Open Thread Wednesday

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  • PeterB

    I’ve noticed “No Pets” signs have been posted recently all around Cadman Plaza Park. Does anybody know what this is all about? These signs are thankfully not posted around Walt Whitman Park. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c59c5bec4070a825b3936a5356d387b0a57fd7aabb93bbafc6832fda5bb6a8d0.jpg

  • AEB

    The interior(s) of 70 Middagh and its adjacent westerly building (still 70?) are being gutted. Does anyone know what this is about? Thanks.

  • CassieVonMontague

    My guess: Groups of dog owners have been using the astroturf in front of the war memorial as a dog park in the morning. In the afternoon, preschools and summer camps with hundreds of children play in the same area. Some adults probably noticed that the artificial grass smells like dog urine, and maybe a child even found some dog mess. So, the Parks Department, in its infinite wisdom, put up “No Pets” signs around the entire park because they couldn’t be bothered to specify the artificial grass. Just a guess

  • lois

    Beware a red-haired bearded young man who is going door to door saying he is working in the neighborhood and “noticed your roof need fixing” or some other work is needed. He is from C Johnston – my husband got suckered into hiring him a few years ago and the work was not satisfactory. He is not familiar with Landmarks rules or other city regulations. Today, he rang my bell and gave me the spiel, but when I asked for his card and saw he was from Johnson, I sent him on his way. He also told me he was working on a house which another company is doing.

  • CassieVonMontague

    70 Middagh sold in June for $4.5 million to Peak Capital Advisors. It looks like they renovate and rebrand multi-family buildings with names like “The Avery” and “The Lili” to attract higher-paying renters.

    https://www.peakcapitalre.com/

    68 Middagh is owned by Jonathan Holman who was named one of Brooklyn’s best landlords by Brick Underground in 2018

    https://www.brickunderground.com/rent/best-brooklyn-landlords-ny

  • lois

    I checked Property Shark for info – no indication it was been sold and no permits on file.

  • lois

    I checked 68 Middagh next door – last permits on file are form 2018. It seems the owner of that building used to own one on Willow Street.

  • CassieVonMontague

    This is a scam that has been around in the neighborhood for years. Someone once told me they are Irish Travellers.

    Post a photo of the card. Do you have a description of his van?

  • Andrew Porter

    It was posted as “Sold” in the New York Times “Recent Commercial Real Estate Transactions” article on July 7th:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/06/business/new-york-commercial-real-estate.html

    When I went by last week, they were removing the cast iron guts of the old boiler.

    I really, really hope they keep the ancient sign on the side of the building!

    From the Municipal Archives, here’s what the building looked like in 1940:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/62f5b331c60b2d61e5e4b7e5aafd7f6e74f2206dbffa901b33403254f736e320.png

  • Andrew Porter

    One of my last Old BH (and nearby) photos. This is the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Washington Street on August 12, 1915. The Myrtle Avenue “El” is long gone, Washington Street is now Cadman Plaza East, and the only building left standing is the cupola of Borough Hall in the distance:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/2cb73cfec1f12a0b2ad39c2cffc56e318fb6c0c54a7890c1398849e3abfbc546.jpg

  • AEB

    Thanks, all.

  • CassieVonMontague

    Forty-nine years ago, the idea of picking up after your dog abhorred dog owners in the neighborhood.

    May 26, 1972: Dogs Upsetting Brooklyn Heights

    https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/26/archives/dogs-upsetting-brooklyn-heights-petowners-object-to-plan-to-stop.html

    Mr. Garner and others attacked the cleanliness committee of the Brooklyn Heights Association, which has been encouraging dog‐owners to carry “pooper‐scoopers” and paper bags when they take their pets out.

    Robert Angus, a founding father of the Dog Owners Guild, said the cleanliness committee’s campaign was generating an anti‐excrement vigilantism in certain quarters.

    The guild spokesmen said they wholeheartedly agreed that dog‐owners should not allow their pets to foul the sidewalks. What they oppose is the idea that they should have to stoop down into the gutter to clean up the excrement.

  • Cranberry Beret

    FYI, NYPD has ticketed, stickered and booted a bunch of cars all across the North Heights for violating today’s alternate-side parking switch

  • Cranberry Beret

    AND…they’re all towed away

  • RickP

    Great photo. I hadn’t realized that the end of the Myrtle Avenue El, which I remember at Jay St, was not the original end. Until 1944 it went over the Brooklyn Bridge to Park Row. Per wikipedia. This picture is of a part torn down sometime between 1944 and 1953, apparently. I couldn’t pin that date down, but I remember that it was not there in 1966.

    Here’s a 1922 map which shows it.

    https://forgotten-ny.com/2019/02/hagstrom-brooklyn-1922/

  • BKHeights

    Anyone know what’s going in at 123 Hicks St.? There was a chiropractor office there before and it looks like it been completely renovated.

  • lois

    Their van clearly says C. Johnston Roofing & Waterproofing. Their card includes the phrase “Brown Stone Repair”

  • JaneonOrange

    Heights Pediatric is moving in

  • StevoNYC

    Not sure if this was mentioned anywhere in the blog yet but Le French Tart Deli just posted on Instagram that they are opening their third location at 44 Henry Street. If you haven’t been to the one in Park Slope or Carroll Gardens, you should know it’s a Francophile’s dream and will be a great addition to the Heights! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/080430efdb38f192215a1b1c90236c557a6cedff6b32fbe423630215df8aeb73.jpg

  • Effective Presenter

    WOW!

  • Effective Presenter

    Agree that sign for Flats is a valuable piece of a past era we hope that stays.

  • Andrew Porter

    Walked by New Model Cleaners, 64 Henry Street today, and it’s gone—space mostly gutted.

    They’ve been there as long as I have, though current owners bought it a decade ago or so.

    Also, Fascati Pizza is closed for their annual vacation.

  • RickP
  • Andrew Porter

    Nothing I haven’t already seen.

  • AEB

    You mean Plaza cleaners, right? Alas, Covid as well as former owner Jason’s departure, put the kaibosh on the place. It was hobbling along for many months, out-sourcing cleaning that was formerly done on the premises.

  • Sweeties

    Doh! Was going to get pizza tonight. No Fascati’s pizza for 6 weeks, or more.

  • Andrew Porter

    Was that the name? So that’s why a Google search brought up nothing…

  • CassieVonMontague

    According to the 2020 Census, it looks like Brooklyn Heights is growing!

    Brooklyn Heights Population: 25,092

    I’ll have to double check the 2010 census, but I think the population back then was about 20,000. If true, that would be a huge 25% growth. One of the census tracts includes the four blocks west of Court St between Joralemon and Atlantic, so I propose we start calling that area Brooklyn Heights as well for convenience sake (The realtors already do!)

  • RickP

    That’s right. I just thought it was interesting to see trains on the Brooklyn Bridge.

  • Jorale-man

    Huh, that area from Joralemon to Court isn’t Brooklyn Heights to some? But doesn’t Cobble Hill not extend south from Atlantic? At any rate, hope those new numbers get us something.