Brooklyn Heights Blog

This photo, taken on Sunday, November 9, from the western tower of the Brooklyn Bridge, shows trees and greensward on the riverside flank of Pier 1.

On Monday, November 10, workers were laying sod on the eastern flank of Regina Ridge, as seen fom the Promenade. More photos and text follow the jump. Read more »

Inclement weather prevented your correspondent from making his usual Brooklyn Bridge transit this morning, but a break in the rain late this afternoon allowed for a few shots from the Promenade.

There, peeking over Regina Ridge, are Pier 1’s first five–or is it six?–trees. More are soon to come, I’m sure.

Removal of the decking from the southernmost part of Pier 1 continues, exposing the part where the “A” and “C” train tunnel runs underneath, so no pilings were driven there. More photos and text after the jump. Read more »

Earlier this year, a reader suggested that it would be helpful, from time to time, to compare the most recent image with the earliest one. Here is the photo of the north end of Pier 1 taken from the east tower of the Brooklyn Bridge on February 27, 2009:

BHB photo by C. Scales

Here’s a shot from the same location taken this past Tuesday morning, October 20:

More photos and text follow the jump. Read more »

Karl  Junkersfeld writes about his latest opus: Read more »

Brooklyn Heights own Ken Burns, Karl Junkersfeld continues his video report on Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1.  Check out part one of Pier 1 and a walking tour of Pier 6.

Instead of the usual comparative pix of Piers 1 and 6 (for what’s going on there now, you need to see Karl Junkersfeld’s videos of his tours of Pier 1 and Pier 6), here are three photos, all taken on Tuesday, October 13, that show new stuff going on this week.

Demolition work has begun on the southernmost of the warehouse buildings inland from Pier 1.

Meanwhile, timbers are being removed from the lower part of the building. These may be from a now-extinct (but plentiful when the warehouse was built in the 19th century) Southern yellow longleaf pine. This wood will be used for park benches and other fixtures. (Another photo and more text after the jump.) Read more »

Karl Junkersfeld, our very own moving image documentarian of Brooklyn Bridge Park, delivers another look at the soon-to-be oasis on the East River.

Here are some of last week’s stories… you know… in case you missed ‘em:

Hate Note Found on Street in Brooklyn Heights

Park Progress: Twenty Ninth Report

84th Precinct Police Blotter – 10/9/09

Despite Setbacks, Tea Lounge Owner Not Giving Up on Brooklyn

Markowitz Announces Progress on Gay Center in Brooklyn

Annual Howl-o-ween Doggie Costume Parade/Contest, Sunday, Oct. 25, 1-3pm

Brooklyn Heights Man Thinks Letterman Handling Sex Scandal Well

and don’t forget :

Win a Brooklyn Bugle T-Shirt

From Cobble Hill Blog:

Smith Finest Deli open for business

New mani/pedi spot

Plotzing Over Henry Public Opening

Ronny the Seltzer Man is Back!

The empty retail space at One Brooklyn Bridge Park (360 Furman Street), the former Watchtower building that has been converted to luxury condos, will soon be filled if the efforts of RAL Companies and Affiliates, who are charged with marketing the space, are successful.

The Real Deal: More than two years have passed since developer RAL Companies & Affiliates began marketing the 75,000-square foot retail space in its waterfront condominium conversion One Brooklyn Bridge Park…and it has yet to secure a tenant.

…

[However,] [w]ithin the past 45 days, two local “seasoned” restaurant operators and one high-end market that “caters to grocery needs and prepared foods” contacted RAL about the space, [Ian] Levine [COO and CFO of RAL] said. He declined to disclose the retailers’ names and would not specify about possible lease pricing.

According to the article, two factors have been identified as working against a commercial lease. The first is the present almost total lack of foot traffic on Furman. RAL hopes this will end when Brooklyn Bridge Park opens this winter. However, only Piers 1 and 6, at opposite ends of the Park, are slated to open then. The only foot traffic this is likely to generate on Furman consists of those who may wish to walk from one open end of the Park to the other, a distance of over half a mile, along the street. The second is the slow sale of residential units in One BBP, residents of which may also be customers of whatever retail locates in the ground floor. RAL is counting on price reductions on these units, perhaps along with car give-aways, turning the tide.

North end, Pier 1, Tuesday, September 22, 2009.

North end, Pier 1, Tuesday, October 6, 2009. More topsoil has been spread, and the riverside esplanade has been paved. More photos, text, and a video follow the jump. Read more »