Is it possible that a relic of the past was treated with more respect in Queens than in Brooklyn? Forgotten NY’s latest installment offers an interesting comparison. Well, possibly, at least in the case of the fate of one of the old R33 Redbird subway cars has been turned into a visitors center at the Kew Gardens Court House. Whereas, the SEPTA Car on Fourth Avenue has been turned to scrap in Park Slope. Forgotten-NY, following up a great deal of reporting and commenting on Brownstoner, writes:
The problem all along, it seems, was that the Lyceum did not own the lot on which the SEPTA car was being laid up, and with developers snapping up every inch of developable space in Park Slope, Fort Greene, Greenpoint and many other neighborhoods, the trolley car had no place to go but the scrap heap. The loss of SEPTA 2739 has to be considered a lost opportunity in light of what was done with R33 #9075 in Queens. At the very least, the car could have become a Brooklyn visitors’ center, and with Park Slope increasingly becoming known outside NYC (a couple TV shows are being filmed there for the fall) it could have been a similar attraction, despite its Philly pedigree.
There are still several old trolleys behind the Fairway in Red Hook, that always attract curious people with cameras.
1 response so far ↓
1 marc // Oct 10, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Get your story/facts straight. The owner of the lot is the owner of the trolley and he owns several more that are in Philly and the existing Brooklyn Lyceum. The developer/ex architect who is trying to steal the lot from the owner, is wrapped in legal troubles and the fight is far from over.
The trolley was destroyed by the so called developer in a vindictive maneuver when in fact arrangements were being made to move the trolley to another spot while the legal wranglings continue.
Nice way to help out your local guy who has been in the hood way before you (he purchased the lot and the building about 11 years ago) came ‘round these here parts.
Why not keep your snarky remarks to your self or instead help out a local who is not trying to make a quick buck. He could have chopped up the lyceum into condos and made a mint but is keeping the café and great performance spaces available and in use. There is great jazz there twice a week, an opera company, in house theater troop, benefits for develop don’t destroy etc.
When was the last time you were inside the Lyceum? Go to a show there? Did you see Jose Gonzalez of Fiona apple when they played there? Are you going to the Halloween thing for the kids?