Open Thread Wednesday

By on March 13, 2024 12:09 am in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • Nomcebo Manzini

    Anybody know what’s happening with the Northern part of Cadman’s Park? What’s left to do, when it’ll re-open? Days like yesterday and today remind one about just how lucky BH is in terms of its green space…. One wishes that the Dept. of Parks got a giant upgrade in terms of leadership. Squibb Park could be GREAT. Instead – unless one plays pickle ball – it’s under-utilized, to be understated.

  • Banet

    If I had to guess, they are leaving it fenced off so that the sod has a chance to take root over the spring before it gets trampled by crowds and dogs.

  • disqus_n3NxchRudM

    Lots of towing in the neighborhood; cars in loading zones/fire zones being towed, and cars on the wrong side of the street being towed/ticketed more. FYI.

  • Mimi

    My husband asked some workers who were in there and they said they’re keeping it closed till May. Currently they’re just tending the grass.

  • Nomcebo Manzini

    Anybody know how “booting” works?

    Passed an “immobilized” car yesterday and had to wonder. I get the “punishment” part, but how does it relate to keeping streets clean – if at all? Who does the booting? How does one free one’s car? Cost? What’s it cost if you’re towed? What’s the incidence of each – hundreds per day city-wide? Thousands?

    Extra credit question – what are the pros & cons of each in terms of “public policy?”

  • disqus_n3NxchRudM

    https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02054 is a good guide. If it’s an NYPD boot, you have to call and have the boot removed, and pay $185 as opposed to the typical $65 ticket. They used to really only boot for unpaid tickets; Now they boot and tow for parking:

    At a bus stop
    In a no standing zone
    In a no stopping zone
    On the sidewalk
    In a crosswalk
    Blocking a pedestrian ramp
    At a hydrant
    Double parked
    Blocking a driveway

  • MaggieO

    to follow up on that – if it’s a DOF boot for unpaid tickets, you can call and pay your balance at which point the boot will unlock but then you have to take it back to the tow lot.
    if you get booted and towed then you pay the ticket, the boot fee, and the impound fee (i believe that’s a daily charge) but at least the street can get cleaned! just booting definitely doesn’t help in that moment with getting the street cleaned.

  • Nomcebo Manzini

    Thank you both. The o.p. here – with his/her “FYI – they’re towing” just might be winking (in a – to me – unfunny way) at the reality that some car-owners so appreciate the free parking NYC basically offers that they view the occasional ticket as a small price to pay. But insofar as it makes what is far from a clean city quite a bit filthier, I’m glad that this type of enforcement happens on occasion. Plus it must recover quite a few stolen vehicles.

  • Andrew Porter

    Walking around BH yesterday, saw that the Promenade side of 194 Columbia Heights, aka the mystery building, has been totally cleared of vines. You can actually see that gorgeous stained glass window in the first floor again.

    The Cateo is back: air conditioner housing on the first floor of 35 Pineapple Street once again contained a dark gray cat, observing the passing parade (and the birds, I presume).

    Meanwhile, here’s PS 8 in a photo from I presume the 1940s. Only the street lamps have changed (and maybe the trees):
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6deb7181c878fc565a900e863f2937b27f37aee15d7052064629e773562f5256.png

  • Andrew Porter

    And here’s Poplar from Hicks to Columbia Heights (taken from Henry), with PS 8 just out of view at left:
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1ed723b0b44ca226c19dd016b397b143bfe41a48373f8f85111b0c1dc22b86c8.jpg

  • Karl Junkersfeld

    https://www.brownstoner.com/history/past-and-present-poplar-street/

    Nice article from Suzanne Spellen about this area back in the day.

  • Nomcebo Manzini

    Yes, lovely article, but …

    Sure would have been nice if somebody actually tried to capture the same angle. I’m pretty sure that if one stood on same spot Ms. ABBOTT did way back when and positioned one’s camera as she did, one would not have much *empty sky*. Rather, one would probably see different tall buildings on the Manh. side.

    More importantly, did others note that Biden gave a speech (yes, of the “promise ’em anything” variety; would he even TRY to get such a thing through even a Dem.-controlled Congress?) in the last day or 2, stating that he’d like to “fix” cities that had highways built (a la our 278) that cut through neighborhoods.

    Not sure we’ll ever see a “green” cap on more than a spot or 2 where some builder gets to go 10 stories higher for doing that work.

    I wonder why, in fact, there’s nothing like the building that straddles the highway leading to the GW Bridge on that long (trench) stretch of the BQE. It’d have amazing views. “Windows that open” are, of course, nice but not essential.

  • Andrew Porter

    There is a similar large building on the Brooklyn side of the approach to the Verrazano Bridge.

    There have been numerous proposals over the decades to cover over the trench with parkland, etc.

  • Banet

    1. I spy the Grace Court Alley Lending Library in that photo! It’s pretty empty as of a few minutes ago so why not do some spring cleaning and drop off a few books?

    2. Speaking of those books, I would like to correct a common misconception. You do not need to leave a book if you want to take a book. It is not about making an even trade.

    If you see a book you want to read… take it! If you have a book in your home that you no longer want… drop it off.

    3. That said, while it’s fine to take a book even though you’re not dropping one off, it is not ok to take 10 or 20 books all at once. I suspect there are a few people who empty the entire thing out. That’s not cool. :-/

  • MaggieO

    Former Amy’s Bread location on Henry has a liquor license (wine, beer, cider) posting on the door under the name CBG77 which appears to be Cafe Buon Gusto (formerly of Montague Street)

  • Banet

    Yuck. Always thought the food was deeply mediocre. Here’s hoping it’s new operators just trying to leverage some nostalgia.

  • Brixtony

    This is the third time I have posted this: the parks department website says that the Northfield will be opening in May 2024. My dog and I are looking forward to it.

  • Andrew Porter

    Claude, a word about the building in the heading: a few years ago they were restoring the exterior, and discovered when it was renovated decades ago (before Lndmarks!), a lot of different colored brick was used. So instead of leaving it with a mottled appearance, they just repainted the exterior.
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/58d3eafde2306e06140e3e68463d114648ceb9fbed1e2c3133032dbf3d7a8580.jpg

  • Banet

    I confirm. I always wondered why it was painted. The first floor is red brick. The second floor is white brick!

    Fun trivia: the woman who lives there is the widow of the once-Managing Editor of the Wall Street Journal (he lived there too but passed away at least 15 or 20 years ago).

    Who did they buy it from? The previous Managing Editor of the Wall Street Journal.

  • Nosey Neighbor

    And he was from Iowa. Mayor Adams would’ve told him to go back.

  • SongBirdNYC

    Also, Squibb Park is in limbo until the BQE plan is solidified.

  • clarknt67

    I agree it appears Cadman park north has been done for a while. But they are probably allowing sod to establish itself? Abolitionist Place Park in downtown Brooklyn has been apparently done for a while but blocked off. I am wondering if Parks is waiting for the trees to leaf before grand opening. Can’t say I blame them, I might do the same. No second chance at first impression.

    Squibb is more complicated by its part in the BQE repairs. Were it not for the repairs, they would probably have begun its conversion into a public swimming pool. But given we don’t know what is going to happen with BQE, it’s understandable they aren’t going to put a lot of landscaping effort into it. For now people seem to be enjoying the pickleball courts.