn Paper that the builders would finish the 29-unit project sooner or later.

BoroDeal

“Work will continue on this site,” she said. “It’s just taking longer.”

©2008 Community Newspaper Group

←DUMBO: Walentas ready to ‘Dock’ with 18-story tower
→Red Hook: At PS 27, school’s out forever

Reader Feedback

BD from Red Hook/Carroll Gdns says:
Regarding the ILA- which was originally there, before these new buyers came in the picture. Beautiful building was modern,even though it was there for a long time. Medical building,with faculty and offices, was great asset for the neighborhood people and for the people who moved out of the neighborhood. They went daily to see their doctors, had their tests, enjoyed mingling while waiting for their doctor with friends. This was all taken away. Convenience of not going too far to see their doctors. This should have stayed-for nursing training- for doctors-to rent their office space. Which was all declined.
It is a pity to see an empty lot-where there was once a beautiful-i say- should have been a LANDMARK- on that property. Also, for what the neighbors have been put through. Where all these years, there was never a problem. This looks like an awful eyesore of a empty sullen landslide of a lot. Dark and gloomy. With the weather conditions coming, what are the neighbors looking forward too? No shield of a building backing. Their foundations?
Dec. 11, 2008, 12:55 pm
Julee from Carroll Gardens says:
The cold gray monolith that stood there prior was only a few degrees less disgusting. I am sure the insides were useful but arguing after the fact of its "beauty" is futile. It is a pity to see it fall to a sad lot but please do not call the prior pigeon infested box beautiful.
Dec. 14, 2008, 12:09 am

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