Is Greenpoint better off than it was 10 years ago? Are hipsters more like termites or ants? Depends on who you ask. Curbed ran a thoughtful rebuttal to Wired’s “before and after” photo essay bemoaning the effects of gentrification, which, if we’re being fair, is sometimes a careful architect and not so much a destructive force of nature.
Uh oh, G Train trouble! A derailment last night near Hoyt-Schermerhorn is what’s causing your limited service woes today.
If you didn’t already know, Beloved is no longer. For what it’s worth, it was the one place in town where you could get negronis on the house on the occasion of the bartender’s dog’s birthday. The dog’s name was Negroni.
The body, which was found in the Newtown Creek, was that of Steven L. Middleton, a 21 year old who went swimming in the East River off of Williamsburg a few days earlier.
Our thoughts are with the family of this young man during this very sad time.
Last night, I received a text from a friend and trusted local resource – Meg from Dandelion Wine, “Dude. They just found a body floating in the river off the got pier.” A girl ran into the wine shop and said she was taking a sunset selfie with her dog when she noticed the crowd and a police boat pulling a dead body out of the water. Continue reading →
West Street's wooden block sidewalk is a common stop on walking tours of Greenpoint; Courtesy of Preservation Greenpoint
Is one of Greenpoint’s most unexpected features—a stretch of historic wooden block paving on West Street near the Greenpoint Terminal Market—in imminent danger? Many say that this is the last place where original wooden paving exists in New York City. These blocks are so rare that one from this section of sidewalk is included in the collection at The City Reliquary. But a new bike path down West Street could mean this final vestige of obscure New York City history will be put on the chopping block. Continue reading →
Greenpoint has a new and HUGE art gallery – Succulent Studios, occupying a 3,000 square foot space on the coveted 5th floor of 67 West St – a landmarked former rope factory on the waterfront. A freight elevator up from our third floor HQ, past Greenpoint Loft and around the bend, I opened the door into a construction zone – a vast, high ceilinged and sun drenched construction zone with a view of the East River, lower Manhattan and a granite store yard below – the kind of space many of us would dream to work or live in.
That evening while sipping on a beer at Brouwerij Lane, a call with a NJ area code appeared on my phone. It was Stephen Levin and he was pretty insulted by our decision to run that post. I stood outside in the cold while he explained to me (in many words) what I have invited him to share with you.
Yes we have been extremely critical of him and will continue to be as long as he makes decisions that we feel are not in the best interest of Greenpoint. I did offer him the opportunity to explain himself here. After, I invite readers to reply in the comment section. (Keep it classy.)
Ok, here we are. This is your last shot. I’m not playin’. Either are the developers who will soon turn Greenpoint into a Disneyfied vision of Brooklyn. The last of the public meetings will take place Thursday, December 5th, 2013 and this is your last chance to do something.
UPDATE Location: 250 Broadway Committee Room 16th Floor CITY HALL Time for Commercial Street meeting: 9:30 am Time for Greenpoint Landing meeting: 1:00 pm
Anyone familiar with the politics of New York knows most of these politicians are flags flapping in the wind. Where the wind blows is the direction they point in. If you all become the wind and let them know how you feel, you may be able to get the city council to vote against this project.
Become a collective hurricane! Go to the meetings. Voice your opinions, and let it be known that you are not feeling this.
Tomorrow is the 2nd to last public hearing on Greenpoint Landing and 77 Commercial St. The City Planning Commission will cast a vote on the project.
Residents will be able to sign up to speak for 3 minutes each to voice opinions and concerns.
The developer has approval to build 300 market-rate apartments in a 15-story tower at 77 Commercial Street, but still needs approval for necessary zoning modifications in order to build an additional 500 units.
Greenpoint Landing would add 700 units as well as a new public school to the waterfront. The towers are currently above the height allowed by current zoning laws.
Controversy has arisen with regards to the affordable housing units in the building, de-funding of the park project, as well as additional population increases in the neighborhood, and the strain that increase will cause on public transit.
The local organization, Save Greenpoint, is fighting agains the towers, arguing that the development of Greenpoint Landing and 77 Commercial St will unearth harmful toxic chemicals into the local environment. They warn that residents will be exposed to harmful VOC’s from excavation for 3 years, impacting even indoor air quality.
They are still collecting signatures on this petition, to urge Governor Cuomo and the state to order a comprehensive Environmental Assessment of the redeveloped area before construction begins.
Meeting Info:
Where: Spector Hall, 22 Reade St
When: 10/9 at 10am
Note: From Kim Mason of Save Greenpoint: “If people cannot attend the meeting, they should write letters to Amanda Burden, the Director of City Planning. Her email is aburden [at] planning [dot] nyc [dot] gov.
The Daily News is reporting that the MTA has finally agreed to move their vehicles from a parking lot at 65 Commercial Street to City-owned land in the Westchester Village section of the Bronx. As part of the 2005 Greenpoint Waterfront re-zoning, the MTA agreed in principle to move the vehicles so the City could convert the parking lot to a park, but it has taken 8 years to find a suitable replacement lot.
