House of Detention Back on Radar, Bigtime
While the possibility has been floated a few times over the past year or so, today’s NY Times article on the likely reopening of the Brooklyn House of Detention on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Brooklyn takes the situation from Def Con 1 to Def Con 3 in a single day. Evidently, the inmate population has…
While the possibility has been floated a few times over the past year or so, today’s NY Times article on the likely reopening of the Brooklyn House of Detention on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Brooklyn takes the situation from Def Con 1 to Def Con 3 in a single day. Evidently, the inmate population has been swelling much faster than anticipated and, if current trends persist, could reach a tipping point by Summer that would necessitate reopening the 760-bed jail. Not surprisingly, some residents ain’t thrilled by the idea. “We really would prefer it not to open,” said Sue Wolfe, president of the Boerum Hill Association, adding, “It hurts the merchants; it hurts the people that live and work here.” How much of The Smith is already sold and what kind of impact will this news have? It’s our sense that everyone knew this was a possibility but that most didn’t think the city would really throw such a wrench into the gentrification boom.
Brooklyn Jail May Reopen [NY Times]
anon @2:17- We were farther away from the jail than 75 Smith and my roof garden was a small area facing south, like the penthouse terraces will be. We had one story structure housing the stairs to the roof between the actual garden area and the prison. You can look all this up on satellite mapping. The inmates still could see us and the catcalls and BS went on almost everytime we were up there, including the 4th of July during the fireworks. Why the inmates get to watch fireworks, I’ll never know. The yard is on top the roof of the building, not the garage and has 360 views. I’m sure that the inmates will have a much better view of 75smith than of my old roof.
I bought my old apartment with no money down in 1990. The deal was the reason we rationalized the then fairly dreary local. That and I was 24 and no money was exactly what we had. And, while I miss all the restaurants and shops that finally came to the area, I really don’t miss living next to the prison. I sure as hell wouldn’t pay 1.1M for the experience at 75smith.
Let me understand this. The City shuts down the HOD for renovations. Renovations cost the City a whopping $50 million. And for some kooky reason neighborhood folks were under the impression that either (a) the City would close the jail down permanently after spending a fortune; or (b) the City would sell it to an ex warden turned developer who made the $50 million jailhouse renovation (for nostalgic reasons) a condition precedent to closing? I don’t get it.
John Ife brings up a fantastic point – not only parking on the sidewalk but double parking, blocking streets, etc.
I’m much more concerned with the cavalier and totally illegal activity of cops parking on sidewalks in the area than with the return of prisoners. If I were stupid enough to drive to work I’d have to pay for parking. Why should any City employees be treated any differently?
John Ife
i don’t undertsand why prisoners get 360 degree basketball court views in a renovated building in the first place.
So the jail re-opens because the city needs the capacity — what are ya gonna do? But kudos to Crown HeightsProud for highlighting the truly shocking revelation in this story: “…cleaning crews would need several weeks to remove debris left from a renovation that has cost $50 million…”. Our taxpayer dollars at work, my friends!
The yard on the roof – is that on the roof of the garage on Smith? – or on top of the building?
BTW – the penthouses for 75Smith face south over Atlantic Avenue and not toward jail.
‘Cells’ wouldn”t seem to be have view of Smith Street. From yard maybe -but I doubt of terraces on penthouses.
Wow 2:17. You’re really tap dancing.
The jail windows themselves aren’t even transparent if I recall. The yard on the roof however, looks like it has majectic 360 degree views of nabe.
Anon @217
-sorry but 251 Pacific is actually much further than 75 Smith since Pacific is on the FAR side of Atlantic from the jail.