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Walkabout: Green-Wood’s Tragic Guardian
(Illustration: The Keeper’s Lodge, Green-Wood, from Green-Wood Illustrated, 1847)
Green-Wood Cemetery is one of Brooklyn’s historical treasures. The land for Green-Wood was acquired in 1838, and by the turn of the 20th century, the cemetery had grown in size and popularity to be one of New York State’s most popular tourist attractions, as well as THE place to have your mortal remains spend eternity. The cemetery takes up 478 acres of hills, valleys and plains, with thousands of monuments, headstones and mausoleums, connected by an interconnected series of roads and byways. It was, and is, a park of enormous proportions. By the end of the 1800’s, it was necessary for this park to have its own police force, dedicated to keeping order, and preventing crime. In 1899, you might think that patrolling the land of the dead would be an easy job, but it would prove fatal to Captain Peter D. Lark, the head of the Cemetery Police Force. (more…)
02/09/2012 10:30 AM
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Baked in Brooklyn Coming to Greenwood Heights
A few months ago we heard rumors that Aladdin Bakery, the commercial baker on 26th Street and 5th Avenue, was opening a retail arm, and it’s looking like the talk was true: Seems it will be called Baked in Brooklyn. Aladdin’s wares include wraps, panini bread, breadsticks and bagels. GMAP
11/29/2011 12:00 PM
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Photos: Ted Mann’s Huge Beer Hall Coming Along
This is how the mammoth beer hall Ted Mann is opening on 7th Avenue between 19th and 20th streets is looking these days. The enterprise, which is going to be called Greenwood Park, runs the length of the entire block and is going to have dozens of beers on tap. There’s no evidence of those taps yet on the inside, and it appears like plenty of work still needs to be done on the al fresco section, which will reportedly have a wood-burning fire pit. Mann was looking to have it finished last month, but we’re guessing it won’t be in business until early ’12.
Closing Bell: The Beer Garden Brewing in Greenwood [Brownstoner]
Greenwood Heights Beer Garden Still Happening [Brownstoner]
Huge Beer Garden Coming to the South Slope? [Brownstoner] GMAP
11/29/2011 11:00 AM
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Will a Visitors’ Center Lure Tourists to Green-Wood?
We missed the Brooklyn Daily story yesterday about Green-Wood Cemetery’s pending purchase of of the landmark McGovern-Weir Florist building that talked about how the cemetery’s motivation for buying and renovating the structure has to do with making Green-Wood more attractive to tourists: “Even with its history, the 173-year-old cemetery just south of Prospect Park hasn’t been a huge tourist draw since the horse-and-buggy days — though in recent years, the cemetery has reached out to a new audience with tours and site-specific dance pieces.” The cemetery intends to turn the building into a visitors’ center and museum. Meanwhile, Aaron Brashear of the Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights is quoted as saying that he thinks renovating the long-dilapidated structure on 25th Street and 5th Avenue will be “a win for both the neighborhood and the cemetery.” The sale of the building hasn’t made it to public records yet, but it was listed for $1,500,000 along with an adjacent wood-frame house. We wonder how much a thorough renovation is going to cost.
Green-Wood’s New Gateway? [Brooklyn Daily]
City Council Approves Sale of Landmark Florist Building [Brownstoner]
Landmark Greenwood Florist Building in Contract [Brownstoner]
Landmarked Florist Building Up For Sale [Brownstoner] GMAP
11/29/2011 9:30 AM
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Italian Restaurant for 8th Ave and Prospect
A restaurant called Giovanni’s Brooklyn Eats has opened on 8th and Prospect avenues. As Here’s Park Slope reported, its owners ran the recently shuttered Sette, on 7th Avenue and 3rd Street. There are a couple of glowing Yelp reviews for Giovanni’s so far, with one raving about the $16.95 prix fixe brunch with unlimited mimosas or bloody marys. GMAP
Photo by Denton Taylor
11/21/2011 12:00 PM
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City Council Approves Sale of Landmark Florist Building
According to an announcement sent out by the Historic Districts Council, the City Council has approved Green-Wood Cemetery’s purchase of the landmark McGovern-Weir Florist. A “public approval was necessary because of a state law involving cemetery usage,” according to HDC. Green-Wood hopes to close on the building soon. This summer the Times revealed Green-Wood wanted the building for a visitors’ center and museum, but the sale depended on the results of an engineering study. The late 19th century building is in a state of advanced deterioration. Excellent to hear it will be fixed up soon.
Landmark Greenwood Florist Building in Contract [Brownstoner]
Landmarked Florist Building Up For Sale [Brownstoner] GMAP
11/08/2011 10:00 AM
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House of the Day: 256 22nd Street
This single-family house at 256 22nd Street in Greenwood Heights just hit the market. It’s not a knock-your-socks-off kind of place, but it has been recently renovated and, more importantly, is priced at a level that’s accessible to many mortals: $779,000. Not everything’s to our taste, but for someone who likes the idea of a house for the same price a two-bedroom would cost ten blocks away, this is an interesting option.
256 22nd Street [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark
10/18/2011 1:24 PM
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Number of Sex Attacks Up to 20
The big, depressing news this weekend was that the number of possibly linked sexual assaults in Brooklyn since March has jumped to 20. The NYPD has added seven more cases to the official tally, six of which occurred at the 7th Avenue subway station in Park Slope. The most recent incident took place Thursday night, when a woman was attacked on 17th Street. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has said that it’s likely there have been copycat crimes. While the cops arrested a man in conjunction with an attack in Sunset Park last week, they believe several men are responsible for the assaults.
Grope List Grows [NY Post]
Fear Grips Brooklyn as Number of Sex-Crimes Spikes [NY Daily News]
Copycat Crimes Possible In Brooklyn Sexual Assault Pattern [NY1]
Image via NY1
10/17/2011 9:00 AM
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South Slope: More Bars and Eateries; Still ‘Understated’?
Crain’s did a roundup of some of the bars and restaurants that have opened in the South Slope/Greenwood Heights area recently (including the relocated Freddy’s, Giuseppina and the forthcoming Ted Mann beer garden) and concludes “a potent brew of rock-bottom rents, long leases and word-of-mouth…suggests something is happening” in the neighborhood. The article also says that for all the openings, the “area’s understated profile has kept its best joints from becoming destinations for the city’s chowhounds and imbibers,” and that the closest subway stop is 10 minutes away. (On this last point, it really depends where you are in the South Slope/Greenwood, we think.) One of the questions the story raises is whether the new businesses are going to be able to succeed in an area that’s not a “destination.” And, if they do succeed, how long will the area stay comparatively affordable for new businesses and still be considered understated?
Low-Key Brooklyn Neighborhood Makes Some Noise [Crain's]
Photo by roboppy
10/11/2011 9:00 AM
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Open House Picks
Carroll Gardens
84 Woodhull Street
Corcoran
Sunday, 2-4
$2,275,000
GMAP P*Shark
Clinton Hill
59 Cambridge Place
Century 21 Milestone Realty
Sunday, 1-3
$1,598,000
GMAP P*Shark
Greenwood
210 30th Street
Douglas Elliman
Sunday, 2-3:30
$635,000
GMAP P*Shark
Prospect Lefferts Gardens
141 Lefferts Avenue
Fillmore
Sunday, 1:30-4
$849,000
GMAP P*Shark
10/07/2011 1:07 PM
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Open House Picks
Park Slope
129 Lincoln Place
Brown Harris Stevens
Sunday, 1:30-4
$3,300,000
P*Shark
Fort Greene
414 Adelphi Street
Corcoran
Sunday, 2-4
$1,499,000
P*Shark
Ditmas Park
674 East 22nd Street
Fillmore
Sunday, 3-5
$899,000
P*Shark
Greenwood
210 30th Street
Douglas Elliman
Sunday, 2-3:30
$635,000
P*Shark
09/23/2011 1:02 PM
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Another Sexual Assault in the South Slope
Via Community Board 7: “On Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at approx 9:15 pm at Prospect Ave between 4th Ave and 5th Ave, a female was approached by a male Hispanic that forcibly grabbed her breasts and ran. The female had just exited the Prospect Ave train station “R” line and was walking eastbound on Prospect Ave when she was approached by a male Hispanic, approximately 5’7″, thin build wearing dark shirt, baggy dark blue jeans and a baseball hat. After the male forcible touched the female he fled westbound on Prospect Ave toward 4th Ave. The female did not sustain any injuries. Investigation is continuing.” At this point the police have released three sketches of people wanted in connection with the string of sexual assaults that have occurred in Sunset Park, Greenwood Heights and the South Slope since March.
09/22/2011 11:17 AM
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Development Watch: 194 22nd Street
The owner of a lot on 22nd Street between 4th and 5th avenues is looking to build a small apartment building on the site. Plans filed with the DOB at the end of August that are in the process of being reviewed call for a 5-story, 7-unit building. GMAP DOB
09/16/2011 2:40 PM
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Police: At Least 8 Sex Attacks Since March
The police say there have been a minimum of eight sexual assaults in the South Slope, Greenwood Heights, Sunset Park and Bay Ridge since March—one of which was a rape—and they’re unclear how many assailants are responsible for the crimes. At a community meeting last night the police said they’re investigating whether two or three men have been involved in the attacks and that the number of rapes in the area has increased 36 percent this year. Cops have released the two sketches above of men wanted in connection with the attacks. Meanwhile, an organization called Safe Slope is organizing a rally tonight in response to the violence.
Brooklyn Women Warned Of Expanding Pattern Of Sexual Attacks [NY1]
Park Slope on Edge Over Sex Attacks [MSNBC]
Brooklyn Rapist Strikes Again, 9 Incidents In All [WPIX]
South Slope Rallies [Patch]
09/14/2011 9:00 AM
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New Hotel Planned in Greenwood Heights
The owner of a warehouse on 24th Street between 3rd and 4th avenues recently filed plans with the city to build a 5-story, 43-room hotel on his property. Construction isn’t exactly imminent, though, because the DOB didn’t approve the initial filing and there’s no permit to demolish the existing warehouse. This area already has a number of budget hotels, including a Best Western and a Sleep Inn within a couple of blocks. GMAP
09/09/2011 2:40 PM
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Another Assault in the South Slope
On Saturday a man attacked a woman on 17th Street and 7th Avenue, grabbing her from behind before she escaped, in the seventh assault in the area since March. The police have released a new sketch of the suspect at right, based on an attack a week and a half ago, but they’re not certain Saturday’s crime was committed by the same person. Local residents have been critical of the 72nd Precinct’s response to the attacks, with one telling the Brooklyn Paper that “crimes are being committed and little to nothing is being done by the police to solve them or to prevent further incidents.” Meanwhile, a community group called Safe Slope is organizing a Take Back the Night march on September 14th.
Safe Slope [Facebook]
South Slope Residents Rally to Keep Neighborhood Safe [Patch]
Police Release New Sketch Of Brooklyn Serial Rape Suspect [Gothamist]
Cops Track Another Attack by South Slope Sex Fiend [BK Paper]
09/06/2011 9:00 AM
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Rising Prices in Greenwood Heights
The Times does a check-in on Greenwood Heights (defined as stretching from the expressway to 36th Street and from the water to Prospect Park West) that includes details about current prices in the neighborhood: Of the 12 houses now listed on the Brooklyn New York Multiple Listing Service, the average price is $706,000, and most condos cost less than $500,000. The article also says that prices have generally risen since the bubble burst in 2008, with data from Century 21 Block and Lot showing that the average price for single-families during the first six months of the year was $653,214, as compared to $526,900 during the same period in 2007; while the average was down for two-families, at $623,000 versus $748,000 four years ago, three-families were selling for an average of $100,000 more than in 2007 ($805,000, up from $706,000). The story includes this fun detail about one resident’s house: “Bought from relatives whose forebears bought it new in 1898, the house, which has original wood floors, crown moldings and clawfoot tubs, cost $130,000 in 1996; she believes that it could get $700,000 today.”
The Sweet Smell of, Well, Sweets [NY Times]
Photo by shootingbrooklyn
08/29/2011 10:15 AM
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Some Concerns Aired About Greenwood Beer Hall
Aaron Brashear of the Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights is saying it might be a good idea for Ted Mann to meet with the community prior to the opening of the beer hall he’s building out on 7th Avenue between 19th and 20th streets. Brashear says the wood palate wall Mann is constructing might not be structurally sound given the winds coming off the expressway, and some in the community might not welcome the noise from the live music that’s planned. The beer hall is supposed to open in October.
Ted Mann Talks About His Giant Beer Hall [Patch]
Closing Bell: The Beer Garden Brewing in Greenwood [Brownstoner]
Greenwood Heights Beer Garden Still Happening [Brownstoner]
Huge Beer Garden Coming to the South Slope? [Brownstoner] GMAP
08/25/2011 2:00 PM
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Closing Bell: The Beer Garden Brewing in Greenwood
As mentioned last week, Tedd Mann’s ambitious plans for a beer garden at 7th Avenue and 19th Street include “landscaping, grass, a fire pit, trees, and an enormous amount of recycled materials.” Denton Taylor has a photo set showing what the space is looking like now: Graffiti artists have painted the fence and Taylor says he’s heard the wooden shipping pallets on site may be incorporated into the exterior.
Beer Garden Photo Gallery
Greenwood Heights Beer Garden Still Happening [Brownstoner]
Huge Beer Garden Coming to the South Slope? [Brownstoner] GMAP
08/15/2011 4:00 PM
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Greenwood Heights Beer Garden Still Happening
Yesterday evening an interview with Overflow Magazine and Brooklyn restaurateur Tedd Mann made the rounds, revealing new details about the giant beer garden in the works for a car lot in Greenwood Heights. The lot, which covers an entire city block along 7th Avenue and 19th Street, will be transformed into something more like a park than German beer garden. Outside, there will be “landscaping, grass, a fire pit, trees, and an enormous amount of recycled materials.” Inside, the 3,500-square-foot space will be heated in the winter by a fireplace also made of recycled materials. Also: live music and casual food like watermelon and hot dogs. It’s quite an ambitious plan; think the neighbors will welcome it or that it’ll run into some snag at the community board level?
Huge Beer Garden Coming to the South Slope? [Brownstoner] GMAP
08/09/2011 2:00 PM
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Feb 06, 2012 | 12:32 PM