Bridge Units Could Go For At Least $800 PSF

bridge
Does anyone know anything about the brick spaces that are built out underneath the base of the Brooklyn Bridge?

Comments

I think this is work/storage space for the Port Authority...

Posted by: anonymous at January 24, 2006 11:37 AM

One of the stanchions(on the Brooklyn side) is the anchorage, where they have art exhibitions and events on occasion. I don't know if they still do.

Posted by: combustibelgirl at January 24, 2006 11:46 AM

Oh, this looks like a scary place.
Maybe it’s the NYPD torture chambers?
Or is it Cheney’s bunker?
I think Boymelgreen should take a look at this, there is no easement issue here.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2006 11:49 AM

I've been inside tthe anchorage, during the bridge's 100th birthday back in 1984(85?). It's very cool, with high ceilings and open spaces. Back then, it was used as exhibit space for the centennial celebration. I can't imagine that it'll ever be open to the public again, though, given terrorism concerns.

Posted by: Sloper at January 24, 2006 11:57 AM

Yep, no art/music in the anchorage since 9/11.

Posted by: sad_otter at January 24, 2006 12:42 PM

The unparalleled Creative Time ("Art Where You Least Expect It") had use of the Brooklyn side - aforementioned "Anchorage" - for years, and held annual summer "Art at the Anchorage" shows. They were awesome shows with riotous parties. The spaces are incredible, like some gothic cathedral, that CT always made great use of. It was nice and cool, if rather musty, even in the dead of summer. CT even had the rights (from the city) to rent the space out for private parties, photoshoots, etc as a source of funding. After 9/11 city cancelled their lease. Real unfortunate, but understandable. Can't emphasize enough how incredible the spaces are.

Posted by: Mr. Minerva at January 24, 2006 1:01 PM

I've always wondered this! I've noticed that many of the window spaces have been bricked in (at least on the Manhattan end). Does anyone know the original purpose of the space? (You know, other than art exhibitions.)

Posted by: JC at January 24, 2006 3:37 PM

Some of the arched vaults were used as wine cellars, back when the bridge was new, and I think they held some shops or similar retail spaces back then, too.

I doubt they'd work as residences (noise from traffic overhead), and anyway, as a previous poster noted, they've very definitely been off-limits since 9/11.

Posted by: Christopher at January 24, 2006 3:58 PM

On a tour of the anchorage some 10 years ago I recall the guide saying w/more than a little distain and surprise that [they] are often asked if the space was available to buy or rent as a residence.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2006 4:59 PM

here is a neat article about the anchorage's use as an art space: http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0225,carr,35778,1.html

wish i could have seen it!

Posted by: Matthew at January 24, 2006 5:43 PM

I went to one of those creative time parties a few years ago, and the space was really fabulous. kind of spooky, but superfabulous. does it mean that the terrorists have already won since we can't have our parties in our superfabulous stanchions anymore?

Posted by: Anonymous at January 24, 2006 8:25 PM

does anyone ever think that we've been a little brain washed with the terrorism threat? Why the hell would you need to go into anchorage if your intent was evil? You could do all your evilness equally effectively from right where this photo was taken or anywhere in the pic, nice trailer, or the not-bricked-in-side. NYPD does nothing more than jam up traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge.
what the hell is the cop sitting in his car forcing a bottle neck actually going to do?
we need to take our country back from the clowns state side selling fear.
I'm with the Donald - build the f'in WTC right back, exactly as it was, a little stronger, state of the art fire protection and communications, and 1ft taller at least.
We're a resilient people.
They say no one would want to work there - on the 100 and something floor - I'll move in tomorrow. I worked in 4WTC and I'd jump at the chance to work as high up in the tower as I could get.
And so would thousands like me - and we should have a new national holiday when we'll all stand in the "new" windows on the world, and on the roofs of the new towers and proudly fly the universally understood bird. F'em. F'em all.
They're cowards, but the saddest thing is, they've succeeded - succeed in revealing what cowards we Americans really are.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 25, 2006 2:19 AM

Yeah, when this place was run by Creative Time is was a very nifty hangout. And so nice and cool in summer!

Posted by: Carol Gardens at January 25, 2006 11:20 AM

I went to a rave inside the Brooklyn bridge back in '94. Very cool.

Posted by: erik at January 25, 2006 4:26 PM

Those spaces were once used for housing (at the time the area was as slum) then for storage. Yes even wine cellars. In the 60's and 70's the city took over them and later they were deamed
uninhabitable and a fire trap. Not to mention the fear that a fire might damage the Bridge. Now they are pretty much pigeon condo's except for what the DOT uses for storage. I am quite sure that in the near future some money hungry Developer will pay off the right people and build "Luxury Condo's"

Posted by: QM at January 27, 2006 5:13 PM

Is there anyone who would like to share their experience at the Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage or would like to express frustration or appreciation for the fact that it is now closed? Please email susancosier@gmail.com.

Posted by: Susan at February 17, 2006 1:33 PM

When terror/paranoia deprives us of such experiences as the interior of the Brooklyn Bridge, then terrorism succeeds. I'm no expert, but I'll bet anyone wanting to seriously hurt the bridge could find effective ways of doing so without even getting near the Brooklyn anchorage. I've only seen pictures of the space, and it's magnificent. I wanna go there. Please, Mr. Bin Laden, let me in.

Posted by: shep at February 26, 2006 6:22 PM

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January 24, 2006

Bridge Units Could Go For At Least $800 PSF

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