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Juliana’s: Still Coming to Dumbo, but When?



Patsy Grimaldi, who originally operated Grimaldi’s out of 19 Old Fulton, sold the pizzeria and its name to Frank Ciolli back in 1998, which moved its operations further down the block several months ago; in the meantime, Grimaldi said he was returning to his roots at 19 Old Fulton and would open a pizzeria there called Juliana’s. Reportedly, Grimaldi intended to open in March. However, the pizza legend’s return to his old haunt is still very much under construction, as can be seen via the photo on the jump.
Juliana’s Marks its Turf in Dumbo [Brownstoner] GMAP (more…)

Categories: DUMBO, Food and Drink, News
By Gabby | 05/23/2012 10:30 AM | Comment

Brooklyn Crab Making Progress in Red Hook



Here’s a peek at the Brooklyn Crab construction happening in Red Hook. The owners are readying for a summer opening. So far we know there will be free shuttle service between the Carroll St subway station and Brookyln Crab, 18 holes of mini golf, corn hole, bocce, a giant deck overlooking the harbor, a seafood menu and a raw bar. Hard to go wrong with all that! No official opening date yet, but you can track the progress on Brooklyn Crab’s Facebook page. And check out a few more pictures after the jump.
Brooklyn Crab Construction Continues in Red Hook [Brownstoner]
Red Hook Getting Crabby [Brownstoner] GMAP (more…)

Categories: Food and Drink, Red Hook
By Emily | 05/23/2012 10:00 AM | Comment

Everett Ortner, Noted Preservationist, Has Passed



We received the following email in our inbox this morning: “Hello Friends of Mr. Everett Ortner — With sadness, I am informing you of Mr. Ortner’s passing on Tuesday, May 22. Kindly inform your organization. Thank you for your friendship and for your promotion of Brooklyn causes. Please view [above] photo by Mr. Levi Stolove.” Here is part of a write-up about Mr. Ortner via Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn: “Since 1963, when he and his wife, Evelyn, bought a brownstone in Park Slope, Brooklyn, he has been a missionary for the brownstone-revival movement in New York City, and for urban revival nationally. He was a leader in the early days of the revival movement in Park Slope, a photographer and public-relations man for the Park Slope Civic Council, and a founder, with Joe Ferris, of the Park Slope Betterment Committee, which organized many series of particularized house tours (hard-selling houses that needed work). With Ken Patton as chairman, he was a co-founder and first president (1968) of the Brownstone Revival Committee of New York, now the Brownstone Revival Coalition–a citywide organization devoted to the promotion and preservation of New York City’s older communities. He is currently its Chairman Emeritus. The BRC publishes a newsletter, ‘The Brownstoner,’ sponsors lectures and workshops on architectural history and preservation topics, and acts frequently as the voice of New York’s brownstone communities. He continues to write for and edit ‘The Brownstoner.’” Rest in peace, Mr. Ortner.
Everett H. Ortner [DDDB]

Categories: Park Slope, Preservation
By Gabby | 05/23/2012 9:30 AM | Comment

Barclays Center Transportation Plan Revealed



We’ve tried to pull together all the coverage from media outlets that pertains to the release of last night’s traffic plan for the Barclays Center, as can be seen in the links below. Here are the main points, as we understand them:
1. “You’ll want to think twice, or maybe even a third time, before deciding to drive to Barclays Arena when it opens on September 28. The parking plan for Barclays is being cut from 1,000 to 541 spots”. -WNYC
2. “The conundrum that Samuel I. Schwartz, the traffic engineering expert, faced was this: How could the already jam-packed streets in the heart of Brooklyn accommodate thousands of extra cars filled with fans traveling to a basketball arena and desperately searching for parking? His answer, revealed on Tuesday to a panel of Brooklyn officials with all the flourish and detail of a general planning to storm the beaches of Normandy, was to discourage driving entirely, by cutting the number of parking spaces at the Barclays Center in half.” -NY Times
3. “While the MTA and LIRR will add transit service after Barclays Center events to encourage use of the adjacent transit hub, and arena operators are trying hard to educated and encourrage event-goers to use such transit, the long-delayed Transportation Demand Management plan released today by developer Forest City Ratner still left arena neighbors worried.” -AY Report
4. “Those residents learned that the city won’t be granting their request for residential parking permits any time soon. The New York City Department of Transportation’s Christopher Hrones said his agency is still studying the issue…He added that even if the city were to approve a parking permit program, it would need permission from the state, and that takes time.” – Transportation Nation

And there you have it: Public transportation will be promoted, there will be far fewer parking spaces than initially anticipated, and no residential parking permits anytime soon.
Traffic Plan for a Brooklyn Arena Cuts Parking Slots by Half [NY Times]
Live Blogging: Barclays Center Traffic Mitigation Plan Public Meeting [Patch]
Barclays Fouls Out on Plan to Provide MetroCards [NY Post]
In Plan For Barclays Center, Parking Slashed By Half [WNYC]
Arena Transportation Plan Released [AY Report]
Meeting on TDM Plan is Cordial, Constructive, and Frustrating [AY Report]

Categories: Atlantic Yards, Transportation
By Gabby | 05/23/2012 9:00 AM | Comment

Justin Bieber To Perform at the Barclays Center



Babs isn’t the only pop star who’ll be crossing the East River this fall. Evidently someone named Justin Bieber will be playing at the Barclays Center in November. Tix go on sale June 2.

Categories: Atlantic Yards, Celebrity, Fort Greene, News, Park Slope, Prospect Heights
By Gabby | 05/23/2012 8:31 AM | Comment

Wednesday Links



Gun Violence Fear Stalks East Flatbush and East New York [NY Daily News]
Brooklyn Wins Big in Preservation Grant Contest [Eagle]
Urban Farming Returns to its Brooklyn Roots [Eagle]
Zombies Invade Brooklyn (Again) This Sunday [Gothamist]
What Stalled the Greenification of ‘Burg and Greenpoint? [BK11211]
Sweet
 and Sour: Milk Bar Carroll Gardens [L Mag]
Growth and Gardens on Franklin [ILFA]
On the Wythe Hotel and Williamsburg [NYO]

Categories: Daily Links
By Gabby | 05/23/2012 8:25 AM | Comment

Tuesday Blogwrap



(Scavenger) Hunt for a New Home [Brooklyn Brainery]
Man, 33, Is Killed in Brooklyn Hit and Run [City Room]
Zombies Invade Brooklyn (Again) This Sunday [Gothamist]
DOT’s Newest Bike/Ped Safety Campaign: “Heads Up” [Streetsblog]
Big Transit Boost for Barclays Center, But Costs are Unknown [The Local]
Help Clean Up the Neighborhood on Saturday, June 2 [Ditmas Park Corner]
After the Final Curtain: Loew’s Kings Theatre [Untapped New York]

Photo by side1track2

Categories: Blogwrap
By Emily | 05/22/2012 4:30 PM | Comment

Closing Bell: Bike to School Day Tomorrow



Tomorrow Park Slope school MS 51 is holding a Bike to School Day. The PTA and local bike store Bicycle Habitat are providing volunteers to escort students to and from school along three different routes, from Sunset Park, Carroll Gardens and Windsor Terrace starting points. The school is holding bicycling assemblies today on safety, etiquette, and bike locking. Parents from MS 51 ask drivers to remain alert to youth riding to and from school tomorrow, 7am to 4:00pm.
Photo by Dmitry Gudkov

Categories: Bicycling, Closing Bell, Park Slope
By Emily | 05/22/2012 4:00 PM | Comment

Building of the Day: 360 Schermerhorn Street



(Photograph: nycago.org)

Brooklyn, one building at a time.

Name: The Baptist Temple, originally First Baptist Church of Brooklyn
Address: 360 Schermerhorn Street
Cross Streets: Corner of Third Avenue
Neighborhood: Boerum Hill/Downtown Bklyn
Year Built: 1893-1894, reconstructed after fire: 1917-1918
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
Architect: Weary & Kramer, reconstruction: Dodge & Morrison (1917-18)
Other Buildings by Architect: Weary & Kramer- Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church, Bronx, Buildings on Oberlin College Campus, Ohio. Dodge & Morrison – Large addition to the Bedford Presbyterian Church, Nostrand Ave, Crown Heights North.
Landmarked: No, but on National Register

The story: This congregation has the distinction of being the oldest Baptist church in Brooklyn, founded as the First Baptist Church of Brooklyn in 1823. It’s the second oldest Baptist congregation in all of Long Island. Their first church building was on Pearl Street, between Nassau and Concord Streets, in what is now DUMBO, and more specifically, an on-ramp to one of the bridges. They didn’t stay there long, moving to another site on Nassau Street, which was destroyed by fire in 1848. They rebuilt, only to lose this church to another fire in 1873. By this time, their DUMBO location was becoming an industrial area, so they joined with a splinter group that had broken off to become the Pierrepont Street Baptist Church, in the Heights. There, both congregations worshipped in a building designed by the great Minard Lefever. They soon outgrew this building too, and in 1892, the church sold their site on the corner of Pierrepont and Clinton Streets to the Brooklyn Savings Bank, and went looking for a new site. They found it here at the corner of Third Avenue and Schermerhorn Street. (more…)

Categories: Boerum Hill, BOTD, Downtown Brooklyn
By Montrose Morris | 05/22/2012 3:30 PM | Comment

Associated Supermarket Addition Tops Off



Here’s the status of the Waverly Avenue supermarket addition, two months since construction began. And here’s the rendering back from 2010, which may or may not be outdated by now. It doesn’t look like any work is happening at the Associated itself, although the rendering would lead you to believe it’s getting a slightly fancier facade.
Addition to Clinton Hill’s Associated Rising Quickly [Brownstoner]
Waverly Associated Build-Out Revealed [Brownstoner] GMAP

Categories: Clinton Hill, Development
By Emily | 05/22/2012 2:40 PM | Comment

New Italian Spot Opens in Speakeasy Space



A tipster noticed the paper down at the former Speakeasy restaurant on Waverly and Greene in Clinton Hill. He wasn’t sure of the name or if the new spot is officially open. We peeked in this morning and it looks like a nice bar and restaurant set-up with a kind of “old Brooklyn” vibe that’s popular these days. However, there’s no name posted and the internet revealed very little. Who can fill us in? UPDATE: We should read our own blog! As a commenter points out, we already reported back in February that the chef from Fiore in Williamsburg is doing an Italian thing here. Judging from one commenter who’s already been, it’s quite good too.
Clinton Hill’s the Speakeasy Calls it Quits [Brownstoner] GMAP
Details on a Forthcoming Italian Joint in Clinton Hill [Brownstoner]

Categories: Clinton Hill, Food and Drink, Streetlevel
By Emily | 05/22/2012 2:00 PM | Comment

House of the Day: 328 President Street



This new brownstone listing at 328 President Street in Carroll Gardens would have benefited from a little staging. It’s generally got good bones (along with a big front yard) but the combo unfortunate kitchens and dreary furnishings doesn’t help the cause. Still, given the location and the fact that there still’s a fair bit of original charm, the three-family house should still get some attention. Whether it’ll fetch the $2,650,000 asking price remains to be seen.
328 President Street [Town Real Estate] GMAP P*Shark

Categories: Carroll Gardens, HOTD
By Brownstoner | 05/22/2012 1:28 PM | Comment

Condo of the Day: 1 Main Street, #4A



This 2,200-square-foot loft at One Main Street in Dumbo has been on the market for a little over a month now with a the overly specific asking price of $2,497,500. It’s got a lot going for it–size, views, finishes, etc.–and is priced more than $800,000 cheaper than the same apartment on the 9th floor. We think that some more modern furnishings would help the sales cause a lot here. The current set-up is lacking in any sex appeal.
1 Main Street, #4A [Halstead] GMAP P*Shark

Categories: Condos, DUMBO
By Brownstoner | 05/22/2012 12:57 PM | Comment

Rental of the Day: 39 Pearl Street



Here’s a big, lofty Dumbo rental at 39 Pearl Street with a big, lofty price tag of $7,500/month. There are four bedrooms plus an office space. While the few pictures posted make the apartment seem pretty minimalist, the exposed beams and high ceilings have ample room for potential. What do you make of it?
39 Pearl Street [FRBO] GMAP P*Shark

Categories: DUMBO, Rentals
By Emily | 05/22/2012 12:30 PM | Comment

Aerial Shot of 29 Flatbush Construction Site



A reader sent in a photograph of the progress at 29 Flatbush Avenue. Not much to see, especially considering Dermot broke ground here very recently, in December 2010. One day this will be a 42-story tower with 327 rental units, 200 parking spaces, and 7,600 square feet of retail space on Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street. GMAP DOB

Categories: Development, Downtown Brooklyn
By Emily | 05/22/2012 12:00 PM | Comment

Last Week’s Biggest Sales



1. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS $5,450,000
26 Garden Place GMAP P*Shark
We covered this sale last week. It first asked $5,500,000 before a few price cuts. Entered into contract on 4/12/12; closed on 5/9/12; deed recorded on 5/16/2012.

2. MIDWOOD $3,400,500
1025 East 24th Street GMAP P*Shark
This one-family, two-story house is on a 5,000-square foot lot. Entered into contract on 2/29/12; closed on 4/30/12; deed recorded on 5/14/2012.

3. FORT GREENE $3,285,000
181 Washington Park GMAP P*Shark
A HOTD this September. Ask: $3,450,000. Entered into contract on 1/16/12; closed on 4/24/12; deed recorded on 5/14/2012.

4. PROSPECT HEIGHTS $2,293,000
1 Grand Army Plaza, #7B GMAP P*Shark
A three bed/three-and-a-half bath unit. First listed as $2,200,000, then $2,175,000, then $2,395,000. Entered into contract on 3/6/12; closed on 5/3/12; deed recorded on 5/18/2012.

5. PARK SLOPE $1,800,000
937 Union Street, #10 GMAP P*Shark
A three bed/three bath unit. Asking $1,850,000. Entered into contract on 3/12/12; closed on 5/1/12; deed recorded on 5/16/2012

Categories: Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Midwood, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Sales
By Emily | 05/22/2012 11:30 AM | Comment

Design*Sponge Goes Inside a Greenpoint Loft



Yesterday was a fun day, despite all the rain. We went out to Roberta’s, which in addition to being one of the best restaurants in town also houses an Internet radio station, to be interviewed by Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney. You can hear the session here. Something else you might want to check out: This post on Design*Sponge yesterday about the Greenpoint loft of brother-design team Evan and Oliver Haslegrave. There’s one above and another of the bathroom on the jump. Check out the Design*Sponge post for lots more…
(more…)

Categories: Greenpoint, Interiors
By Brownstoner | 05/22/2012 11:01 AM | Comment

Walkabout: Trashing Atlantic Avenue, part 1



(Railroad crossing at Atlantic and Bedford Avenues, 1905. Photo: New York Public Library)

Atlantic Avenue is one of Brooklyn’s great thoroughfares, today stretching from the East River waterfront to Jamaica, Queens. It is Brooklyn’s only east-west truck route, and serves a vital purpose in getting goods and people from Long Island to the East River and beyond. Like much of Brooklyn, its origins lie with Dutch settlement, and in fact it began as a private road, ending at Ralph Patchen’s farm on the East River, in the early 1700s.

As Brooklyn grew, that road became District Street, the southernmost boundary of the Village of Brooklyn, which was incorporated in 1816. That’s certainly hard to imagine now, and it didn’t take long for that to be obsolete. By 1855, as the street grid developed, District Street became Atlantic Street, running parallel to Pacific Street next door. In the 1870’s the street, already a busy thoroughfare, became an Avenue, running all the way to Nassau County. (more…)

Categories: Brooklyn, Development, Historical, Walkabout
By Montrose Morris | 05/22/2012 10:30 AM | Comment

Brooklyn Sites Lead PIP Grant Awards



Looks like the top two winners of the much-hyped Partners in Preservation grants went to sites in Brooklyn. Though the official winners haven’t been announced yet (that will come later today), as of last night the #1 pick was the Brooklyn Public Library, which will receive its full grant request of $250,000 for the historic front doors. Second up was the Congregation Beth Elohim, which will get $250,000 for a comprehensive restoration of the roof, parapets, dome, and stained glass. (CBE really fought for its grant money, as evidenced here.) In third and fourth place were the restoration of the man-made cascade at the NY Botanical Garden and the restoration of landmarked gardens at the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum & Gardens. The top four sites will receive the full grant requests, the other 36 historical sites will receive the leftovers of the $3 million. UPDATE: The four winners have been announced, click through for details!
Vote to Preserve NYC Historic Places [Brownstoner]
Photo by jordanguile (more…)

Categories: Historical, Renovation
By Emily | 05/22/2012 10:00 AM | Comment

Do You Refer To Manhattan As “The City”?


So asks Gothamist. We do, but we were born and raised and Manhattan. Thoughts from native Brooklynites?

Categories: Brooklyn
By Gabby | 05/22/2012 10:00 AM | Comment