The big new Williamsburg building known as 125 N. 10 appears to be done gobbling up the windows at 55 Berry, proving that once a construction project gets going–even if it takes a couple of years–it really gets going.–Curbed

Old First Church on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope yesterday in the rain. After a short absence that began in November and a great deal of conversation, the homeless have returned to the church steps.

While there is early morning gloom and clouds at the Brooklyn weather observatory, today’s forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with a high of 51. It will be windy and it will feel like 41. Tonight will be clear and windy with a low of 31. However, it will feel like 15.–Accuweather

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

I’m a Carroll Gardens resident, and I’m very disturbed by the operations taking place around 342 Bond Street. Last night around 8:00 pm two very large attack dogs escaped from this lot and attacked my husband and our two dogs (one of my dogs needed surgery as a result). We contacted the police, who were familiar with the attack dogs and their owners. I am disgusted that the companies responsible for this lot have hired attack dogs in the first place, although I realize this is perfectly legal. However, I’m very upset that they do not adequately supervise the dogs, allowing them to escape and attack innocent bystanders. These companies should be held responsible for everything they bring into our community — including the attack dogs.

I’m not sure who to blame for this, but I know “K9 Powerhouse Kennels” provided the attack dogs (their sign is clearly posted on the fence). A company called “Double M Demolition, Inc.” also posted a sign at the construction site, so I assume they hired the attack dogs? Regardless, the members of our community have a right to know this is happening…..and a right to know that companies are endangering our safety. Fortunately my dogs’ and my husband’s lives were spared, but who’s to say this won’t happen again — and who’s to say that next time it won’t be a child? Shame on these companies. Carroll Gardens is a wonderful place to live, and I want to keep it that way.

The little dog who was attacked is named Cappy, and was in the BARC Parade in Williamsburg dressed as Captain Brooklyn. The victim later reported that she spoke with the owner of the attack dog company:

I spoke with Angelo Biondo today (he’s the owner of K9 Powerhouse Kennels). He thinks that Con Edison had been at the worksite and “dug a hole” but “they didn’t tell anyone”….so the worksite was left open, and that’s how the attack dogs escaped. Of course, his only response was “I’m really sorry” and “You’ll have to get in touch with the contractors.” I talked to the ASPCA Law Enforcement Department, and they said K9 Powerhouse Kennels are responsible for the dogs.

Cappy will recover from the awful and scary attack. The building, by the way, has attracted 36 complaints, although they have been for more run-of-the-mill problems like illegal work rather than savage dogs menacing passersby on the street.

UPDATE: Two readers have left comments that sign was pre-attached to scaffolding that went up and must have come from another site. Very neatly placed, however. Time will tell.

Beginning this week Bovis Lend Lease under contract with the City’s Economic Development Corporation will begin a surface concrete removal project at the Public Place site at the southeast corner of Smith/5th Streets. EDC has awarded this job to Bovis Lend Lease, which will serve as the construction manager. Bovis has hired Kelco Construction as its subcontractor to conduct the site cleanup…

Neighbors should expect to see the mobilization of earth-moving equipment at the site imminently. Signs at the site should be posted and the actual work should begin within the next few days. The contractor will be clearing brush, trees, and then removing surface concrete and debris from the site.

Trucks will enter through the Smith Street gate (across from Luquer Street), be loaded with material at the staging area in the southwest corner of the site and then exit through the 5th Street gate (nearest to Smith Street). The second gate onto Smith Street (near Ferrara Brothers) will be an alternative exit for this job but is not expected to be used except in an emergency. Hours of operation will be 7am to 4pm, weekdays. The job is expected to take 3 months.

Public Place is beginning to happen.

(GL Note: Yes, that is a gap in the fence wide enough for a small person or child to fit through and, yes, that is a sled leaning against the inside of the fence in this photo taken a couple of week ago.)

Barrio, the new Mexican restaurant opening in the space on Seventh Avenue most recently occupied by the defunct Tempo Presto, has put up pink and orange fabric bearing its name over its outdoor patio. (It was too dark for a photo when we passed by.) It looks like things will be ready just in time for the onset of nice weather.

The proposed Fiske Terrace – Midwood Park Historic District is a planned development consisting of approximately 250 predominantly free-standing single-family residences constructed during the first two decades of the twentieth century. The predominantly Colonial Revival and Shingle Style houses are largely intact, asymmetrically massed and feature spacious porches, elaborate projecting towers, oriels and bays, Palladian windows and deep eaves. The neighborhood also has an unusual street plan that includes landscaped malls and short streets that dead-end at the BMT subway cut.

Fiske Terrace – Midwood Park occupies land that was originally part of the Lott farm, and is now considered to be part of the larger neighborhood of Flatbush. The initial impetus for development of Flatbush occurred with the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 and followed with the construction of the Brooklyn, Flatbush and Coney Island railroad in 1895. The first development in the area was Tennis Court in 1886. The construction of park-like suburbs such as Prospect Park South (1899) provided a model for the developments of Fiske Terrace and Midwood Park.

Despite their visual similarity Fiske Terrace and Midwood Park developed independently. Theodore B. Ackerson, one of Brooklyn’s most important contractors and real estate developers purchased the 30-acre estate of George P. Fiske in 1905. Ackerson constructed residences in series of tens from stock plans. The houses had uniform features and standards of quality but with some exterior variety suited to the buyers’ tastes. The construction of Fiske Terrace was virtually completed by 1920. Midwood Park was developed by contractor and architect John R. Corbin also starting around 1905. Corbin used innovative prefabrication techniques. He built a factory on Jamaica Bay at East 56th Street that was capable of turning out 1,000 homes a year. All frames, beams, and interior trim were cut at the factory and then shipped to the construction site for assembly. Corbin’s clients could hire their own architects, or they could employ one of Corbin’s designers. Midwood Park was nearly completed by 1910.

There is an item on all of the landmark action yesterday at the CityRoom on the landmarking and a lot of material at the LPC’s website, if one scrolls down to the section on the new district.

Store windows are as reliable a harbinger of Spring as the budding of trees and flowers. These images from Correspondent Anna Lewis are part of the seasonal display at Houtie Couture at Flatbush Avenue and Seventh Avenue.

Ah, the good old days. Remember Ex-Lax, the pride of Brooklyn? “Also known as ‘the Ideal Laxative.’…It is hard to imagine that there was ever a time when Brooklyn produced Ex-Lax…on Atlantic Avenue no less!” And, the little Ex-Lax tin boxes were certainly excellent.–PMFA

“They haven’t started construction on the building right next door, but as I live within what one Curbed commenter brilliantly dubbed ‘The Williamsburg Quadrangle of Death,’ there is no shortage of construction projects going on within spitting distance. One of them is shaking the hell out of my building at the moment and the most chilling thing is, I can’t even hear what’s causing the shaking. Which means it’s a good couple blocks away. Can’t wait for the piledriver to take up residence 20 feet from my window!” On the other hand, it’s better than a near-fatal bikini wax.–Bad Advice

• Dentist Pleads Guilty in Ghoulish Body Parts Scheme [NYT]
• Brownsville Rapist Being Sought [NYDN]
• Net’s Mascot Pitches Healthy Food & McDonald’s [AYR]
• Burg’s 53 Broadway Will Be Rental [Brownstoner]
• New Community Group Forms in Divided Manhattan Beach [GerristenBeach.Net]
• Sundance at BAM [General Greene]
• If Burg’s Anytime Closes, Where to Get Bad Food at 4:30AM? [INSIJS]
• Supermarket Graffiti [Bed-Stuy Banana]
• The Pay Phones of Bed-Stuy [New York Shitty]
• Sneak Peak at Greenpoint’s The Habitat [Gothamist]
• Beware the Quality of Life Patrol (No Beer in Plastic Go Cup) [Cobble Hill Blog]
• Mr. Pickle on Prospect Park West [Brooklynometry]
• Brides in Prospect Park [A Year in the Park]
• Dine in Brooklyn 2008 [Clinton Hill Blog]
• Wealth Building Session on March 25 [Bed-Stuy Blog]

“It’s official. We’re having the 3rd Annual Brooklyn Blogfest at the Brooklyn Lyceum (Fourth Avenue and President) on May 8th at 8 p.m. This year’s theme: Place Matters; Blogging My World. The Blogfest, an annual gathering of Brooklyn Bloggers, is for everyone. Bloggers and non-bloggers alike. What happens at the Blogfest? Lots of bloggers, non-bloggers, media, and others show up. A formal presentation with speakers and video will be followed by a shout-out and then some social time. It should be quite a get-together and I’m very excited about the new venue.–OTBKB

The results are in and people that responded would most like to see…a grocery in the new 20-story glass tower proposed for Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. A grocery was the choice of 67 percent of those that filled out the survey for the ground floor, while 12 percent said bank and 10 percent said gym. Nearly 92 percent said they wanted a gym on the second floor.–Hawthorne Street

We got an email from Terry Corrao who has a new show on WLIW called “A Little Bit of Brooklyn.” The email says:

Ito would like to welcome readers to tune into my new TV show, “A Little Bit of Brooklyn,” premiering this coming Saturday, March 22, 2008, on WLIW, Ch 21. The pilot will showcase A Polish Easter in Greenpoint.

The focus of the show is on the culinary traditions of Brooklyn’s ethnic neighborhoods. This episode will take us to the home of the Gubernats, where they will demonstrate the art of pisanki egg painting, preparing a decorative butter lamb and a cake lamb, as well as getting grandma “Babcia” in the kitchen making her white barcscz soup. Other episodes are in development for future broadcast. It’s a great excuse to explore every nook and cranny in Brooklyn!

A bit more info here at the WLIW website.

This photo of flowers starting to bloom came to us courtesy of the Gowanus Dredgers, which planted them at the foot of Second Street at the Gowanus Canal where they launch their canoes. The trailers in the background, by the way, are on property that would become part of the Toll Brothers Gowanus project.

Yes, it’s time for the Egg-O-Rama in Prospect Park. It takes place on Saturday, March 22 and Sunday, March 23, with an Egg Hunt hosted by WBLS on Saturday. Per an email from the Prospect Park Alliance:

Which comes first, the bird or the egg? Which bird has the largest egg? Why are eggs different colors and shapes? This Spring Break, get a real “egg-u-cation” at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. Enjoy egg crafts, eggsperiments, egg games, and special eggxibits on display. Saturday March 22 – Sunday 23. All Egg-O-Rama events are free of charge.

On SATURDAY, March 22, WBLS…is hosting a special FREE egg hunt for children ages 2 – 9 at the Prospect Park Audubon Center. Children of all ages can have a hopping good time at the bunny hop race, enjoy face painting and other special treats. All Children must be accompanied by a parents or guardian at the egg hunt. The fun begins at 1 p.m. and goes until 3 p.m..

Did we mention that we love spring?

It’s coming down outside the Brooklyn Weather Observatory this morning and today’s forecast calls for rain. The high will be 52. Tonight will feature wind, rain and the possibility of a thunderstorm. The low will be 43, but the wind and rain will make it feel like 33.

This week’s Brooklyn Paper quotes an executive from Massey Knakal saying that the odds are 50-50 that the buyer of a building on N. 10 Street whose sale we wrote about a couple of weeks earlier will be able to beat the 421-a deadline. (The article doesn’t identify 421-a by name and mistakenly calls it a zoning change, but the point is quite valid.) One wonder what kinds of corners might be cut as a developer tries to get a building demolished, a site excavated and a foundation poured by summer. Meanwhile, on Grand Street one is presented with the spectacle of a developer simultaneously demolishing a building and digging a foundation for a new building to try to get ahead of a downzoning that would cut a building’s height from 15 stories down to six.

All over Williamsburg (to name just one neighborhood), one can find development sites where builders seem to be bending over backward to get buildings demolished and foundations in before the clock runs out on them. At a minimum, it means that residents will suffer from after hours and weekend work and that calls to 311 will result in very little action. At its worst, construction workers could end up being hurt or killed as safety rules are violated with impunity in the race to get things done.

There is every indication that these are going to be especially dangerous and noxious months in Brooklyn as developers and contractors violate more laws than usual to try to beat tax break and zoning deadlines. If the past is any guide, the Department of Building won’t be able to keep up or individual inspectors won’t care to enforce the law.

It is going to be a rough spring and summer.

Related Posts:
GL Analysis: 12 Ways to Fix the Department of Buildings
GL Analysis: The Manhattan Crane Collapse Horror