Open Thread Wednesday

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  • Nomcebo Manzini

    Tree Pits! Not a lovely sounding phrase, but just as we can’t NOT think about trash, they are an urban necessity. To see what happens when one is ostrich-like, walk down Henry to near Montague, and you’ll see – it’s been months now – an owner who obviously wants to avoid getting sued, but seems equally averse to dealing with a maintenance issue that “spills over” into a hazard to those of us who walk in the Heights.

    What’s WORSE is that the BHA *has* an initiative to deal with just this type of situation. I can’t imagine that they pay for the work, but they make it about as painless for a property owner as can be.

    Everybody hates nuisance taxes and ticky-tack tickets (2 inches here or there), but LET the city raise money from the many bad actors out there wherever possible. Whoever – and it happens to be right outside a children’s playspace – SHOULD have dealt with this months ago KNOWS that they should. If putting it off costs nothing, many more months (years ?) will go by with no remediation. Meanwhile, if anyone knows how once can “snitch,” please let me know. Can’t imagine the 84th even has jurisdiction over an offense like this, but a $250 ticket would get someone’s attention.

    One more question – whose responsibility IS this? If it’s the owner’s (as I think it is), who’s the owner?

  • Andrew Porter

    Here’s a list of what GrowNYC will accept, and their hours at Borough Hall, on Thursdays and Saturdays:

    https://www.grownyc.org/clothing

    I think I’ll use them, instead of Goodwill.

  • Andrew Porter

    I think it’s ironic that the two buildings there—one at Hicks/Pierrepont, the other Hicks/Montague—are so different. They’re identical in appearance, but the former is a rental whose facade desperately needs cleaning; the latter is a coop, with wonderful plantings.

    The plantings at the former are due to someone who loves to garden. The building management apparently doesn’t care. Maybe they received a violation for the condition of the edging.

  • Andrew Porter

    The BHA has a tree program. I donate to it, and they pay professionals for tree maintenance and trimming. If you have complaints about tree limbs or bed maintenance, you can complain to 311.

    I talked to the BHA, and they plan to expand the program of enlarging tree beds. They won’t do this where there is bluestone sidewalk paving.

    You can also call 311 or go on line to request trees be planted, though this can take up to a year.

  • Jorale-man

    Good observations – I never noticed that those are identical buildings, probably because the one is so grimy. Nice though that resident of the rental is apparently taking the initiative with the plantings.

    There’s a row house at 139 Joralemon that’s in similarly rough shape, next to another building (137) with nicely manicure hedges around it and a restored cornice.

  • StudioBrooklyn

    I think the original post was about the rather amusing, although probably dangerous, sidewalk disruption outside the entrance to the Kids Club on Henry between Pierrepont and Montague.

  • FoodArtforKids.com

    Anyone has any information about the exercise group that meets around 6 or 6:30 am in Cadman?

  • B.

    Ditto. The Bossert was known in its heyday as the “Waldorf-Astoria of Brooklyn.”

    Author Barbara Cooney’s family built it, and she grew up there. She retired to Damariscotta, Maine.

  • MaryT

    Can anyone recommend a dentist, preferably one who accepts Emblem with reasonable copay?

  • DIBS

    I always used Dr. Steve Wong, 158 Court St. Not sure if he accepts that.

  • Hicks on Hicks

    What’s not to like about a gold spray painted trashcan?

  • StudioBrooklyn

    I thought it was fabulous.

  • Andrew Porter

    The empty two story building is in the Landmarked area, so any construction there is limited to 50 feet in height—like what happened with the Sleepy’s (now Mattress Firm) store.

  • Andrew Porter

    I didn’t say that a resident is doing the plantings. I have no idea where she lives.

  • Andrew Porter

    I use Drs. Moshman, etc., at 89 Remsen Street. No idea whether they accept Emblem; I have it, but pay full price. More info here:

    http://moshmandental.com

  • Jorale-man

    Apparently one of the Jehovah’s Witnesses secret tunnels around Orange Street has been filled in. Story here:
    http://www.brownstoner.com/neighborhood/brooklyn-heights/jehovahs-witnesses-brooklyn-heights-tunnels/

  • Shrek

    The nightmare that is 70 Willow is at it again. They cut down a perfectly healthy london plane tree friday morning. These people have created a major nuisance in the area. How much more will they be allowed to get away with. The worst neighbors on the planet. Go away to the hamptons soon please you limey losers.

  • Andrew Porter

    All of the tunnels have been filled in. You’ll note that the article on Brownstoner (and the one on the Eagle) quote someone named… Andrew Porter.

  • gc

    Where have all the garbage pails gone on Hicks between Joralemon and Pierrepont?

  • clarknt67

    The Famers Market at Borough Hall has a kiosk that collects clothes. They recycle them for the fabric, they do not resell them. Still a good purpose.

  • clarknt67

    Yeah. I just discovered it. I volunteered there for a while and was told (not that long ago) the store was quite profitable. Sad.

  • AEB

    …and farther North as well. But they returned, then disappeared again for a day–and are back. Again.

    As they say online, WTF?

  • Born in Bklyn Hgts

    I am just testing this post as my posts generally seem to get lost.