We received word that the Landmarks Preservation Commission Approved the redesign for 27 Cranberry Street. According to our source, They called it “inventive, harmonious with streetscape and of high quality. They agreed that the use of roman brick completely resolved the scale issue.” Continue Reading →
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Landmarks Preservation Commission Approves 27 Cranberry Re-Design
Coming Soon: Hotel And Housing Proposals for Brooklyn Bridge Park
While attention has been focused on the St. Ann’s Tobacco Warehouse saga, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation announced at a meeting yesterday that they will be issuing by the end of August a “Request For Proposal” for the hotel and residential housing buildings across from Pier 1. According to the Brooklyn Eagle:
Two buildings — the larger, northern one with hotel rooms, a restaurant, housing units and parking; the smaller, southern one with housing units and parking — will be built in a currently fallow area between the bike/walking path and Furman Street. The first, “Building A,” will be 100 feet high, and the second, “Building B,” will be 55 feet high.
The plan will contain 300 parking spaces, 170 to 225 hotel rooms, 150 to 180 housing units and 300 parking spaces. Among the criteria to be used in choosing designs are street trees, signage, sustainability and how the plan fits in with the surrounding area.
The BBPC cited the “economic recovery” as a reason to build — hotel occupancy increased from 81 percent in 2009 to 85 percent in 2010, and the average rate per room went up as well.
During the “Q&A” phase of the meeting, though, Judi Francis of the BBP Defense Fund expressed her opinion that the BBPC’s economic evaluation of the housing situation was unrealistic. “Fifty percent of the units at 360 Furman Street are still unsold”.
Also during the meeting, the BBPC board approved the licensing agreement with Jane’s Carousel. The Brooklyn Eagle described the approval as being “amid enthusiasm”, which leads me to put this question to you, our reading audience: Am I the only one who thinks Jane’s Carousel is gaudy and ugly as sin?
St. Ann’s Warehouse: Thanks For Your Support, ‘No Winners’ In This Saga
In an email sent to their mailing list, St. Ann’s Warehouse Artistic Director Susan Feldman thanked everyone for their support during the Tobacco Warehouse saga, indicated that they would be leaving DUMBO but have several options elsewhere, and that this is all due to the ‘callousness’ of the neighborhood and preservation organizations such as the Brooklyn Heights Association.
Feldman noted: “Despite what the plaintiffs in the case, led by the Brooklyn Heights Association and New York Landmarks Conservancy, might have us believe, there are no winners with this legal decision. In fact, everybody loses – New York City, the Public, St. Ann’s, and the fragile buildings with their uncertain future. We are grateful that the judge’s ruling did not preclude an alternative process for converting the structures, and we believe conversion will eventually prevail (despite the sad fact that a second lawsuit filed by the BHA still threatens restoration and adaptive reuse of the two historic structures).”
Feldman concluded the update on a hopeful note, expressing excitement for St Ann’s Warehouse 2011-2012 season, which will start with a “new Karen O psycho-opera, an assault on the tragic joys of youth, that will be directed by Adam Rapp”.
Full text of the update:
And So It Begins…Columbia Heights Sgraffito Restoration Project
The Columbia Heights Sgraffito Restoration Project officially has begun! As mentioned a couple of times before here at Brooklyn Heights Blog, the building’s co-op board had been looking to restore the unique sgraffito façade for years. Continue Reading →
Qfwfq Reports: BHA House Tour 2011
On Saturday I “got my inner WASP on” (as a friend cpmmented), and went on the BHA House Tour. The houses for this year’s tour seemed, from this person’s perspective, more understated than usual. There was little of the ostentatious displays of opulence that dominated the houses of tours past which always made one rush to Floyd for a stiff drink.
124 Willow, built in 1831 and renovated in 1885 by William Tubby, was the most impressive of the spaces, but its grandness only extended through the parlor floor rooms, as the rest of the home settled into an average feel. On the other end of the spectrum, the modern design and layout of 12 Sidney Place were not to our tastes, but the daughter’s loft space was pretty cool. 72 Hicks, with its fabric-covered walls, seemed to be a cleaner’s nightmare. Continue Reading →
Death From On High: Hawk Devouring a Pigeon In Brooklyn Heights
At around 5:50pm or so, a hawk was spotted eating what looked like a pigeon on Columbia Heights, between Pierrepont and Clark streets. A flurry of feathers fell to the ground as the bird of prey tore into its victim. Continue Reading →
Chop The Choppers: Heliport Press Conference Video
Today’s Helicopter Noise Press Conference, courtesy of Karl Junkersfeld.
WPIX-TV’s 6:30pm package after the jump. Continue Reading →
Crumbs Bakery Opening on Montague?
BHB Headquarters just received this tip:
My son has just reported that in the old Heights Books space, the cupcake bakery “Crumbs” is opening! I say YES!!
We are assuming this is the “Crumbs” Bakery chain that originated in NYC some years ago. Their Store Locations page doesn’t yet list a Montague Street address yet. Can anyone confirm?
Update (by Claude Scales):
It’s confirmed.Montague Street Fire: Aftermath Video
Karl Junkersfeld surveys the aftermath of today’s fire on Montague Street. There are conflicting reports in Brooklyn’s newspapers as to where the blaze began. Continue Reading →
Good Morning: “Smoke Condition” At Clark Street, 2/3 Trains Not Running
There’s a “Smoke Condition” at the Clark Street station, according to the MTA, which explains all the fire trucks at Henry and Clark. All 2 and 3 trains have been suspended between Chambers and Atlantic. People are being told to take either the A/C or the R.
Update: Service was restored.
Two Trees Snail Mail Spam
A tipster sent us this unsolicited letter they received today, from Two Trees Management, asking for support for their Dock Street Dumbo plan. Yelling “IT’S NOW OR NEVER FOR A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL IN DUMBO AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD’S FIRST EVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING!”, they ask the recipient to contact David Yassky immediately, and attend a hearing hosted by the NYC Council Subcommittee on Zoning & Franchises on Thursday, May 14th at 11am.
Sound intriguing? Would you like to subscribe to their newsletter? Contact Nora Mattingly at 718-222-2500 or at nmattingly@twotrees-dumbo.com.
Anyone else out there receive this mailing?
Super Discussion
So, the superintendent of our 25+ tenant co-op building has left for another job elsewhere (actually, he was “poached” by our own management company, but that’s another story), which has left us in a bind. We are torn between finding another on-site superintendent, who would live rent free in a studio apartment, or hiring some sort of janitorial/property maintenance company or companies to handle the building responsibilities and renting out the apartment. I’m wondering: What do you guys use? Does your co-op have an on-site super or have arrangements with some sort of service? Any recommendations? I keep seeing vans for “Square Indigo” around the neighborhood, are they any good?
BREAKING: Community Board 2 Approves Dock Street DUMBO Project
According to sources at tonight’s meeting, Community Board 2 gave their stamp of approval for the Two Trees’ Dock Street DUMBO project. The final vote was 30 yeah, 7 nay. More details to hopefully arrive soon.
Congratulations, Two Trees! Looks like the $180k spent on lobbying firms last year really paid off!
Continue Reading →
Film Shooting Alert Tomorrow: TV Show “Damages”
The TV show “Damages”, starring local celebrity William Hurt, will be annexing parts of Montague and Hicks Streets tomorrow, from around 5am to 9pm, though whether the scenes will feature Mr. Hurt is not known. A local tipster overheard they would start towing cars tonight at 10pm. So if your car is parked around the vicinity of Montague and Hicks, and you’re reading this before 10pm, Move Your Car Now! If your reading this on Saturday, and you can’t find your car, now you know why.
Damages started its second season on FX Wednesday night.
Fire Guts 67 Cranberry Street in Brooklyn Heights
BHB newshound BP sent in this photo of a fire at on Cranberry, between Henry and Hicks streets. No further details as of yet. Says BP: “I think that’s the one that’s under construction..” Update: this has been confirmed, it’s 67 Cranberry, which was undergoing a gut renovation. According to neighborhood photojournalist Marc “weegee” Hermann, it was a two-alarm fire, accidentally started by contractors in the building. Firefighters from Engine 205 said people were banging on the firehouse door to report it: Continue Reading →
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- Open Thread Wednesday, February 8, 2012 February 8, 2012
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214/216 Hicks Street Carves Out Space For Larger Tenant
February 7, 2012
- Lost Dog: Lili, a Shiba Inu February 8, 2012
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Morton’s Steakhouse On Adams Street Is Cooked
February 7, 2012
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Downtown BK’s Historic Offerman Building At Last Gets New Life Via TJ Maxx
February 7, 2012
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Montague Street, Meet Your New Starbucks
February 8, 2012
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Le Pain Quotidien Taking Shape
February 8, 2012
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Damascus Bakery getting some competition
February 8, 2012
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Downtown Skyscraper District: He Said/He Said On Landmarks Approval
February 8, 2012
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UPDATE: Shiba Inu “Lili” Is Home!
February 9, 2012










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