Brownstoner

Wednesday Blogwrap

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:30:51 -0500

B65 Bus Stop, For Now. Photo by threecee.
The 100 Most Powerful People in New York Real Estate [NYO]
At the Food Co-Op, the Politics of Tap Water [City Room]
Clinton-Washington Neighborhood Patrol [Clinton Hill Blog]
Toll CEO: Bklyn Sales 'Faded' [Curbed]
Party for Coney [Runnin' Scared]
Best Burger? [Ditmas Park Blog]

Closing Bell: Windows on Windsor Terrace

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:00:00 -0500

A reader sent in this photo she snapped of a window display at Windsor Terrace's Simone condo. What to make of it? GMAP

Brownstoner Bits: The Devil Hangs at Moutarde, And More...

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:30:29 -0500

Lights, Camera: Yesterday the cast and crew of "Julie & Julia", a flick about Julia Child starring Meryl Streep and directed by Nora Ephron, was rolling tape outside Moutarde, on 5th Avenue and Carroll Street in the Slope. Anyone spot Streep?

House of D: The controversial proposal to reopen and expand the House of Detention on Atlantic and Court is going to be discussed tomorrow afternoon at a budget hearing in the City Council Chambers. Dept. of Corrections Commissioner Martin Horn will submit testimony from noon to 12:30. An email that's circulating from the plan's opponents says community members are expected to show up in full force to protest the jail's reopening.

Columbia St. Demo: L&M Equity is tearing down a building on Columbia Street, according to Lost City. The developer intends to build more than 170 units of housing near Columbia and Warren.

The New Gowanus: Per GL, The Dept. of City Planning is going to give an update about the effort to rezone about 25 blocks in Gowanus on May 29.

Hey, at Least One Person Digs the Carroll Gardens Atrocity

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:01:36 -0500

Pardon Me for Asking spotted a great ~~advertisement~~ Channel 4 spot from a program called "Open House TV" that features 45 3rd Place, aka the Carroll Gardens Atrocity aka the Carroll Gardens Bastard aka the Carroll Gardens Tumor Building. In the program, above, a current resident of Carroll Gardens is looking for a bigger pad in the neighborhood, and she almost does cartwheels while touring a unit at 45 3rd (sample quotes: "beautiful, beautiful"; "the angels are singing!"; "it's everything I want!"). (FYI, they're now trying to sell the two duplexes as a single residence.) PMFA has the following commentary on the show: "Obviously, she did not buy the place, otherwise, it wouldn't be on the market anymore...Pardon me for asking, but why did they need a car to go from one place to the other? The distance from Ms. Stewart's house and the two condos is ridiculously close. What a waste of gasoline." You know, when the angels are singing, it's tough to worry about the little stuff, like gas usage.
Desperately Seeking Buyer For 45 3rd Place! [PMFA]
45 Third Place Open House: Yuck! [Brownstoner]
Condos of the Day: No Buyers for 45 Third Place [Brownstoner]
A Current Look at Third Place Horror Show [Brownstoner]
Price for CG Atrocity a "Fantasy" [Brownstoner]
Real Photos of Carroll Gardens Bastard [Brownstoner]
Carroll Gardens "Bastardization" Hits Market [Brownstoner]
CG Atrocity: There Goes the Neighborhood [Brownstoner]

Streetlevel: Former Galapagos Space Plays Naming Game

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:23:07 -0500

As previously reported, the former Galapagos space in Williamsburg is being taken over by some new folks. There was also talk that the venue's fresh blood was going to call it "Natural Selection," which, as it turns out, is not the case. "That name was just sort of a joke," says Matt Roff, who is also one of the people who runs the show at Southpaw and Franklin Park. Roff says he and his investors, who include Mike Palms (also of Southpaw), Larry Hyland (one of the people behind Greenpoint's Matchless), Ted Mann (of Smith Street's Camp and the Slope's Bar 4) and Mike Esposito (also of Camp and Bar 4), can't decide on a name, so they've started a "Name Our Space" contest on the web. If you come up with the name that the new owners eventually go with, you'll get a $1,000 bar tab and free admission to the space for a year. Roff says he and his partners intend to upgrade the venue's sound system and "keep the programming that works," like Galapagos' burlesque nights. "We're getting rid of stuff like the puppet shows," says Roff. The venue's transition is going to start taking place in the next couple of weeks, says Roff, who notes that the plan right now is to have free DJ parties in the front space most nights of the week and then to have additional programming that comes with a cover charge in the back room.
Name Our Space [70 N. 6th Street] GMAP

House of the Day: 204 Clermont Avenue

Wed, 14 May 2008 13:21:29 -0500

After being listed since February for $2,500,000, the three-family brick house at 204 Clermont Avenue is now on the block for $1,950,000. The 3,100-square-foot house has lots of old detail but, despite a new kitchen (just say no to granite!), still feels a little rough around the edges. Despite the significant price-cut, the asking price is still far from a lay-up: The house next door sold for $1,625,000 back in 2006. Plus, a not-so-photogenic extension means that there's no backyard to speak of, a big negative for most family buyers.
204 Clermont Avenue [AHrlty] GMAP P*Shark

Co-op of the Day: 115 Eastern Parkway

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:39:46 -0500

Although this duplex at 115 Eastern Parkway doesn't feel particularly old-school, the apartment is atop a lovely prewar building overlooking the Brooklyn Museum. The most eye-catching element of the place is a large roofdeck—unfortunately, it's ~~off one of the two bedrooms~~ on the bedroom floor not the living floor. Not surprisingly, there's a ton of windows and natural light. It'll be interesting to see how the $799,000 asking price and $1,121 go over with buyers. Guess it depends on what kind of a dollar value you put on the outdoor space.
115 Eastern Parkway [Brown Harris Stevens] GMAP P*Shark

Development Watch: Catsimatidis Ready to Go on Myrtle?

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:01:23 -0500

Although he probably has other things on his mind right now (like a mayoral bid), John Catsimatidis appears to be gearing up to start construction at 162 Myrtle Avenue. The subject of much speculation in recent months as the weakening market has made the billionaire rethink the viability of his project, the 660-unit condo project is of public interest because of the need for a supermarket in the area. After getting a tip that the wheels might be starting to turn, we biked by yesterday to find a group of surveyors doing their thing. One of them confirmed that ground-breaking was imminent. Nothing new on DOB yet though. Interesting indeed.
Catsimatidis To Bring Back Myrtle Market [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark DOB
CatCatsimatidis "Taking a Hard Look" at 162 Myrtle Project [Brownstoner]
Catsimatidis Puts Myrtle Build on Hold! [Brownstoner]
Catsimatidis Puts Myrtle Build on Hold! [Brownstoner]
Catsimatidis on Myrtle Revealed [Brownstoner]

Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:32:20 -0500

Photo by McBrooklyn

Neighborhood Newcomer Bashes Bar Tabac
Food blogger Andrea Strong recently moved to Brooklyn, and while she loves the Grocery, she's got nothing but hatred for Bar Tabac: "You see, I live down the block from Bar Tabac, a wannabe faux French bistro owned by the same folks that own Jules, Café Noir and Cercle Rouge, that recently and unfathomably to me, was voted best neighborhood bistro in the Time Out Awards... From where I sit, which is just a few yards from this hellacious restaurant’s front doors, it’s a rude, self-important, obnoxious cave (with al fresco seating) for French ex-pats and ubiquitous hipsters in the Brooklyn area." Yowch!

This Week on Chowhound
One Chowhound has good things to say about the newly opened South Brooklyn Pizza (Court at 4th Street, Carroll Gardens), and another spotted Uncle Louis G's "iconic blue & white striped awning" on Smith Street near the New St. Claire. Meanwhile, Chowhound's Outer Borough Digest shares a few positive reviews of the new Israeli restaurant at 641 President Street, Delicious on the Slope.

Now Open: Lookout Hill Smokehouse
230 Fifth Avenue at President Street, Park Slope; (718) 399-2161
Time Out New York reports that Lookout Hill Smokehouse has opened in the old Biscuit space: "Two smokers pump out the expected lineup of brisket and ribs, along with a few wild cards such as lamb, hanger steak and kielbasa from nearby butcher Jubilat." Heart Fish shares some photos of the place.

After the jump: Lost City ponders the new 360 signage, a review of the Olive Vine Café, BeerMenus.com expands to Brooklyn, and a big-time pastry chef sets her sights on Clinton Hill...

Last Week's Biggest Sales

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:59 -0500

The sale of one of those bank-breaking Carroll Gardens listings was recorded last week—for almost $1 million less than it was originally asking.

1. CARROLL GARDENS $2,550,000
78 3rd Place GMAP (left)
3,100-square-foot, three-story, 23-feet-wide brick house. When featured as House of the Day in January, it was asking $3,495,000 and one of a new crop of super-pricey Carroll Gardens listings. As noted in March, the asking was reduced to $2,700,000. Deed recorded 5/9.

2. GREENPOINT $1,975,000
538 Graham Avenue GMAP (right)
According to StreetEasy, this 4-story townhouse was listed at $2,200,000 in January. Multi-residential building with eight units, six of which rent for market-rate and two of which are set to become destabilized. Deed recorded 5/8.

3. FORT GREENE $1,470,690
One Hanson Place GMAP
Deal was for unit 16BC at the landmark former Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower. Deed recorded 5/7.

4. WILLIAMSBURG $1,427,990
51 North 8th Street GMAP
Unit 4D and a parking space at the North 8 condo. Deed recorded 5/7.

5. DUMBO $1,375,000
100 Jay Street GMAP
Closings at J Condo keep coming in. This one's for a 22nd-floor unit. Deed recorded 5/5.

Photos from Property Shark.

Garden of the Day: Praiseworthy in Park Slope

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:28:41 -0500

Today's submission comes from Park Slope. The garden has been a work-in-progress since 2001. When the current owners bought the house it had a huge pine tree and some grass in a raised square bed with concrete walkways surrounding the raised bed. "It was all very awkward," writes the owner. The "before" photo at the end of the slideshow shows the garden after all the concrete had been removed. The beautiful circular table they purchased four years ended up not fitting through the front door so they ended up having to hoist it over the roof! The chairs were picked up at the Park Slope flea market. Other than that, you can tell that they are big clematis fans. Great job.
Garden of the Day: Crown Heights Verdant [Brownstoner]
Garden of the Day: Another Greenwood Heights Goodie [Brownstoner]
Garden of the Day: HGTV Does Greenwood Heights [Brownstoner]
Garden of the Day: PLG Make-Over [Brownstoner]
Submit Your Garden for 'Garden of the Day' [Brownstoner]

CB2 To Nip Liquor Licenses in the Bud (Light)

Wed, 14 May 2008 10:01:57 -0500

Park Slope's Union Hall isn't the only bar experiencing backlash from neighbors tired of overhearing peoples' drunk conversations. Community Board 2 District Manager Robert Perris told us his board plans to stop issuing new liquor licenses in certain areas where residents feel over-saturated with noisy bars. As a compromise, the board would suggest either a beer and wine license or an early closing time. The two "over-saturation" examples Perris gave were Atlantic Avenue near Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights (Brazen Head, Floyd, Last Exit, Magnetic Field, Montero's, Waterfront Ale House) and the intersection of Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene (Frank's Lounge, Moe's, Stonehome Wine Bar). Perris said the focus right now would be on suggesting beer and wine licenses as an alternative. "The relationship is clearer that the alcohol is part of the dining experience and not sort of the focus by itself." And if the applicant is absent at hearings, or otherwise "appears to us that they are intentionally or unintentially unwilling to have a conversation with us," the community board may recommend that the state not approve the liquor license request as standard protocol. The board is expected to vote on the official protocol change tonight. Editor's Note: To clarify, the above are measures that have been discussed, but nothing has been decided on. The issue will be discussed at the board meeting tonight.
Community Board Moving to Nuke Union Hall [Brownstoner]
Photo by Bryan Bruchman.

NYCHA Funding Shortfall Could Mean Dark Days for Projects

Wed, 14 May 2008 09:30:52 -0500

City Hall News reports that the New York City Housing Authority is looking at a $200 million budget shortfall this year, which some officials say is likely to result in worsening conditions at public housing. “You see the conditions they're living in and the problems they're going through,” says Council Member Rosie Mendez (D-Manhattan), who chairs the Council's Public Housing Committee, “and you're sort of helpless in trying to rectify the situation.” Last year NYCHA had a $168 million budget deficit. As federal funding for the projects has dried up, so too have city and state dollars. In recent years NYCHA has laid off thousands of employees and cut hundreds of millions of dollars from its operating budget. Some public housing advocates say that the city uses the projects as a "cash cow," collecting millions every year for things like police services. Although there have been rumors that some of the city's public housing stock would be sold off to private developers, Nicholas Dagen Bloom, an assistant professor at the New York Institute of Technology and author of "Public Housing That Worked: New York in the Twentieth Century," says that's probably not going to happen. “It's not likely the program will be privatized,” he says, “but there will be structural changes in the way it operates to reflect current conditions, which is higher costs.” The are currently more than 400,000 residents of public housing in the city, and rent averages $320 a month for tenants who earn, on average, $20,000 a year.
The City's Own Looming Housing Crisis [City Hall]
HUD Official Speaks the Unspeakable: Selling The Projects [Brownstoner]
Politicians Can't Back Sell-The-Projects Idea [Brownstoner]
Photo by bondidwhat.

Park It, Slope: Alternate-Side Regs Tossed 'Indefintely'

Wed, 14 May 2008 09:00:32 -0500

It's good to be a Sloper. Especially, nowadays, one who owns a car. The Department of Transportation is suspending alternate side of the street parking in the neighborhood starting this Monday, according to a post on Gowanus Lounge. The suspension will be in effect "indefinitely" for the area from Pacific Street to 15th Street and from 4th Avenue to the park, or until the DOT changes the neighborhood's signs so they reflect new regulations that cut restricted parking periods down from three hours to 90 minutes. GL reports that similar suspensions are on tap for Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Red Hook. The big question right now, probably, is whether this is going to mean a very dirty summer for Park Slope curbs.
Alternate Side Parking Suspended in Park Slope [Gowanus Lounge]
Photo by redxdress.

Wednesday Links

Wed, 14 May 2008 08:10:16 -0500

Waterfront sunset. Photo by ChivoJudas.
Senate Approves $350 Million in Projects for Economic Development [NY Times]
Profit Dips at Whole Foods Market [NY Times]
Charter School OK'd for Slope [NY Sun]
Hospitals Face Fund Cuts [NY Post]
Union Hall Meeting Tonight [Gothamist]