March 12, 2010
Closing Bell: Flea Time
There's some cool new stuff happening at The Flea this weekend. Regular vendor David Sokosh debuts some old Brooklyn watches, Brooklyn Vintage is returning with a batch of great furniture and, representing North Brooklyn, former Greenpoint men's vintage clothing shop Houndstooth is teaming up with former EAT Records for what promises to be a very cool new booth. As always, come hungry and head downstairs to pick from all the great food offerings. The Brooklyn Flea will be taking place every Saturday and Sunday through the end of March from 10 am to 5 pm at One Hanson Place. You can take any number of subways to the Atlantic Terminal or the C train to Lafayette.
Photo by EssG
Building of the Day: 1450 Pacific Street
1450 Pacific Street, between Brooklyn and Kingston Avenues, Crown Heights North. George Damen, architect. 1882.
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.
Address: 1450 Pacific Street, between Brooklyn and Kingston Avenues
Type: Private House
Neighborhood: Crown Heights North (CHN Historic District)
Year Built:1882
Architectural Style: Italianate/Neo-Grec
Architect: George Damen
Landmarked: Yes
Why chosen: This freestanding brick Italianate, set back on a small hill, overlooks the rest of Pacific St, and must have had an amazing porch view, when built. It is a beautifully preserved home, with an impressive wooden cornice and Neo-Grec detailing in the lintels and porch. It also has a garage, built before 1940, squatting in front of the house cutting off the fine gardens and walkways. In spite of that, it is a remarkable survivor, constructed when the area was a suburban retreat, just before the opening of the -Brooklyn Bridge in 1883.
Correction: In our very first post, we credited the architectural firm of Halsey, MacCormack and Helmer with the design of the Hanson Place Central Methodist Church, getting that information from a reputable source, a well regarded architectural guide to Brooklyn. An intrepid reader thought differently, did some digging, and wrote in that the actual architect was Lessing Whitford Williams, a contemporary, and sometimes colleague, of HM&H. His evidence is overwhelming. The address was incorrect, as well. It should be 9-13 Hanson Place. Thank you Mr. H.P. for that information.
From the Forum: Low Appraisal
New to the site. Just wondering if anyone has had the same experience as me. I am in contract to...More >Streetlevel: Burg's New Biergarten Revealed
Chef Michael Psilakis, of Kefi and Anthos in Manhattan, just got a liquor license for the space on the corner of North 10th Street and Driggs. According to the New York Post, "The chef has not signed a lease on the space and even if he does, he remains unsure of the concept of the business. So far, Psilakis is using the name Biergarten williamsburg LLC, for the liquor license application, but this would not be the name of the restaurant." With Radegast in walking distance, is this neighborhood in need of another biergarten? Or would it make more sense for Psilakis to bring his signature Greek cuisine to Brooklyn? GMAP
From the Forum: Considering DUMBO
I'm considering moving to DUMBO but have a few questions on buildings. I'm looking at 70 Washington, 1 Main (Clocktower)...More >Teenage Boy Slashed on Fort Greene Place
We've heard from a couple of readers that a 14-year-old boy on his way to school at Brooklyn Tech this morning at around 7 a.m. was attacked and slashed in the face with a knife in a unprovoked incident that appears to be a random act of violence rather than a robbery. According to the tips we received, the attack took place on Fort Greene Place near Lafayette. If you know anything about the incident please contact the 88th Precinct.
Open House Picks
Park Slope
17 Park Place
Warren Lewis
Sunday 3-4:30
$1,775,000
GMAP P*Shark
Carroll Gardens
405 Smith Street
Manzione RE
Sunday 2-4
$1,100,000
GMAP P*Shark
Midwood
698 East 22nd Street
National Brokerage
Sunday 2:30-4:30
$848,000
GMAP P*Shark
Crown Heights
1253 Carroll Street
Realty on the Greene
Sunday 1-3
$755,000
GMAP P*Shark
Open House Picks: Six Months Later
Comment: Meh.
Open House Picks 9/11/09 [Brownstoner]
Previous Six Months Later Posts [Brownstoner]
Restaurant of the Day: Villa Rustica
Villa Rustica, which opened in the summer of '08, has gotten some good reviews for its pizza delivery. "We had a large pie, 1/2 mushroom 1/2 pepperoni, delivered to Sackett St. a few days ago and it was pretty decent, especially for $15. Villa Rustica has now gone to the top of our list for delivery pizza," says Chowhound cbking.
"Pop in for a slice ($2.25), or stick around for a full pie or entrees. Expect classics pastas like orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage, and intriguing pies like a frutti di mare heaped with seafood," says Metromix. And Yelper Jackie W. says, "They sprinkle this garlic salt around the crust... The garlic knots are so amazing for some additional carbo-loading. And I can't complain about their fried zucchini strips either." How do you like this place?
Essential Info
Villa Rustica
- Address:
- 357 3rd Street
- Phone:
- (718) 832-2700
- Nabe:
- Park Slope
- Cuisine:
- Pizza, Italian
- Median Entree:
- $12 for cheese pizza
25 Washington Conversion Under Way
Remember the residential conversion we told you was in store for 25 Washington Street in Dumbo? Well, it's started. Last month the permits were approved for interior demolition and the requisite scaffolding went up shortly thereafter. Perhaps of greater interest, we noticed on the Alt 1 application mention of a proposed two-story enlargement of the building. Anyone know the status of that effort?
25 Washington Conversion Confirmed [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
From the Forum: Flies (à la Amityville Horror)
I have no garbage or food in the house but I've been sharing my space with big, fat, black, hairy...More >Crack Is Wack
"Shoring has been put up, presumably after the fact, to prevent further damage but it looks to me like that corner is about to take a swim in the mud pit next door," writes Tyler King over on the Miller Cicero blog about a building in Williamsburg who's only crime was being adjacent to a big development site where adequate safety precautions were not taken upfront. More details on the link.
Slope Roof Reno: Options
We met with an architect a few weeks ago. He walked around the roof and we spent a fair amount...More >LPC Gives Thumbs-Up to Berkeley Carroll Expansion
Despite the protestations of some of its Park Slope neighbors, Berkeley Carroll gained support from the Landmarks Preservation Commission for the redesign of an existing one-story school structure at 181 Lincoln Place. The biggest objection of neighbors has been over the potential noise problems associated with the planned rooftop playground. The LPC isn't concerned with such issues, though, focusing instead on the impact of the design on the aesthetic landscape. “[The design] does not involve the removal of historic fabric, and the addition is not visible from a public thoroughfare,” an LPC spokesperson told The Courier. John Muir, the most vocal opponent of the project, professed to be undettered: “The community is not, and will not be satisfiedby the Landmark Commission decision and will not stand by and allow the Berkeley Carroll School to build a project so antagonistic to the neighbors.” In addition to the rooftop recreation space, the new structure would be about four feet taller and almost 10,000 square feet larger than the existing 3,000-square-foot building. Construction could begin as soon as this summer. (Click on the elevation above, which was designed by Butler Rogers Baskett, to expand.)
City OKs Berkeley Carroll Plan [Courier]
CB6 Land Use Approves Berkeley Carroll Expansion Plans [Brownstoner]
Berkeley Carroll Expansion Stirs Up The Neighborhood [Brownstoner]
Atlantic Yards: The Morning After
"In theory, it should be everything that a progressive urban policy analyst like me would want from a new development. Atlantic Yards would create lots of new housing immediately adjacent to mass transit lines. It would be a mix of residential, commercial, retail, and entertainment space. And it would create new affordable housing and green space. But, somehow, Atlantic Yards developer Forest City Ratner got it all wrong..." Read the rest of Urban Policy Analyst John Petro's opinion piece today on The Huffington Post.
New Florist for Greenwood Heights
The brand new GreenWood Florist has officially opened on the East side of 4th avenue and 21st street in Greenwood Heights, in the same spot that Danielas Floral Design used to occupy. It is conveniently located directly next door to Leone Funeral Home and two blocks north of Park Slope Funeral. The cemetery, which shares its name with the florist, is just one avenue away. GMAP
From the Forum: Hand Painted House Numbers
I'd like to get our house number hand painted on the eyebrow window above our front door. Classic Brownstone configuration....More >Details on BAM's Purchase of Forte Retail Space
BAM put out a press release on the first of this month announcing the exciting news that it had purchased the ground-floor retail space at the Forte and was planning to turn it into the Hamm Archives Center, named after board member Charles J. Hamm who put up the dough for the acquisition. What wasn't included in that press release was any mention of what the venerable institution had to pay to snag the 3,800-square-foot space, which is just up the block from BAM's Harvey Lichtenstein Theater. The transaction just hit public records, though, so now we know: $1,807,200. We asked commercial broker Michael Annunziata what he thought of the price. "At approximately $473 psf, I believe this sale is in line with today's market, and a fair deal for both sides," he said. From the press release: "The BAM Hamm Archives Center will house a rich collection of materials documenting BAM’s unique artistic heritage as well as the institution’s early history as a major Brooklyn center for cultural and community events." As the Brooklyn Eagle reported, an architect has not yet been chosen to design the space. Great news and great use of the space! GMAP
First Yards Tower To Be Half-Affordable
Amid all the photo ops at yesterday's groundbreaking ceremony for Atlantic Yards, there was one big piece of news (well, two if you count Governor Paterson's disclosure that he grew up on Grand Avenue between Gates and Greene!): Mayor Bloomberg announced that he'd gotten Forest City Ratner to commit to making 50% of the units in the first residential tower—which currently is slated to get underway in the first half of next year—on the site affordable. As the Brooklyn Paper reported earlier this week, Ratner's also been toying with hiring David Childs in an effort to beef up on name brand architects after tossing Frank Gehry overboard.
Affordable Housing Deal at Atlantic Yards [Crain's]
After Years of Controversy, Ceremonial Shovels Come Out [NY Times]
Protests at Groundbreaking for B’klyn Arena [NY Post]
Photo from nycmayorsoffice
Weekend Events
Town Square's Greencycle Swap
Town Square’s next GREENCYCLE SWAP is this Saturday. This year, they’ve decided to try to offer a Greencycle Swap every second Saturday of each month, alternating between Greenpoint and Williamsburg. It’s a wonderful partnership with so many great neighborhood people and organizations. You can bring and take anything (books, clothing, et cetera) and as much as you want just as long as you donate $5! Saturday, March 13. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. $5. 320 Manhattan Avenue, PS 132.
Mutt Show at Brooklyn Lyceum
This dog show is to celebrate all dogs - those dogs that only an owner can love. Dogs will compete for prizes and treats in such categories as "sloppiest kisser", "most resembles owner", "best beard", "best 70+ pound lapdog", "best costume" and more. You can enter your dog in as many categories as you wish - they are $10 per category. A percentage of all proceeds of the event will go straight to the Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC), a Williamsburg no-kill shelter. Saturday & Sunday, March 13 & 14. 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Free. 227 4th Avenue, The Brooklyn Lyceum.
The Brooklyn Flea
The Flea is located at the former bank at One Hanson for the rest of the winter. The clocktower Art Deco building at Flatbush Ave., across from the Target mall, will be the Flea's new home every Saturday and Sunday through March, for 12 weekends only. The Flea features 100 vendors and a great mix of vintage, antiques, jewelry, and food. Saturday & Sunday, March 13 & 14. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Free. 1 Hanson Place, Skylight One Hanson.
Please send your events listings to events@brownstoner.com
Friday Links
State Regulators Shut Down Boymelgreen's Bank, [NY Times]
Report Details How Lehman Hid Its Woes [NY Times]
Councilman Levin Sour On Domino Project [NY Post]
Bedford-Stuyvesant Head Start Mismanaged Funds [NY Daily News]
Concord Street Brownstone Blaze Kills One [NY Daily News]
Brooklyn Heights Is Setting for New Novel [NY Daily News]
Hotel LeBleu Revamping Rooftop Restaurant [Brooklyn Paper]
Police Investigate East New York Shooting [NY1]
Condos Could Be Cut From Brooklyn Bridge Park [Gothamist]
Photo by moritzhau
Latest Restaurant Additions
-
Villa Rustica
added March 12, 2010 12:00 PM in Park Slope -
Happy End
added March 11, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint -
The Blue Stove
added March 10, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Madina
added March 9, 2010 12:00 PM in Kensington -
Cataldo's
added March 8, 2010 12:00 PM in Prospect Heights -
La Locanda
added March 5, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Manhattan 3 Decker Restaurant
added March 4, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint -
San Remo
added March 3, 2010 12:00 PM in Ditmas Park -
Fanny
added March 2, 2010 12:00 PM in Williamsburg -
Pio Pio Riko
added March 1, 2010 12:00 PM in Greenpoint