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April 9, 2008
Wall Collapse in Bed-Stuy
A reader sent in these photos of a wall that collapsed on a building near Franklin and Clifton this morning. Helicopters have been circling overhead and there's a lot of emergency response personnel at the scene. No word on whether anyone was hurt. ABC is reporting the building was vacant. We'll have updates as they come in. GMAP
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Comments
From the picture, its hard to imagine why that wall would collapse.
Posted by: WBer at April 9, 2008 12:43 PM
Wall goes up,you call it Clinton Hill. Wall comes down and it's Bed Sty. Oh yeah, condo days on every lot are over.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 12:48 PM
Is that cement boarding? Plywood? Aluminum siding?
Whatever it is, I think the big bad wolf could have blown it down.
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 12:49 PM
Wall goes up,you call it Clinton Hill. Wall comes down and it's Bed Sty. Oh yeah, condo days on every lot are over.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 12:49 PM
"Wall goes up,you call it Clinton Hill. Wall comes down and it's Bed Sty. Oh yeah, condo days on every lot are over".
funny, I thought the same thing, oh well. Let's hope noone was hurt.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 12:58 PM
"Wall goes up,you call it Clinton Hill. Wall comes down and it's Bed Sty. Oh yeah, condo days on every lot are over".
funny, I thought the same thing, oh well. Let's hope noone was hurt.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 12:59 PM
what is that wall made from? looks like a bunch of overlapping plywood boards ...
Posted by: BrooklynLove at April 9, 2008 1:16 PM
Rumor is the collapse resulted when some cyclist inconsiderately chained his bike to the little gate surrounding the tree in front of the building, thereby causing the earth to shift and the wall to fall!
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 1:22 PM
Overlapping plywood would have a been a bit more effective - this looks like butt-jointed plywood, probably not even exterior grade. From the curved panels above the collapse, it looks like there have been long term water infiltration issues around the chimney. Maybe they forgot the flashing?
(It also looks like the wall underneath is wood frame with brick infill.)
Posted by: WBer at April 9, 2008 1:24 PM
If it were particle board it would be much more stable.
Does anybody have the contractors name and number??
Is that opening going to be a cathedral ceiling-like window?
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 1:35 PM
I've seen some through-the-wall air conditioning systems in my time, but the size of this one is ridiculous!
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 1:49 PM
where is the what?
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 1:51 PM
Wouldn't particle board just erode?
Posted by: WBer at April 9, 2008 1:52 PM
I'm with the people above. I hope nobody was hurt.
Last time I checked, 1 block east of Pratt was still Clinton Hill and BEDFORD Stuyvesant is generally regarded as starting at BEDFORD ave.
Here's a golden oldie, from Mr. BS's point of view: "We always think of the border being Classon, if for no other reason than that is where the most discernible break is AESTHETICALLY" (emphasis mine, from http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2005/04/bed_stuy_border.php)
Dude, if you're going to cite Kenneth Jackson, be familiar with his methodology - he polled people in the area and defined the neighborhood borders from the point of view of the people there. Based on the replies in your own post, it sounds like the people there regard the border as being at Bedford.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 1:54 PM
Nice Biff - make fun of somebody's hardship. I've encountered some real a*holes in my time but you are by far the biggest.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 1:55 PM
Estate ready.
3.2 million.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 1:56 PM
1:56, careful or you'll get a tongue lashing from 1:55. Please try to maintain a serious and somber tone at all costs.
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 2:00 PM
@1:55 -- Biff was riffing on another thread that got far too much attention for what it was, all things considered. That aside, please tell me you are not defining having a bike -- a nice bike at that-- chained in front of one's house as a HARDSHIP?
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 2:05 PM
exhibit #1 in defense against brownstone owner taunting of shoddy condo construction. exhibit #2 is the building on Smith that imploded recently.
Hope nobody but the contractor got hurt on this one.
Posted by: kuroko at April 9, 2008 2:06 PM
2:05, thanks for recognizing the reference to the other thread. From the link to ABC comes the following - and, yes, I will be quite happy if it turns out nobody was hurt:
"Firefighters said so-far there are no reports that anyone was injured in the collapse, which happened around 9:30 a.m. at a building on Franklin Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn."
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 2:12 PM
I t doesn't look like a BROWNSTONE so why are we even dealing with this?? Let's stay focused here people!!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 2:31 PM
Boy, they sure don't build 'em like they used to!
Posted by: sam at April 9, 2008 2:32 PM
The neighborhood is called Bedford Stuyvesant. According to the dearly parted Helen Nicholls, those were its' boundaries.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 2:34 PM
It doesn't look like a brownstone?
Then what is it? The facade mock-up for Frank Gehry's Miss Brooklyn?
Posted by: sam at April 9, 2008 2:37 PM
A Brownplywood?
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 2:41 PM
OK, so I'll take the high rad here (pretty easy with today's posters, especially BF's nonsense).
I have not seen the site physically, but plywood sheathing along with the metal sheathing you see on the sides and roofs is a typical cheep way to keep the elements out after demo'ing the adjacent structure. Adding a tar paper barrier "might" have helped with the water penetration, which I'll bet is the culprit. I have seen this all over South Brooklyn, even after the collapse on Jackson Pl. over the summer. HPD uses the same technique (but they add the tar paper).
Any news on the vacant site next door? Always been vacant (doubtful)? Infill lot awaiting development? Cash strapped developer down on his luck (majority down now that he has to either pay for repairs or buy the vacant structure)?
I'm assuming DOB may make HPD take this one down as well, as per the photos.
My 2 cents.
Posted by: Action Jackson at April 9, 2008 2:54 PM
OK, so I'll take the high rad here (pretty easy with today's posters, especially BF's nonsense).
I have not seen the site physically, but plywood sheathing along with the metal sheathing you see on the sides and roofs is a typical cheep way to keep the elements out after demo'ing the adjacent structure. Adding a tar paper barrier "might" have helped with the water penetration, which I'll bet is the culprit. I have seen this all over South Brooklyn, even after the collapse on Jackson Pl. over the summer. HPD uses the same technique (but they add the tar paper).
Any news on the vacant site next door? Always been vacant (doubtful)? Infill lot awaiting development? Cash strapped developer down on his luck (majority down now that he has to either pay for repairs or buy the vacant structure)?
I'm assuming DOB may make HPD take this one down as well, as per the photos.
My 2 cents.
PS. last time I checked, there are still frame houses in Bed Stuy.
Posted by: Action Jackson at April 9, 2008 2:56 PM
Mr. B, your commenting php engine is acting up...fyi. Sorry for the double post. Wasn't me!
Posted by: Action Jackson at April 9, 2008 2:57 PM
Mr. B's engine has been sputtering and misbehaving now for over a while. Only Biff and I have the patience to put up with it. Even the What got fed up.
Posted by: sam at April 9, 2008 3:10 PM
No one other than realtors or someone who just bought east of Classon would ever call this area Clinton Hill. Landmarks doesn't recognize it as Clinton Hill, nor does the Police Precint etc...
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 3:17 PM
Bedford Stuyvesant....its pretty simple!!!! Bedford on one end, Stuyvesant on the other.
Its not called Class Stuy or Cliff Stuy
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 3:27 PM
No 2:05, I was referring to the fact that the wall of somebody's building collapsed and Biff was making a mockery of it (prior to knowing if anybody was injured).
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 3:29 PM
Yep, Clinton Hill stops at Classon (altho some might claim that those who live in Clinton Hill stop at nothing). And Daveinbedstuy, you are not really serious are you? You don't think this site just discusses houses with brown limestone facades (aka brownstone)? Or was that a funny?
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at April 9, 2008 3:31 PM
I assume you're joking daveinbedstuy. If not, you're woefully ignorant. There were originally two towns, Beford and Stuyvesant. They were not named for streets on their outer edges. I suppose Fort Greene would end at Fort Greene Place, Clinton Hill at Clinton Avenue, Carroll Gardens at Carroll Street, Park Slope at Park Place etc. Silly.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 3:32 PM
I'm a fairly open minded guy Putnamdenizen...we should welcome our grey limestone stepchildren into the fold. But I got to put my foot down on those brick bastards and clapboard brats...never.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 3:36 PM
I love riling up these faded grey type guests. They're so gullible and take themselves so seriously.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 3:41 PM
Actually four towns. Bedford Heights, Stuyvesant Heights, northern Weeksville, and northern Ocean Hill.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 3:47 PM
What's the actual address? I bet if you search the DOB you will find either no permits issued or stop work orders.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 3:50 PM
Actually most of the bold text in this thread are corney jokes. You people are way too GIDDY.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 3:51 PM
3:51 What kind of advice are we realistically going to add here? Its not as if the OP was the building owner asking for advice. I've got nothing to do this afternoon until my dinner guests arrive. Best that I'm on this website adding my 2, 4 or 8 cents worth than searching porn or craigslist for a hook up
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 3:56 PM
daveinbedstuy, you make such a damn good point that I'm actually considering coming out of the grey closet, so to speak, and revealing my (albeit completely fictional) "identity" as, say, YouveGotToiletPaperStuckToYourShoeinFtGreene. Just cause y'all bold types are so damn funny lately, and I'd like to be in on that funny game.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 3:57 PM
Yawn (faded type).
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 4:06 PM
I don't know 3:57. What do you think Biff, Putnam, Sam and the others, do we let him in?
Could you shorten it to an acronym as many things here are already......YGTPSTYSFG
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 4:09 PM
To all of the family and friends of everyone not injured in this collapse. I am truly sorry for making a "mockery" out of this tragedy. Even though faded type insults don't count and the bold facers are nothing but giddy types who make corny jokes, I feel just awful about trying to have fun in light of such a tragedy.
It's a good nobody else (including professional comedians, late night talk show hosts and 10 or so other posters with lighthearted comments above) would never dare to crack wise at subjects ranging from the Iraq War to OJ Simpson to Eliot Spitzer to Ted Bundy. The grey typers clearly have discovered me for the heartless, cruel asshole I am.
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 4:20 PM
Biff clearly enjoys making fun of people he views as inferior.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 4:25 PM
Oops, a double negative in my last post! Mea culpa...I'm not only heartless and cruel; apparently I'm illiterate too...
4:25, what a keen observation. But actually I prefer to just make fun. You should try it sometime.
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 4:29 PM
Looks like a prime spot for a Trader Joes.
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 4:37 PM
the dividing line between classy clinton hill and beautiful Bed Stuy is Classon Avenue.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 4:38 PM
Jerri, or perhaps the Whole Foods that just can't get it going in Gowanus?
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 4:40 PM
....and don't forget not wanted Biff. Go become a nuisance on some other board.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 4:41 PM
Does anyone else see a problem with the phrase "get it going" and "gowanus" being used in the same sentence?
Mmmm...must just be me.
4:41. You do not decide for everyone who is and who is not wanted. I enjoy Biff being here. He makes jokes AND contributes to the threads at hand.
Unlike you, who makes an asinine comment which is neither here nor there.
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 4:45 PM
4:41, I think I prefer to be a nuisance here so I can somehow try to deal with the wall collapse with my warmest most caring and concerned friends like you. Now did you have anything to add to the story or did you want to continue keeping the discussion off topic?
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 4:46 PM
Jerri..I haven't seen you in a while. How was your date last week?? Did he live east or west of Franklin? I want to stay on topic here.
Biff we all need to go through a cleansing at some point. Perhaps you should check yourself into rehab of some sort or another.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 4:47 PM
How can you see 4:41 anyway, Biff?
He's faded.
The date last week was great Dave. Thanks for asking. He lives southwest of Franklin I'd say. Just so we stay on topic. And I don't believe his house was busted in like this one. All in all, good news.
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 4:50 PM
Dave, I thought this WAS rehab?? You mean the people telling me what I should and should not say, what I should and should not do are actually NOT licensed professionals who know nothing about me but feel capable of making such decisions for me?
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 4:50 PM
Speaking of rehab, where is that little honey?
Haven't seen or heard from him a while either...
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 4:52 PM
I'm not sure where rehab is. He was acting strange the last few days; like there's some sort of wall between us, unlike this place on Franklin (just to stay on topic too).
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 4:56 PM
By the way, I got my royalty check from Mr. B for my contributions towards increasing the number of visitors and posts on the site here so that he can charge the advertisers more.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 4:58 PM
Your royalty check...don't you mean your 6% Dave?
Didn't you hear...all of us who say we like a house are brokers!!!!!
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:01 PM
WHAT? You two are brokers? HOLE-Y (staying on topic).
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:03 PM
This house wasn't vacant last I checked. The guy living inside collected and sold scrap metal. I bought a used wrought-iron fence gate from him last fall. He was very fair and friendly, I hope he's okay.
Posted by: madison_st at April 9, 2008 5:06 PM
That's a good one, Biff.
Very clever.
Although of course the first thing that popped into my head when you said hole was not on topic, but NOW I get it!!
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:07 PM
Channel 4 just had an aerial shot of the building. They did say the building was vacant. So the criticism that Biff was heartless and was only interested in someone else's hardship were off base. I hate it when these comments get off base.
I think my comment here has added more to this thread than any other one posted. it was the only one that has added a fact that has been verified.
Biff...perhaps the land can be cleared and used as the vinyard for the new winery in red Hook. I think this land is better suited to growing a nice cabernet blend of grapes than, say, the land around Gowanus.
i think I can round up some west coast investors with root stock
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 5:11 PM
Madison St, that's interesting. And you're the first person to add anything constructive in 20 posts (leave it to a bold typer). Contrary to what others think, I hope the guy inside is ok too. Seems to be that way so far, based on the reports.
Jerri stop teasing!
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:12 PM
You can call me Jerr, Biff.
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:14 PM
Jerr, you can call me whatever you want (just don't call me late for dinner - rimshot please...oops, I didn't just say rimshot did I?)
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:18 PM
Dave, I told you to be careful with those West Coast (meaning Asian) types. If it were up to them, you would be growing rice for sake!
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:20 PM
I wish i was growing rice. it's the commodity that has increased the most in price over the past year.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 5:24 PM
That's because in addition to drinking the rice wine, some people will make Sake for Sake's sake.
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:27 PM
I don't know.
I've noticed toilet paper prices have skyrocketed this past year!
I might be switching to gingko leaves.
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:28 PM
Fade and bold type have always commented in peace until you people started making a stink about it.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 5:30 PM
Its class warfare 5:30. It comes with gentrification.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 5:32 PM
5:30. Actually the person who spammed this website for a week with cries of not being able to see the faded type started that.
Which is the whole reason we joke about it now.
Do you have a selective memory?
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:33 PM
Speaking of leaves, I couldn't help but notice the siding on the building in the picture above leaves a lot to be desired (staying on topic).
Jerr, would 3:57 then have to switch his handle to
YouveGotGingkoLeavesStuckToYourTatamiSandalsinFukuoka
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:35 PM
That's exactly the handle I had in mind, Biffster.
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:38 PM
I've been to Fukuoka. There are no buildings like this there.
Have any of you walked down a street that's covered with ginko nuts?? Smells like you're walking in dog crap. yet, ginko nuts are especially good in yakitori bars; grilled with a bit of salt and an ice cold Kirin Ichiban
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 5:40 PM
"Do you have a selective memory?"
No I dont actually. I also remember Biff getting caught by Brownstoner for sending spam. He/She/It was in "Fade" disguise and got busted. Funny how the spam has stopped now.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 5:40 PM
5:30, who are the ones that are not being peaceful? We don't typically start off the bat with our hilarious banter that only the three of us apparently find funny. It's usually only after the topic has been exhausted. Do you have anything else to contribute to the discussion on the hole (easy, Jerr)?
As soon as Madison St made an interesting point on topic, I complimented him/her on it. We don't go looking for confrontation. We're lovahs, not fightas.
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:41 PM
Um 5:40, you are totally wrong again! Brownstoner was referring to a comment I POSTED A TOTAL OF TWO TIMES UNDER MY SIGN-IN NAME (BIFF CHAMPION). That is the absolute truth.
Funny how the spam has stopped now? You are a total doorknob...I was posting long before the spam started and long after it stopped. Don't you think if I was the spammer, Mr. B would have noticed it came from the same IP address (since I was posting at the exact same times as the spammer), you total jerk?
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:43 PM
Biff never sent spam. he just had his "Priceless" comment removed
get your fact straight you faded type too lazy to log in guest.
Remember guests are oftentimes unwelcome!!!
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 5:44 PM
Dave, 5:40 hates when the facts get in the way of a good argument.
Let's see, the spammer was using faded type and 5:40 uses faded type. HEY, 5:40 MUST BE THE FADED TYPE SPAMMER!!!
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:47 PM
I'm with you guys...5:40 is a total jerkoff.
Don't say it, Biff!
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:48 PM
Jerr, I still can't believe you didn't jump all over my "knob".
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:50 PM
Keep it clean, Biff, keep it clean.
No seriously. Keep IT clean.
Never know when you might run into me smokin in the Park...
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:53 PM
Jerr, this is starting to feel unfair. In addition to your name, I call daveinbedstuy "Dave" and Polemicist "Pol".
Please feel free to refer to me as "Bi"
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:53 PM
Jerr, it's not me you have to worry about.
Mr. B just put on his "Backpages" the topic
"Will a 24-Inch Stove Bumb Out Renters?"
Where do we even begin with that one?
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:56 PM
And if you call me Jer with a silent J, we've got BiPolJerDave.
Something you want to tell us Dave??
Posted by: jerri blank at April 9, 2008 5:56 PM
And as they said on Sex In The City "Bisexuality is a rest stop on the way to Gay Town" or something like that.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 5:57 PM
And if we added Kings County, we would have
DaveJerKingBiPole
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 5:59 PM
Save it spammer. So why were you in "fade" that day? You was being slick. The spammer is someone who doesnt like fade type and the only people making a big deal is you and your circle jerk buddies. Guilty as charged.
Like I said bold and fade have always commented in peace from the begining. I have no desire to send spam.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 6:11 PM
6:11, ok, you got me! I'm the faded type spammer. I hope Mr. B isn't reading this because obviously he would block all my posts as guest or as Biff Champion using my IP Address if he knew it was me.
By the way, you have no desire to spam? It's a shame you apparently have no desire to learn how to speak properly either.
Posted by: Biff Champion at April 9, 2008 6:22 PM
Go away 6:11...you don't know what the hell you're talking about
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 6:24 PM
Wtf is up with all the gay innuendos?
Don't they have other websites for that kinda shit?
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 6:39 PM
Wtf is up with all the people who don't add anything to any thread, ever like 6:39?
Not even funny gay innuendos, much less actual information pertaining to any thread...?
What's up with that, 6:39?
I'm waiting...
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 6:59 PM
WTF is up with all the gay innuendos? I don't know, but to sign on I have to click on "submit".
And if talking endlessly about real estate in "brown"stone brooklyn isn't queer, I don't know what is.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at April 9, 2008 7:37 PM
Great way to hijack the thread boyos!
Christ, what was the post about again.
me thinks some sock puppetry going on by the date/time stamps.
Any clue of getting back on topic?
Posted by: Action Jackson at April 9, 2008 7:51 PM
6:39 here
Some of you MOFOs are REALLY off mentally.
I dont need to know if you , Putnamdenizen, are gay. That's your f+++ed up life.
We're supposed to be talking about all things real estate, I shouldn't have to read about your fag fantasies... I mean I'm not here making slick references to snatch, bush, punani, etc.
And now discussing brownstones is gay? Some of you guys need to just pull the trigger and end it already.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 7:57 PM
6:39 here
Some of you MOFOs are REALLY off mentally.
I dont need to know if you , Putnamdenizen, are gay. That's your f+++ed up life.
We're supposed to be talking about all things real estate, I shouldn't have to read about your fag fantasies... I mean I'm not here making slick references to snatch, bush, punani, etc.
And now discussing brownstones is gay? Some of you guys need to just pull the trigger and end it already.
Posted by: guest at April 9, 2008 7:59 PM
1:54, Bedford-Stuyvesant is not named for Bedford Avenue, it's named for the two towns of Bedford and Stuyvesant Heights. The border is Classon, according to several sources online. That took me about 30 seconds to find out.
Posted by: Jeremy at April 9, 2008 8:26 PM
which sources????
Bedford comes from the Dutch word Bestevaar. The Dutch West India Company acquired woodlands from the Kanarsee indians naming the township Bedford, the Anglicized form of the Dutch bestevaar which translated from the original native American name, means "council place". This acquisition occurred around 1637-1645.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 8:38 PM
anything else you want to know just ask.
My history goes back to 1636 when Dutchman J. Jacob Van Corsler acquired a parcel of land from the Kanarsee indians and became, along with Andreis Hudd and Wolfert Gerritson, the first landholder of record in what would become Brooklyn. This trio of men would form New Amersfoort, now known as Flatlands, the oldest and southernmost township in the borough.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 8:43 PM
Oh grow up 6:39 - actually this site is now subtitled "Brooklyn inside and out", and used to be something about an unhealthy obsession. If you can't deal with one thread which degenerates (in the best meaning of the term) into a ridiculous and mildly amusing wander into the dark hearts of some posters (posters, mind you, who actually register and sorta self-identify unlike you oh faceless "guest"), then maybe you're in the wrong spot. The is New York, New York, the city so fabulous they named it twice, not Topeka Kansas.
Obsessively discussing how big someone's er, footage is, or how it "compares", whether a house will "measure up." Yeah, that's gay. Or if you perfer, just two guys in the locker room doing what men do. And no, it doesn't make them gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
After all haven't gay men been the "driving" force of much gentrification and community renewal? Discuss among yourselves.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at April 9, 2008 8:43 PM
And Dave, give it up, Bedford-Stuyvesant, just isn't named for the two streets. Didn't you just move from Philadelphia anyway?
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at April 9, 2008 8:45 PM
get your facts right Putnam.....
Chicago..1980-1994 then Manhattan from 1994 until I moved here in Bed Stuy last June
Been in Philadelphia with significant other since 1998..only on weekends!!
Philadelphia has a higher crime rate, including, violent crime, than Bed Stuy has had for many years!!! Go figure
However, I know the history of Bed Stuy inside and out.
Despite what may have been in the past, Bed Stuy is largely recognized NOW as being between Bedford & Stuyvesant
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 9:21 PM
Putnam...other than that 8:45 comment that you got wrong, I like your posts.
Do you know where your name/street came from? Maj. General Israel Putnam (did he pronounce it Pootnam?) was leading Geo Washington's army and was defeated by British Lieutenant Sir William Howe on August 27, 1776. It was known as The Battle of Long Island (also known as The Battle of Brooklyn) and resulted in Britain's capture of NYC and Long Island, which they held until Evacuation Day, November 25, 1783. The Battle of Brooklyn was the first and bloodiest battle of the entire war. 10,000 British soldiers traveled to Bedford then headed south to the Clove Road to surprise Putnam's 7,000 troops.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 9, 2008 9:59 PM
Um, Dave, obviously we can all believe what we want, but the only people who carve off the blocks between Classon and Bedford and hand them over to Clinton Hill are people who wouldn't deign to buy in Bed-Stuy (obviously not you given your monicker) and the realtors who feed off them. The Bedford Village School is on Franklin.
I assume you have theat Brooklyn place names book (it doesn't have that lame ass definition of Bed-Stuy does it?). Let me refer you to the book "Neighborhoods of Brooklyn," edited by Kenneth Jackson, published by Yale University Press which puts the neighborhood's boundaries as being Classon on the west to Williams Place on the east, Flushing on the north to approximately Park Place on the south. "as early as 1790, more than a quarter of the residents were of African descent, and the area was occasionally referred to as Bedford Corners."
Since I live right at Classon, I am pretty confident at this border placement. The eastern one, not so sure, altho your border would exclude Weeksville and Malcolm X, Patchen, and Howard. The Bed-Stuy House tour extended to Malcolm X last year.
There were a couple of vaguley amusing riffs on this topic on Brooklynian last year. Or so I thought.
As someone who worked as a public defender for a few years in the 90s in Philadelphia I am not the least bit surprised at the crime figures. While Philly has many lovely neighborhoods, it also has some of the worst blocks I have ever seen. Welcome to Bed-Stuy! I'm glad you feel at home enough to consider yourself an expert after moving from Manhattan last year (only a mild mixture of sarcasm and "come on guy give us a break" should be inferred from that last statement).
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at April 10, 2008 7:51 AM
Hay Dave - you are that guy featured in the Times last year who bought that corner property - aren't you? That was a sweet, enthusiastic portrait painted in that article.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at April 10, 2008 7:58 AM
No, wasn't me...i'm not that much of a poof!!!! I did see it though and probably still have the link somewhere
I was looking at a building on the NE corner of Classon & Lafayette...i think it has since sold. Do you know?
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at April 10, 2008 8:46 AM
NE would be the projects. SE not sure.
Posted by: Putnamdenizen at April 10, 2008 3:18 PM
West of Classon the zip code is 11238. East of Classon the zip code is 11216. To me, that sounds like an official enough demarcation. However, blocks as far west as St. James (the street on which Biggie Smalls grew up) were once considered Bed-Stuy, so I guess it's a free-for-all.
I'm just happy to be in BROOKLYN, baby!
Posted by: BKNYKEV at April 10, 2008 7:04 PM
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