October 26, 2009

Copter Rage in Brooklyn Heights

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Not in my back river? Some Brooklyn Heights residents are complaining about noise from the Downtown Manhattan heliport, says an article in the Post, and they're less than thrilled about plans to allow dozens more sightseeing flights to take off from the facility every day. The Brooklyn Heights Association wants helicopter tours completely banned: "What we have now is best described as a free-for-all of helicopters criss-crossing over Brooklyn Heights, at distances no greater than a few hundred feet," the group wrote in a letter to the EDC. A neighborhood resident says he no longer uses his balcony because the helicopter noise means "even nose-to-nose conversation is impossible." The Post had a similar story about helicopter noise this summer in which residents said the din has become worse recently. Any Heights or Dumbo residents care to comment on how big a quality-of-life issue this is?
B'klyn Hts is Chopping Mad [NY Post]
Photo by nautical2k.

October 22, 2009

Closing Bell: Fulton BID in Action!

This must be their first day in action, because two readers sent in photos of Fulton BID employees doing their best to up the quality of life along the somewhat beleaguered commercial strip. Second photo on the jump. Good stuff!

Continue reading "Closing Bell: Fulton BID in Action!"

October 14, 2009

Fulton BID Gets a Leader

We're still waiting for official comment but we thought folks in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill would want to hear the news that the Fulton BID has appointed its first director. Phillipp Kellogg, a former head of the Fort Greene Association, and a longtime resident of the area has gotten the nod. Great news as far as we're concerned! We hear some of the streetscape improvements are already in the works...Bring it on.

October 13, 2009

Ingersoll Center Finally Open (Sorta)

It's taken seven years, but the Ingersoll Community Center is finally open. Well, not really open yet in terms of the public being able to use the 18,000-square-foot facility, but it was used to host the Ingersoll Tenants Association meeting a couple of weeks ago (just in time, too: Tenants Association head Ed Brown told The Local in August that, “If it hasn’t opened by late September, we’re going to have to hold a major protest”) and, we hear, a ribbon cutting ceremony is not far away. In the meantime, we've noticed chairs, tables and exercise bikes being set up. Bureaucracy at its best!
Seven Years and Counting for Ingersoll Center [Brownstoner] GMAP
Ingersoll Community Center to Open as Soon as July [Brownstoner]

September 29, 2009

312 Dean's Cleanup Almost Done

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After taking a break last month, workers resumed powerwashing the paint off 312 Dean, and most of the building's original facade was visible as of the middle of last week. Looks pretty spiffy. A reminder of what the old paint job looked like is right here.
Powerwashus Interruptus at 312 Dean Street [Brownstoner]
312 Dean Street Cleaning Up Its Act [Brownstoner] GMAP

925 Fulton In Turnaround

After unsuccessfully trying to sell 925 Fulton Street for, at one point at least, $1,500,000, the owner has given up and started to rehab the beautiful shell of a building. At the end of August, DOB granted permits for a complete gut renovation, including the construction of new stairs. This is great news for Fulton Street. This stretch of buildings on the corner of Waverly has long been a blight and a barrier to reviving the commercial strip. Now if only something could be done about the methadone clinic across the street.
Shell of Its Former Self, 925 Fulton Street For Sale [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB

Curb Cut-apalooza at The Minerva

Last week's brouhaha over a possible curb cut on a landmarked block of Prospect Heights prompted one reader to send in an update of a mega-curb cut in Greenwood. Over at 614 7th Avenue (the former Minerva site), all eleven new townhouses have their own garages, though most of them double up for curb access, which could make for some tight angles when there are cars parked on the street. But at least they tried to not take up all of the street parking.
614 7th Avenue: Five Weeks Later [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: Fabled Minerva 'Coming Soon'! [Brownstoner]
New Minerva Looking Wonky? [Brownstoner] GMAP
The New Minerva Begins to Sprout [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
Video: SWO Action at 614 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Minerva: Signs Point To Go [Brownstoner]
First Rejection by DOB of Minerva II Plans [Brownstoner]
Minerva. Take Two. Roll 'Em. [Brownstoner]

September 25, 2009

Look, Ma, No Wheels

Fort Greene has been very, very good to one band of merry car strippers. A reader sent this photo in yesterday of an Infiniti sedan—minus four tires—parked on Cumberland Street off Lafayette Avenue. That's gotta hurt.

September 24, 2009

The City Spurs Grocery Stores to Underserved

The Bloomberg administration, which has already cut down on trans fats and distributed fruit vendors to produce-anemic neighborhoods, is now seeking to provide incentives for grocery stores to open in areas where most families spend their food budget at bodegas and drug stores. The City Planning Commission unanimously approved the proposal on Wednesday, reports The New York Times, which would grant zoning and tax incentives to grocery stores, with set requirements about how much produce and other foods they sell. The city is eying northern Manhattan, central Brooklyn, the South Bronx, and downtown Jamaica in Queens. Many city officials, food experts, and grocery store executives approve of the plan, meant to spur economic growth in addition to encouraging health (and fighting the rising rates of obesity and diabetes), but the Times mentions a recent report to Congress by the Department of Agriculture that shows an uncertain correlation between obesity and access to healthy, fresh foods. Avi Kaner, a supermarket operator, said education is the main solution. “If you force distribution of product to a population that’s not interested in it, or not educated in it, and the grocery stores can’t make a profit,” he told the Times, “they’ll eventually leave.” Check out the Times article for more details about the program, similar programs across the country, and a finer breakdown of the pros and cons.
A Plan to Add Supermarkets to Poor Areas [NY Times]
FRESH Food Store Program Overview [DOCP]
NYC's Neighborhood Grocery Store and Supermarket Shortage [DOCP]
Photo by Royce Bair

September 22, 2009

Closing Bell: Bye-Bye Ugly Fence

Remember that fortress-like fence that popped up on Vanderbilt back in July. Well, it's gone now.
A Most Curious Fence [Brownstoner] GMAP

Sleepless on Livingston

According to the Livingston Street resident who sent in this video, it's been hard to get any sleep the past couple of nights. After watching, we can see why!

September 21, 2009

The Return of the Rooming Houses?

A neighborhood in Harlem expressed concern to The New York Times over developer Gerald Migdol's attempt to convert an 18-foot-wide brick row house back into a rooming house. The neighbors are worried that the conversion of 228 West 132nd Street will decrease the quality of the neighborhood. Mr. Migdol told the Times that the conversion, which will have nine single rooms with bathrooms, two two-bedroom apartments, and a communal kitchen, is legal: even though the city forbids new rooming houses, it allows an owner to restore previous rooming-house units, as is the case at 228. Has anyone heard of this happening in Brooklyn? We've seen luxury condo developments here in Brooklyn go rental instead of keeping units on the market and there's lots of talk about turning other failed luxury condo projects into affordable housing, but has anyone heard of conversions back to rooming houses?
Rooming House Returns [NY Times]
229 North 8th Goes Rental [Brownstoner]

September 11, 2009

Pratt: Not In Our Front Yard

Yesterday, the Local blog broke the sad news that as of next month Pratt will begin enforcing its longstanding-but-long-ignored rule against loitering by non-school-related people. (Like one of the Brownstoner progeny above shown in happier times on a campus-trashing wilding spree.) Community members will still be able to cut through the campus on foot but they won't be able to sit and admire the sculpture. A spokeswoman for the school said the policy “does not allow the use of the campus grounds as a public park or playground.” Most of the commenters on the Local aren't happy about this and we heard from one community resident that a group called the Clinton Hill Action Committee is forming to try to get Pratt to reconsider its decision; if you are interested you can contact the organizers at clintonhillac@gmail.com.
Pratt Rolls Up the Welcome Mat [NYT/Local]

No Water for Two Months in Bed-Stuy Building

The residents at 274 Malcolm X Boulevard in Bed-Stuy have gone nearly two months without running water, ever since a pipe sprung a leak in July and the city shut it off. The Daily News reports that the city would not turn the water back on until the landlord repairs the pipe, but the landlord, Carl Plata, died last year. Tenants of the eight units now get their water from a hydrant across the street. Connie Peters, 57, told the News: "I'm pulling my hair out. We need water." The Department of Environmental Protection insisted that the water had to be shut off, but the Department of Housing Preservation and Development said it would repair the pipe. According to spokesman Eric Bederman, the agency has hired a contractor and work will begin once it receives a permit. The News also points out that other problems have plagued this particular building: last winter, the electricity was shut off due to illegal wiring. Additionally, a partial vacate order exists for the building due to an illegal conversion of the second and third floors. GMAP P*Shark DOB
No Water for Two Months! [NY Daily News]
Photo by Gregg Snodgrass/PropertyShark

August 26, 2009

Bedbugs in the Limelight

Everybody's least favorite scourge, the bedbug, seems to be a media star this week. The New York Times has mentioned them at least twice in the past week, with its weekend article about how bedbugs can be a deal-breaker for home buyers, and with Matt Gross' piece yesterday about maintaining your health while traveling. There was also an infestation at Penguin publishing and Bill Clinton's office, which triggered a flurry of bedbug articles, and now we've learned there was even a bedbug symposium yesterday held in Newark, New Jersey—a conference intended to educate hoteliers and building managers about these pests and how to combat them. Bedbugs can inflict psychological stress, physical discomfort, and thousands of dollars in damage to denizens everywhere.
Buying and Selling in Bedbug City [NY Times]
Health Advice from the Frugal Traveler's Doctor [NY Times]
Bedbugs at the Penguin Building [NY Observer]
New Yorkers Prefer Rats to Bedbugs [NY Magazine]

August 24, 2009

An Italian's New York Dream

The New York Times ran a profile last Friday about Francesca Basile, a 24-year-old Italian woman moving to New York with dreams of owning a sun-drenched apartment somewhere in the city. It chronicles her first search in Harlem, including the challenges home-buyers—especially international buyers—come up against, but she eventually finds a suitable condo in Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy, at 582 Marcy. The Times piece paints a happy ending, one of a young woman making her New York dream come true (with the help of her father's funding), and we hope that Ms. Basile is happy with her purchase, since she seems to be the only person buying at 582 Marcy, according to StreetEasy. The only other sales activity there this year was back in April, and prices for units have been decreasing. But Ms. Basile seems content with her home, and once the market recovers, who knows? It could turn out to be a sound investment. GMAP
A Long-Distance Romance [NY Times]
582 Marcy Ave., sales history [StreetEasy]

August 13, 2009

Powerwashus Interruptus at 312 Dean Street

Remember a few weeks ago when we noted that we were happy to see workers at 312 Dean Street powerwashing the old paint away to reveal the original red brick underneath? Well, it looks like they ran out of water. Or the workers went on vacation. Or they need a taller lift to reach those upper floors.
312 Dean Street Cleaning Up Its Act [Brownstoner] GMAP

August 11, 2009

US Concrete, Red Hook's New Resident

Red Hook residents have been distressed for a couple months now over the planned arrival of US Concrete to their neighborhood. Although Red Hook was historically a center of industry, and once considered one of the worst neighborhoods in the city, the neighborhood has greatly changed over the past ten years (duh). Now, residents fear that the new concrete factory will disrupt the balance they fought to create, reports the Brooklyn Paper: they worry about traffic, noise and pollution from trucks, dust from the factory, and its proximity to a community farm, Red Hook Park, and Ikea's waterfront park. The area's democratic councilwoman, Sara Gonzalez, held a summit meeting for residents and company representatives last Thursday, but so far, it looks like US Concrete will go forward with its plan.
Concrete Plant Plan Is a Real Red Hook Dust Up [Brooklyn Paper]
Residents Upset over Location of Concrete Plant [NY Daily News]
Photo by sgoodyear

July 30, 2009

Happy Ending for Bicycle Parking Saga?

We're sure everyone will be relieved to learn that there may be a happy ending to our bicycle parking problems on Front Street. After getting buried in garbage and recycling bags last week, things have improved dramatically. Kumbaya!

July 27, 2009

Burg Ain't Feeling the Noise

amp%20to%2011.jpg Williamsburg and Greenpoint notched the most noise complaints of any section of Broooklyn during the first 6 months of 2009, per the Daily News, with 4,300 noise complaints coming into 311—a hair less than the number of complaints during the same period last year, though Councilmember David Yassky says in 2008 most such calls were about construction din. This year, by contrast, most of the complaints were about noise coming from neighbors' homes. Community Board 3's neighborhoods, which include Bed-Stuy, had the second-highest concentration of noise complaints (3,882), while CB14, which covers Flatbush and Kensington, had the third-highest, 3,362.
G'point, W'burg Residents Irritated by Neighbors' Loud Noise [NY Daily News]
Photo by goldberg.

July 22, 2009

Closing Bell: Bicycle Parking Saga Update

As you may recall, we've had some trouble in recent weeks with our preferred bicycle rack around the corner from our office building in Dumbo. First, someone abandoned a bike there for several weeks; then Starbucks (we assumed) put out its garbage prohibitively close to the rack. When we went to unlock our bike on Friday afternoon, it was literally buried underneath bags of garbage and recycling; when we went into Starbucks to follow up, we were told it was actually the dirty work of the condo building around the corner on Main Street. Boo hiss.
Bike Parking Woes Continue [Brownstoner]
Time Limit to Bike Parking? [Brownstoner]

July 15, 2009

Williamsburg: Squatters' Paradise

On the heels of a post on Curbed yesterday, the Daily News today has an article about how the living is easy in Williamsburg for squatters. The paper profiles a drifter named Jonny who enjoys the easy access to abandoned buildings like 205 North 9th Street ("We just kick the fences in. We get in easy") and the short train ride to Wall Street where he rakes in $150 a day panhandling ("My girlfriend and I bought a laptop, a portable DVD player and a PSP"). And, according to Jonny, the police in Williamsburg are also very cooperative: "I'm seeing more squatters on Bedford," he said. "The cops don't mess with you." In a related article, neighborhood residents show they aren't as happy with the situation. "It's like St. Marks in the '70s," said Williamsburg activist Philip DePaolo, referring to the notorious East Village hangout. "It's the bad old days all over again. There's crack and heroin all over the neighborhood."
Squatting Made Easy in Williamsburg [NY Daily News]
Punks Invade Williamsburg [NY Daily News]
Busted Williamsburg [Curbed]
Photo from Curbed

Brooklyn Heights Streets Clogged With Twilight Fans

Unlike when we rode through earlier in the day, Brooklyn Heights was firmly in the grip of Rob Pattinson fever by late afternoon yesterday. There must have been well over a hundred onlookers on Middagh Street waiting to catch a glimpse of the Twilight star when he made his way out of his trailer that was parked between Henry Street and Cadman Plaza West. We didn't stick around, so we have no idea how long they had to wait. Has there been any backlash in The Heights over the amount of film shoots that take place there?

July 13, 2009

312 Dean Street Cleaning Up Its Act

This residential building on the corner of Dean Street and 3rd Avenue has always felt a little seedy to us so we took it as a good sign on Wednesday when we cycled past and saw someone powerwashing the paint off the reveal the beautiful original brick underneath. Wonder why the owner's decided to spruce it up at this time? GMAP

July 10, 2009

76th Precinct Reaches Out Via Email

We got an email yesterday alerting us to an accident in Carroll Park involving a collapsed branch that caused minor injuries to one man. But what was interesting about the email was not so much the content (which you can read about here) as whom it was from—the 76th Precinct! This is certainly the first time anything like this has landed in our inbox, though it turns out that the 76th has been doing this for a few months, starting with emails gathered at community meetings and gradually adding relevant blogs to the list. We think this is a great move on the precinct's part—both in terms of information dissemination as well as the p.r. boost it gets from appearing to be trying to connect with residents. We applaud this effort but we've got one word for them—Twitter!

Quality of Life