Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Let's take another look at the New York Sports Club on Avenue A


Last Friday, workers took down all that construction gear covering up the under-renovation 28 Avenue A … home soon to a New York Sports Club…

Here are two photos from Saturday…





Reader reaction was swift and brutal. For example!

• Anonymous said...
It's sure the winner in the Ugliest New Architectural Atrocity Award.

• RJJNY said...
All the verve and appeal of a multi-story car park.

• Anonymous said...
wow a big step down from International Style to suburban aluminum siding style.

• Gojira said...
You have got to be kidding me. Someone actually got paid to design this piece of crap?

• Ken from Ken's Kitchen said...
So the developer just did a major rework that turned an iconic facade into blah to attract a gym? People pay $$$ for quality period stuff and people/companies pay $$$ to do biz in a building with a period facade like that.

Feel any differently about it after a few days to get used to the façade?

And several people were disappointed to see that workers removed the familiar Burger-Klein sign in July. (Furniture seller Burger-Klein occupied the building as early as 1939.)

We were reminded that New York Sports Club took over part of the former Chopin Theater space in Greenpoint ... and they didn't actually get any style points for this rehab either...



At least they kept the eagle from the building's days as the American Theatre.

Thanks to our friend Miss Heather at New York Shitty for this photo!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Architecture a la Berlin 1981. If you don't know what to do to a building just cover it up with metal panels.

NOTORIOUS said...

Who is there architect, 7-Eleven?

NOTORIOUS said...

*grammar

Ken from Ken's Kitchen said...


Feel any differently about it after a few days to get used to the facade?


No.

Anonymous said...

It's like there's a competition to see who can design the ugliest facade in the neighborhood.
I mean, it's literally, like they are purposely trying to make buildings as ugly as possible around here.

BagelGuy said...

And Starbucks has finally infultrated Avenue A.

Anonymous said...

I will speak up for the many out there who didn't like the Burger-Klein facade, either. I know it was cool to like it -- but c'mon, that was ugly too. This is almost an improvement.

Anonymous said...

That Starbucks is not on Avenue A, it's in Greenpoint. And I think the word is "in-Filterated" at least when it comes to Starbucks.

Gojira said...

What Ken said. No.

Anonymous said...

The Burger-Klein facade love it or not was one of the only mid-century style facades in the neighborhood and a real rarity. Sure it was out of place but it came from a time of post war optimism and not just shameless greed which we are in the midst of now. Like or hate the new facade you must agree that we lost architectural piece of history for little reason other than making a buck.

Anonymous said...

This building was mundane.

Jill said...

Palm Springs' mid century modern enthusiasts are right now very upset. They would never have let this happen.

Anonymous said...

I don't like this facade and I didn't like the previous facade. This building is doomed to be ugly.

Anonymous said...

It is hideous, but honestly I'm glad our neighborhood gym choices will be expanding beyond crossfit and dolphin fitness.