According to DNAinfo, the $930,000 project to fix what is called “Hipster Lake” in McCarren Park will be completed by the summer. The plan is to “rebuild paths and add drains throughout the center of the park, including the area of the flood zone.”
Nature might have different plans, since the area was part of Bushwick Creek until the city filled the land, and some speculate that water may still run beneath the park, making the fix a bandaid on top of a bigger problem.
Why not restore part of it into a pond for birds and other wildlife to enjoy?
Progress on Kickstarter’s forthcoming Greenpoint HQ at the old Pencil Factory on Kent Street has been ongoing, but perceptible improvements have been hard to report for the last few months.
Well that and my lack of snooping around…
Architect Ole Sondresen has released a portfolio for the Kickstarter project. Visit the link to see an illustrated rendering of what their vision for the roof deck/courtyard seen above will morph into.
This isn’t the only urban design project Kickstarter is getting behind. Check out these 6 recent Kickstarter projects for cities from This Big City.
Follow (intermittent) progress reports on Kickstarter’s new Greenpoint based HQ at buildingkickstart.
A tipster sent along word that the Boardwalk Empire set at Franklin & Commercial Streets is currently being dismantled and that they will be out by the end of the month. The tipster also says Bay Crane is moving out of their large parcel at Eagle & West Streets. Both lots are held by Park Tower Group, a New York based developer, who has long held the development rights to this huge 22 acre swath of land at the tip of Greenpoint. Their proposed development, dubbed Greenpoint Landing, will ultimately result in 10 residential towers between 30 and 40 stories high totaling 4,000 units of housing – 20% of which will be affordable. Handel Architects designed the project and, according to their website, the development will feature a new marina, seasonal putting green, ice rink and even possibly a footbridge to Long Island City.
This proposed development neighbors the long-promised, but never-delivered park at 65 Commercial Street, which is currently a parking lot for MTA vehicles. In an effort to finally get the parking lot turned into a park, the City is offering the parking lot’s development rights for sale to neighboring properties. According to Rami Metal of Councilman Stephen Levin’s office, there are two interested bidders for the development rights – Park Tower Group, who is heading up Greenpoint Landing, and the Chetrit Group, a New York developer who acquired 77 Commercial earlier this year and has plans for a residential development on the site. When reached at his office, Robert Knakal of Massey Knakal Realty said the development rights could be worth as much as 14 million dollars. Given the small size of the 77 Commercial lot relative to the Park Tower parcel, The Chetrit Group would likely be the more interested party, though they did not respond to my request for comment.
It is also altogether unclear whether 14 million dollars would be enough to fund the new park or if the MTA vehicles will finally be moved to a new home, which has always been the primary impediment to progress on the site. When asked about that issue, Rami Metal of Councilman Levin’s office said that he “has assurances the vehicles will be moved”. One thing is clear – this sleepy tip of Greenpoint looks to be starting a dramatic transformation and the massive influx of new residents will have to rely on limited public transportation and a scarcity of parks. Can the area handle all of these new residents? May we have a couple extra cars on the G Train, please?
As Greenpointers reported last month, Kickstarter is moving into Greenpoint. So how’s the construction coming along?
Work in progress. The guys are bringing in the supporting construction frames. They will be installing Doka formwork products, which is like LEGO for big boys.
While the plans call for a theater, art gallery, lounge and cafeteria, in addition to offices, I’m still holding out in hope it’s a medieval castle.
That was the question on everyone’s mind at Wednesday night’s CB1 public hearing. In part, the public hearing was called to discuss the proposed rezoning of a block-long portion of McGuinness Boulevard from a manufacturing zone to a residential zone with a commercial overlay. This stretch of McGuinness between Calyer & Greenpoint is currently home to a gas station, several auto parts stores, Key Foods and Risqué Billiards. The owner/developer of 209-231 McGuinness– landlord to Risqué Billiards and ‘Strauss Discount Auto Parts’- thinks his site’s highest and best use is a new, 140 unit apartment building. Several members of the community certainly disagreed at the hearing. Continue reading →
Fellow Greenpointer Nathaniel Ziering tipped me off that Kickstarter is moving their headquarters from Manhattan to Greenpoint! The fast growing company provides crowd-sourced funding for creative projects, many of which have come from Greenpoint. In March, plans were approved for Kickstarter to renovate 58 Kent Street, a Landmarked, vacant building located between Franking & West streets. As you can see from the picture, this one could really use a tune-up! Kickstarter’s move to Greenpoint is a big vote of confidence for the neighborhood, will be great for the local economy and continue the momentum of businesses choosing Brooklyn as their new home. Continue reading →
My appreciation for abstract art comes more from the streets of Brooklyn than the galleries of Manhattan.
Devoe Street 11222
So, forget that it’s chipped, sprayed or splattered paint and enjoy its properties the way you’re supposed to in a museum. There’s some awfully cool little compositions that can be found on the streets of Greenpoint and beyond.
My appreciation for abstract art comes more from the littered sidewalks of Brooklyn than the galleries of Manhattan.
Meserole Street 11222
Forget that it’s trash and enjoy the materials, colors and textures the way you’re supposed to in a museum. There’s some awfully cool little compositions of junk that can be extracted from the streets of Greenpoint and beyond.
Hausman Street 11222
Van Brunt Street 11231
Devoe Street 11222
Tony Luib has a one man blog about Greenpoint and beyond at Brooklyn Imbecile.
