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Trader Joe’s to open doors September 26
Josh Guttman | September 16, 2008
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The Brooklyn Paper has reported that the long-awaited Trader Joe’s on the corner of Atlantic and Court will open its doors on Friday, September 26. Great news for all of us foodies who live in the ‘hood. I can’t wait to get my hands on the wide assortment of fresh produce, bulk grains and general healthy goodness they offer. But it’s not necessarily as positive a development for many merchants who have been our trusted suppliers over the years. Certainly, Pacific Green and Key Foods will both feel some pain as Trader Joe’s intercepts customers that once relied on those two outposts. I think it’s no coincidence that Key Foods recently stepped it up a notch with an elaborate flower and plant stand, though not sure if this will compensate for the gap in product. I predict people will look back on this as perhaps, the single most transformative thing to happen during the neighborhood’s ascent. It’s true, a good supermarket can move mountains.
Shooting on Bergen Street Friday night
Julia Lipkins | August 5, 2008
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On Friday night, two young men were shot near the corner of Bergen St. at Nevins. On Saturday afternoon, a local police officer confirmed that both men were in stable condition. We haven’t seen much coverage in the local press so no telling what this was about. Below are some photos taken at the scene:
Nectar Smoothies…a little too sweet?
Josh Guttman | July 24, 2008
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I walked over to Nectar on Court Street today and ordered a smoothie – The Hometown Squeeze in this case – as I do once or twice every week. I’ve always assumed this to be a healthy breakfast or snack, made only with natural ingredients and fruits. The menu says The Hometown Squeeze contains “peach, blueberries and banana”. When the man preparing my smoothie grabbed a plastic juice bottle from the shelf, I was confused so asked to see the bottle. It turns out the Peach Nectar that they were using instead of actual peaches, wasn’t even pure juice. The bottle listed high fructose corn syrup among its ingredients and also claimed “contains 32% real juice”. Needless to say, drinking my smoothie took on a very different experience this morning. Why is Nectar using artificial and unhealthy ingredients in their smoothies? How do people feel about this?
Alternate side parking suspended July 7-Sept 7 (Carroll Gardens)
Josh Guttman | July 1, 2008
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As the Brooklyn Paper reported this morning, the suspension of alternate parking that Park Slope has been enjoying much of the summer is coming our way. Starting July 7th, alternate side parking rules will take a hiatus to allow the city to replace nearly 2,000 parking signs. Why do the signs need replaced? It turns out that the current 3-hour window for street cleaning (typically 8a-11a, during which time the cars shift into double-parked mode) is being reduced to a 90-minute window as the city has improved street cleaning scheduling and efficiency.
While The Brooklyn Paper reported that round two will affect most streets within Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and Gowanus, it actually focuses primarily on Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill (see map). The east and west borders are from Court Street east to Fourth Avenue and the northern border is Wyckoff Street and St. Marks Place south to the Gowanus Expressway and 15th Street. Cobble Hill, typically considered north of DeGraw and west of Smith, will only partially benefit. Of course, that means that we’ll enjoy the benefit during round 3 later which will begin later in August. Those living on the edges may even get to double dip!
Exposed asbestos at 340 Court St?
Josh Guttman | April 22, 2008
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Got this email forwarded to me today from someone in the neighborhood. If his suspicions are well founded, this is more than a little concerning.
Hi all,
The “little boy” somewhere within me secretly loves watching the demolition taking place at the 340 court st site… I like watching the machinery, the plasma torches, etc, etc… It’s fun!
However, today I saw something less fun. They’re taking apart the smaller of the two ill-fated buildings at the moment, and they exposed these hot-water pipes which are encased in with what appears to be asbestos insulation. They then started trying to break the pipes by swinging the backhoe-like arm of the excavator laterally, but this ended up breaking off chunks of the asbestos, along with the tell-tale spindly white fibers which are no doubt flying around our neighborhood at the moment (not to mention their own working environment).
I’m no expert on this stuff, but it seemed troubling so my roommate took a picture of the pipes with the asbestos insulation that remains (it used to go all the way up and down the pipes).
Sigh…
- Ben
Clarett Group to Present 340 Court Street
Josh Guttman | March 30, 2008
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Developer to Unveil Plans at Behest of Union-Sackett Block Association and Other Community Groups
What: The Clarett Group will unveil its long-awaited plans for 340 Court Street, the site of the former ILA Hospital, at a public meeting.
When: Thursday, April 3, 2008 7:00 P.M.
Where: PS 58 located on Carroll Street, between Smith and Court. Take the F train to the Carroll Street stop.
Context: The project at 340 Court Street arises as development issues in Carroll Gardens are causing increasing concern in the community, a resolution for a 50-foot height limit in the neighborhood has been proposed by Councilmember Bill di Blasio, and there is growing consensus on the need for downzoning. This meeting presents an opportunity for the community to have its voice heard and for the Clarett Group to signal whether it is willing to work with local communities on contextual and responsible development.
A large turnout is expected for this open meeting, which will be hosted by the Union-Sackett Block Association, with support from local elected officials and community groups, including the Coalition for Responsible Development and the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association. After the Clarett Group and its architect present the current plans for 340 Court Street, the community will have the opportunity to react and respond.
Dangerous cell tower installed on Henry @ President?
Josh Guttman | March 21, 2008
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Got this note last week from a concerned neighbor….does anybody know anything about this?
Hi, I encountered a dangerous situation today at 553 Henry street. It looks as though they installed some new cell phone antennas on the roof. But here is where it gets good; not only did they do that, they also went ahead and put a huge antenna directly on the facade of the building on the 4th story. Now this is pretty scary being we have many small children walking by the building everyday. Not only will this become an issue with a good storm but looking at it makes me nervous.
Bergen Carroll needs writers!!
Josh Guttman | February 7, 2008
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You might have noticed the recent slow-down in articles on Bergen Carroll. It’s because nearly all our writers parlayed the exposure they received from Bergen Carroll and were lured away by bigger NYC publishers. If you live in Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Red Hook or Boerum Hill, have a pulse on what’s happening in the ‘hood and like to put pen to paper (or words to website), please get in touch about joining the sexiest local blog in New York City. We’re at josh [at] bergencarroll [dot] com.
Asbestos removal at LICH development site
Josh Guttman | January 17, 2008
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I received this note from a concerned neighbor this morning:
This morning there is picketing of the company that is doing the asbestos removal @ the LICH site for substandard work by union people who do this work. They have a rat outside for non-union work and are giving out fliers. I have called in to 311 with reference # 1814440. This complaint has been forwarded to DEP with high priority as of this morning. Please pass on this information if anyone wishes to call in as well. (We need a phone/email tree for information to pass efficiently). The above reference # can be used when you call. Additionally, we are told that Clarrett is in financial trouble as Ft. Greene units not selling. As we have been off to bad start with them, it will probably continue with cost cutting methods.
–
Tom Gray
District Director
City Council Member Bill de Blasio
(718) 854-9791
(718) 854-1146 Fax
Would you like to see another post office in 11218?
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Kensingtonpostoffice/
Brooklyn writers donate anthology proceeds to fight Ratner’s Atlantic Yards
Josh Guttman | January 8, 2008
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Media Bistro broke the story today that the contributors to the anthology Brooklyn Was Mine (Brooklyn-based writers Jennifer Egan, Lara Vapnyar, Jonathan Lethem, Darcey Steinke, and Darin Strauss) plus fifteen others decided to donate all the book’s proceeds to the non-profit organization, Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn. Full disclosure: four of the writers are on the DDDB advisory board. This is a great gesture towards Brooklyn and one which I personally support. Opposition to Forest City Ratner’s proposed $4 billion Atlantic Yards development remains as strong as ever and even seems to be growing in recent months. These writers characterized the Atlantic Yards project as "overwhelmingly dense, grossly out-of-scale with its surrounding neighborhood," and disruptive to longstanding communities. The development is currently held up in court. Incidentally, DDDB published The Unity Plan for Vanderbilt Yards yesterday as an alternative to Atlantic Yards. The rendering looks nice and certainly, much more in scale with the surrounding area. What do you think about Atlantic Yards?
