Despite City Council approval February 1 of the Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District, which designated 21 buildings along Court Street as a new landmark district, the debate continues in an Op-Ed He Said/He Said piece in the Brooklyn Courier. Commentary is offered from supporter Philip Magnuson, chair of the Brooklyn Heights Assn. Landmark Preservation Committee; and opponent Steven Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York. Continue Reading →
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![Bloomie, Marty Attend Shake Shack Opening in Downtown Brooklyn [Video]](http://brooklynheightsblog.com/wp-content/themes/canvas/functions/thumb.php?src=http://img.youtube.com/vi/GlMr4lqFY1Y/0.jpg&w=210&h=*&zc=1&q=90)
Downtown BK’s Historic Offerman Building At Last Gets New Life Via TJ Maxx
The beautifully historic but long-suffering Romanesque revival Offerman Building along Fulton Street Mall is at last getting the facelift it so deserves. As H&M continues its new-construction two-story glass modernist build-out next door, TJ Maxx will open a downtown Brooklyn store at 505 Fulton Street, according to signage that appeared within the last week.
Imagine Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani having presence on Fulton Street (albeit last season). This long-promised renaissance may well take hold, after all, Continue Reading →
Morton’s Steakhouse On Adams Street Is Cooked
Morton’s The Steakhouse at 339 Adams Street (next to the Brooklyn Marriott) has shuttered, due to “shifting demographics.” The national steakhouse chain was purchased by hospitality company Landry’s Feb. 1; hours later, the company closed down the high-end eatery and stripped off its signage. Continue Reading →
Boo Hoo! White Castle On Willoughby Is Dethroned
Stepping outside the borders of Brooklyn Heights in search of a wickedly delicious heap of Sliders & fries—and most important, free soda refills—has led me more than once to the dirty, decadent, painfully slow-moving White Castle at 29 Willoughby Street (between Pearl and Jay streets just off Fulton Mall). Well, no more: Sadly, the joint has shuttered. Continue Reading →
After Eight Years, BK Detention Center Reopens This Week
It may not be as swanky as the annual BHA House Tour, but hundreds of locals attended an open house Saturday at the Brooklyn Detention Center, located within a whisper of Brooklyn Heights at 275 Atlantic Avenue off Smith Street in Boerum Hill.
The event, where carrot cake and coffee were served, is part of a city PR campaign to stave off fears about the jail’s reopening this week, after being shuttered in 2003 because of budget cuts. Continue Reading →
NY Daily News Weighs In On Downtown Landmarking: “No Good Reason”
The New York Daily News published a to-the-point Opinion piece titled “The Battle Of Brooklyn” condemning the proposed Brooklyn Downtown Skyscraper District, which is heading for a full City Council vote February 1. The five-paragraph story calls the bid to protect the 21 buildings “transparently nonsense.” Continue Reading →
Downtown Brooklyn “Skyscraper District” On Track For Approval
Despite vehement opposition from segments of the local real estate community, the downtown Brooklyn “Borough Hall Skyscraper District” is on track for approval by the New York City Council. On Tuesday, January 24, the plan offering landmark protection to 21 buildings that abut Brooklyn Heights, was given a go by the Council’s landmarks subcommittee, all but ensuring the entire Council will ratify it Feb. 1. (See BHB’s previous Jan. 19 post here.) Continue Reading →
Spike Lee’s “Red Hook Summer” Sinks At Sundance
Spike Lee’s new Brooklyn-based film “Red Hook Summer,” which had its first public screening at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah, Sunday, January 22, garnered pretty chilly reviews, at best. The coming-of-age flick about a boy from Atlanta who lands in Brooklyn to spend the summer with his unknown grandfather, was produced by Fort Greene, Brooklyn-based 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks. Lee shot it for $1 million in 19 days. Continue Reading →
REBNY Amps Efforts To Quash “Borough Hall Skyscraper Historic District” Landmarking
The Real Estate Board of New York is amping its drive to derail the still-tentative landmarking of 21 buildings in downtown Brooklyn, by sending out a mailing to thousands of area residents urging them to bend City Council’s ear against the newly proposed historic district. In addition, on Friday, REBNY sent a letter to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn urging the Council to rethink the decision.
All landmarked districts require final approval from the City Council and mayor within 120 days. The Council vote is slated for Feb. 1, with two hearings scheduled next week. Continue Reading →
Wall Street Journal Reports Building Boom Is A’Coming To Brooklyn
The Wall Street Journal today reports that “Brooklyn Is Set For A Building Boom” in an article that claims residential developers are running out of zoned space in Manhattan, so setting their sights—and sites—on the borough.
A report by Nancy Packes, a consultant to city developers, says, “Brooklyn has in the early planning stages as many as 14,000 new residential units, compared with Manhattan, where just 5,000 new units are in the planning phase.” Continue Reading →
The New York Times Reports on Jed Walentas
The New York Times profiled Jed Walentas of Two Trees Management over the weekend. In the piece by Marc Santora we learn among other things that the heir to the Walentas empire is pals with Donald Trump and that Bruce Ratner doesn’t think the kid is chopped liver. And just in case you didn’t think there was any tension between those down the hill in DUMBO and folks up here in Brooklyn Heights… Continue Reading →
DOE Proposes P.S. 8 Middle School Expansion
We previously reported that the City’s Department of Education was seriously considering expanding P.S. 8 to include a middle school that would be sited at Tillary Street and Tech Place in downtown Brooklyn. This morning, State Senator Daniel Squadron announced that the DOE has decided to go ahead with this plan:
Last night, DOE answered the calls of the community and formally proposed the expansion of P.S. 8 to include a middle school. Continue Reading →
Shake Shack Grand Opening
I make no bones about my love of Shake Shack—yes, the lines are long, but I will happily endure for their burgers. I even missed the first pitch thrown at Citi Field because I was waiting for a Shake Shack Burger. And I’d do it again. Especially because what have the Mets done for me lately?
Having said that, I completely forgot about Opening Day of Downtown Brooklyn’s Shake Shack until I saw Councilman Stephen Levin’s pics of the Burger Summit on his Facebook page. I was out of my apartment faster than you can say, “But what about the blotter, Heather?”
Bloomie, Marty Attend Shake Shack Opening in Downtown Brooklyn [Video]
Shake Shack [409 Fulton Street] has arrived and not a moment too soon for this writer. Before locating on Fulton and Adams, I had to trek to Battery Park City to get my Double Burger with French Fries (100% free of artificial trans-fats and made from Yukon Gold potatoes, 25% less fat than average fries) and chocolate Hand-Spun shake eaten with a spoon. Yes, these shakes are thick enough to be eaten with a spoon and every spoonful is delectable. Shake Shake doesn’t come cheap though. A burger, fries and shake will cost close to $20 but it is worth every penny.
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Mayor Mike Bloomberg and others were on hand for today’s opening. Video after the jump. Continue Reading →
Shake Shack Opening This Week Sparks Chatter of Downtown Brooklyn Restaurant Row
BHB reader “Anna” writes:
Looks like the Shake Shack on Fulton Mall opening is imminent. Just walked by a little while ago — the “art project wall” is down and the menu is up. Peaked through a tear in the brown paper covering the glass windows and it looks all shiny and 95% read to go – plus quite a few people scurrying around looking very busy. Per an article in the NY Post, they are slated to open on Tuesday, but there is no announcement on the Shake Shack site.
That NY Post piece by Rich Calder bangs the drum about Downtown Brooklyn becoming a foodie heaven. Now before you scoff, gufaw or chuckle behold this passage:
NY Post: Also on deck is The Marrow, a new German/Italian restaurant by chef Harold Dieterle of “Top Chef” fame, slated to open in March at 231 Duffield Street, in a new hotel aptly called Hotel 718.
Check out the full list of eateries coming to Downtown Brooklyn (DoBro anyone?) here.
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Brooklyn Bugle
- Brooklyn Bugle Book Club: “The Discovery of Slowness” by Sten Nadolny
- Brooklyn Bugle Book Club: “What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank” by Nathan Englander
- #BackintheDay: The Beastie Boys’ Paul’s Boutique
- March Forth: CFAF Offers Heights “Family Walking Tour”
- Missed Connections at NY Transit Museum on Valentine’s Day
- Brooklyn Bugle Book Club: “The Stranger’s Child” by Alan Hollinghurst
- Brooklyn Bugle Book Club: “In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson
- Transit Museum Introduces New Discussion Series “Problem Solvers” with guest Sarah Kaufman
- Brooklyn Bugle Book Club: “The Thorn and the Blossom” by Theodora Goss
- Transit Museum Plans Day for Special Needs Kids January 22
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Open Thread Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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UPDATE: Shiba Inu “Lili” Is Home!
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The Brooklyn Bugle’s Knishes Preview at Brooklyn Heights Cinema a Success
- Lost Dog: Lili, a Shiba Inu
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Montague Street, Meet Your New Starbucks
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Le Pain Quotidien Taking Shape
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I Want Candy? 20 Henry Condos At Last Hit The Market
- Squadron Eyeing Run for Borough Prexy?
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Damascus Bakery getting some competition
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- Squadron Eyeing Run for Borough Prexy?
- Here’s Looking At You, Brooklyn
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The Brooklyn Bugle’s Knishes Preview at Brooklyn Heights Cinema a Success
- Pet Adoption Event Sunday
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UPDATE: Shiba Inu “Lili” Is Home!
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TONIGHT! Preview of Heather Quinlan’s “If These Kniches Could Talk”
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I Want Candy? 20 Henry Condos At Last Hit The Market
Nabe Chatter