Wednesday Links

are we really that cramped on space that we're thinking about building on a toxic dump?

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 8:14 AM

It's greed. Supposedly the late 80s were the Age of Greed, but I really think this era of hypercapitalism takes the cake. I hope that someday we'll look back on this period and laugh -- sort of like, ha ha they used to put cocaine in Coca-Cola, can you imagine? They used to build housing on toxic dumps with little thought to the environmental hazards, can you imagine?

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:04 AM

The Poly-NYU merger is in the best interests of current and future Poly students.

-Poly Alumn

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:17 AM

Two buses from Red Hook to manhattan! How sweet is that!!

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:26 AM

I find it very telling that no one from DeBlasio's office was there given that DeBlasio is one of the biggest proponents of housing on Public Place. Kudos to Nydia Valasquez for attending and giving an impassioned speech about the important role community input will play in shaping Gowanus. Unfortunately, she doesn't represent me, Yvette Clarke does and she seems to be a tool of the housing on the waste proponents. Notably, no one on her staff was in attendance either.

The most important points I took away from this meeting was that residents near the canal need to make a concerted effort to attend the various meetings that are focused on clean up and development and the agencies involved in this such as HPD and DEP need to talk to each other.

If the site can be cleaned up I think the possiblity of a school should be examined which was proposed by Patricia Culligan.

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:31 AM

I for would would love to see Cocaine in Coke again - Not sure why they ever stopped!

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:31 AM

I'm pessimistic on the bus routes. The problem isn't access to public transportation, it's that the buses don't run frequently enough to be dependable. I can usually race the B61 from my apartment by walking to Borough Hall and still beat it as long as it isn't morning rush hour.

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:37 AM

A guarantee that you aren't going to win a race with the bus into manhattan.

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 11:53 AM

I love that building, too, and unfortunately, it's being marketed as a "development" site -- hopefully the economy will prevent another mindless tear-down and replacement with crap.

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:24 PM

MM: I have always thought the same thing when I pass by it!

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:46 PM

Why waste this space on artists when there are tons of working families that need affordable housing? I'd turn this building into low or moderate-income rentals and give them to struggling single mothers and their kids rather than painters or sculptors who probably have a college education and rich parents.

Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 2:45 PM

You still haven't explained why artists deserve special housing priveleges over the rest of the populace. Housing should be based on need, not occupation.

Most artists that I know DO have college educations (often MFAs) and parents that, while not always rich, are quite comfortable financially.

I stand by my notion that there are plenty of other people more deserving of affordable housing than artists.

Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 12:11 PM