Open Thread Wednesday

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

Share this Story:

Connect with BHB

Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates.

  • Mark C

    Any news on the pool that is supposed to be installed at Squibb Park? I think the BHA had a meeting about it in the fall, but I don’t recall any mention of it in the annual BHA meeting. I did noticed that BBP said they are installing pickleball courts at pier 2…. presumably since the Squibb ones would be gone if a pool was installed? But no other mention of the pool on their site either…

  • kizz

    Alice’s Tea Shop To-Go opened back up after closing this past fall and having an uncertain future at this location. The are located at the SE corner of Hicks and Middagh. Their hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 8am to 4pm.

  • CassieVonMontague

    Filled in JW tunnel on Willow St between Clark and Pineapple keeps caving in.

  • MaggieO

    yikes… that doesn’t sound good…

  • CassieVonMontague

    Lincoln Restler is fighting aggressive eviction tactics by a local landlord.

    “Their business model is sickening,” Restler said. “They understand that rent-stabilized tenants have some protections, but that tenants living in units that are not rent stabilized can be evicted with 30 days notice.”

    “Last night, I visited a 28-unit apartment building in Brooklyn Heights, on Pineapple Street, and it was eerie, because 25 of the units were empty,” Restler said. “Only three rent-stabilized tenants were living there. I think they had all been there for about 50 years.”

    I think he is talking about 75 Pineapple, but I am not certain

  • Andrew Porter

    I’ve bought delicious pastries there recently.

  • meschwar

    I have to talk myself out of it every day after PS 8 drop off.

  • Andrew Porter

    Unlikely, as too small. Perhaps 35 Pineapple, at the NW corner of Pineapple and Hicks? This, which was emptied and renovated a few years ago:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/63735d3679c40708deb1933d286f2c8e727e3ae90ec8be2e088a57930791bea2.jpg

  • Andrew Porter

    Nearly all my Old BH Photos have been posted. Might have to start posting my own photos! Here’s a photo of Jay and Willoughby Streets on Nov. 27, 1927, with then/now photos in the reply:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f13f98924f2fba93674bb755522eaa4f69d7a3b359f5bca6f4eb65b4395778f1.jpg

  • Andrew Porter
  • Andrew Porter

    I suspect that any excavations, etc., would have to wait on redevelopment of the BQE Cantilever. But BBP has, time and again, disregarded the area they’re in, so…

  • Andrew Porter
  • Alex

    I noticed this weekend that there’s a new spot open where Jack the Horse used to be but it has no storefront. I want to look it up online, does anyone know the name of the restaurant? It looked pretty packed but with awful acoustics.

  • jbkh

    Ingas Bar

  • CassieVonMontague

    The management company mentioned in the article manages 75 Pineapple, and does not manage 35 Pineapple. That’s what I’m basing my guess on.

    Thank you for linking to the article. I couldn’t without it being flagged as spam.

  • Andrew Porter

    I walked by 75 today and looked at the windows (behind all the pigeon poop) and agree with you now: definitely not 35!

  • Andrew Porter

    Much discussion of the place here, esp in last week’s Open Thread, including menu.

  • RickP

    Great picture. Enlarged, it reveals three people in an interesting posture. One is wearing knickers, which was standard for the kids of the time. I have that on good authority – my father told me — he was 8 that year. The other two, overcoats and hats. Odd looking body language. Worth a glance.

  • William Gilbert

    Can anyone tell me why ALL of the historic street light fixtures area all below Montague Street. Not a single historical fixture is above Montague Street. What city agency, or entity, or person or organization is responsible for this and when, if ever, will the North Heights see the installation of historical street lights.

    Was the Heights Association involved with this? Was it the City? Who made this obvious decision to exclude the North Heights when the South Heights, Cobble Hill, Atlantic Avenue all have Historic light fixtures? The absence of this lightning above Montague Street is glaring and seems intentional. Can anyone elaborate?

  • CassieVonMontague

    They got a federal grant ($400K) and city money ($250K) to install some Bishop’s Crooks in 2014, but they never got the total $2.7 million to install them in the entire neighborhood.

  • RW

    Has anyone checked out the cafe inside the Watermark yet? They have a sandwich board out front offering coffee, breakfast, and lunch but no word of it on their website.

  • I Love Food

    Any update on the lobster roll shop or fried chicken opening on Montague? Hungry neighbors are eagerly awaiting these delights.

  • Jorale-man

    That is especially odd given that the older part of the Heights is up around the fruit streets.

    I’ve also noticed that more than a few have been burned out this winter, leaving streets like Sidney Place pretty dark at night.

  • Andrew Porter

    I got this message from the Montague Street BID:

    “Starting around May 1, the MTA will begin work on the Court Street R Station to replace the existing elevators with new ones that will be more efficient and safer.

    “The station will remain open for regular use, but the three stairwells at Montague Street & Clinton Street will be closed. You can access the station from the Court Street entrance. The project is expected to be completed by early Fall 2022.

    “On the north side of Montague Street (in front of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church): The MTA and contractors will occupy approximately 45 feet in the street with traffic cones. This is a legal no-standing zone so it will not affect any legal parking spaces.

    “On the south side of Montague Street, 75 feet of the parking lane/sidewalk going towards Henry Street will be barricaded off for use by MTA. A 7-foot sidewalk will be maintained at all times. Work will not affect access to any building or store.

    “Work will take place Monday-Friday, 7 am-5 pm. Noise is not expected to be an issue, as work will be conducted on the mezzanine level of the station.

    “Here’s hoping that this project runs quickly and smoothly and that everyone is patient as access to the Court Street R station is upgraded.”

    I hope the Clark Street elevators will have reopened by then. I suspect Claude will make this a separate post.

  • ws gilbert

    That is beside the point. A federal grant has nothing to do with the placement of ALL of the historic lights BELOW Montague Street. Something is fishy here! Who made the choice as to where the light were placed? Something is rotten in Denmark!

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

    Yeah but the landlord has a better haircut!

  • CassieVonMontague

    If this video doesn’t convince you to buy 13 Cranberry St for $9.995 million, nothing will.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXgJ4tuc-sM

  • JaneonOrange

    Has anyone got news on the time/temp sign? It seems to still be there, but has been off for months…

  • nomcebo manzini

    BLESS YOU. WHAT A FIND! If they had room for an 11th “best picture” on Sunday, this would be a real contender! Talk about “best of breed.”

    But let’s make this great thing – I wonder if it’ll spawn imitators – EVEN BETTER (“bigger” is that in this case…. If there’s anybody but me who has a screen > pocket-size.) Hope the possible commercial “look” of this link won’t get the post yanked. (If so, I’ll re-post with a pithy “see it on the Compass website. Scroll down to the Play triangle!)
    https://www.compass.com/listing/13-cranberry-street-brooklyn-ny-11201/1008619592238141145/

  • nomcebo manzini

    I’m with you. Here’s an informative link (I suppose one can hope that since it dates back to “just before Covid,” the last page of the story has yet to be written:)
    https://patch.com/new-york/heights-dumbo/welcome-message-replaces-brooklyns-iconic-watchtower-sign

    I’m guessing that even a project with a pricetag with 9 digits has some cheapskate involved who asks, “Does it generate any revenue?”

    But an older NY Post story hinted that once a “lead tenant” signs on – C’mon Google, Brooklyn is where it’s at! – its name would flash – courtesy of an LED display.

    If Lara B. reads this, SURELY the BHA could notch another big win by making a couple of phone calls. Maybe, it’s anti-environmental with all those incandescent bulbs, but I have to think that some broker would love to say “30 Columbia Heights is where the time & temp sign is!” and expedite a lease or 2.