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Closing Bell: Sweetheart’s Flea



This weekend, shop the Brooklyn Flea for your sweetheart! Here’s a list of romantic gift ideas and a larger list of all our vendors. This Flea runs Saturday + Sunday at Skylight One Hanson, right across the street from Atlantic Terminal. Then on Sundays we host SmorgasbBrewery, a mini Smorgasburg with rotating food vendors selling at the Brooklyn Brewery’s tasting room. That’s at 79 North 11th Street in Williamsburg. A map and directions to both spots live here. The Flea runs from 10am to 5pm, SmorgasBrewery from noon to 5pm.
Photo by xbettyx

Categories: Brooklyn Flea, Closing Bell
By Emily | 02/10/2012 4:00 PM | Comment

Building of the Day: 129-135 Cambridge Place


Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Row Houses
Address: 129-135 Cambridge Place
Cross Streets: Gates Avenue and Fulton Street
Neighborhood: Clinton Hill
Year Built: 1894
Architectural Style: Queen Anne/Arts and Crafts
Architect: William B. Tubby
Other buildings by architect: Pratt Institute Library, Scheiren Mansion and Charles Pratt Mansion, Clinton Ave, row houses on Lafayette, Vanderbilt Avenues and St. James Place, in Clinton Hill.
Landmarked: Yes, part of Clinton Hill HD (1981)

The story: When it comes to some of the eclectic, but narrow, row houses scattered throughout Clinton Hill, I can usually identify the ones designed by William Tubby fairly easily. Tubby’s houses stand out, even the plainer ones, because in their simplicity lies genius. This talented architect, who is on the short list of the best of the architects from this period, was a master of form and composition, and use of materials.

It takes a master to make the simple look elegant. These modest row houses were built in 1894, a time when America was still celebrating the new elegance and opulence of the White Cities world depicted at the World’s Fair in Chicago, in 1893. In Brooklyn, in this same neighborhood, the mansions of people like the Pratt Family, the Arbuckle’s, Schieren’s, Hoagland’s, and the other barons of Clinton Avenue, were practically side by side with the growing numbers of worker’s housing, tenements, and more middle class fare all around the area. These houses were a part of that growth. (more…)

Categories: BOTD, Clinton Hill
By Montrose Morris | 02/10/2012 3:00 PM | Comment

Empty Lot Snapped Up on St. Marks Place



The empty lot at 11 St. Marks Place, right off 3rd Avenue, was purchased recently for $1,450,000, according to public records. The land is zoned for residential but no plans have been filed with DOB yet. Luckily this block was included in the recent Boerum Hill downzoning so don’t expect anything too monstrous going up here! GMAP

Categories: Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, News, Sales
By Emily | 02/10/2012 2:40 PM | Comment

Jamaican Cafe Coming to 4th Avenue and 10th Street



A tipster sent over this photograph with the note, “DOB sign at building on 4th and 10th street in Park Slope says ‘coffee’… Right across street from Cafe 474.” The architect on site gave us a few more details on what’s to happen at 453 4th Avenue: “There is a plan for a café. It will have a Jamaican flavor and will be called Slope Café.” Nice! The DOB permits actually indicate that a pretty big reno is coming to ground-floor commercial space. GMAP

Categories: News, Park Slope, Streetlevel
By Emily | 02/10/2012 2:00 PM | Comment

Open House Picks


Fort Greene
294 Cumberland Street
Brown Harris Stevens
Sunday, 1:00-2:30
$2,600,000
GMAP P*Shark

Carroll Gardens
162 Union Street
Brooklyn Bridge Realty
Sunday, 12:00-2:00
$2,495,000
GMAP P*Shark

Park Slope
572 Pacific Street
Halstead
Sunday, 12:30-1:30
$2,150,000
GMAP P*Shark

South Slope
144 16th Street
Corcoran
Sunday, 2:00-3:30
$1,450,000
GMAP P*Shark

Categories: Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Open Houses, Park Slope, South Slope
By Brownstoner | 02/10/2012 1:06 PM | Comment

Advertisement


Categories: Advertisement
By Emily | 02/10/2012 12:50 PM | Comment

Open House Picks: Six Months Later



Comment: Mixed bag.
Open House Picks 8/12/11 [Brownstoner]

Categories: Open Houses, Six Months Later
By Brownstoner | 02/10/2012 12:40 PM | Comment

Brooklyn’s Last Humpback Street Sign



We missed this when it went up last week but it’s too good not to post. Forgotten NY, that tenacious chronicle of old time Gotham, ran this photo of the “the last of Brooklyn’s ‘humpback’ street signs.” You can see that the smaller street that Willoughby intersected with once upon a time was Hudson Avenue. A commenter points out that this section of Hudson was removed to make way for Long Island University campus, though a one-block stretch of the street still exists between Dekalb and Fulton.

Categories: Fort Greene, Historical, Streets
By Brownstoner | 02/10/2012 12:00 PM | Comment

The Upstater: Churches for Sale in Upstate New York


Think of the real estate blog Upstater as Brownstoner for the Catskills and Hudson Valley. We’re combing the counties south of Albany, east of Connecticut and west of the PA border for upstate New York real estate that has a special appeal to New Yorkers (especially because you can buy an entire farm house for the price of a studio apartment in Brooklyn). From now on, we’ll be sharing some of our finds in a weekly column here on Brownstoner, and for our debut column we took a look at churches for sale north of New York City. One is a converted chapel, ready for roosting. The others are waiting to be reinvented as residences.

2847 Atlantic Avenue in the tiny hamlet of Stottville, NY, just outside of Hudson, is the cream of this week’s crop. Beautifully renovated, already fully converted to residential but with many of the most impressive church elements preserved.

Lots more on the jump…
(more…)

Categories: Architecture, Houses of Worship, Real Estate, Upstate New York
By upstater | 02/10/2012 11:31 AM | Comment

Putnam Court, Rendered



Here’s a rendering of the new affordable housing project on Putnam Avenue and Irving Place, courtesy of Dunn Development and SLCE Architects. Site prep began last week. After approximately 18 months of construction, this will be a 58-unit residential development.
Big Dig at Putnam Avenue Lot [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Affordable Build Going Up This Month [Brownstoner]
Clinton Hill Lot to Become Affordable Housing [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB

Categories: Affordable Housing, Clinton Hill, Development
By Emily | 02/10/2012 10:31 AM | Comment

Past and Present: Atlantic Avenue at Cumberland Street


A Look at Brooklyn, then and now.

Today’s historic photo from 1924 shows two commercial buildings on the south side of Atlantic Avenue, near Cumberland Street. Frequent passers-by today will recognize these as the sole remaining 19th century large commercial buildings in the AY footprint. On a 1929 map, 700 Atlantic Avenue, the building on the right, belonged to the American Railway Express Company (AREC), a large shipping company founded in 1917 to consolidate shipping efforts during World War I. It was bought out by the railroads, and was an early shipping company that was like UPS with trains instead of planes. Goods were shipped via rail, taken to warehouses like this, and then shipped by trucks to their destinations. They needed warehouses near rail lines for the most efficient transfer of goods. They couldn’t get any closer than this. (more…)

Categories: Industrial Space, Past and Present, Prospect Heights
By Montrose Morris | 02/10/2012 10:30 AM | Comment

Grand Avenue Getting Another Bump



Good news for those who live on or around Grand Avenue: At the urging of Council Member Letitia James, a second speed has been approved for the block of Grand between Gates and Putnam avenues in Clinton Hill. The bump was approved late last month but will likely not be installed for six months or so because of an existing backlog at DOT. Hopefully there will be a little hump in this bump, as the current one does little to dissuade aggressive drivers from speeding down the street.

Categories: Clinton Hill, News, Streets
By Brownstoner | 02/10/2012 10:00 AM | Comment

Fort Greene Park Renovation Plan Revealed



On the heels of the exciting news that $2.55 million had been officially approved for the renovation of Fort Greene Park, we’ve got a copy of the site plan for the project along with some more details. The renovation is focused on the Willoughby entrance to the park. As the plan shows, the stairs will be rebuilt and a new ADA ramp will be installed, making stroller and disabled access easier. A variety of water control features – engineered (bioswales, cisterns and other) and organic (understory plantings)- will be installed in the circle adjacent to the Willoughby entrance within the park; this will mitigate the flow of water from the height of the park around the monument to the sidewalk outside and eliminate the pooling there. A curb bumpout will be built to improve pedestrian safety and the aesthetics of the entrance by giving pedestrians crossing from the park to Willoughby improved visibility and by eliminating parking directly in front of the entrance. The pavers along Washington Park will be leveled and reset. There will also be 9 new benches around the circle, which will add more seating capacity and help to harmonize the furniture in the park.

All good! Congrats to the Fort Greene Park Conservancy for their relentless (and effective!) advocacy. There’s a community listening session scheduled for February 29th from 6 to 8 pm at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, 85 South Oxford Street. To get a bigger look at the plan, click here.
Fort Greene Park Renovation a Go! [Brownstoner]

Categories: Fort Greene, News, Parks
By Brownstoner | 02/10/2012 9:30 AM | Comment

More Delays at Atlantic Yards



The Atlantic Yards Report writes this morning of two delays relating to the Barclays Center built-out. The biggest news to those who have to try to navigate the giant construction project is that the Carlton Avenue bridge reopening has been delayed by a month, and in order to meet the new completion date of September 2012 work crews will be at it until 3 am. “The artery’s absence could plunge area traffic into chaos, especially given the inevitable shakeout period in which arena-goers and area drivers learn to regulate down their vehicle use before events,” notes AYR. As the blog notes, The $40 million bridge project is an Arena Opening Condition under an agreement Forest City signed with Empire State Development. Delay #2: For the second time in five weeks, says AYR, the “substantial completion date” for the arena itself has been pushed back a week to September 5. (The final completion date is slated for June 30, 2013.)

Categories: Atlantic Yards, Fort Greene, Prospect Heights
By Brownstoner | 02/10/2012 9:00 AM | Comment

Weekend Events


“Circle of Love” Dads & Daughters Ball!
Be a debutante on your date with Dad (or Mom)! Enjoy an evening of dance led by Curious George, refreshments by Dunkin’ Donuts, Valentine’s activities, DJ MITCH from WBLS 107.5 FM radio and dance instructor! Complete with corsage, Valentine’s Card, and keepsake photo, this is an event you won’t want to miss! Supported in part Kids Club THIRTEEN, WBLS 107.5FM and Dunkin’ Donuts (Eastern Parkway & Nostrand Avenue). Tickets on sale now! Separate admission ticket required, please visit www.brooklynkids.org for tickets and more information.

“I Love Myrtle Avenue,” an Open House Event
At the Open House, individuals will enjoy tours of Toren, refreshments, take in the incredible views and pick up a copy of the Myrtle Avenue Valentine’s Day Weekend Guide. This guide is a list of all the merchants and restaurants on Myrtle Avenue that are providing discounts, specials, tastings, etc from February 11th – February 14th. Saturday, February 11, 2012, 12pm – 2pm at 150 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Flea + SmorgasBrewery
The Flea is indoors at beautiful Skylight One Hanson both Saturday and Sunday. And don’t forget about SmorgasBrewery, a mini-Smorgasburg featuring a rotating cast of five Flea/Smorg food vendors serving inside the Brewery’s Tasting Room on North 11th St. in Williamsburg on Sundays. The Flea runs from 10am to 5pm at Skylight One Hanson and SmorgasBrewery runs only Sunday from noon to 5pm.

After the jump, a Super Fun Superfund Variety Show, dancing at the Botanic Gardens, and the February Greencycle Swap…
(more…)

Categories: Events
By Emily | 02/10/2012 8:45 AM | Comment

Friday Links



Mortgage Plan Gives Billions to Homeowners, but With Exceptions [NY Times]
City Board Votes to Close 18 Schools and Truncate 5 [NY Times]
In Brooklyn, Senate Race Veers Onto Bitter Ground [NY Times]
Settlement Lifts Hopes For Housing Recovery [WSJ]
Real-Estate Crash Aids the Green Movement [WSJ]
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty Over ‘South Park’ Threat [NY Post]
Baby girl Found Abandoned in Brooklyn Building [NY Daily News]
Sludge May Be Used in Gowanus Parks [Brooklyn Paper]
Beep Floats 69th St. Ferry Idea During Address [Brooklyn Eagle]
Robust Demand Drives Up Brooklyn Real Estate Prices [NY1]
Oprah Visits Hasidic Brooklyn [Huffington Post]
Photo by naftels

Categories: Daily Links
By Brownstoner | 02/10/2012 8:30 AM | Comment

Thursday Blogwrap



Paul’s Daughter Scrubbed Clean of History [Lost City]
The Littleneck Dudes: Aaron Lefkove and Andy Curtin [Eater]
Knowledge and Power Prep Spared From Closure [BS Patch]
Cyclist Hit By Car Making Left Turn at Vanderbilt and Myrtle [FG Patch]
New Commercial Building at 231 Front Street (Vinegar Hill) [Dumbo NYC]
Troubled Fort Greene Condo-Turned-Rental Finds Buyer [The Real Deal]
Help Sustainable Flatbush with Composting at the Flatbush Reformed Church Garden [Ditmas Park Blog]
Photo by greenelent

Categories: Brooklyn
By Emily | 02/09/2012 4:30 PM | Comment

Closing Bell: Sh!t Park Slope Parents Say


Comedy has to be based on truth. You take the truth and you put a little curlicue at the end. — Sid Caesar

Categories: Closing Bell, Park Slope
By Brownstoner | 02/09/2012 4:00 PM | Comment

Building of the Day: 342-352A Vernon Avenue


Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: Row Houses
Address: 342-352A Vernon Avenue
Cross Streets: Lewis and Stuyvesant Avenues
Neighborhood: Bedford Stuyvesant
Year Built: 1889
Architectural Style: Neo-Grec/Queen Anne
Architect: Theobald Engelhardt
Other buildings by architect: Arion Hall, Ulmer Mansion and Brewery, and countless homes, tenements and factories in Bushwick, Williamsburg, and this end of Bed Stuy. Also Peaks Mason Mints Building, Bklyn Hts.
Landmarked: No

The story: In certain parts of this borough, if you throw a rock, you’ll probably hit a Theobald Engelhardt designed building. He was an amazingly prolific architect who seems to have single-handedly designed the entire Eastern District, that part of Brooklyn loosely covering Bushwick, the far eastern part of Bedford Stuyvesant, and parts of Williamsburg. It comes as no surprise that these houses are his. And for several good reasons. (more…)

Categories: Bedford Stuyvesant, BOTD
By Montrose Morris | 02/09/2012 3:30 PM | Comment

Forum Poster Wants Great But Cheap Neighborhood


On the Forum: Where can I get a yard big enough for a garden, safe nabe and decent public transport? http://t.co/ehIkIstb
February 9, 2012 2:51 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite
@Brownstoner
Brownstoner
Categories: Ditmas Park, Neighborhoods, Twitter
By Brownstoner | 02/09/2012 3:02 PM | Comment
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