Open Thread Wednesday

By on February 5, 2019 9:44 pm in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • Jorale-man

    A group of preservationists is looking into suing the city over the BQE project (followed by the predictable anti-preservationist comments from Curbed readers).
    https://ny.curbed.com/2019/2/5/18211927/brooklyn-new-york-bqe-road-construction-lawsuit

  • Nomcebo Manzini

    Anybody have a report (i.e., have eaten there) on the new eatery/drinkery (previously a garage ?) roughly across the street from Shake Shack/Fulton Ferry?

  • Brixtony

    It still amazes me that people don’t realize that the Promenade will have to be closed whatever the plan is because it is crumbling. The best plan will rebuild it quickly, minimize extra traffic through residential streets and maximize the interstate aspects of the highway. In real life however, I’m not that optimistic it being completed (or even started) in my lifetime and I’m a reasonably healthy 72.

  • Banet

    Does anyone know what’s the deal with the very quick and dirty stroller/wheelchair ramps at various curbs around the neighborhood? For example, the corner of Hicks and Remsen. One of the 4 corners has asphalt built up into ramps that lead from the sidewalk down to the street. One ramp for those crossing Hicks, and one ramp for crossing Remsen. But there are no corresponding ramps on the other side to get back up onto the sidewalk. I also noticed one of these on…. Henry and somewhere.

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

    Agreed.
    Sadly as of now, the best solution, the tunnel, has little support. That only leaves the “innovative” as the next best (for all concerned) viable plan.

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

    All that will achieve is wasting time and money. The City has eminent domain and will ultimately complete the project however it deems best. Frivolous lawsuits will do no good.

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

    Why don’t you go and check it out and let us know if its any good. C’on take one for the team!

  • Cranberry Beret

    There are other laws that apply to this situation besides eminent domain…

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

    Yes, even more of a reasons the lawsuit is doomed.

  • A Neighbor

    Let me guess. You’re not a lawyer.

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

    Let me guess, you’re not living in reality. LOL

  • Jorale-man

    I hate to say it but your beloved “innovative” plan is dead on arrival. The city needs to come up with some better solutions, including giving serious thought to the one that the BHA proposed.

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

    LOL, you don’t pay close attention (sadly typical these days). I am in favor of the Tunnel plan not the innovative plan but do think the latter will ultimately be the one chosen by the city. The BHA plan has not been determined viable by any engineering or cost studies therefore not an option at this time.

  • Andrew Porter

    It wasn’t really a garage. It was originally a gas station, then became a place that repaired sports cars. It had a gas pump, and to discourage customers put a price of something like $5 a gallon on it.

  • Andrew Porter

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/462ec5bc02a7f2055b0efe96f7321b530e4120dba3af6c0b55cea8ccd6a93986.png
    Courtesy the Municipal Archives, above are the buildings that now hold the Promenade Restaurant, the cleaners and Teresa’s Restaurant, from 1940.

  • brooklynbull

    Thanks for the fasinatimng image.
    Amazing how much of this corner has survived on the 2nd floor exterior.

  • DumboDude

    Why isn’t anyone talking about “lane by lane”? Not super familiar with the plan, but can’t a modified (i.e. accelerated) version of that plan address the need to build a 6 lane highway as well as keep the road out of BBP?

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

    It was, It’s fairly common to refer to a place that fixes cars as a Garage.

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

    The lane by lane or “traditional” approach would create massive traffic backups for many years. Bassicallly

  • KXrVrii1

    Lane by lane would take longer, no matter how much they try to expedite it, and would ultimately lead to more diversion through the Heights and other residential neighborhoods (especially with Waze style GPS becoming more and more mainstream.)

    But, I would bet dollars to doughnuts that is what we wind up with, and the “innovative approach” is a red herring.

  • Teresa

    It was definitely a garage. Well-known local guy ran it; used to be on Gold St, then Fulton Ferry, then moved again. As I recall, the pricing was somehow beyond Dave’s (the owner) control. Did repairs on all kinds of cars, including mine, and routine maintenance as well. Great guy and great crew. Sorry they’re not in the neighborhood any longer.

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

    Promenade Restaurant? I guess you haven’t been by that corner in a couple of decades.

  • brooklynbull

    Another typical example – NW corner of Jpar;emon & Clinto – no grading at all, just a steep step up.
    For someone with any degree of mobility impairment – dangerous in the extreme. Someone will eventually get hurt, sue the city, and the city will pay a large settlement which will get added into our NYC budget shortfalls.
    Infrastructure improvements aren’t just the BQE billion dollar projects – a few dollars could fix this.

  • Sheila Kaplan

    Yes, Urban Classics certainly was/is a garage & I still use them. Here’s a link to their website & address: http://urbanclassicsautorepair.com

  • mac

    It is owned/run by the same folks who have River Cafe…don’t know much else about it

  • Teresa

    I haven’t used them since they moved, but they were terrific. Kind and accomodating in an emergency, and the work was top-notch.

  • Philip Wilentz

    Hey folks, Nabeguy here. Yes, the prodigal son (or traitor, if you prefer) returns. Regardless of my exodus from the Heights, it will always be in my heart, which finds itself in true distress over the situation you find yourselves in. I won’t weigh in with an opinion as to what I think the best option would be; as an ex-pat I longer bear that right. But I am encouraged by the debate, the fervor and the furor that is evidenced in the posts I’ve read. Maintain your spirit, maintain your fight, and most of all, maintain your neighborhood

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

    You can weigh in as far as I’m concerned, after all your still on the same sandbar, aye?