DOPE ON THE SLOPE had these photos and some reflections on the Underberg building.
One Hanson Place posted a depressing photo last night of the spot formally occupied by the Underberg Building.
The Underberg was vacant, and few would have argued that it was a
stunning architectural achievement worthy of preservation. However, it
was an "old timer," and as such, it had a certain appeal. I was
especially fond of its peculiar shades of green and light blue, and the
contrast between the meticulously painted signage and the equally
meticulous graffiti. It also imparted a sense of graceful senescence –
what the Japanese might term "wabi sabi." This building wasn’t so much falling down as it was fading away, that is, it was until Ratner demolished it.Why mourn the destruction of an abandoned building?
No reason, really, except that it was the most
aesthetically pleasing edifice in the immediate vicinity. The Atlantic
Center and Atlantic Terminal are two of the ugliest buildings I have
ever seen anywhere. Now that the Underberg is gone, I guess the U-Haul
lot is the reigning beauty.So here’s a last look for all you Underberg-o-philes out there. For larger view, click on the thumbnail below.
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I worked in the Underberg building for 15 years and was close to the owners. It did in fact collapse in the early eighties when the front facade fell down onto Atlantic Ave. The inside was also in bad shape with a corroding infrastructure. It was a common occurence to have a foot break thru a floorboard in some areas.It also had extensive water damage on top floors which caused some collapsing of ceilings. All in all, I will miss that building, it truly was old school