Photo: Fulton Ferry Landing Association
As you may have noticed, there has been some positive action on 11, 13, and 15 Old Fulton Street, thanks to continuing pressure from concerned residents, preservationists, and our elected officials. Contractors have been cleaning out the buildings so as to reduce the load on the structures, under the supervision of the DOB’s forensic engineering division. This will likely continue for the next week or so. (more…)
BHB photo by C. Scales
Flickr photo by Jonas Bengsston
occipital lobe via flickr
The Brooklyn Paper features an update on Bob Diamond’s quest to tear down the wall he believes hides a locomotive from the mid-19th century. More on the story after the jump. (more…)
Karl, Heights history buff extraordinaire, gives us a visual tour of Pier 4, lying below and just to the north of the foot of Montague Street, showing its bustling past as an essential element in a commercial and industrial waterfront, its disuse, decay, and present decrepitude.
Brownstoner photo
Brownstoner reports that after much fuss and LPC arm twisting, Arby’s has called it quits at 372 Fulton Street. The fast food chain had meticulously crafted its interior to preserve the landmarked Gage and Tollner space but clearly it didn’t attract enough business to keep going. The store opened in January of this year.
Maybe the guys at the Brooklyn Paper were right when they tasted Arby’s offerings on opening day. Their verdict – bleeech!
Flickr photo by lumierefl
The NY Tiimes looks at Brooklyn’s turn of the century social clubs, including Brooklyn Heights’ Crescent Athletic Club, in today’s edition: (more…)
Courtesy DumboNYC
A source close to the situation told us that 11-15 Old Fulton are going through the process of what is called “demolition by neglect”, which means that the City is trying to compel the owner of these buildings to maintain the property so that they do not deteriorate to the point where they will have to be demolished. Allowing buildings like this to deteriorate to that point is a tactic sometimes used by landowners who deem it cost-ineffective to renovate the existing structure, and who would prefer to raze the building and start over.
Regarding 9 Old Fulton, the owners submitted an application for a “hand demolition of one story structure”. They are probably going through the approvals process in preparation to construct a new building on that site.
All in all, sounds like the resolution—whether it’s demolishing the buildings or waiting for them to crumble—will take awhile.
Here’s more about Old Fulton (and New Fulton) from Forgotten-NY.com.
BBPCC rendering of proposed alternative use of Tobacco Warehouse open space
The BBPCC, a coalition of neighborhood groups and supporters of the park, states that, “the Tobacco Warehouse should remain a stabilized, architectural ruin, activated with enhancements that allow it to be a flexible, public, multipurpose outdoor space accommodating a wide variety of activities, and not dominated by one use or group.” It includes proposals for enhanced use of the space as well as a historical perspective from Francis Morrone.
Read the full document after the jump. (more…)
Photo: Chuck Taylor/SmokingNun
Homer’s pal/Brooklyn Heights resident/ Celine Dion expert / journalist/ biographer/ census worker Chuck “the Smoking Nun” Taylor takes a walk down Fulton Street and contemplates. He also Photoshops a few pictures (above) to look like Superfly-era snapshots:
Smoking Nun: Its gentrification is an ongoing work in progress, but for now it is still inundated with electronics vendors, 99-cent stores, wig & weave stores, bargain emporiums and pawn shops. It is truly a snapshot of what Manhattan resembled in the 1970s—which I look back upon with fondness. The opportunity to surround myself with a strip of retail that has not be overrun by chain stores and Mayor Bloomberg’s clean sweep of the middle class is a daily fascination. I simply cannot pass by without camera in hand.
Nabe Chatter