Additions & Alterations

West 20th Street

Project Manager/Designer: Eugene Drubestskoy

Completion Date: November 2003

Location: Chelsea

Visit: www.blessoproperties.com

The owner of this Chelsea building wanted to maximize it's potential. Our solution was two triplex apartments, for which the fifth floor was gutted and renovated, and new sixth and penthouse floors were added. Breathtaking views of the midtown Manhattan Skyline and Empire State Building on one hand, and the picturesque neighborhood on the other were a guiding factor in the design, which was based on capturing views. In order to provide equal views to both apartments, they are built in a "zigzag" pattern rather than front and back apartments, resulting in equal exposures. A grand room with a kitchen, dining and living area is located on the fifth floor, with two bedrooms leading to a roof terrace on the sixth floor. Rather than a straightforward continuation of the existing 19 th century brick and fenestration rhythm, the addition creates a dialogue between its neighboring buildings by bridging them visually in height, materiality, and scale. Materials used include applied cement stucco, aluminum cladding, glass, and restored brick. The 2700 s.f. addition brings the building to 9500 s.f., at a total cost of $400,000. The exterior of the building introduces a breath of fresh air as the slanted window reflects the empire state building, and the new angled façade literally takes a bow to the neighborhood. On the interior, people standing inside the apartment can look down into the neighborhood and onto the skyline through a single opening, observing both the immediate context and the Skyline in a true hierarchy of views.

Washington Avenue

Project Manager/Designer: Robert M. Scarano, jr.

Completion Date: May 2007

Location: Clinton Hill

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The brownstone typology typical to the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn is used here on a larger scale to match the configuration of adjacent properties. Brick and stucco act as unifying elements, tying the building's exterior to its surroundings.

South 11th Street

Project Manager/Designer: Yury Yagudayev

Completion Date: July 2006

Location: Borough Park

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This existing manufacturing building was altered to comply with ada requirements for a manufacturing use within an existing non-complying structure in south Williamsburg. The building was subdivided for manufacturing uses and new hallways and bathrooms were added.

8th Street

Project Manager/Designer: Robert M. Scarano jr.

Completion Date: July 2006

Location: Park Slope

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This historic district in Park Slope preserves a unique typology of rounded row houses. In order to correct an illegal alteration dating back several years, all windows are being replaced with wood molds and wooden framed windows with aluminum sashes, in keeping with the windows that existed at the time of the historic designation. A discrete addition on the roof and in the rear, and the demolition of an illegal stair bulkhead in the rear yard complete the scope of work and bring this house to its maximum development potential without compromising its historic integrity.

99 Gold

Project Manager/Designer: Eugene Drubestskoy

Completion Date: November 2005

Location: DUMBO

Visit: www.99goldstreet.com

99 Gold is a renewal pioneer within the area's industrial landscape. An upscale loft conversion is the latest trend in stylish city living, which redefines the 19th-century concrete and block building, originally designed to house and supply New York's souvenir market. Following that industry's decline and decades of misuse and neglect, vast quality-of-life improvements are assured by this adaptive reuse. Given the value of its location, breathtaking views of both Brooklyn and Manhattan and its close proximity to public transportation, the building is being converted into 88 sleek, spacious 1 and 2 bedroom loft-style apartments with cutting edge design and state of the art finishes. All apartments, ranging from 600 sq ft studios and 2000 sq ft penthouses, have high ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and large balconies. As a result of this project and others that will soon follow, the area has been transformed into the ideal neighborhood for successful artists and professionals with a taste for urban living, and it provides another link in connecting Brooklyn's downtown neighborhoods.

Richardson Street

Project Manager/Designer: Naoyuki Shiiya

Completion Date: Under Construction

Location: East Williamsburg

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This project is a gut renovation and 2-1/2 story addition to three existing 4-story manufacturing buildings in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Our goal was to achieve the maximum number of apartments without compromising the quality of the units and the relationship between old and new. The renovation on the existing floors was done with full acknowledgement that each building should be treated as a separate entity, yet adjoined by a complex system of circulation. The addition, on the other hand, allows for the new units to become less intricate, thus allowing the new elevations to provide larger windows. The apartment layouts are variations of one and two bedrooms, each with an efficient core of open kitchens, integrated mechanical rooms and luxurious bathrooms. The facades are a true representation of the elaborate layouts. In order to relate the existing with the proposed, we established the "break," the exterior fire escape to continue into the new portion and act as a link. A bright color will run along it, contrasting the sober, classical existing facades to the new bold and dynamic shapes.

Grand Street

Project Manager/Designer: Robert M. Scarano jr.

Completion Date: June 2005

Location: Williamsburg

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A modest two story brick factory building converted to apartments under a previous application is expanded to create three modern penthouse units with roof terraces and double height ceilings. Constructing an addition on a previously converted building, (which remained occupied during construction), can be a major inconvenience to the existing occupants if not handled properly. Further, the attachment of the new structure to the old building can be logistically difficult if the integrity of the roof membrane has to be compromised. This project presented these problems because the budget for the work was only $100 per sq. ft. To keep the weight down for the new floor heavy ganged steel joists were used for the structural walls and floors instead of traditional steel skeleton or masonry bearing wall. This not only saves load on the existing structure, but reduces cost as well. A mixture of stucco and metal panel exterior cladding was chosen since they provide lesser pounds per square footage than traditional masonry products. The design acts as a capping to the facade, which prior to the installation was a simple brick exterior. The taller windows framed in metal and inclined, flood the interior with light and contribute to the loft like feel of the apartments. By providing a cap to the elevation, the facade takes on a completed look and appears to have been constructed at one time rather than in phases. The contrast between materials compliment rather than fight each other, creating a façade of interest and distinction.

7th Avenue

Project Manager/Designer: Robert M. Scarano jr.

Completion Date: May 2005

Location: Park Slope

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Keeping this neighborhood strong and vibrant is not only the strong school system, but also the Landmarks of large sections of the neighborhood. This particular building also falls within the Historic District, meaning that all exterior features are protected from change unless a "Certificate of Appropriateness" is issued. The front facade of the building is being maintained (with the exception of the excavation of the front yard) to permit additional light and air to enter the lower level of the basement duplex unit. The rear facade, however, will have the existing one story addition expanded two additional levels and the fenestration altered to permit larger windows to capture the views on the upper levels to Manhattan. The entire interiors will be gutted to allow floor plans to be reconfigured, splitting floors into smaller one bedroom units above the second floor. The incorporation of individual heating and cooling units for each apartment and the modernization of the entire infrastructure ensures the marketability of the units as modern apartments.

Bridge Street

Project Manager/Designer: Eugene Drubestskoy

Completion Date: December 2002

Location: Dumbo, Brooklyn

Visit: http://www.thedevelopersgroup.com

This converted factory building houses 37 loft-style-apartments, commercial gallery spaces, and enclosed parking on six floors. These features are contained within 40.000 square feet, making this a diverse and truly mixed-use development. By stretching the conceptual boundaries of the up and coming DUMBO Community three blocks east, this two story addition of a creation of this vacant factory building provided a platform for buyers to obtain loft-style living at a modest prices. Dubbed the "poor man's lofts", this building sold out all units in four weeks. The juxtaposition of new and old marks a crossroads in development in the area. The addition to the building marries old and new; new interior and exterior bearing walls, supported by the existing brick walls made the project economically feasible. This alteration constructed in strict conformance with the New York City Quality Housing Program. Afforded the residents many amenities not found in other buildings. A distinctive development, which provides both environmental sensitivity through adaptive reuse and energy conservation through creative insulation and ventilation systems, makes this project a success to everyone associated with it.

Penthouse on the Bowery

Project Manager/Designer: Ilana Kushnir

Completion Date: December 2003

Location: Lower East Side-Manhattan

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The Bowery of Manhattan, long since known as Skid Row, is undergoing a transformation into the hip and trendy residential community of the expanded Lower East Side. With the Landmark Commission armed to help the process along, this small stretch of the Bowery has been designated as a place worthy of preservation. This title given shortly after the project was filed, presented a complex issue to everyone involved since the addition could not be looked upon as a disruptive process to the stability of the block. In the final conclusion, it was given approval and with minor changes was allowed to be constructed. Probably what will be the last new work to be executed for the next few years, this eclectic two story additions created the look in bricks and mortar of what is happening by changes in flesh and blood.

East 10th Street

Project Manager/Designer: Robert M. Scarano jr.

Completion Date: April 2002

Location: Greenwich Village-Manhattan

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Building an addition on the roof of an existing building takes a certain degree of expertise and after dozens of successfully completed projects the formula for success becomes simple. The structure that is added must act in as much an codependent fashion as possible not relying on the existing. New steel joists span across the existing roof to support the new floor its roof and create a new outdoor roof terrace. Set back from the facade of the existing building beyond the sight lines of pedestrian traffic allowed the addition to be easily approved by the landmarks presentation commission without a public hearing. Simple design and elegant lines come together to create a modest addition deserving of the building it was placed on.