Ward's Watch: Prepping By The Parapet
While there haven’t been signs of backhoes, cranes or other tools of the trade on display at Ward’s Bakery when we’ve checked in on it the past couple of mornings, yesterday we did spot some workmen of some sort surveying the scene of last April’s parapet collapse. Meanwhile, we’ve been hearing more whispers questioning whether…
While there haven’t been signs of backhoes, cranes or other tools of the trade on display at Ward’s Bakery when we’ve checked in on it the past couple of mornings, yesterday we did spot some workmen of some sort surveying the scene of last April’s parapet collapse. Meanwhile, we’ve been hearing more whispers questioning whether Ratner’s really got the dough in this environment to get the project done. As one developer told us, “I don’t see how it pencils out.”
Closing Bell: Ward’s Bakery Demolition Imminent [Brownstoner] GMAP
Ward’s Bakery Collapse: The Photos [Brownstoner]
Oh come on, 1:54pm. Either you are completely ignorant about the area, or you are willfully ignoring what’s there currently and what’s already been lost. As I stated, the Ward Bakery is a gem. On the same block is a large former industrial buildings that had been prepped for conversion to loft apartments (the yellow bldg with red window trim). Then there’s the former Spalding bldg on Pacific and 6th Ave which was already functioning as a condo. Also the Dean St bldg where internationally reknown artist Louise Bourgeois had her studio, along with other artists, musicians and artisans. Then there’s the condo bldg on Pacific Dan Goldstein still inhabits. Additionally there is a row of handsome brick-fronted 19th century townhouses on Dean St that are scheduled for the wrecking ball. In the years btw 1995-2003 a great deal of very positive, building-by-building change took place in the area. Hardly a dump. Everyone who lives locally knows that the blight that existed previously was related to the MTA-owned and maintained land (eg. the foul corner of Atlantic and Flatbush) and that the new blight has been created recently by Ratner’s demolitions.
You’re right. He’s lucky. Whatever it takes to make this project a reality.
yes but luckily for us he has our money to finish the project.
Agreed 1:15 and 1:28. As legal options dry up, opponents are grasping at whatever rumors they can find. Face it, folks, this battle is over and you have lost.
12:58, what makes you say that political support for AY is waning? Re: decimation, if Ratner were demolishing the southern part, such as lower Vanderbilt, Park, Prospect, Sterling, etc., then I would concede your point. But aside from the south side of Dean Street between Flatbush and 6th Avenue, the rest of the footprint has been a dump for decades.
I love how an affidavit meant to persuade the courts to move faster–in other words, phrased to obtain a desired result–is now proof-positive that Ratner does not have the money to do this project. Laughable.
“Ratner’s decimating our neighborhood in spite of not having the money to rebuild it.”
Oh yeah. That area looked MUCH better before Ratner arrived.
Whenever I look at the Ward Bakery, I think about two very similar, recently restored local terra-cotta buildings from the turn of the last century: BAM and the Prospect Park Boat House (aka the Audubon Center). Yeh, yeh, I know all you Ayn Rand followers are gonna chime in with your screams to “tear it down, tear it down” but it could’ve been saved and it could’ve been gorgeous. Ratner’s decimating our neighborhood in spite of not having the money to rebuild it. And, btw, the political support for this project is starting to ebb away.
D-O-N-E-D-E-A-L!!!
The meltdown continues!
BTW, I tood a good look at the “Environmental Impact Study” on the ESDC website yesterday. It is almost completely bogus! Sad.