Open Thread Wednesday

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • EB112233

    I remember an earlier post on BHB that said the Brooklyn Heights Library wouldn’t have construction on Saturdays. For a while it stopped, but seems to have started up again. Does anyone know what happened here? Any place to go to log it aside from 411? Thanks!

  • CassieVonMontague

    you mean 311

  • EB112233

    Yes I do – apologies on the typo but do you know what other options there are?

  • KXrVrii1

    Check the permits that are posted, I think they usually have a number to call for the general permit, and there may be a specific permit relating to weekend work.

    Plus, its kind of fun to watch the foreman get nervous as you slowly read the permits and take pictures of them!

  • CassieVonMontague

    Does anyone know if “Pete” on Willow Street has moved? I used to see her on her stoop, but not anymore. If I had time I would sit and she would tell me about old Brooklyn Heights: iceman deliveries, debutante balls, and Mayor Laguardia. I’ll have to share those stories on here someday, but for now, if anyone knows her, tell her she is greatly missed.

  • http://www.yotamzohar.com StudioBrooklyn

    Is she the one who was out on her stoop on Halloween with a huge bowl of pennies, passing them out to the kiddos? I thought that was super interesting. (Truly, no judgment intended!)

  • St. Georgette

    Hi – she passed away a few months ago. Someone posted it on an OTW comment. I think her last name was Valentine and she was 91. She always had treats for the passing dogs. She will be missed.

  • T.K. Small

    Is there any information on the reopening of the “bouncy bridge” down to Brooklyn Bridge Park?

  • http://www.yotamzohar.com StudioBrooklyn

    This very publication has reported on the ongoing closure of the “boring bridge”, as it must now be called since it was almost completely un-bounced: http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/87088

    In summary, it has been closed more than open, and we should expect it to remain closed indefinitely or until, as one clever commenter suggested, a new view-obstructing condo tower is approved.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7nPOzGeyaw Arch Stanton

    311 is all you need. Just ask for the Department of Buildings, ask if a “After Hours Variance” has been filed for that address. An AHV needs to be filed/renewed for every Saturday they work. If they are working on a Saturday without an AHV, alert the DOB and they will shut them down.

  • Peter Darrow

    I learned last night that the Pierhouse residents have been told that the “special” wood used turns out to be defective and failing. They have been given no word on next steps or timing.

  • Banet

    For all the people who post hear that the residents of those condos were behind the bridge being closed, I have first-hand knowledge from multiple condo residents that they are the audience who most wants the bridge to be reopened. None of them enjoy accessing the shops and subways or Brooklyn Heights by having to go out of their way to Fulton Landing. They all much rather take the picturesque bridge that leaves him closer to the center of the Heights and without climbing the very steep hill.

  • Andrew Porter

    Speaking of ancient memories, when I first moved here there was still a mounting block—for stepping into a carriage from the sidewalk—on Cranberry Street, but it eventually disappeared.

    Incidentally, on October 1st I will be in my apartment for 50 years. I bet my landlord won’t be celebrating the day.

    And here’s another Old BH photo from my files; I scanned in the slide recently. Anyone else remember the old Promenade Art Show? Note: I still have a couple of those t-shirts:

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/64b5c0bbedac19d0b09096aa1e56936e32d74e53bc2e8a84e21792f41ed457eb.jpg

  • Robert Perris

    Saturday work is permitted between 10 am and 4 pm. No After Hours Variances have been applied for since last year.

  • winchell’s cavanaugh

    was just talking about those art shows, made Mother’s Day special

  • Eddyde

    Remember it well, my mom showed her paintings there for a few years. It started out as a real art show, featuring local artists but eventually morphed into a cheesy, flea market scene.

  • Eddyde

    Thank you, that makes perfect sense.
    Why anyone would believe otherwise is beyond…. Oh Wait…

  • JaneonOrange

    Remember it? It was my first job–my brothers and I sold lemonade, soup, coffee and donuts from our converted baby carriage. We walked up and down the promenade each day of the six weekends. Prices ranged from $.25-$.50 over the course of the years and we made friends with many of the artists, like Chuck, who gave me a lapis necklace I wore to work earlier this week! Ah…memories.

  • Teresa

    From Brooklyn Paper’s Julianne Cuba’s Twitter timeline. Will post more info as it becomes available.

    “The city may have to shutter the Brooklyn Heights Promenade for 6 years during construction of the BQE, according to @NYC_DOT project manager Tanvi Pandya.”

  • Cranberry Beret
  • Teresa

    Thanks! Politico has it, too, and Brooklyn Paper will cover it. Will get something about it tonight or tomorrow.

  • Andrew Porter

    I just received unhappy news about this year’s Cranberry Street Fair. Marian Buonocore wrote me, “We’ve decided to wait until 2019 for the next Cranberry Fair. We’ll be having planning meetings once a month starting next week; that way it’s not a mad rush at the end.”

    For more information on future events, contact

    info@cranberrystreetassn.org

  • Eddyde

    Bracing for flood of NIMBY comments.

  • gc

    I suppose you think that this travesty is just fine?
    Paving over the Promenade and its garden for at least 6 years (will probably be more like 10 years by the time it’s done) with 6 lanes of the BQE. You can’t really live here and feel that way. Can you???

  • Jorale-man

    Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of ill will towards Heights residents, at least online. The minute we’re seen trying to protect our neighborhood and quality of life, the old “nimby” critique is raised.

    If there was ever a time to rally our neighbors over something, it’s now. A six-lane highway in place of the promenade should not be accepted lying down.

  • Eddyde

    I’m a life long resident of Brooklyn Heights. I don’t like it either but realistically it is the best plan. Sometimes you have to think about the common good instead of only your self-interests.

  • gc

    Is it really the best plan?
    I remember when Robert Moses had what he considered to be a great plan for the same roadway.
    Sometimes you have to stand up for what’s in the best interests of your neighborhood.

  • Eddyde

    The Moses plan was permeant, this is temporary. The BQE is a critical highway not only for the city but the entire region. Impeding the traffic flow here would be a disaster. Imagine vehicles backed up from Jersey to Connecticut, every day for 8 years, to maintain a view?

  • gc

    Temporary is a relative term. Since we now find ourselves tearing down the BQE it seems obvious that Moses’ plan wasn’t actually a permanent plan.
    On the other hand, for those of us of a certain age (you’ve been here more than 50 years and I’ve been here more than 40) this plan may very well turn out to be permanent. At least permanent for us.

  • KXrVrii1

    Can it really be NIMBY if they are fixing something that is already in our back yard;-)