The building conversion project at 25 Washington Street by Two Trees Management from a commercial building to a residential rental building is nearly complete. The 105 rental units include an 80/20 Housing Program of New York State Homes and Community Renewal component and offers 21 affordable rental apartments. The building, originally built in 1901, is being marketed as Gair2 after the name of the original owner, Robert Gair (and the building number). The building was leased by the Charles William Stores as the administrative headquarters, housing the firm’s general offices, employment and educational divisions, dispensary, and recreation and reading rooms (See prior post for more history on the building).

According to the Gair2 website, the market rate rental prices are listed as follows:

• 1 bedrooms from $2,400
• 1 bedroom + home office from $2,900
• 2 bedrooms from $3,950

These are not the monthly rates for the low income rentals. Floorplans are also shown on the Gair2 website (click apt number for floorplan image):

• Apt 1C-7C (1 bed+home office, 765sqft)
• Apt 2G (1 bed, 567sqft + terrace)
• Apt 3A-7A (2 bed, 888sqft)
• Apt 3F (2 bed, 1170sqft)
• Apt 4H (2 bed, 918sqft + terrace)
• Apt 8C (2 bed, 1020sqft)
• Apt 9H (2 bed, 822sqft + terrace)

Interior photos aren’t available yet, but we can see the windows have triple paned soundproofing. Reactions on pricing for these rentals?

Gair2 (Gair2.com)
25 Washington Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
Phone: 718-222-5555

Previously:
{25 Washington Street Taking Applications for Low Income Rentals, 06Jan2011}
{Img: 25 Washington Rooftop Addition, 03Sep2010}
{25 Washington St LPC Hearing Sept 7, 24Aug2010}
{25 Washington Rentals to Open in March 2011, 23Jul2010}
{25 Washington St Progress, 14Jul2010}
{Help: 25 Washington Tenants Looking for Office Leases, 20Nov2009}

The following is this week’s anticipated construction work schedule (7am – 3:30pm work hours), field conditions permitting for this week. Please note that parking may be restricted in work areas.

• 3/4/11 through 3/11/11 – Water Street/Adam Street intersection near the Manhattan Bridge, Continue installation of chambers, valves and manholes
• 3/4/11 through 3/11/11 – Washington Street between Water Street and PLymouth Street, Excavate and prepare sewer trench for Auger piles and final section of sewer pipe
• 3/4/11 through 3/11/11 – Washington Street intersection at Plymouth Street and inside the DEP yard, Continue excavation for the installation of valves, chamber and manholes
• 3/4/11 through 3/11/11 – Front Street/Washington Street intersection between Main Street, Excavation and removal of boulder; installation of the final sewer and water connection at this location

NOTE: The B25 Bus line has been returned to the original route along Water Street.

Looking ahead:

• Water St. from Main St. to Adams St.: Continue the installation of new granite curb, sidewalk and Belgian block roadway.
• Washington St. between York St. and Water St: Continue the installation of new granite curb, sidewalk and Belgian block roadway.

For more information, please call Paul Kidder, the Community Construction Liaison at 718-643-2850 or email: waterstreetccl@gmail.com

Previously:
{Construction Update in Dumbo (Feb 2011)}
{Pile Driving on Washington Street, 17Dec2010}
{Two Way Washington Street, 10Nov2010}
{Washington Street Construction (Oct 19 Update)}
{Washington Street Construction (Sept Update), 22Sept2010}
{Asbestos Abatement Project, 27Aug2010}
{Washington Street Construction Update, 13Aug2010}
{Construction Around Dumbo Through 2011+, 10May2010}
{Notice: Cars Parked on Dock Street, 12Apr2010}
{Water Street Reconstruction Update (Mar/Apr 2010), 10Mar2010}
{Water/Washington St Reconstruction Project Update, 03Dec2009}
{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}

The scaffolding has come down at The Gramercy Park Flowers storefront at 32 Adams Street and it looks like it’s progressing well. The industrial-style windows resemble those of the old factories when this 1914 building at 55 Washington Street (Gair Building #6) was a cardboard factory. As posted early this month, the florist plans on opening sometime in March on April 1 (updated 2/23 per Two Trees).

(Top photo thanks to Josh Derr)

Previously:
{Gramercy Park Flower Shop to Open on Adams Street, 01Feb2011}

(Photo by Steve Talkowsk)

The following is the anticipated construction work schedule (7am – 3:30pm work hours), field conditions permitting for this week. Please note that parking may be restricted in work areas.

• 1/4/11 through 2/11/11 – Old Fulton Street B/T Everit Street and Furman Street at Pier # 1, Finish the Roadway restoration and 6” air cock connection
• 1/4/11 through 2/11/11 – Washington Street B/T Water Street and Front Street, Backfill the entire trench and place Temp. asphalt on the roadway
• 1/4/11 through 2/11/11 – Washington Street B/T Water Street and Plymouth Street, Backfill over the 15” sewer and excavate for the sewer installation at Plymouth St.
• 1/4/11 through 2/11/11 – Water Street B/T Washington Street and Adams Street, Continue Excavating and installing 36” Trunk Main and valve chambers

For more information, please refer to the Community Advisory Notice sent to us by The New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC) (PDF here), which is managing a capital construction project on Water Street from Adams Street to Old Fulton Street and Washington Street from York Street to Plymouth Street.

For More Information Contact: The Community Construction Liaison Paul Kidder 718-643-2850.

Previously:
{Pile Driving on Washington Street, 17Dec2010}
{Two Way Washington Street, 10Nov2010}
{Washington Street Construction (Oct 19 Update)}
{Washington Street Construction (Sept Update), 22Sept2010}
{Asbestos Abatement Project, 27Aug2010}
{Washington Street Construction Update, 13Aug2010}
{Construction Around Dumbo Through 2011+, 10May2010}
{Notice: Cars Parked on Dock Street, 12Apr2010}
{Water Street Reconstruction Update (Mar/Apr 2010), 10Mar2010}
{Water/Washington St Reconstruction Project Update, 03Dec2009}
{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}

The 25 Washington Street building conversion looks like it’s making good progress. The externals of the two story addition are in place and the window frames are being installed on most floors. They have also announced that applications are now being accepted for 21 affordable rental apartments in the building. This building is being converted from a commercial building to 105 residential housing rentals with financing provided through the 80/20 Housing Program of New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The state offers tax-exempt financing to multifamily rental developments in which at least 20% of the units are set aside for low-income residents-so-called “80/20″ projects. (More info on 80/20 Housing Program).

Dumbo is still one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Brooklyn with the highest median household income in Brooklyn, so this a welcome opportunity for those who cannot otherwise afford to live in Dumbo. (FWIW, as someone pointed out to us, it is the same apartment as the Humphrey’s loft in the TV show Gossip Girls.) As of today, there’s nothing under $2,600 per month rentals in Dumbo (according to StreetEasy), so a 2 bedroom for $819 or $641 is well below the market value. What do you need to do to qualify for one of the 21 low rent apartments? According to the Homes and Community Renewal document we received, the below are the minimum and maximums for each apartment type.

Set aside for households with incomes at or below 50% of area median income:

Set aside for households with incomes at or below 40% of area median income:

*Subject to occupancy criteria
**Gas & Electric not included
**Rents subject to change
***Income requirements subject to change

To request an application, mail a postcard indicating your name and full address to:
Washington Street Apartments, 45 Washington Street, Box 257, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

Requests must be postmarked by February 5, 2011. Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only to a different address that will be listed on the application, and must be postmarked by February 19, 2011. Applications not sent via regular mail will not be accepted. Applications postmarked after February 19, 2011 will be logged in after all other applications.

Applications will be selected by lottery.

Priority will be given to applicants who live or work in New York City and who do not live in 80/20 developments in appropriate-size units. No broker’s or application fee should be paid to anyone regarding these applications. Since there are only 21 available units, only the first 8,000 requests for an application will be honored.

Application Notice (71kb PDF file)

Previously:
{25 Washington Rentals to Open in March 2011, 23Jul2010}
{25 Washington St Progress, 14Jul2010}

Beginning Thursday December 16, 2010 for approximately one week, there will be pile driving on Washington Street between Plymouth Street and Front Street. The street will be closed to traffic. This closure is necessary to accommodate pile driving work being performed as part of NYC DDC’s Water Street Project. There will be noise and vibration associated with this operation, which is driving the piles under where the sewer will be placed.

For more information, please refer to the Community Advisory Notice sent to us by The New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC) (PDF here), which is managing a capital construction project on Water Street from Adams Street to Old Fulton Street and Washington Street from York Street to Plymouth Street.

For More Information Contact: The Community Construction Liaison Paul Kidder 718-643-2850

Previously:
{Two Way Washington Street, 10Nov2010}
{Washington Street Construction (Oct 19 Update)}
{Washington Street Construction (Sept Update), 22Sept2010}
{Asbestos Abatement Project, 27Aug2010}
{Washington Street Construction Update, 13Aug2010}
{Construction Around Dumbo Through 2011+, 10May2010}
{Notice: Cars Parked on Dock Street, 12Apr2010}
{Water Street Reconstruction Update (Mar/Apr 2010), 10Mar2010}
{Water/Washington St Reconstruction Project Update, 03Dec2009}
{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}

From ZOE:

This weekend, ZOE will have a exclusive in-store trunk show featuring 3.1 Phillip Lim. Phillip Lim will be bringing pieces from the 2010 resort collection, as well as pieces from the beautiful Phillip Lim Initials lingerie collection. Also, we will have the adorable Phillip Lim Fall 2010 kids collection available only for the weekend!

In addition to the trunk show, ZOE will be offering 20% off all non-sale items as well as an extra 10% off our already reduced fall merchandise. Shop our collections such as Lanvin, Herve Leger, YSL, Chloe and Alexander Wang while enjoying some holiday treats and spirits!

ZOE (shopzoeonline.com)
78 Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-237-4002

As of this morning, it looks like the facade work on the 55 Washington Street building is completed and scaffolding is being taken down. Work on the exterior started in July. The building looks as good as new.

The retail conversion ‘behind’ the building on Adams Street is still being worked on.

Previously:
{Scaffolding Being Put Up Along 55 Washington, 16Jul2010}
{New Retail Space Being Created in Dumbo, 22Sep2010}

Looks like Washington Street will be a two way street again soon. (Photos taken this morning)

Previously:
{Washington Street Construction (Oct 19 Update)}

Some residents have emailed us asking about the construction on Washington Street as it seems like new activity has started on the corner of Washington and Front Streets. It looks like there is more work to be done on the corner of York and on Front Streets. We contacted the DOT liaison who gave us the update:

I just spoke with the contractor today, He said he still has some water main tie-in, catch basin installation at the corner of Main Street and Front Street to do. He will then be starting the sewer installation from Front Street to Water Street on Washington Street. This will then be followed by new curbs, sidewalks, and roadway Cobble stone restoration. All this work will be done between now and July, field and weather conditions permitting.

For those asking, yes, the Belgian blocks will be restored, just as they have begun restoration on Water Street.

Previously:
{Washington Street Construction (Sept Update), 22Sept2010}
{Asbestos Abatement Project, 27Aug2010}
{Washington Street Construction Update, 13Aug2010}
{Construction Around Dumbo Through 2011+, 10May2010}
{Notice: Cars Parked on Dock Street, 12Apr2010}
{Water Street Reconstruction Update (Mar/Apr 2010), 10Mar2010}
{Water/Washington St Reconstruction Project Update, 03Dec2009}
{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}