9-old-fulton-01611.jpg
The row of historical Dumbo buildings on Old Fulton Street have a long and storied past; as of late there was concern the owner of #11-15 was going through the process of “demolition by neglect.” We also knew 9 Old Fulton, which was destroyed years ago in a fire, had applied for a permit to demolish what was left of the building and build a new four-story structure. The rendering above was presented to CB2’s Landuse Committee last night along with a request to construct a residential building in an area zoned for manufacturing. (The plan itself was approved by the LPC a year ago, according to this Post article.) The owner of the site said the design, which includes a penthouse addition on the roof and ground-floor commercial space, was “not the most practical for us,” but he thought it was “best in keeping with the community”—and, of course, LPC guidelines. The variance was approved by the Landuse Committee; now it just needs to be voted on by the full board. No word on when construction will start. GMAP


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  1. [Corrected]
    As @fultonferryres points out, 9 Old Fulton Street is NOT in DUMBO. It is in the Fulton Ferry Historic District, which received its designation on June 28, 1977, well before the area now known as DUMBO (an initialization for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) was transformed from a manufacturing and artist-occupied district into what it is today. There is a history here that one would think Brownstoner would know and honor. While I’m at it, it should be noted that the Tobacco Warehouse and the Empire Stores and the Empire Fulton Park, all lying along Water Street, are NOT in DUMBO. They too are comprised by the Fulton Ferry Historic District.

    Many people and community and historic preservation organizations have fought long and hard battles to protect and preserve the historic features of this small, irreplaceable enclave from the incursions of over-or-otherwise-wrongheaded development that would destroy what is left of this very special area right by the Brooklyn Bridge’s Brooklyn anchorage.

    It is therefore remarkable (and unfortunate) that Brownstoner fails to even include Fulton Ferry or Fulton Ferry Landing among those in its list of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It would be great if Brownstoner would add it to the list as it is a separate and distinct and distinctive neighborhood and historic district.

    It might also help if, before posting entries about Old Fulton Street or the park side of Water Street the author could do some fact-checking. I bet this could easily be done by going to the Fulton Ferry Landing Association’s website (http://fultonferry.org) and contacting its board via the contact link (http://fultonferry.org/contact/).

    Finally, thank you @fultonferryres for correcting the other pieces of misinformation that appeared in the comments.

  2. As fultonferryres points out, 9 Old Fulton Street is NOT in DUMBO. It is in the Fulton Ferry Historic District, which received its designation in 1974, well before the area now known as DUMBO (an initialization for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) was transformed from a manufacturing and artist-occupied district into what it is today. There is a history here that one would think Brownstoner would know and honor. While I’m at it, it should be noted that the Tobacco Warehouse and the Empire Stores and the Empire Fulton Park, all lying along Water Street, are NOT in DUMBO. They too are comprised by the Fulton Ferry Historic District.

    Many people and community and historic preservation organizations have fought long and hard battles to protect and preserve the historic features of this small, irreplaceable enclave from the incursions of over-or-otherwise-wrongheaded development that would destroy what is left of this very special area right by the Brooklyn Bridge’s Brooklyn anchorage.

    It is therefore remarkable (and unfortunate) that Brownstoner fails to even include Fulton Ferry or Fulton Ferry Landing among those in its list of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It would be great if Brownstoner would add it to the list as it is a separate and distinct and distinctive neighborhood and historic district.

    It might also help if, before posting entries about Old Fulton Street or the park side of Water Street the author could do some fact-checking. I bet this could easily be done by going to the Fulton Ferry Landing Association’s website (http://fultonferry.org) and contacting its board via the contact link (http://fultonferry.org/contact/).

    Finally, thank you fultonferryres for correcting the other pieces of misinformation that appeared in the comments.

  3. Brownstoner: Old Fulton Street is not in DUMBO, It is part of the 1974 designated Fulton Ferry Historic District.

    @chrishavens You have repeatedly told mistruths on various posts on this blog regarding 11-15 Old Fulton Street. Brooklyn Heights did not come out against developer Michael Zazza converting these buildings to residential. In fact, the Fulton Ferry Landing Association was the group that objected to his original plans, but only because it was originally presented to us (in 2004?) by his lawyer Ken Fisher as an additional 3 stories. They then went to LPC with a modified design with a 2 story RTA, which was reduced further and approved by LPC as a one story addition in 2005. The BSA approved it as well, and the permit expires this year (it can be renewed). Michael Zazza flipped the property, and at a profit too. His decision had nothing to do with the community.

    @minard You are mistaken as well. The CPC has not insisted that Fulton Ferry buildings may only be used for manufacturing. Really, where do you get your facts from?

    @bxgirl We are not in the Heights either.