Open Thread Wednesday 3/25/15

Montague street is looking pretty sad these days. Trash all over the place, empty retail shops, disregard for aesthetics, a vacant and painfully slow restoration of Bossert Hotel with no plans of a tenant. Why? There’s no reason for this neighborhood to receive such poor grocery and retail options. Mediocrity is not in this neighborhoods DNA, however that’s all I see anymore. Dear Montauge BID, please clean up our streets and bring change to our mediocre retail options. Dear Bossert Hotel, please attract a quality tenant that will give you the renovation you deserve. Perhaps like dignified development of The Marlton Hotel (marltonhotel.com) with quality dining and entertainment options.

We deserve better.

Some of the grunginess of Montague can be blamed on the residue of a rough winter, especially the rusted metal staircases. On on the other hand, why doesn’t someone do something about the filth of the little lot behind what used to be Andy’s and is now the abandoned Dumpling joint? It’s a disgrace, and I saw a big rat frolicking there last week.

what does the Montague BID actually do? Aren’t they supposed to “improve” our district? I don’t see much improvement.

The only objective of BID’s is to be an unelected responsible to no one power base…its not about delivering services..,..

Montague has always been sad. it does not attract good quality restaurants at all.

The writing is on the DUMBO wall, and it has been for quite some time, for DUMBO and other neighborhoods that are undergoing radical surgical removal of community organs and any affordable vestiges. Here’s how DUMBO was described in the NY Times, “The neighborhood is really the amenity,” Mr. Walentas said. That said, there is a justifiable worry that as the rents soar and artists move far away, the powerful landlord/developers could easily endanger beloved bakers of heavenly croissants and heavenly chocolates. The question is: What is a neighborhood?
For some, it’s only an investment opportunity, not a place to live.

You are right, and the list can go on and on — Old Hungary, New China Teacup, Womrath’s, Rozelle’s, Kazootie’s, and even Lenny’s, the Promenade, etc, etc. Obviously, there have been tons of changes over the decades, but even though there were always some negatives or brief downturns in the Heights, I still think it was more resident-focused years and years ago. But there sure are oodles of snazzy new coops and condos, and the foot traffic on Joralemon and elsewhere is such a bonus :(

yes…LENNY’S in the original location was the best!

Talked to some fire guys today, I asked them how are they going to fight fires in the high rise yuppie roach motels they’re building downtown, and (very) shortly (due to the planned inaction by “your” representatives) they want to ring the Heights with.

“Well, the water has to work” So I asked what happens if the water supply fails or goes less than adequate… like what happened at the St George…and given the wonderfully substantial construction of the

They just rolled their eyes…

Two of the fire crew counted off the fires which have already happened in the
dwtn high rises…..I thought of people who family members have bumped into
who gush how “arrived” they all feel in their new 40 + floor apartment with its “spectacular” views for their children. At which point my entire head, not just my eyes, starts rolling….

Because there is no history of fighting fires in other area of NYC with high rises??????

While not on Montague, I miss Magnetic Field: anyone remember that live music bar on Atlantic? Place was great, I always met great people when I was there (in my single days). Neighborhood could use a spot like that again!

Unrelated to Montague Street, some interesting news today about a big new art project at Brooklyn Bridge Park:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/27/arts/design/brooklyn-bridge-park-to-display-danish-artist.html

Remember when Mary Weiss (Shangra La’s) appeared there?

I was always hoping for Link Wray to do a show there…

We were driving up third avenue minutes after the explosion. We passed 7th street as police, fire and ems were screaming to the scene. Fire and especially smoke were explosively being driven into the sky. It was absolutely the worst incident of its kind since WTC in smaller scale. It really looked like a gate to hell itself had opened.

At 13th street a group of black sedans with blacked out windows came up to police lines, told to stop one figure got out and ordered police to admit them They showed ID and were quickly given access. The cars were from the ATF….

We had a business meeting just below 23ed Street and just after we arrived our entire building became filled with smoke.

Now what would happen if this exact scenario occurred in one of the vertical roach motels downtown or, worse, the towers the RE “industry”/big banks want to ring the Heights with? With the wonderful levels of fire containment and structural integrity of built-to-a-budget engineering….imagine the TOXIC discharge into the Heights….

Still think wild upward building sprees with no increase of public safety resources/safety technology is fine?

Well take a look at what just happened at 7th Street folks….

Perfetto! This reminds me when Zorba the Greek says to the intellectual Englishman:
“You think too much, that is your problem.”