Sophia Lofts Named For Former Baker
Compiled by Linda Collins
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
They say Sophia, the owner of a bakery that operated out of a building on North 9th Street in Williamsburg in the 1970s, is thrilled that the building will now bear her name.
Named The Sophia Lofts, the turn-of-the-century warehouse is being restored and converted into condominiums by Horrigan Development, whose principals, Chris and Matt Horrigan, like to rehabilitate old buildings. (They also restored the Jackson Foundry at 130 Jackson St.)
This one, at 234 N. 9th St., has a rich local history, they say. Sophia was Polish and her business baked rugelach and bobka that were sold locally. The Horrigans fell in love with the building, even though it had been damaged and needed a lot of work.
“It’s a labor of love,” said Chris Horrigan. “The building dates to 1915, and we went to great steps to save the structure. It had survived three fires over its history, and to make it safe we reinforced all three floors.”
To save the ceilings and original beams, the team reinforced them with steel plates, and left the bolts exposed. Horrigan describes the textures of the materials as “silvery, shiny metal next to old structural steel and burned wood, contrasted with clear, light maple floors.”
Standard Architects, a Williamsburg firm, designed the conversion. John Conaty, one of the principals, said similar care was taken in the restoring the interiors: “We were super-aware of issues of acoustical insulation, and made 11-inch thick, double-stud walls to keep the integrity of the structure and the sound rating. There’s sheet rock and acoustical insulation on both sides of the wall, so it will muffle the air conditioning and any mechanicals; it will be extremely quiet in every loft.”
As for Sophia, Horrigan said, “She’s just the sweetest lady,” adding that her father was a baker, her son is a baker, and everyone who worked for her for many years loved her. “The drawing we’re using on the Web site is taken from an old photo of Sophia when she was younger. She is the soul of this project.”
The brokers at AptsandLofts.com, which has the exclusive on sales, are “excited” to be selling the authentic lofts, according to David Maundrell, president, who describes the project as “one of the best restorations we have ever sold.”
Prices will range from $619,000 for a one-bedroom loft to $749,000 for a two-bedroom duplex.
The Mynt Named For Its Location
The Mynt, named for its location at Myrtle and Nostrand avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant, will be a rental property, according to David Maundrell.
“The trend toward developing rental properties rather than condos is really picking up steam in Brooklyn,” said Maundrell, whose firm will handle the leasing for the 72 units in the brand-new Mynt, at 756 Myrtle Ave.
“We are seeing continued strength in the Brooklyn rental market as Manhattan vacancy rates hold steady at about 1 percent,” he said. “For AptsandLofts.com, about 55 percent of the market is coming directly from Manhattan right now.”
The rental building will have condominium-level amenities, design and construction standards, however.
Three common roof decks, a fitness center, part-time concierge and onsite underground parking with 36 spots are planned.
Apartments will range from 500 square-feet for a studio to 1,300 square feet for a three bedroom, with prices ranging from $1,600 per month to $3,500 a month. The ground floor will be completely retail.
The building has a modern design with brick and metal panels on the exterior. Interiors are by Montreal designer Andres Escobar.
According to Department of Building documents, the developer is Myrtle Place LLC, with Henry Zilberman named as a principal. Scarano Architects is the architect of record.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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