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A Closer Look at Vinegar Hill’s Historic Cobblestones
Over the weekend, The New York Times delved more deeply into the controversy over replacing the historic Belgian blocks in Vinegar Hill. The Department of Transportation wants to dig up and replace the old stones with new ones and reorient them to comply with the American With Disabilities Act and put a bike lane through the neighborhood connecting all of Brooklyn and Queens. To appease critics, the DOT has proposed artificially pre-weathering the stones to look old, “like a pair of stonewashed jeans,” as the story put it. Neighborhood residents and historic preservations are appalled. Do you think the DOT should proceed with its plan or should an exception be made for Vinegar Hill, arguably a unique, not to mention tiny, enclave?
To Replace Old Cobblestones, Old-Looking Cobblestones [NY Times]
Photo by the known universe
04/01/2013 10:30 AM
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Public Design Workshop for Dumbo This Week
This Wednesday, the Department of Transportation is hosting its third public input session for the streetscape reconstruction of Dumbo and Vinegar Hill. Recently Vinegar Hill residents set up two petitions against changing the historic Belgian blocks of the neighborhood, so that’s sure to come up. The DOT will present strategies for cobble reconstruction based on previous public input. They are taking more public comments at this meeting as well. Also on the agenda: the design of the Pearl Street Triangle Plaza, where the Dumbo BID has had plans in place for years to transform into a permanent public space. Back in 2011 the Dumbo BID secured $20 million dollars for these big street improvements. The meeting on Wednesday is at the NYU-Poly Incubator, 20 Jay Street, Suite 312, from 6 pm to 8 pm.
Photo of the last DOT session by the Dumbo BID
03/18/2013 12:00 PM
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Vinegar Hill Residents Want to Save Belgian Blocks
Two petitions just emerged out of Vinegar Hill about proposed streetscape changes to the neighborhood, which leave, as Curbed put it, “residents of the tiny ten-block enclave less than thrilled.” The first petition asks the city to preserve the original belgian block streets in Vinegar Hill and opposes the “use of machine-made or machine-altered cobblestones of any kind.” The original blocks are scheduled to be removed for infrastructure changes along Water Street, as well as a bike lane down Water. The second petition specifically asks that the bike lane planned within the Brooklyn Greenway skip Vinegar Hill altogether, considering that the DOT plans to make the path by reconfiguring the Belgian blocks by rotating them lengthwise. The Brooklyn Greenway would stretch three blocks through Vinegar Hill on Water and Plymouth Streets. The DOT already undertook a similar project down in Dumbo, which mostly restored the old Belgian blocks and added new blocks to create a bike lane along Water. In our humble opinion the restoration job did a good job of eliminating potholes and uneven paving as well as accommodating bikers. Do you think the proposed streetscape changes threaten the historic feel of the neighborhood?
Vinegar Hill Residents Really Don’t Want Bike Lanes [Curbed]
The City of New York: Preserve Original Belgian Block Streets in Vinegar Hill [Change.org]
The City of New York: Bypass Vinegar Hill When Implementing the Brooklyn Greenway [Change.org]
Photo by jackie weisberg
03/07/2013 11:00 AM
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185 York Street Buyers Still Waiting to Move In
A soon-to-be tenant of 185 York Street, the Vinegar Hill condo building that sold out quickly, reports that the building has yet to receive its Certificate of Occupancy. She went into contract over the summer but has not been able to close because of the lack of a C of O. According to her, “way back in August/September I was told there was an issue with the standpipe which resulted in a failed inspection. It was corrected, but getting re-inspected has been an issue… we hope to have the C of O by the end of “this” month – [the broker] has said that every month since September. Curious to know if other buyers have similar issues or more info.” A broker here tells us that they are going through the last of the inspections and anticipate closings to begin in February or March. The sixteen available units, priced from $375,000 to $845,000, all went into contract at or above asking. Any other buyers out there who are going through the same thing as our tipster?
Vinegar Hill Condos at 185 York Sell out Fast [Brownstoner]
02/01/2013 9:30 AM
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Building of the Day: 227 Front Street
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: Originally “Constitution” Engine Co. 7, Volunteer Fire Dept.; then Engine 8, BFD; now residential
Address: 227 Front Street
Cross Streets: Bridge and Gold Streets
Neighborhood: Vinegar Hill
Year Built: 1870-71
Architectural Style: Italianate
Architect: Unknown, 1903 expansion by H. W. Billard
Other Work by Architect: Billard – small projects here and there, with at least one in Williamsburg.
Landmarked: Yes, part of Vinegar Hill HD (1997)
The story: This building was built by the Fire Department of the City of Brooklyn around 1870-71 and is on the site of one of the city’s oldest firehouses. Engine Company number 7 started out as a volunteer fire company in 1828, taking as its motto, “The Constitution and the Union Forever.” They were first located on Hudson Street, near Front Street. They later moved to the south side of Front St, between Bridge and Gold, and then to this location.
This new firehouse must have been a perfect place for them to show off their two year-old “piano box” engine, a marvelous machine with a mahogany box with rosewood panels. The box was embellished with carvings and gilt work. According to the “History of the Brooklyn Fire Department”, written in 1892, “the arms were of polished steel, and the wheels blue, striped with gilt. There were paintings on three sides of the condenser-case, in oval panels, 22 x 20 inches. Attached to the engine was a neat tender, carrying eight lengths of hose; she was named “Independent.”
According the that same source, the fire company ceased being a volunteer company in 1869, and many of the volunteers joined the Brooklyn Fire Department. It was at that time that this firehouse was built for them, on the site of the old one. Though the LPC report says differently, and dates the building for 1855, two different fire department sources seem to confirm this later date for the building. The original building, the one this replaced, appears to have been built in 1855. (more…)
01/31/2013 3:33 PM
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Rental of the Day: 245 Front Street #3
This apartment in Vinegar Hill is a one bedroom asking $2,400 a month. It looks like a very pretty townhouse rental, although that patch of exposed brick in the kitchen is a little odd. Also, a picture of the actual bedroom would be nice! Do you like it?
245 Front Street #3 [Corcoran] GMAP P*Shark
12/05/2012 12:30 PM
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Building of the Day: 70 Hudson Avenue
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: Storefront and residential building, now home to Hillside Cafe
Address: 70 Hudson Avenue
Cross Streets: Corner Water Street
Neighborhood: Vinegar Hill
Year Built: 1828-1841
Architectural Style: Greek Revival
Architect: Unknown
Landmarked: Yes, part of Vinegar Hill HD (1997)
The story: The Vinegar Hill neighborhood sandwiched between industrial Dumbo, the huge Con Ed facility and the Farragut Houses, is one of Brooklyn’s oldest neighborhoods. The landmarked areas of the neighborhood present a time capsule into Brooklyn’s past, one more intact than almost any other part of town. Narrow cobblestone streets wind around the area, and on those streets are a collection of houses, storefronts and businesses that go back to the early days of the ever-growing town of Brooklyn. (more…)
10/10/2012 3:30 PM
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102 Gold Street Tops Out
Five months after gaining DOB approval, a new residential building at 102 Gold Street has topped out. The six-story project is slated to have ten units. Meanwhile, next door, 100 Gold Street appears to be sold out at this point while 99 Gold Street, the large rental conversion across the street, recently came on the market with Massey Knakal.
Plans Doubled for 102 Gold Street Build [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 102 Gold Street [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
09/05/2012 11:00 AM
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99 Gold Street Hits the Market
99 Gold Street, the 87-unit rental building in Vinegar Hill, was put up for sale yesterday by its owner, the HK Organization. No asking price accompanied the listing and only minimal financial information–that “scheduled gross revenues” were $3.6 million–was provided. (You need to sign a confidentiality agreement to learn more.) The former warehouse was converted to condos in 2005-2006. After a year on the market and only half the units spoken for, however, the developer threw in the towel and switched to rentals. You can check out the listing here. GMAP
07/26/2012 10:45 AM
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Vinegar Hill Condos at 185 York Sell out Fast
Proving that location across from the projects is no problem if the price is right, the Vinegar Hill condo development at 185 York sold out in seven weeks. All 16 residential units are in contract for full ask or above, said Corcoran broker Philip Henn. Asking prices ranged from $375,000 for a 631-square-foot one-bedroom to $845,000 for a 1,193-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bath duplex. Taxes and common charges are low ($289.76 for a one-bedroom). Nearby condo development 109 Gold Street did not fare as well, ultimately selling to another developer and going rental when buyers failed to snatch up apartments priced from $319,000 to $999,000.
185 York Street Web Site
Corcoran Listing GMAP P*Shark
Condos for Sale at Vinegar Hill’s 185 York [Brownstoner]
Troubled Vinegar Hill Condo 109 Gold Street Sells for $14.5 Million [Brownstoner]
185 York Nearing Completion [Brownstoner]
Development Watch: 185 York Street [Brownstoner] GMAP P*Shark
Development Watch: 185 York Street [Brownstoner] DOB
07/25/2012 9:00 AM
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231 Front Street Open For Business
The William Tubby-designed loft building at 231 Front Street in Vinegar is ready for commercial occupancy–or at least part of it is. The second floor of the six-story building is available for lease as of last week. DumboNYC has a bunch of photos of the old-school interior (lots of big windows as well as exposed brick and beams) as well as news that the space is divisible into varying sizes to accommodate small office tenants. The exclusive broker for the building is Creative Real Estate. We’ve got one of those interior photos on the jump if you are interested.
Office Conversion for 231 Front Street [Brownstoner] GMAP
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06/29/2012 2:40 PM
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Scofflaw Patrol Vans Out in Force in Brooklyn
Hope you’re up to date on all your traffic violations! A reader sent in this photo of a Scofflaw Patrol van on Lefferts Place in Clinton Hill this morning and we saw another one in Vinegar Hill about an hour ago. We couldn’t find much info about them on the Interweb though. Anyone know the story? UPDATE: Looks like this is a private company authorized to put boots on cars with more than $350 of outstanding tickets. Daily News story from April here.
06/22/2012 11:18 AM
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The Outsider: Low-Cost Veggie Garden in Vinegar Hill
WELCOME to The Outsider, Brownstoner’s weekly exploration of the many and varied ways Brooklynites approach their green spaces. Written and produced by Cara Greenberg, you can find it here every Sunday at 8AM.
A 2,000-SQUARE-FOOT BACKYARD, shared by three buildings, was overgrown and mostly neglected space until Andrea Solk, a LEED-certified architect and recent West Coast transplant, spent the better part of this spring working to reclaim it. Solk, a renter in one of the buildings, is trying, with the owners’ permission, to “transform it without any intention beyond growing vegetables and making a nice space for everyone to hang out in.”
She’s had the help of assorted folks who’ve pitched in at weekend work parties, and the benefit of advice from Andrea Parker, Julia Price, and Maggie Hansen, all practicing Brooklyn-based landscape architects who consulted on such matters as how to deal with existing contaminated soil.
One of the initial tasks was removing dirt from buried pieces of slate and flagstone to uncover a patio area. In order to grow edible food, they built raised beds out of wood and salvaged brick, filling them with fresh soil and compost. Two cubic yards of imported topsoil at $35/yard has been the main expense to date, along with some Greenmarket veggie starters and a few bags of compost. “It’s incredibly low-budget,” Solk says.
Clusters of clay pots, plastic buckets, and “anything we could find” are filled with broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, tomatoes, eggplants, and herbs. At the rear of the lot, where there’s daylong sun, Solk plans to put more wooden beds with tomatoes, cukes, squash, melons, and other summer veggies that need a lot of sunlight. There are flowers as well, including bachelors buttons and foxgloves, along with rose bushes that have been there all along. Right now, watering is done by hose and watering can, but Solk hopes to put in a drip irrigation system.
The photos in this post were taken in late April. “It was very undefined space,” says Solk. “Now it’s starting to look like a cared-for garden.”
Photos: Andrea Solk
06/10/2012 8:00 AM
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Hillside, Vinegar Hill House Spin-Off and Next Door Neighbor, Soft-Opened Last Night and Looks Great
We happened to be having dinner at Vinegar Hill House last night so we inadvertently stumbled across the soft-opening of Hillside, the adjacent wine bar that the Vinegar Hill team has been laboring over seemingly forever (we blogged about the liquor license application just over a year ago and the building renovation as far back as 2009). Whatever they were doing behind the plywood barricades over the past couple of years worked: The corner location (which is about as quaint, Old New York setting as one could imagine) came out beautifully, with a mix of white tiles and wood that manages to look fresh and welcoming at once. Not surprisingly, the wines, from island locales like Corsica and Ischia, are on full display as are the oysters. The menu here is generally smaller in scope and portion than next door (no waddle pork chop to be found) it emphasizes the same creative mix of local and unexpected ingredients. We can’t wait to come back to try it. Grub Street also notes that Hillside will soon be offering doughnuts in the morning and sandwiches at lunch. Hillside is at 70 Hudson Avenue and is closed Mondays. On the jump, a photo of the scene last night as well as a few daytime shots of the interior and exterior.
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06/06/2012 9:30 AM
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Gold Street Facility To Re-open as Shelter
The building that use to house the Farragut Tenants Day Care Center, which closed in 2010 according to The Local, will be re-opening its doors. According to permits filed with the Department of Buildings earlier this week, the two-story building at 104 Gold Street will be converted into “community facilities for philanthropic institutions with sleeping accommodations.” As far as we can tell, this means that Vinegar Hill will be getting a new shelter. Any members of the Buddhist faith who utilize the center will be in luck as the Dorje Ling Buddhist Center is just a few doors down the street. – Evan Bleier
05/30/2012 2:50 PM
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Walkabout: The Gold Street Explosion, part 1
(Brooklyn’s wooden tenement buildings. Photo: Brooklyn Public Library)
You know those sequences in movies and documentaries where the camera stays stationary while the world changes around it in seasons, years or centuries? A seed germinates, grows, blossoms and then dies, or buildings and cultures rise and fall over centuries? A look at the area of Brooklyn we now call DUMBO would be a fascinating study for such a time sequence. The shoreline that the Canarsee people fished from would become a Dutch outpost, a settlement, and then the growing village of Breukelen. That town would grow, and the same area that once held clapboard houses, one-story shops and taverns, stables and businesses, would grow to include brick homes, large commercial warehouses and offices for the import and export of goods, and other businesses and crafts tailoring themselves to the shipping manufacturing industries that hugged the East River and New York Bay. The village of Brooklyn had become a town, and that town would become a city. (more…)
05/29/2012 10:30 AM
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Building of the Day: 24 Evans Street
Brooklyn, one building at a time.
Name: Quarters A: Former Commandant’s House, Brooklyn Navy Yard
Address: 24 Evans Street
Cross Streets: Plymouth and Hudson Streets, behind private gate.
Neighborhood: Vinegar Hill
Year Built: 1805-1806
Architectural Style: Federal
Architect: attributed to Charles Bulfinch
Other Buildings by Architect: United States Capitol Building, Wash. DC, Mass. State House, Old Ct. Statehouse, Maine Statehouse, University Hall at Harvard, among others.
Landmarked: Yes, individual landmark (1965), National Register of Historic Places, and a National Historic Landmark.
The story: This house is one of the worst kept secrets of Brooklyn. Sooner or later, especially if you have a car, people end up at this triple landmarked house, gawp at it through the gates, and run to find out what it is, and why it’s perched here, behind strong iron gates, and across the street from an extremely fugly Con Ed power facility. It’s one of the great Brooklyn conceits to hear people talk about “discovering” the house, and then you can say, “Oh, that’s the old Commandant’s House. You didn’t know it was there?” (Confession: I’ve done that. Mea culpa.) But I have to admit; it was only a month ago that I was able to get out of a car, and actually take some photographs. And up close, the house is cooler than ever, and is still such a tantalizing mystery.
We know quite a lot about it, most from behind the forbidding gates. It’s old, one of Brooklyn’s older buildings, dating back to 1806, when it was built to be Quarters A, the home of the Naval Yard Commandant. The architect is thought to be Charles Bulfinch, the first native born architect in America, the prolific designer of Capital buildings and State Houses, in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine, as well as the architect of part of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, there is no real documentation on that, and it may be one of those great apocryphal attributions that will stand forever. (more…)
04/26/2012 3:30 PM
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109 Gold Street Tries Again, With Rentals This Time
That was quick! Rental units are now on the market for 109 Gold Street, the Vinegar Hill condo that sold for $14.5 million dollars last month. Five units have hit the market, including a studio for $2,025/month; one bedrooms for $2,625 to $2,700/month; and a two bedroom for $3,900. There are 33 apartments in total. According to a press release about the launch, amenities include “entry garden, lobby with WiFi, furnished roof deck, fully equipped fitness center, and package and delivery storage.” Think this will fare any better than when it was on the market as a condo? Those were initially priced from $345,000 to $720,000.
Troubled Vinegar Hill Condo 109 Gold Sells for $14.5M [Brownstoner]
109 Gold Developers Throw in the Towel [Brownstoner]
109 Gold: Ready for Move-ins, but are Buyers Biting? [Brownstoner] GMAP
109 Gold Officially on the Market [Brownstoner]
109 Gold Listings Trickle In [Brownstoner]
109 Gold Fully Glassed [Brownstoner]
109 Gold Gets Windows [Brownstoner]
Glacial Pace at 109 Gold [Brownstoner]
04/19/2012 10:00 AM
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Plans Doubled for 102 Gold Street Build
The DOB approved plans for a six-story, ten-unit building at 102 Gold Street, in Vinegar Hill, twice the size of the initial build planned there. Back in July construction started up at the site, but plans were only for a three-story, three-unit build. Not much work has happened since then. This is directly next door to the condo building 100 Gold Street, which comes in at five stories.
Development Watch: 102 Gold Street [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
04/13/2012 10:00 AM
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Is Vinegar Hill Heating Up?
This is an old story, but does it now really have momentum: Is Vinegar Hill, adjacent to Dumbo, soon to become more attractive as a residential destination, luring residents priced out of Dumbo or more interested in Vinegar Hill than Dumbo because of its cool factor? The Wall Street Journal looks into the topic today, noting the influx of new developments in the area (including many that brand themselves as in Dumbo, not Vinegar Hill, like Toll’s 205 Water Street). Per the article: “But at least some who have lived and worked in the neighborhood for years say it hasn’t yet been overtaken by the upscale crowds.” We’ll see!
Dumbo Looks to Add Room in Vinegar Hill [WSJ]
Photo by ChrisGoldNY
04/06/2012 10:00 AM
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brooklandings
May 16, 2013 | 09:04 AM