Third and Bond: Not That Bad?

Large developments seem to take a lot of flack in this neighborhood, and, rightfully so. For the most part, large developments need to maximize square footage to make their investors happy and keep the books in the black, and the built environments in Brownstone Brooklyn are altered by these glass and steel monsters. Basically, you can't make much money building brownstones or row houses today.

Or, to put it more accurately, you can't make as MUCH money as you can by maximizing your FAR. And I don't think that any rationale person would tell someone else that they shouldn't make the most money that they can, which is why cohesive regulations are needed, not protests based on each individual proposed development.

But I digress. The point here is just to point out a development that I feel is fairly neutral for the neighborhood: Third and Bond. Located on (guess!) Third and Bond Streets, this development is not great for the built environment, but doesn't destroy it either. Sure, the buildings are on the lot line, as opposed to set back ten feet, and, sure, they're taller than the surrounding environment. And wow, red paneling, really?

But the scale isn't horrible, they include outdoor space, they are at the lowest point of the neighborhood, so they don't really obstruct any views, and their brick work isn't bad. Definitely area for improvement, and lord knows they took long enough to build, but all in all, I'd grade it a "Not That Bad" for Carroll Gardens.

I Guess Its Really Gone

Saw the last remnants of Harding's Patois being painted over on Smith Street this weekend...

Proposed Expansion of Carroll Gardens Historic District Draws Early Opposition

A very slow-moving application seeking to expand the tiny Carroll Gardens Historic District has been making its way through the Landmarks Preservation Commission and Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association since 2007. As with any landmarking movement, there are two main sides (Glenn Kelly did an excellent job at a recent CGNA meeting of eloquently stating that most people are somewhere in the middle on the issue and will need to be persuaded to take a position on the issue). The Courier Life Publications did a good job summing up the dividing lines on the issue:

"Critics contend that the push to extend the district will be a hassle for homeowners, who will be forced to win the blessing of the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission for all exterior work done on their property. Moreover, the work and materials are thought to be more expensive, and some contend that property taxes might rise on blocks that are landmarked."

"The Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association has taken up the proposal, which initially was introduced in 2007 in response to a spreading wave of residential development, which the group felt threatened to engulf the neighborhood with out-of-scale buildings. A survey the group conducted at the time showed that while many in the neighborhood expressed real concern with new buildings being constructed, many did not understand landmarking, which can add a layer of protection from wildly out of character buildings. “We think it’s worth explaining,” said Glenn Kelly, co-chair of the group’s Land Use Committee."

Although I will refrain from supporting one position or another at this point, I will say that both Mr. Kelly and Mr. Esposito (the owner of Sal's Pizzeria on Court Street, and the founder of CALM, an anti-landmarking group) are correct in most respects, and there could be no better personifications of the diametrically opposed factions than the educated, politically active and historic district resident Mr. Kelly, and the Italian-American business owner Mr. Esposito.

Mr. Kelly is correct in that landmarking is worth explaining, but he and those supporting landmarking fail to consider the reality that many older, long-time residents often do not have liquid funds to do Landmarks-worthy improvements. Likewise, Mr. Esposito is correct in that Landmarks improvements and approvals are lengthy and expensive, but he and those opposing landmarking fail to consider that property values tend to increase in landmarked areas.

An interesting subtext to this that should be considered is that Italians (and especially Sicilians) have an inherent distrust of governmental regulation, which has allowed "friends of friends" to operate as a supplement to governmental authority in many areas. It is not surprising that they would oppose a process which would add an additional layer of regulation to their properties.

Pepaw?

Walking by the Shreeji bodega yesterday morning, I saw that the sign fronting on 1st Place was down and an outline of an old sign was visible. Anyone got any idea what "Pepaw" is? A family name, perhaps?

What does it mean do be a Sal?

Nice little post over at the NY Times City Blog, about the pride in the name Sal, Salvatore and Salvador. The post was spurred by the recent naming of Carroll Garden's own Sal Cassano as the newest FDNY Commissioner. Local pizzeria owner Giovanni Esposito commented on the name:

"[Mr. Esposito] is called John but is both the father and son of Sals, said he felt a slight thrill upon learning of Mr. Cassano’s accomplishment on the 11 o’clock news.

“I felt kind of proud, because he’s an Italian-American, and my father was named Salvatore,” Mr. Esposito said. “You know, I felt good about it inside.”"

Stay proud, cugino.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy Feast of the Seven Fishes to all the Italians out there!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Ode to the G Train

Pretty funny post over at Scallywag & Vagabond entitled "Observations on the G Train". The relevant parts for Carroll Gardens are:

"The platform sign in front of me says Carroll Gardens and by the sight of the slightly vexed yuppies (vexed because they are yuppies supposedly forced to live in this part of town…) I can tell that everyone manages to take showers before they set out in the mornings and even dare to color coordinate the occasional dress or shirt. They stand there before me, lawyers, yoga aficionados and the usual cafe latte drinkers that they all purport to be. Everyone is apparently well behaved, dressed and mindful to never look one another in the eye (an unsaid law in the NY subway system). As soon as the train pulls in they are respectful, obliging and even mindful of not taking up too much space."

Scrooge Visits Brooklyn

For a good laugh, head on over to the Daily News for a really funny Denis Hamill envisioning of Scrooge in Modern Brooklyn. The relevant parts are:

"Scrooge marries Mrs. Dilber because she's with his child. When the baby's born, Ebenezer names him after his old partner, Jacob. 

Then Jake Scrooge 1st has a son, Jake 2nd, who starts working in the old man's shop. Jake Scrooge 2nd does a 20th century inventory and realizes that his father and grandfather are literally giving away the store to the Tiny Tim cripples and Oliver Twist orphans of London. He has a son, Jake 3rd. 

Jake 3rd places Ebenezer and Jacob in a conservatorship, takes over the shop, downsizes, then emigrates to Park Slope, where he buys up most of the rent-stabilized apartment buildings and fathers an in-vitro son, Jacob Scrooge 4th, who opens Le Parc Scrooge Realty on Seventh Ave. during the 1990s real estate boom. 

Scrooge 4th starts gentrifying out all the "old hardcore Brooklynites," converting the working-family-friendly properties to million-dollar condos for Wall Street yuppies, Manhattan movie stars and literati who have declared Brooklyn the new Greenwich Village, a great place to displace working people, for nannies to raise your kids and to rant against Atlantic Yards."

Brownstoner Reviews Frank's

Head on over to Brownstoner for a review of a somewhat surprising Carroll Gardens institution: Frank's Luncheonette. I think they nailed it:

"Five bucks goes a long way here. You can spend it on two eggs, sausage, toast and home fries; a plate of homemade pancakes with ham on the side; a chicken parm hero; or a deluxe burger with bacon (add cheese for another fifty cents). For no additional fee, somebody will probably call you "sweetie," and if you can snag one of the few seats, you'll probably overhear some good jokes -- but they won't sound as good if you retell them without a Brooklyn accent."

While the Brownstone reviewer was kind and honest, hitting the high points, I doubt that the Brownstoner comments will be as kind, if their musings on Vinny's are any indication.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree at Cobble Hill Park

Form the Parks and Recreation Department comes good news for those looking to keep their thumbs green during the holiday season - Mulchfest!:

Saturday, January 9 and Sunday, January 10, 10 am – 2 pm. Wreaths and garlands cannot be accepted. Please remove lights and decorations. No artificial trees!

Cobble Hill Park: Clinton Street and Verandah Place
Prospect Park: Prospect Park West and 3rd Street

Coffey Park: Dwight Street and Verona Place
Red Hook Farm/Added Value: Columbia and Halleck Streets


Trees will not be accepted after the scheduled times.

Sponsored in part by: Cobble Hill Tree Fund, Cobble Hill Association, Friends of Cobble Hill Park, & Boy Scout Troops 213 & 815

CHTreefund.org

State Court Deals a Blow to Atlantic Yards Opposition

News of another legal hurdle cleared by the Atlantic Yards/Ratner Development. Looks like clearing and Eminent Domain will start fairly soon. From the Brooklyn Paper:

"The suit, filed by panoply of elected officials and opposition groups, claimed that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke a state law that was passed in the wake of Atlantic Yards to curb abuses by state authorities through stricter transparency and ethics guidelines.

The plaintiffs pointed to the fact that the MTA renegotiated the deal with Ratner this summer, getting just $20 million up front instead of the $100 million originally promised. At the time, the transit agency did not seek new bids for its eight-acre train yard at the heart of the proposed arena, housing and commercial development.

But state Supreme Court judges did not agree with project opponents, ruling last Wednesday that the renegotiated deal did not warrant restarting the bidding process."

Looks like the Ratner/MTA Express will be arriving at Atlantic Terminal. Opposition will of course continue, but with the recent successful bond sales and legal setbacks, it looks like the development will proceed.


For more, head on over to Develop, Don't Destroy Brooklyn.

303 Bond Street Theater Putting on an Interesting Show

A relatively newer performance space in the neighborhood, at 303 Bond Street, and, aptly named, The 303 Bond Street Theater, is putting on an interesting sounding show for the Holiday Season. According to Short and Sweet NYC:

Sex and decadence abound in Brooklyn’s Le Serpent Rouge!, a wonderfully theatrical and somewhat sensational retelling of the story of Adam & Eve through dance by Company XIV. Choreographer Austin McCormick assembles five eclectic performers dressed sometimes only in pasties or a thong (and occasionally less) to reenact the story of man’s fall from grace with a comical, if not feminist edge, and a hip amalgam of pop culture reference.

For more information visit CompanyXIV.com.

Red Hook is Solar Car Ground Zero

Brought to you in an old shipping container in Red Hook comes New York's first electric vehicle (EV) charging station, and this one uses a battery bank that stores solar energy to charge the cars. From In Habitat:

Located on an industrial lot near the Beautiful Earth’s headquarters overlooking downtown Manhattan, the off-grid, modular station is constructed of recycled steel shipping containers and powered solely by 235 watt photovoltaic panels. The car that is currently being charged at the station is a 100% electric BMW MINI E, and is now one of the few cars in the world to run exclusively on solar power. The vehicle has a range of just over 100 miles and takes about 3 hours to charge.

Check out the company running this amazing setup at www.beautifulearthgroup.com.

No car is really "green" and we need to get away from the mentality that our future transportation option are based around the car. Also, EV charging stations in Red Hook, which itself is out of the way for the majority of New Yorkers, will have limited use and application in building a charging station network, which is the real hold up for EVs.

Having said that, this is probably a step in the right direction in demonstrating that solar power is feasible for charging applications and (possibly) as cost-efficient as other powering methods.

Carroll Gardens Native Named New Fire Commisioner

According to both the Daily News and the Village Voice, Carroll Gardens native Sal Cassano (not to be confused with Antonio Cassano, the world-class Barese soccer player) has been named the FDNY's newest Commissioner. Although obviously lacking in housing choices (Commissioner Cassano now resides in Staten Island), he does have an impressive record as the FDNY's Chief of Department. Lets hope that fired deaths keep going down, the 911 dispatching system gets straightened out and budget woes don't force further cuts under Mr. Cassano's watch.

Snowpacalypse In Brooklyn Heights