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.

"Nature Nails" Joins "Pretty Nails" On Same Court Street Block

Seriously? Another nail place in the neighborhood? The proliferation of these places is simply astounding.  And they all seem to make enough money to survive, whether on Court Street or on Smith Street.
The latest nail place,  Nature Nails, is slated to open at 189 Court Street near Bergen Street, in the former Prudential Douglas Elliman office. (The realtor moved to 327 Court Street in Carroll Gardens.)

Nature Nails will be exactly two doors away from Pretty Nails on the same block.
Am I missing something here?

The St.Clair Diner On Atlantic Avenue Closes Its Doors For Good

St Clair Diner at Atlantic Avenue and Smith Street in 2012 (above)

and 

in January 2013 (below)

Despite the signs taped to its windows indicating that the St. Clair diner at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Smith Street is undergoing renovation, it is pretty clear that the eatery has closed its doors for good. After all,  the interior has been completely gutted in the past week and all outside signs have been removed.  Besides, the diner, which opened at that location back in 1920, had undergone a complete remodel in 2007 when it changed ownership.
The hand-written sign also directs customers to St. Clair's sister restaurant at 155 Smith Street, just a few blocks up.

The diner's closing does not come as a surprise.  In late 2011,  Developer Joe Sitt of  Thor Equities purchased the building at 292 Atlantic Avenue/ 93 Smith Street,  which houses the diner,  for over $5 million.  Shortly afterwards, a huge banner advertising the retail space as a "world class flagship opportunity" was hung on the façade of the building.

It would appear that Thor Equities has not yet found a renter for the space and the listing still appears on its web site.
A special site has also been set up here.   Here is a an excerpt from Thor Equities' listing:

"At the corner of Smith Street and Atlantic Avenue, this dynamic retail space sits in the midst of Brooklyn’s renowned Restaurant Row. Located just minutes from two community centerpieces, The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and the brand new Barclays Center, home of the NBA Nets, 292 Atlantic Avenue is a compelling choice for your next location. 

Whether in search of organic food or new trendy clothes, you do not have to look far. In this quirky shopping district you can find many hip retailers. With Brooklyn Industries, Trader Joe’s and Barney’s COOP in the neighborhood, this area has it all."

Will you miss the St. Clair or are you looking forward to a new retailer at this location?

California Taqueria On Court Street Obviously Angered Its Landlord

Oh, boy!  A reader sent me the photo above, which was taken on Monday afternoon.
It would appear that California Taqueria at 187 Court Street at Bergen Street, has angered its landlord, who has gone to great lengths to shame the Mexican eatery for non-payment of rent.
A car, presumably owned by the landlord, was parked right across from the restaurant.  It sported a huge sign on its roof, announcing that California Taqueria owes $312,000 in back rent, refuses to pay up and "continues to abuse the landlord, a WWII Vet."
Think this will help or will it drive away customers, making it even harder for the restaurant to pay the rent?

No More 'Atomic Wings' On Smith Street

Before
photo credit: Realtycollective.com

Atomic Wings at 134 Smith Street, between Dean and Bergen Streets in Boerum Hill, is no more. The eatery opened on Restaurant Row back in 2009 and was part of a chain which offers "authentic wings fresh from Buffalo, where the chickens are unusually big as well as tasty."

It seemed popular at first, but in recent years, the place seemed empty most of the time. By late 2011, Lar's Pasta To Go was added to the location, but that did not do well at this location either.
Now both are gone and the storefront is for rent.

Are you sorry to see them go?  What would you rather see at this location.
 

Rum & Raisin: A New Boutique Coming To Smith Street

Get ready for yet another boutique in the neighborhood. Rum & Raisin, a new women's clothing and accessories store, will soon open at118 Smith Street in Boerum Hill.   Some work remains to be done, but the mannequins have already been moved in.   According to it's Facebook page, Rum & Raisin already has a store on King's Highway here in Brooklyn.
The storefront, which is located between Dean and Pacific Street, was occupied by Smith Street Pet Food until recently.

Transformation Of Smith Street's Ugliest Building Into Mini Fortress Almost Complete

166 Smith Street before and after...

The existing two-story, windowless brick building at 166 Smith Street in Boerum Hill, which had been owned and utilized by the Metropolitan Transit Authority for years, was certainly ugly. In late 2011, the MTA sold the property for $3,500,000 to an LLC, which lists developers Steven Haskell and Frank Raccuglia as managing members. Shortly afterwards, Haskell and Raccuglia announced their plans for a 'posh mixed-use building'.

They hired Grasso-Menziuso Architects to fully transform the existing structure into a four-story 8 unit residential building with retail on the ground floor.
Construction started in May 2012 and has progressed quickly. The exterior envelope is now mostly completed.

There is no doubt that the resulting building is an improvement over what was there originally, but I can't help but compare it to a small fortress, complete with crenellated parapet and merlons.
What do you think?


***On a related note, it would appear that Ripco, the commercial real estate firm, has already rented part of the retail space to Lululemon Athletica.

Image and info from Ripco web