After so many people waited so long for this building to get finished (over a year!), you would think there would be a flurry of closing activity now that 34 Crooke has a CO and hot water. In reality, not much is happening. In fact, you can almost hear crickets chirping rather than closing bells and moving trucks. I'm not sure why this is but I do know that the slower than molasses response times from the developer and their attorney certainly don't help matters and from the e-mails I've gotten over the last 6 months I know this isn't just our problem.
There are a few weird things I can't figure out - like why does StreetEasy.com only list 11 out of the 23 apartments? The Corcoran site also only lists 11 apartments BUT THEY ARE NOT THE SAME ONES! This makes a total of 22 apartments (um, we're missing one... )
There was an interesting article in the NY Times on Friday about blogs influencing real estate sales. Hmm, rather appropriate for 34Crooke.com, no? This prompted some interesting discussions on Brownstoner.
Speaking of interesting articles, here's a piece from December in the Wall Street Journal that you might have missed. The developer of 34 Crooke is quoted as saying:
Interesting, we certainly never heard about any AMEX gift cards or free bikes. We'd be happy if they just return phone calls...
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26 comments:
Has anyone closed yet?
This is a great post. Everyone is probably thinking it and no one is saying it. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting on that bike, gift card..... This is about profit and profit only. 2 units closed (2A and 4C) http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/building/34-crooke-avenue-brooklyn
I think the problem is that the block and surrounding area is down right SCARY!
We had considered this place, in fact I went twice to see it...
I was extremely excited, such a great space for the $$$ and right near the park and parade grounds. Once you get over the warm fuzzy feeling, I really noticed that the hood was just not for me.
I would feel uptight with my girl taking the subway home late at night or what friends would think when they came to see us...
I am a semi-pioneer, not a full blown discover!
Tough sell.
I don't understand your comment at all.
Indeed it's not Upper East Side - but to call it a pioneer it's completely insane. I have two friends that live around the corner on the Parade Pl, and i know at least three purchasers on the property at the other side of the block on Caton Ave.
They all cool, and nice guy, young professional, and at 25-35 age. Most of them single and they all feel very satisfied for the $$ they paying to the housing they get .If you decided not to purchase of your own reasons god bless you, but stop undermine our feeling as a new home buyer. it is our first home that we own, and we feel very good with our decision. We all hoped that the developer will complete his work a year ago, but in overall there is no other product even in today’s market that you can get for your $$$ better. The proximity to the park, the Tennis court, the subway, with the amenities included in the building are more than enough.
I hope you'd feel the same
"I think the problem is that the block and surrounding area is down right SCARY!"I have to disagree. I've never thought the area was scary and over the last year my opinion has only improved. We looked at apartments for a year before deciding on 34 Crooke - some places we looked at in other parts of Brooklyn were indeed scary, not here. I have no reservations about being in this area and have spent time here at all times of the day and all seasons (the only advantage of waiting so long for the building to be finished...)
As a side note - I've enabled anonymous commenting but can't people at least come up with some sort of fake name so that we can at least keep track of who is saying what?!
I am very excited about living in this building and in this "hood". For those folks who think that this building is in the "hood" probably never really lived in the hood. I have. If this is what is being passed off as the "hood" brooklyn is moving in the right direction.
Hi all,
This gentleman who commented on this being the hood obviously has issues.
Prospect Park South is not Park Slope but it is definitely not the "hood". Let me start by saying that as a person who lived in Park Slope for many years, it was never what it is now. 10-15 or even 20 years ago it was mixed just like Prospect Park South, if not, even more populated with hispanic and african american people living there until about 10 years ago. So was that considered the "hood"?
Every area has its rough parts, even glamorous Park Slope and Downtown Brooklyn. Like for example, Fort Greene. They are building monstrous developments right in the middle of the projects!!! And some developments in Bed-Sty like Marcy Avenue and a few off Myrtle Avenue have sprout up.. Beautiful on the inside, dreary and scary on the outside. They were having a drug bust right outside the open house one Sunday. Can anyone say dangerous?
Oh and Williamsburg.. is still very rough!!!!!!!! And it is very expensive there. Give me a break!
So please.. like another blogger mentioned, you obviously do not know what the hood is. I was just there last week and there were people on the corners, but this area is like any area in the spring/summer when it gets hot and people are oustide especially within close proximity of a park.
I dont know about you, but I would take a block of old pre war buildings with whomever in it, than a block where I have to worry about seeing drug busts on every corner.
I am very excited to be moving in soon.
So know what a hood is before you comment.
I also don't think we are "pioneers." We looked at another condo (that we liked) that was across from a gas station, empty lots, several burned out buildings nearby and literally NOWHERE to go to eat or get groceries - maybe THAT might be considered pioneering although I still have problems with that term. Take a look at my Google Map on the blog to see all the places nearby 34 Crooke and I'm finding more places all the time.
I found this blog a couple months ago and have followed it with great interest, being that I live in one of the buildings around the corner on E. 18th st. I moved to the neighborhood last August, and haven't had any problems whatsoever, but it's interesting to see people's differing opinions on the "safety" of the area. I think there's a little bit of truth on both sides of the argument - while I've never had and problems and wouldn't have any qualms with encouraging people to look in the neighborhood, I also wouldn't really feel that great about going for a leisurely stroll by myself at two in the morning, especially in the area around St. Paul's Pl. and Caton. That being said, there are plenty of other trendier, more expensive neighborhoods in BK that I could say the same thing about. On the other hand there seems to be a healthy police presence here, and the Church Avenue BID seems to be taking some steps towards spiffing up the main strip and attracting good businesses. Overall I don't think anyone moving into the new building has any reason to be seriously concerned; the neighborhood is mostly made up of hard working families who care just as much about their safety as anyone else. Good luck everyone on their closings, and go for the free bike! I ride mine into the city almost every day and it's great fun, and the park is fantastic for rec. riding as well. Welcome to the nabe and congrats on your pending homeownership!
Great post Andrew!
I am most certainly glad that anyone who sees him/herself as a "pioneer" or "discoverer" doesn't want to move to this area whatever it is called. I am certain that although 34 Crooke is south of Prospect Park it is not in Prospect Park South. Caton Park, the area between Church and Caton from around East 17th to CIA, separates this area from PPS. Maybe it is in Caton Park. At any rate many hard working families live in this area that has clearly seen better days. The area is far from a den of inequity and there have been steady improvements to the quality of life for all of the residents.
Living anywhere in NYC, you have to be street smart. I would not go for a leisurely stroll in Park Slope at 2 am nor would I do it here. I wouldn't worry so much about late night walks home from the train though because there are usually other people, many who work odd shifts exiting the train along with you. I also wouldn't care what my friends though of my living environs unless they were helping me with my mortgage. You guys are getting good deals. Ten years from now people who looked at these apartments last year will look back and wish that they purchase.
I think as we move toward closings we should as a group make sure we get what has been promised. I was told recently that the "virtual doorman" would be up to the tenants to decide to install and secure, hence the hanging wires in the lobby. Perhaps we should put together a list, including the bike room, bikes, coffee machine and all the other perks that were used as selling points. If the developer doesn't follow through... know anyone at Wall Street Journal?
"...the "virtual doorman" would be up to the tenants to decide to install and secure, hence the hanging wires in the lobby"WHAT?!?! Are you kidding me? That's ridiculous!
so what are we suppose to do when somebody is coming over? tell them to call from the street and go down to let them in? ridiculous. developer is trying to save every penny possible. but this is going to far. selling us apartments that we can't use in a civilized matter?
What do youi mean?
When I inspected my apartment i confirmed that the video intercom is working properly.
Good luck and great blog!
I am hoping they never sell the rest of the units. I'd love to rent one.
Not hating on your nabe (great) or building (wouldn't expect management to live up to any promises). . . just think it makes more sense given the market, which I believe is going to be in the doldrums for as long as most of you are in the building.
The developer (ORE Int’l) does poor workmanship. I purchased a unit in one of their developments and had so many issues when I moved in. They were so unresponsive that I had to get my lawyer involved. They promised to do things to the building and never did. Once they get your money they are never to be heard from again.
Oh, the virtual door man...will cost the board/owners $15,000 to install. What they supply in the unit is not a virtual door man it's an intercom that allows you to see who is buzzing your door -- totally different from a virtual doorman. This developer is all about the old bait and switch. Don't buy...save yourself and your hard earn money and run for the hills!!
I never heard of any virtual doorman being installed, but since it seems that people have heard about it, I am gonna get more details on this and get back to you all hopefully tonight with some kind of explanation, answer, whatever. Also oddly enough, when we were there last week for our walk through, we were told that those wires would not be left like that. Things that make you go hmmmmmm.
I am beyond pissed that these sponsors are INTENDING to leave those wires exposed like that. We are dealing with some shady shady individuals.
I think SOTI is right on with making sure everything gets done. I dont care about free bikes or coffee machines but I do care that we get those wires hidden and taken care of and a decent gym with more than two machines.(FYI when I spoke to the gentleman regarding that as well, it was one of those uhh maybe we will maybe we wont get the building more machines. Those unopen boxes were delivered to Crooke by accident. That is what was told to us.
Hopefully I hear something different today.
Not like I have connections or anything but some of the things mentioned is new to me. Inquirning minds would like to know.
Make sure everything you discuss with them is in the offering plan. That was our down fall. We verbally discussed the wires and our roof deck etc… and ORE said it would be handled. When they turned the building over to the board none of the things discussed were completed -- ORE's response was if it's not in the offering plan we don't have to do it. I thought our verbal discussions were enough. Eventually for our building we had the wires for the virtual doorman boxed up and built our own roof deck.
I think what we have (or will have ) in the building is a regular intercom system. Just good enough to see who's at the front door and let them in if we feel like it. A real "virtual doorman" would be something like this:
http://www.virtualdoorman.com/about.html
With special access cards, etc...
Yeah.... we only have a video intercom which is functional. So the "security" they "mentioned" was esentially the virtual door man thing that we would have install. LOL. unbelievable.
Does anyone have a copy of the offering plan?
I am pretty sure they are going to finish everything up. Everyone relax. I am living in one of their condo developments and it started off rocky as in any new construction building but at the end of the day we have gotten everything fixed in our building.
We do not have a virtual door man but we have a video intercom and it works just fine. There is the option to have a virtual doorman as well but why spend the money when we have something functional already? All the wiring were tucked away nicely. Like I am sure yours will be too.
Just give them some time and you will be satisfied with your purchase. Do not let anywone sway your decision to buy what you have your heart set on.
This is a business. They promise buyers everything and the moon. If it is not in your offering plan or contract dont expect to get it. (i.e the free bikes and amex cards) What is important? Free bikes or a great apt for the right $$ and right next to the park!!
I know everyone is frustrated, I would be too but keep up the positive energy.
This building is not for everyone like any other development was not good for you contract holders, that is why you chose 34 Crooke.
It is a cool and chill neighborhood. Enjoy it.
Good luck everyone. Get the rest of the units sold!!!! So you guys can have complete control of the board. And that is when the real fun begins!
I think the point of the virtual doorman, is that we can receive deliveries/packages without having to be home, at least that is why I was excited about this perk. I don't care about having someone check out my guests for me.
All owners should re-read the offering plan prior to closing, that's what I'm doing right now. The previous posts are correct, if it isn't in writing they're not gonna do it, so if we have a list then we have some agency. They want us to close as quickly as possible (despite their inept attorney's), so are more likely to follow through on some of these promises if they think it will hold up closings not to.
FYI that exposed exhaust pipe on the roof deck is getting painted red for safety, genius...
LOL!
LOL!
Has anyone even set a closing date?
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