City to Sell Firehouses in W'burg and Cobble Hill

The Post had a short piece this morning about the city's plan to sell five firehouses that is has shuttered in recent years. In addition to two in Manhattan and one in Queens, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services filed paperwork with City Planning on Oct. 4 to sell Engine 212 (Williamsburg) and Engine 204 (Cobble Hill) in Brooklyn. Both engine companies were closed in 2003 amidst fierce protest by neighborhood residents.
Fire Sale on Firehouses [NY Post]
The End of an Era [SouthBrooklyn.net]
Engine 204, Brooklyn [NYFD.com]
Ashes, Ashes [Brooklyn Rail]

Comments

two institutions that have vast overcapacity in this city: hospitals and firehouses...
unpopular to say, but true.

Posted by: OE at October 13, 2006 10:25 AM

Not sure about that OE- last time I was in the emergency room- it was quite crowded. But, back OT- does any one have some more info on the 204? If I had the cash, I would definately think about developing that property. Got to figure they have some excess FAR and probably a huge backyard (for drying hoses in days gone by etc). Decent location too.

Posted by: Max at October 13, 2006 10:34 AM

I am very familiar with one of the firehouses that is for sale. It is a redundancy...there is a new, capacious, modern facility three blocks away. The old one is definitely charming but I understand how it would not be adequate for the important services it needs to provide.

Posted by: glarph at October 13, 2006 10:59 AM

does anyone know how they'll sell them? Broker, auction, etc?

Posted by: anon at October 13, 2006 1:01 PM

how much are these props selling for?

Posted by: anon at October 13, 2006 1:25 PM

DCAS has only filed the paperwork for disposal; the sale(s) is/are not even approved yet let alone being marketed

Posted by: Anonymous at October 13, 2006 2:16 PM

Put me on that list to buy

Posted by: Anonymous at October 13, 2006 3:04 PM

That might be difficult since you are anonymous.

Posted by: Carol Gardens at October 13, 2006 4:39 PM

oh snap bi-otch, says "Carol Gardens" ...if that's your real name

Posted by: Anonymous at October 13, 2006 10:49 PM

Seems to me to be another shortsighted move by this city administration against both the fire dept and the residents of these neighborhoods. First of all, in Wmsburg, 212 is a beloved neigborhood fixture, and is known as "the people's firehouse". It has a long history of community involvement, with a very active local group of people who work closely with the firehouse, and the two groups work on many, many social, environmental and community programs. How many other firehouses in the city have such close ties to the community? Most firefighters do not live anywhere near the communities they work in, for various reasons, and to have such a good rapport with a community is rare, and also is what being a "civil servant" should be about, something that takes a concerted effort on both sides. 212 had this, and it is being destroyed.

Secondly, communities like those served by 212 and the other houses, are growing by leaps and bounds. We all know about the huge leaps in population in Williamsburg, by the Hasidic as well as the "hipster" populations. Why take away additional protection while the population surges? It makes no sense when they did it three years ago, and it really makes no sense to sell the buildings now. Williamsburg also has the added danger posed by the waste plant, and I hear 212 was especially trained in hazmat and chemical fire skills.

Added to all of that, has anyone heard about the terrorist threat to the city? God forbid it ever happens again, but does it make sense to sell off the bases used by first responders?

While all of houses should be retained by the city, and re-opened when a more enlightened administration is in charge, it seems absolutely senseless for the city to be selling off our protection. The sale of 5 buildings is not going to take the city out of a financial crisis. The loss of historic buildings should not be allowed to happen. We don't need some deep pocketed buyer to make more fancy firehouse condos, or a really rocking private dwelling, or worse yet, tear them down for new lux condos. We really need our firehouses, with the firemen and equipment in them, ready to protect the neighborhoods when necessary, and work to make a better New York at all times.

Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at October 14, 2006 10:25 AM

My father was a NYC firefighter for 26 years, spending most of his time in Brooklyn. He worked out of the 212 firehouse. I remember going there as a kid to the annual Holiday party. One of the guys would dress up as Santa and we would all get a gift (brought by our parents). My dad was the firehouse cook, did they know food. I've heard stories about how they risked their lives to save people, and how they shared close bonds with their colleagues (and some fun pranks too). As an adult, I can't believe these city workers risk their lives doing this job for the salary they get; I know things were tight growing up. My dad retired in the early 90's and moved out of NYC. I recently took pictures of the neighborhood and his old, vacant firehouse to show him how much has changed. I would be hurt if the firehouse building was sold and I'm sure the firefighters who spent their careers there would be too. What a shame to eliminate crucial emergency services in any NYC neighborhood. Why can't these buildings house some type of community center instead of being sold to people who don't give a damn about history and who just want an investment.

Posted by: anon at October 15, 2006 2:05 PM

This is typical of the current administration in City Hall. Nothing but the bottom line matters. In the case of Williamsburg closing the firehouse just goes along with the stupid planning that's gone down - just build luxury condos (and a few affordable units) but no medical facilities, no schools, no real viable transportation and now make sure that the only way to add fireprotection for a burgeoning future population will be to build a new firehouse. Who's property will be taken under eminent domain when it comes to that?

Posted by: burnedup at October 16, 2006 2:20 PM

If you need any further convincing that firehouses should not be closed, it should be pointed out that firefighters don't just "do" fires. they have advanced training in hazmat and disaster response- something we very obviously need to worry about in this day and age. They are not a business, they are not a corporate asset. They are insurance, so closing any of them is a huge mistake. engine 212 is a case in point. The People's Firehouse, 212, was the only one in the area with a chemical unit. Williamsburg is the happy home to Radiac. Radiac is a hazardous chemical waste plant and also takes care of nuclear waste as well. Now that Brooklyn is booming, only a fool would think the less is more. Hmmm...isn't that what rummy said about the military forces we put in Iraq? And look at those results. All of the closed firehouses were vibrant parts of their communities- 204 and 212 were heavily involved in their neighborhoods and friendly with everyone.

If anyone wants to know more about the battle to save the firehouses you can look at www.nofirecuts.com. It's not been updated lately but the information is still valid. There's a lot more to the issue than just, "oh yeah- there's another modern firehouse just 3 blocks from this one." If you know how the response system works, you'll see that close proximity is only one issue, and often not the most important one.

Posted by: Bx2Bklyn at October 16, 2006 3:28 PM

I see that the last comment made here was in 2006, but.. I just wanted to say that I am a young adult, really w/o the money to probably ever be able to afford such a firehouse, and by now I'm sure someone has already bought it up and done whatever with it, angering even more people in the neighborood... However, I must say honestly that I came on this sight looking for places that I will never be able to afford b/c it has been my dream for many years to live in a firehouse. That being said, i do see your points. and I would be the guy that would find it quite hilarious if that firehouse burnt down b/c the new firehouse was too far away to save it in time... it would be quite ironic. hopefully for all of your sakes, whomever purchased this building turned it into something that could be shared in the community...

Posted by: guest at June 22, 2008 1:37 AM

« An Appeal From the Owners of the Broken Angel Residential Sales in Brooklyn »

October 13, 2006

City to Sell Firehouses in W'burg and Cobble Hill

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