20 Henry Street Courtyard Plowed Under

Demolition of the courtyard at 20 Henry Street (Peaks Mason Mints AKA “candy factory” building) in Brooklyn Heights -- once the site of artwork, benches and landscaping -- has begun. (The artists who once populated the former Mitchell-Lama were forced out in a big ugly controversy in 2003.)

Brownstoner has reported that the cheapest apartments will be "north of $400,000."

Interestingly, the 20 Henry reservations website lists: "A beautifully landscaped courtyard entrance" among the building's amenities.

According to the Brooklyn Eagle, to gain Landmarks’ approval, the originally-proposed nine-story building was reduced to four stories, and the gap between the two buildings was widened to 40 feet facing Henry Street and 48 feet in the back -- thus the beautifully landscaped courtyard entrance was dragged kicking and screaming into being.

Sherida Paulsen of Pasanella + Klein Stolzman + Berg, the designer of the building, told the Eagle: "And we’re replacing all the existing windows to match the originals. The metal on the existing windows is very rusted, and depressing. The artists must have been miserable.”

Right. Those miserable artists are sooo much happier in New Jersey. Or in their parent's basement. Or wherever.

- 20 Henry Street Was NOT On Fire
- From Mints to Condos at 20 Henry Street Brownstoner
- New Architect, Joseph Lombardi, Hired for 20 Henry Street Brooklyn Eagle
- High Winds Cause Scaffolding Problems in Brooklyn

Photo by MK Metz