The six-story rental building at 85 Eastern Parkway in Prospect Heights is set to more than double in height. Filings with the Department of Buildings show plans for an eight-story addition, which will bring the number of units from 42 to 82, with the top two floors being one duplex penthouse. The current building dates to 1922 and is located between Underhill and Washington Avenues. There are no renderings yet and details are lacking, but we bet these new units will be sold as condos. Thoughts? Intel? The tipline is open. [BuzzBuzz]
Adding new floors atop old buildings (New York Times) - October 1999
And as certain areas of the city have been rezoned from commercial to residential use, Mr. Visconti said, developers find it feasible -- particularly in lower Manhattan where many older buildings retain unused development rights -- ''to buy buildings and add two, three or whatever the lot will yield in the way of additional floor area.''
The phenomenon has generated considerable controversy, particularly from neighbors of buildings experiencing unanticipated growth spurts and, in some cases, people already living in the buildings.
There are immediate concerns, like the din of construction, fear of falling debris and fire safety; and longer-term issues, like access to light and air, the structural integrity of the old building, the historic character of the community and, in grittier districts, the frustration that ''there goes the neighborhood'' (upscale).
Not to mention sudden loss of that precious commodity: view.