Friday, January 1, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Breaking News: Whole Foods to Begin Brownfield Cleanup at Third and Third
Breaking News: The proposed Carroll Gardens / Gowanus / Park Slope Whole Foods is proceeding with Environmental Remediation efforts. Letters such as the one scanned below have gone out to various stakeholders and community groups, detailing (somewhat) the efforts being made to participate in New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program. 
According to the letters, mailed from mega-law firm Akerman-Senterfitt (a frequent representative of developers) efforts will start on January 11 and are anticipated to take about three months and no traffic disruptions are anticipated. By participating in this program, the developer is eligible for tax credits to help defray the costs of cleaning up the site.
Will we one day see a Whole Foods? Looks like it!
According to the letters, mailed from mega-law firm Akerman-Senterfitt (a frequent representative of developers) efforts will start on January 11 and are anticipated to take about three months and no traffic disruptions are anticipated. By participating in this program, the developer is eligible for tax credits to help defray the costs of cleaning up the site.
Will we one day see a Whole Foods? Looks like it!
Staples: How is this Legal?
Everyone knows the Staples on Third Street and Fourth Avenue. Seems like any other Staples ever, no? Shared parking lot (which is VERY tight), rude managers, long lines - it has it all. But, there is something subtle that makes this Staples even worse than the average one. Take a look at this picture:
Notice anything?
How about now?
That's right. Staples hates you. Or, more accurately, Staples hates you if you don't drive.
If you are not a driver, you MUST venture into an active traffic lane to enter the Staples site. They managed to install a sidewalk that connects to the city sidewalk, but then put up a huge fence, so as to make a walk to Staples to pick up some staples a life-threatening activity. Down with Staples!
While Staples certainly deserves some negative press for this choice, more disconcerting for me is the fact that this situation is allowed to exist. How did the City Planning Department's ULURP process not catch this? How does the DOB not red tag the site? How does Transportation Alternatives not make a fuss about this?
Maybe the hipsters who re-painted the Bedford Avenue bike lanes need to head on down to Gowanus with some bolt cutters...
Notice anything?
That's right. Staples hates you. Or, more accurately, Staples hates you if you don't drive.
If you are not a driver, you MUST venture into an active traffic lane to enter the Staples site. They managed to install a sidewalk that connects to the city sidewalk, but then put up a huge fence, so as to make a walk to Staples to pick up some staples a life-threatening activity. Down with Staples!
While Staples certainly deserves some negative press for this choice, more disconcerting for me is the fact that this situation is allowed to exist. How did the City Planning Department's ULURP process not catch this? How does the DOB not red tag the site? How does Transportation Alternatives not make a fuss about this?
Maybe the hipsters who re-painted the Bedford Avenue bike lanes need to head on down to Gowanus with some bolt cutters...
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
This New Fire Commissioner Sounds Like a Real Guy
Carroll Gardens' own Salvatore Cassano, the new FDNY Commissioner, has been giving some interviews lately where he details his early life, before he made the (regrettable) decision to move to Staten Island. From the New York Times:
Born on Jan. 22, 1945, as the second son in an Italian-American family, he was named after the father of his mother, Madeline. The Cassanos lived in South Brooklyn, in a walk-up on First Place in Carroll Gardens.
“Radiator bursting away,” he said. “There were six of us in a six-room apartment. We shared a bed. I didn’t have my own bed until I got married.”
His father’s family came from Ischia, Italy, in 1909; his mother’s family came from Naples. His grandfather worked as a day laborer; his father, Angelo, was a longshoreman on the docks in Red Hook, where he rose to become a boss of loading and unloading the trucks.
“He was very well-respected,” he said. “He was a tough boss, but he was fair, so I had a good role model to follow.”
As a boy, young Sal went to Public School 142 and Brooklyn Tech and then Boys High School, where he bowled. His parents took their four children to Roman Catholic Mass each Sunday, at St. Mary Star of the Sea.
“My mom and dad taught us all about family life and how important your family is,” he said.
At 10, he landed his first job, working for his brother-in-law delivering crates of soda in glass bottles, sometimes walking them up six flights on his shoulder.
He rooted for the Dodgers. His godfather was single and had season tickets to Ebbets Field.
“I used to go there three or four times a week when they were home,” he said. The shortstop Pee Wee Reese was his favorite, so he wore his number, 1, on his jersey in baseball and softball leagues he played in.
After school, he worked with his dad on the waterfront, then found work in a bank.
Does that sound like someone who knows what it REALLY means to be from Carroll Gardens, or what?
“Radiator bursting away,” he said. “There were six of us in a six-room apartment. We shared a bed. I didn’t have my own bed until I got married.”
His father’s family came from Ischia, Italy, in 1909; his mother’s family came from Naples. His grandfather worked as a day laborer; his father, Angelo, was a longshoreman on the docks in Red Hook, where he rose to become a boss of loading and unloading the trucks.
“He was very well-respected,” he said. “He was a tough boss, but he was fair, so I had a good role model to follow.”
As a boy, young Sal went to Public School 142 and Brooklyn Tech and then Boys High School, where he bowled. His parents took their four children to Roman Catholic Mass each Sunday, at St. Mary Star of the Sea.
“My mom and dad taught us all about family life and how important your family is,” he said.
At 10, he landed his first job, working for his brother-in-law delivering crates of soda in glass bottles, sometimes walking them up six flights on his shoulder.
He rooted for the Dodgers. His godfather was single and had season tickets to Ebbets Field.
“I used to go there three or four times a week when they were home,” he said. The shortstop Pee Wee Reese was his favorite, so he wore his number, 1, on his jersey in baseball and softball leagues he played in.
After school, he worked with his dad on the waterfront, then found work in a bank.
Does that sound like someone who knows what it REALLY means to be from Carroll Gardens, or what?
Third and Bond: Not That Bad?
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.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
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.
"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.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Pepaw?
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.
"[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.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
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
- 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."
"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."
"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."
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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.
"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
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