Open Thread Wednesday

By on January 31, 2017 11:27 pm in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

Share this Story:

  • Jorale-man

    A couple interesting updates on Heights real estate here. The “prince of the promenade” is no longer for sale:
    https://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/2/1/queen-brooklyn-heights-houses-sale-prince-promenade-not

    Also, a report on the house at Schermerhorn & Clinton that’s been all boarded up for several months. Apparently, it’s being converted from rentals to a single-family home again and they’re looking to add a garage, pending a public hearing:
    https://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2017/2/1/plan-add-garage-149-clinton-st-brooklyn-heights

  • AEB

    This works–I just did it and received a reply with fifteen seconds:

    Text your zip code to 520-200-2223. You’ll receive a reply text that shows your federal and state senators’ and representatives’ names and phone numbers

    Many of us already have this information–but others, and those outside of our zip code may not. Spread the word.

  • Andrew Porter

    Pardon Me For Asking has a post about what to do with your dog while you’re shopping. Put it in a locked Dog House:

    http://tinyurl.com/jh4rndg

    Also, here’s an Eagle article about various places, some for sale, some not, in BH:

    http://tinyurl.com/z774osv

  • Andrew Porter

    Old postcards of Brooklyn Heights, one of a series from the Eagle: Brooklyn Club, Clinton and Pierrepont Streets:

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/694f6a3ea77d1a2039a95b579c9b61eeb5b3abc48a6b9ac14dd87ffb3974e309.jpg

  • Jorale-man

    I gather that was pre-Brooklyn Historical Society.

  • Andrew Porter

    That can’t be right; the BHS (former LIHS) building is Much Older than that.

  • middaghmatron

    Anyone know of an outdoor track somewhat close to BH? Looking to do some speedwork and it would be nice to have some measure of distance.

  • Bob Grobe

    I found these articles using the TimesMachine.

    “A Club Dies; So Does Part Of Brooklyn

    ….the Brooklyn Club….The club began in 1865, meeting in a building at Pierrepont and Clinton Streets. (Opening festivities were canceled because of Lincoln’s assassination.)….”

    The New York Times, Sunday, January 24, 1999

    “Brooklyn Club Counts 90 Years”

    ….The club was organized with a membership of fifty in April, 1865. Its original home, on the corner of Clinton and Pierrepont Streets in Brooklyn Heights, was occupied until 1915.

    Then the club moved to its presents quarters at 131 Remsen Street….

    The New York Times, Sunday, April 10, 1955

  • Jorale-man

    You’re right. That must have been the east side of the street, maybe where the modern high-rise now stands. Otherwise, you’d also probably see St. Ann’s in the background.

  • Andrew Porter

    No, I think it’s where the Crescent Athletic Club was, now St. Ann’s School. The NE corner was the bank, this postcard:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a683515537c128e83f4200d4fbf9c403854e3715529fa82cc8b6a1f72ac9cfe0.jpg

  • Jorale-man

    Wow, what a shame that wasn’t saved. A real tragedy what happened to some of the blocks east of Clinton – Remsen is another case in point. At least they’ve landmarked the remaining old buildings on Montague.

  • Bob Grobe

    Perhaps this helps…

    “….The club…was founded in 1865 and its first clubhouse was at the old Greenleaf School, a private seminary for girls at the corner of Clinton and Pierrepont Streets….”

    “Exclusive Club Finding Mansion a Tad Too Spacious,” The New York Times, Sunday, September 11, 1994

  • cool

    The running track around cadman plaza park used have markings. I’m not sure how many remain, but you could take a look to see if it serves your needs.

  • Bob Grobe

    Some history with photo from BPL…

    Greenleaf’s Institute [picture]
    No one has rated this material
    Imprint [18–?]
    Description 1 photographic print : black & white, gelatin silver ; 4 x 5 in.
    Call # SCHL 1636
    Cite As: Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection.
    Summary Architectural rendering of Greenleaf’s Institute with inscription: “Institute for Young Ladies on Brooklyn Heights established in 1837.”
    Note Cropped and retouched.
    On verso: date inscribed: May 30/36.
    Title from inscription on verso.
    http://catalog.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/search~S63?/tgreenleaf/tgreenleaf/1%2C9%2C13%2CB/frameset&FF=tgreenleafs+institute&1%2C1%2C

    Brooklyn Eagle.
    Copyright restrictions apply to the use of this image. For more information or to obtain a photographic reproduction of this image, contact the Brooklyn Collection at Brooklyn Public Library: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/brooklyncollection/purchase-photograph-print
    Indexes Folder: Schools: Private: Greenleaf’s Institute
    Subject Private schools — New York (State) — New York.
    Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.)
    Brooklyn Heights (New York, N.Y.)
    Genre Architectural drawings.
    Gelatin silver prints.
    Photographic prints.
    Renderings.
    architectural drawings (visual works).
    gelatin silver prints.
    photographic prints.
    renderings (drawings).

  • DCJ

    The nearest 400-meter track is in Redhook on Bay St. between Henry and Hicks. However, it can be a little deserted there at times. Some of the local running clubs have workouts there in the evenings, so you might want to hook up with one of them or go with a friend. If you want to stay in the Heights, the outer perimeter of Cadman Plaza Park (on the sidewalks) is almost exactly .5 miles around. It’s about .4 if you follow the track inside the park.

  • Andrew Porter

    I did not get the image from the BPL. I scanned in my original postcard, part of an extensive collection of NYC and other postcards.

    I have not had any objections to posting of any of these scans from the current owner of the Brooklyn Eagle, upon whose site I’ve also posted images.

  • Andrew Porter

    Yes, a really gorgeous building; when razed, the below-ground vault was left under what became a parking lot. When the builders of 1 Pierrepont Plaza began excavation, they discovered the vaults, which had to be removed at great expense.

  • Bob Grobe

    Andrew, I wasn’t referring to your posting the image of the postcard. The info I shared goes to a completely different image on the BPL site I thought might be of interest. No controversy on this as far as I’m concerned.

  • middaghmatron

    Thanks all!

  • BGN24

    Anyone know why there is a police car 24/7 at the corner of Henry and Joralemon?

  • henryrez

    yes wondering this myself….

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    I do intervals on the Promenade. By my GPS measuring, it’s almost exactly a third of a mile end to end.

  • Andrew Porter

    Maybe because of problems with people going to/from BBP?

  • Andrew Porter

    DNA Info reports that Monday morning, a boy on a scooter was hit by a car at Cadman Plaza West and Middagh Street:

    http://tinyurl.com/jgr5prw

  • BGN24

    I don’t think so…it is winter and the foot traffic has decreased and the complaints this summer didn’t yield such a strong result…I am thinking maybe a high profile neighbor.

  • ColumbiaHeightster

    Agreed. It is there in the early morning too, which probably wouldn’t be related to BBP foot traffic.