Gowanus Lounge: Serving Brooklyn

What Were They Thinking? Williamsburg Edition

May 18th, 2007 · 2 Comments

Ugly Metropolitan Avenue

This building is so striking in its atrociousness that we rarely fail to stare at it when we pass it. It’s on Metropolitan Avenue east of the BQE near Leonard Street. In its awfulness it is not exceptionally distinct from a sad number of other Brooklyn buildings, yet the balconies add a certain something that make it special. What were they thinking?

Tags: Architecture · Williamsburg

2 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Anonymous // May 18, 2007 at 8:30 am

    It’s an eyesore, to be sure. But this is an old time Italian neighborhood; folks think they’re looking at a gorgeous villa. You ever find yourself saying ‘at least it’s brick?’ I feel more despair when old wood-framed buildings get the Epcot Center treatment. I despise that styrofoam/stucco crap. It’s great when you see people re-shingling old buildings. A few fine examples exist in Greenpoint….

  • 2 Anonymous // May 21, 2007 at 9:21 am

    Greenpoint my have a few fine examples, but Williamsburg is the world capital for ugly facade renovations.