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Hear ye Hear ye - Announcing the formation of Union St Block Association
Josh Guttman | December 7, 2007
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"I’m writing to let you know that we are forming a Union Street Block Association. We have reserved a room at The Public Library on Union Street on Saturday, December 8th from 11:00am to 12:30pm. We are also trying to get a representative of our Community Board to attend. I hope you can make it." Please save the date and spread the word!
From what I hear on the inside, hot topics for discussion are rumored to include:
- ILA building development (International Longshoreman’s Association)
- New lamp posts
- Block parties
- Parking policies and ticketing
Carroll Gardens Landmark Forum Meeting TONIGHT!!
Josh Guttman | November 19, 2007
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The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a panel-based forum to provide information about landmark designation in Carroll Gardens. Residents and building owners are encouraged to attend and inform themselves about the costs and benefits associated with landmarking.
The meeting will be held from 6:30-8:30pm in the PS58 Auditorium at 330 Smith Street @ Carroll Street.
Brooklyn jailhouse sits empty, awaiting possible expansion?
Josh Guttman | November 16, 2007
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It occured to me recently that our local jailhouse at Atlantic and Smith has probably become one of the most valuable pieces of real estate to house a jailhouse in the country. Surely, there is a better location where a Brooklyn jailhouse could be relocated. Worst of all, a little research shows that the jailhouse has been closed since 2003 so it’s not even operational right now. Dennis Holt reported in the Brooklyn Eagle back in May that the city’s Correction Department wants to reopen the Brooklyn Detention Complex and double its current capacity to house 1,400 inmates. One politician has proposed a controversial plan that would involve leasing the bottom levels for retail and housing, while leaving the upper levels open as a functioning jail. This is ludicrous. The city could make far more money by selling or leasing the land to a developer and relocating the jail to a less desirable neighborhood. I don’t think the inmates will mind. Holt suggests a parcel of land on the Gowanus. How about somewhere along Fulton Street Mall or down Atlantic Ave?
Rare neighborhood find - cottage on Warren Place for sale
Josh Guttman | November 12, 2007
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Last week, I noticed a new listing in the neighborhood that didn’t seem to be picked up by local news outlets. 21 Warren Place (Warren Place, not to be confused with Warren Street, is the gated mews off Warren between Henry and Hicks) is a two bedroom, 1 bathroom cottage on the most charming street in the most charming NYC neighborhood. For those of you who haven’t snooped over to open the gate and walk down Warren Place, add it to your to-do list for next weekend. It’s a real treat. 21 Warren Place is one of the original Workingmen’s Cottages built by Alfred Tredway White in 1878. You’ll pass carefully tended gardens and a lovely fountain to get to your front door. There is also a patio in back of the house. The rare find is listed at $949,000 which certainly isn’t cheap for a 2 bedroom/1 bath home, but you can’t find this type of charm anywhere else.
Elizabeth Rueckerl-Betteil is the listing agent on the property. Her number is (718) 935-6124.
Prophetical neighborhood intersection
Josh Guttman | October 24, 2007
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Has anyone noticed that we have an intersection in the neighborhood that may foretell our next U.S. president (and our previous president, as the case may be)? Kudos to Gian Trotta for pointing this out to me a few weeks ago.
Pothole and debris left on Clinton Street
Josh Guttman | October 10, 2007
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Since Clinton Street seems to be a hot topic, has anyone else noticed the half-ass job the contractors did on the street in front of Cafe on Clinton two weeks ago. After working on the location for a week (I’m not really sure what they were doing), they filled in the hole they dug with dirt, which has since sunk several inches, leaving a nice-size pothole for cars to drive through. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise and cars will avoid the street as a result, but I doubt it. In addition, they left a mess of pebbles and debris scattered 50 feet in every direction with a clear trail all the way to Congress Street, which street sweepers seem to have a difficult time gathering. Who knows the scoop on this? I called 311 and reported it to NYC Dept of Transportation as well as Sanitation today.
The neighborhood controversy of 360 Smith
Rachel Markowitz | September 20, 2007
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360 Smith Street: to some it is just a street address, to others it is the biggest controversy plaguing the neighborhood. Billy Stein, the man who owns the address, plans to use the property to build a high-rise condo above the Carroll Street subway station. While this could seemingly be the beginning of Carroll Gardens turning into something like Manhattan’s financial district, the development plan isn’t as bad as originally thought.
When Stein first unveiled his proposed building design to the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, it was a clunky metallic structure Gowanus Lounge dubbed “The Heavy Metal Building.” Brownstoner has also covered the development progress extensively. The design proposed to do away with the F-train plaza, and would have added a chintzy, meretricious feel to the neighborhood. However, thanks to protests from members of the community, Stein’s new design is less imposing. Instead of metal, Stein now plans to use terracotta and possibly brick to build his high-rise.
While Stein says that his high-rise will be 70 feet tall, as that’s the height that the zoning dictates, CGNA Land Use Committee Co-chair John Hatheway pointed out that the height was a limit, not a mandate. Just because the city will only allow Stein to build up to 70 feet doesn’t mean he has to, and it’s dishonest to say that the height is something the city “dictates.” Stein countered that the price he paid for the property factored in using every square inch possible, and failure to do so would be a monetary loss. Needless to say, this explanation didn’t get much sympathy from community members. Neighbors have been protesting the building since mid-summer, including organizing this online petition, depicted in the photo.
While building was scheduled to begin this fall, Stein says that given the recent design changes, this probably is not still possible. Stein claims he has done his best to try and compromise with the community, even though doing so has been to his detriment. What will actually be built at 360 Smith Street? Only time will tell.
Cobble Heights beer distributor to close after 37 years in neighborhood
Josh Guttman | September 12, 2007
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I walked by Cobble Heights beer distributorship this morning and noticed the garage, typically overflowing with cases and kegs of beers of every variety, sat empty with the look of a business whose days were numbered. I stopped and spoke to Tom Daly, the owner of the 37-year old operation and he confirmed my suspicions. “With the 60-unit complex going up across the street and another building beginning construction soon two doors away, we decided it made sense to close rather than wait out the 1-2 years of construction,” he explained. Tom’s family has owned the building and distributor for 24 years. Before moving to the location on Pacific Street between Court and Boerum, they ran a retail operation next to Sahadi’s on Atlantic. “Back in 1983, we noticed the building had been deserted when neighbors started dumping old mattresses in the garage.” He approached the owner, living in Florida at the time, and negotiated the sale. Now, they are making plans to sell the building themselves, and will focus on their wholesale business from their headquarters in Queens. I can’t help but wonder if this is symptomatic of a broader trend as old neighborhood businesses call it quits as big developments take hold in the neighborhood. As for what this means for their main competition on Court Street, Tom says “we’ve enjoyed healthy competition with American Beer Distributors dating back to when our fathers ran the businesses. I wish them well.”
Rumors fly about MickyD’s on Court Street - people, pleez
Josh Guttman | September 10, 2007
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The blogosphere is abuzz today with rumors that McDonald’s has leased the former Blockbuster space on Court Street. Both A Brooklyn Life and Curbed are reporting that McDonald’s is moving into the space. I call BS. Rumors have been flying about McDonald’s moving to the neighborhood for some time. If they do come, Smith Street or Atlantic Ave are more logical locations. The former Blockbuster space is neither a location I can imagine McDonald’s wanting (it’s a huge space with a full basement and only moderate foot traffic) nor a neighbor that Court Street residents are likely to welcome with open arms. Few chain retailers have penetrated Court Street yet, and I think it’s highly unlikely that even the most money-hungry property owner would allow such flagrant degradation of neighborhood charm.
Welcome to the Neighborhood Lili Taylor!
Rachel Markowitz | August 14, 2007
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According to New York Magazine, Lili Taylor, star of the Lifetime series State of Mind, just closed on a three-bedroom apartment in Cobble Hill for $950,000. Apparently this was 6% over the asking price. Just goes to show that while Lifetime may be crap TV, they must pay their actors semi-decently. I, for one, prefer to think of Lili Taylor as Corey Flood, the guitar-wielding companion of a love-sick John Cusak in Say Anything. It’s possible stereotypical “chick rock” was invented when Corey played an ode to her ex-boyfriend at a graduation party. The song goes: “Joe lies! Joe lies! Joe lies! when he criiiiies!” Perhaps we’ll be lucky enough to hear her playing similar tunes on her stoop one day.
Reportedly Taylor sold her apartment on Bethune Street for $1.1 million last month. Hopefully this indicates that she plans to stay with us for awhile. Let’s keep an eye out for her, and any other celebrities who are thinking of moving to the lovely BergenCarroll-land.
