Open Thread Wednesday

By on October 22, 2024 10:56 pm in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

Share this Story:

Connect with BHB

Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates.

Related Posts:

  • Pineapple Street

    Can anyone tell me more history regarding 194 Columbie Heights? I know its current owner is Dr. Austin Moore, but I'm so supprised that it has been abandoned for so long. Is there any lawsuits filed?

  • Peter Scott-Thomas

    The building – truly a blight on one of the nicest streets in NYC – gets noticed and questioned (as you've done) periodically on this blog. Here's a recent instance:

    http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/97558

    Your question is so very reasonable! I think it's proof that "private property rights" – even if it seems like our City bests even places like Berkeley in passing laws governing EVERY aspect of life – are inviolable.

    That is, you may not be able to replace awful windows with energy efficient ones … if they "don't fit in," but you can effectively abandon your property, provided only that you keep paying City taxes.

    How does this make sense? I'm sure BHts has fewer properties like 194 than most neighborhoods. You'd think that the City Council – unanimous in its favoring more housing – would pass a law or 2 that reduces the risk of fires, rat-bites, collapses, crack houses, etc. by empowering building inspectors to put the public's interest ahead of those of the property owners.

    When a person poses a danger to himself or others, s/he can be taken off the streets. It doesn't happen often, but NEVER seems to be the mot juste when it comes to City-ordered demolition of buildings like 194.

  • Peter Scott-Thomas

    Clark St. subway station – Was it this filthy even in the bad old days around 1980?

    Has it been 5 years – 10 even? – since both doors facing Henry Street had handles and could be closed?

    Who is responsible for this "public space?" I'm told that a building owner can be ticketed if leaves accumulate on the sidewalk in front of a private home. NYC Transit employs thousands of "cleaners." Did the Clark St. station get an exemption?

    And does every mentally ill unhoused person have an absolute right to sleep or loiter wherever s/he likes? Yes, the problem goes way beyond "optics," but many tourists walk or ferry to Brooklyn and return to Manhattan via the Clark St. station. Do they have to see someone lying on the once beautiful floor where the elevators take them down to? I'm sure Calcutta is worse, even places in Seattle and San Francisco, but is NYC's Government keeping thousands of token booth clerks employed and air-conditioned while all but abandoning portions of its infrastructure?

  • Pineapple Street

    Very interesting. I would think that neighbors could file suit for some kind of saftey reasons (fire, homless squaters or building infrastructure issues).

  • Pineapple Street

    Completely agree. I was taking the elevator last week and when the doors opened there was a homeless man laying on the ground and smoking cigarettes! Station is gross. And what is with the vendors having air conditioners running with the back facing inside the station!! Isn't that toxic??

  • Banet

    All other concerns aside, the only thing that comes out the back of an air conditioner is warm air. Nothing else.

  • gc

    Regarding 194 Columbia Heights. I have lived in this street almost 49 years and that place still looks the same as in 1976.

  • MaggieO

    for extra fun, the expediter who filed the only job on the DOB record for this building (reduce from 6 family to 3 family) was Scott Schnall…
    there are several open liens on the property for unpaid violation penalties. What kind of lawsuits were you thinking would be filed?

  • Pineapple Street

    If the structure of the building was impeding/causing an unsafe situation for neighboring buildings. Or if tresspassing was happing and fires/damages could be made.

  • Jorale-man

    The story that went around here years ago was that the owner is a crazy psychiatrist who acquired the townhouse in a divorce settlement and wants to get back at his ex-wife, so he decided to let the place decay and become a public nuisance. Quiet a neighbor, eh?

    I think everyone would like to see a successful suit ordering the place be shored up and saved before it's too late.

  • MaggieO

    Many complaints have been filed with DOB about the building over the years, hence the liens for unpayed penalties, but it seems like the owner is doing the absolute bare minimum to keep out squatters and keep the building from falling down.

  • Red Leader

    Speaking of filthy things – our sidewalks are notably disgusting given our lack of rain. Particularly of note- Montague St, especially in front of Key Foods. Our feet were sticking to the sidewalk. Aren't they supposed to hose it down or something? Unbelievably gross.

  • Jorale-man

    This drives me nuts. We claim to be so proud of our historic district and beautiful homes but people can't seem to be bothered to hose down the sidewalks when they clearly need it. Also, the plants and shrubbery in front of many houses desperately need watering too. Some front gardens are all decked out with Halloween decorations right next to brown or drooping plants.

  • Nosey Neighbor

    The Bossert sidewalk is disgusting. It is stained with dog urine and dog feces. The smell is getting unbearable. Broken glass and garbage is often strewn on the Hicks and Remsen sides. Rain won’t even help because it is covered with a scaffolding. I keep putting off reporting to 311 because I think unless there’s piles of litter, Sanitation won’t write a ticket.

  • AEB

    The NYC subway system houses many homeless people. This should not be–that is, no one should (have to) live in a subway station. But it is so. In my experience the Clark St. station is better than many others regarding its homeless population–that is, there are relatively few homeless people in it. (See the West 4th St, station for an example of flagrant homeless habitation.)

    We, who live in one of the city's most beautiful (and tidy) neighborhoods, as well as one of its most costly, would do well to take the long view regarding the (few) homeless among us. I'm advocating compassion rather than condescension and quick judgement. There but for the grace of god…you know?