« Mixed Agendas at Anti-Scarano Rally on Smith Street Fresh Produce, Cheese for Greene and Grand (Ah!) »

June 7, 2007

Four Views Inside the Domino Sugar Factory

insidedomino1.jpg
The Domino Sugar Factory has been in the news a lot lately, what with the whole landmarking issue and all. This post speaks less to the merits of landmarking than it does to the visceral power of urban archaeology. In recent days, four of (in our opinion) the best photo bloggers in town infiltrated the storied complex. Here's what one of them had to say about being inside the belly of the beast:

Domino still houses hundreds of pieces of heavy industrial equipment. Abandoned offices, lunchrooms, science labs, locker rooms and loading bays are in one building, while another houses floor after floor of vats, boilers and furnaces. Molasses covers every surface, burnt brown sugar cakes the floor, and a sickening sweet stench pervades the entire complex.

The photo above is by F-Trainer but the shots by bluejake, Nathan Kensinger and mercurialn are equally as compelling. Check it.
Domino Sugar Factory And Its Uncertain Future [Gothamist]
Reason for Optimism at Domino Sugar Concert [Brownstoner]




Posted by Brownstoner at 10:12 AM | Comments (15)
Categories: Architecture, Historical, Landmark, Williamsburg

Trackback Pings

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.brownstoner.com/mte/mt-tb.cgi/1323

Comments

These photos look amazing. Just one question: If molasses and brown sugar really coats every surface, wouldn't this building be completely ridden with rats and ants?

Posted by: bob999 at June 7, 2007 10:36 AM

Wow, all of the photographers have some very powerful images. I know all of this can't be saved, even if some of the buildings are, but there should be an industrial museum somewhere on site that can show how the factory processed sugar, with some of these excellent photographs, as well as archival photos and a couple of pieces of machinery and other historical artifacts. Ideally, that part of the building could be retrofitted ala the Chelsea Market, incorporating the industrial elements with the modern space, including cafes, exhibition space, etc. That would truly be a tourist attraction and a profitable money making venture.

My lips to God's ear.

Posted by: Preservationista at June 7, 2007 10:37 AM

So gross, YUK!

Posted by: Anonymous at June 7, 2007 10:45 AM

How difficult is it to get into this buidling? In college my friends & I used to "break into" old industrial bldgs and hotels that were going to be destroyed to take pictures & "collect" various interesting items. My favorite was a massive hotel in Cape May .. this rivals that. I'm older now, husband, kid ... too old to take such a risk? Hmmm I will have to think about that :)

Posted by: tag482 at June 7, 2007 10:48 AM

Some pics & a story from a group who got in before it closed: http://www.jinxmagazine.com/domino.html

Posted by: Anonymous at June 7, 2007 10:54 AM

Curbed.com had the exact same quote featured yesterday but no credit given to them?

http://www.curbed.com/archives/2007/06/06/sweet_a_look_inside_williamsburgs_domino_plant.php#more

Posted by: W at June 7, 2007 11:17 AM

Great for movie sets...

Posted by: Anonymous at June 7, 2007 11:27 AM

movies of what? zombies enslaving workers to toil in semi-darkness processing human organs?
Now I'm going to have nightmares of having to work in that space.

Posted by: Anonymous at June 7, 2007 11:30 AM

Sweet!!

Posted by: Anonymous at June 7, 2007 11:31 AM

Surprisingly, there were very few rats and bugs inside the building complex. Perhaps a diet of solid sugar isn't enough to sustain life.

I agree that some part of this space should saved for future use - a museum would be a good idea, a history center would be good. Brooklyn's industrial heritage is just to important to erase completely from the map.

Posted by: Nathan Kensinger at June 8, 2007 3:50 PM

The building has to be torn down. It smells. Its a rat's disneyland.

Posted by: jason at June 17, 2007 12:48 PM

Jason; YOU need to be torn down! Anyone who thinks that the remedy for a smell is demolition just ain't smart.

Posted by: Jeanie at June 17, 2007 2:49 PM

Jason; YOU need to be torn down! Anyone who thinks that the remedy for a smell is demolition just ain't smart.

Posted by: Jeanie at June 17, 2007 2:49 PM

Jason; YOU need to be torn down! Anyone who thinks that the remedy for a smell is demolition just ain't smart.

Posted by: Jeanie at June 17, 2007 2:49 PM

Jason; YOU need to be torn down! Anyone who thinks that the remedy for a smell is demolition just ain't smart.

Posted by: Jeanie at June 17, 2007 2:49 PM

Post a comment

Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.

Latest Restaurant Additions