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Lobby Of Crown Heights Apartment Building Transforms Into Psychedelic Freedom Spaceship
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jan 10, 2014
Modified Jan 10, 2014
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Daniel Kleinman
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jan 10, 2014
Modified Jan 10, 2014
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What if you awoke one day to find that the lobby of your apartment had overnight transformed into a Psychedelic Freedom Spaceship and/or backcountry strip club? Let's ask the residents of 786 St. John's Place, who are lucky enough to live inside one such strip club—a building that's business in the front, and tricked-out eagle-laden party in the back. Here's what resident Daniel Kleinman has to say about the brand-new architectural mullet, which appeared yesterday:
The entire building is entirely stunned. One of my favorite quotes from a six year resident is "I'm not sure I can sleep knowing this is out here." We all think it's the funniest most ridiculous thing ever. No one is sure if we actually like it, though. They hung up the plans in the lobby as they were renovating, but they left out the color changing LED's and Prestige the Eagle (we named him Prestige after the artist).
The Freedom Eagle (Daniel Kleinman)
Kleinman, who has lived in the Terry Gilliam-owned truck stop building since May, said the lobby, previously "green and gross" with "chunks of drywall missing" was certainly ripe for renovation. "But I had no idea it would look like a carnival," he said.
So who gets the credit for this bold new direction in lobby design? The management company, J Wasser & Co, which also owns several other buildings nearby, did not return our inquiring phone calls, for some reason.
But Wasser can't take credit for the eagle itself—it's signed by a fellow named Joe Prestige. "Who is this man, and where can I find his other works!" you ask, Googling him with haste. But here the story takes a mysterious (well, more mysterious) turn: There is no Joe Prestige. I mean, there is a Joe Prestige, but no immediately accessible website showcasing his fine works.
Stranger still, none of Wasser's other buildings have been renovated so creatively. Kleinman, for his part, is still struggling to come to terms with his new life.
"It was pretty ragged on the outside, but we never thought it was going to be...this," he said.
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Lauren Evans
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