Open Thread Wednesday

Last week, I spoke to someone affiliated with the building L&B Spumoni Gardens is supposedly opening up in. The scoop is that location was going to be their first franchised out location. That person that was going to run that first franchise bailed at the last minute to do something else at some other pizza parlor. So, there was some litigation going on. Now, Spumoni Gardens will be openings it up all under them as a second location – not franchised out. They just recently made the entrance handicap accessible, so things are still moving forward here.

Thanks for both of those updates. I’m still aghast at the non-action re the 194 Columbia Hts building. This is Google’s first link – check the author and date:
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/tag/194-columbia-heights

… but in the good news camp, I see that work IS resuming at 1 Monroe Place. While Lincoln Restler has done some great things and certainly serves his big constituency more than capably, it’s unfortunate that he’s dropped the ball on one item he campaigned on and one that affects all of his district & the City as a whole. The former is reforms in connection with empty storefronts. If – as I’ve read – it makes economic sense for owners to NOT RENT an empty space, we need legislation. Restler said as much when he was campaigning. Why nothing since he was elected?

On the 2nd point, with rats a genuine health problem, derelict buildings like 194 C.H. should not stay that way for 10-20 years. True, real estate money plays a big role in the occasional seriously contested City Council race, but remedial legislation has a shot at passing unanimously. Plus, it would create jobs & housing – what’s not to love?!

Yep. That was what Councilman Restler proposed. One has to assume that he learned quickly that it either couldn’t pass … or that it would get stuck in litigation for at least 8 years, at which time he’ll presumably be serving us in Albany, DC … or maybe be Public Advocate.

Here’s an architect’s drawing of the addition to 124 Columbia Heights, from July 24, 1946. Photo by the Wurts Bros.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/daecca2043a4c004bbafdd067a7be2702e53bd0cd07cdf2c9b4f1fa92f141d46.png

I noticed that the broken windows were covered up. Which means that someone actually went inside and lived to tell the tale. How that hasn’t been declared a public safety hazard yet is amazing. I guess brownstones were built to last crazy, neglectful owners.

Poppy’s, a cafe/market/catering business based in Cobble Hill at 243 Degraw Street (https://www.poppysbrooklyn.com/) is opening a second location in Brooklyn Heights at 48 Henry Street where Cranberry’s used to be.

Looks GREAT (in photos) – have you shopped or eaten (location #1 is said to be a cafe/market) there? … If some of the spaces at Cranberry & Henry are said to be “jinxed,” the opposite is true of the old Cranberry’s location – a neighborhood favorite for at least 20 years!

If appears the R station on Montague has reopened after a (much-needed) power wash and elevator replacement: https://bronx.news12.com/brooklyn-heights-subway-station-gets-much-needed-makeover

No need to knock it down. It probably will require a full gut renovation but the brickwork appears solid enough in any rate can be reinforced.

Must reading if you care about the BQE. Short on pretty pictures that the author calls “eyewash,” but VERY long on all sorts of facts:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/23/nyregion/brooklyn-queens-expressway-repair.html

If a non-trivial number of readers say, “Couldn’t get past the NYT paywall,” I’ll provide a non-NYT link (which I obviously don’t have as of now.)

Yeah, landlords with empty storefronts in this city definitely would need more “motivation” to rent out their spaces.

I hope you’re right there! It would be a tragic outcome otherwise.