“If residents living near the Atlantic Yards project didn’t feel personally affected by the controversial $4.2 billion basketball and skyscraper project, they might now. In one of the first irritations to hit Prospect Heights as a result of the project, hundreds of Dean St. residents awoke Wednesday without water – compliments of Forest City Ratner and the Department of Environmental Protection. ‘This is just the beginning, and it’s already starting up,’ griped Dean St. resident Brad White, who learned of the temporary water shutoff Tuesday night. ‘Imagine when it’s midway through the project. It’s gonna get worse.'”–NYDN

On Tuesday, we posted about Park Slope’s Seventh Avenue between Second and Third Streets where there a two empty storefronts and a third which will soon become vacant. Today, we’ve got a couple of photos of the comings and going on Fifth Avenue near Third Street. Above, is the future location of ‘sNice, the vegetarian spot that Brownstoner noted a couple of weeks ago will be opening soon. Below, is a shot of the recently vacated storefront that was home to Living. There are many other storefronts in flux between Fourth Street and Second Street (and in other spots too, as change is far faster on Fifth Ave. than Seventh Ave). There could be more in the wind too. A “for lease, prime retail location” sign has gone up at the space occupied by the Great Lakes bar. Posters on Brooklynian say their lease has expired and they are negotiating with the landlord.

The clock in the old Williamsburgh Bank Tower, aka One Hanson, was turned on again yesterday at noon after a long absence. Presumably, it wasn’t an accident that it was returned to service on the same day that people started moving into one of the most prominent new developments in Brooklyn. The person who shot this photo wrote: “to see the tower working, lit up with the correct time on all sides was a thrill to me.” Welcome back.

Related Stories/Posts:
Williamsburgh clock tower ticks again [NYDN]
Clocks of Brooklyn Building are Ticking and in Sync [NYT]
Move-In Day at One Hanson [Brownstoner]

It would appear that two of the Prospect Park red-tail hawks are also hanging around Grand Army Plaza and, uh, doing some food shopping. There are several comments in a new thread on Brooklynian about the hawks. They have been seen on Plaza Street near Butler Street and St. John’s. Another poster writes, “I’ve seen a pair of red-tail hawks flying about nearly every time I go into Prospect Park via Grand Army entrance. On occasion I’ve seen the male and female hunting in tandem over Prospect Heights. I am confident you’re looking at the same one(s) that I see each week.” Someone else posted a photo of one of the hawks, apparently after it got a squirrel (which can’t be made out in the photo.) Back in December, the Brooklyn Paper noted a hawk living in McCarren Park in Williamsburg. We’ve seen the hawks in Prospect park and they are impressive.

Brooklinks is a daily selection of Brooklyn-related information and images.

• Other Atlantic Yards Suits Could Take a Year to Resolve [AYR]
• Atlantic Yards Quiz Tonight [No Land Grab]
• State Appellate Court Judge Hands Atlantic Yards Opponents Another Setback [Sun]
• Update on Carroll Gardens Development Issues [Brownstoner]
• Brooklyn’s Simple Life [Gothamist]
• Sad News: Markowitz Can’t Park His SUV on Sidewalk After All [NYDN]
• Skaller Raising Money to Replace De Blasio on City Council [Brooklyn Optimist]
• Don’t Bounce Beer Kegs on the Sidewalk, Please [New York Shitty]
• The Old Day: Victorian Flatbush House for a Dollar [Brooklynometry]
• Newkirk Plaza Entrance Needs a Makeover [Brooklyn Junction]
• Burg’s Karl Fischer Row Gets Green from Behind [Curbed]
• Cops Try to Keep Man Who Murdered Cop in Williamsburg in ’73 in Prison [NYP]
• Atop Lookout Hill in Prospect Park [A Year in the Park]
• Meeting Will Focus on Williamsburg/Greenpoint Green Space [Metro]
• Coney Rezone to Start with Scoping Meeting [Kinetic Carnival]
• More Info on the Coney Scoping Process [Kinetic Carnival]
• No Mercy from Parking Enforcement in Bay Ridge [Right in Bay Ridge]
• Cultural Happenings in Sunset Park [Sunset Park Blog]

This is 2 Marcy Avenue, which is currently a mess, at least, in terms of its fence falling down. This photo is about a week old, and since we took it, most of the fence on Metropolitan Avenue has come down too. It’s unclear what’s going on with this lot, which is actually the more interesting question. The gas station that had been on this corner was demolished nearly two years ago. Since then, the property has sat empty, a prime location for condos or offices overlooking the turn that drivers make to get on to the BQE. In the meantime, excellent hanging out opportunities or a great spot to go to in order to do whatever away from the unforgiving glare of passing traffic and people. There is absolutely no indication the lot will be developed anytime soon, although the fence is constantly plastered with posters, given that it’s a high traffic area.

The new Union Market on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope opened yesterday. “A hand lettered sign welcomed customers to the new 7th avenue (between 12th and 13th) union market this morning. although bigger than the original, it’s layout and selections are pretty much the same. lots of fresh produce, sullivan street breads and a large section devoted to prepared foods – none of which can be described as cheap.” Like the other Union Market, though, it certainly looks nice.–Food of the Future

Of all the place in Brooklyn harboring industrial ghosts, we find the Brooklyn Navy Yard one of the most riveting. Photographer Nathan Kensinger, who has been inside many old industrial structures, offers up a look inside Building 128, most of which will be replaced by a food processing facility. Building 128, which dates from 1899, was used to build “large boiler engines and fabricated sections of naval vessels.” Mr. Kensinger’s photos are probably the last look inside the huge, century-old building before it comes down. It would be great if the Navy Yard Development Corp. allowed photographers and others inside to document the history that is there for future generations. There had been some discussion last year when a tour of the facility was rapidly filled leaving dozens of frustrated people unable to get in of organizing regular visits for the public. We wonder what the status of that is. It’s a great idea, a way for the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. to generate good will and a way to share the history of an important Brooklyn place with many people.

It’s time for the 2008 Building Brooklyn awards and the Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations. Will North Brooklyn get the short end of the stick again? “The contest regulations require that a project have a temporary or final CO issued in calendar 2007. So such favorites as 20 Bayard, North8 Condos, 207-211 South First Street and the Lucent are eligible. Others, in that grand Brooklyn tradition, will have to wait until next year.”–Brooklyn 11211

We’ve posted before about the “Town Hall” meeting sponsored by the Greenpoint Waterfront Assocation for Parks & Planning at Warsaw on January 17 at 7PM (261 Driggs Ave.). But, it’s important enough to note again. (There’s a small article in Metro today about it as well.) Here’s a bit from the original email announcing it:

The neighborhoods of Greenpoint/ Williamsburg are at a point of crisis and opportunity. Crisis because rampant development threatens what little open space and parks we have. Promises of additional open space made in the 2005 rezoning have never materialized. However, opportunities abound. We have promises made for terrific park facilities all over the neighborhood. We just have to make it happen….Here’s a sneak peak at the agenda:

* What is GWAPP? * TGE power plant fight *Sludge tank status * India Street End Park Project * Transmitter Park (end of Greenpoint Ave) *Bushwick Inlet park plans * McCarren Park Pool renovation* State Park at N7th * Tree Planting

All important topics.

It’s fair to say that the Health Dept. hasn’t won any fans by forcing much loves Burg eatery Pies ‘n Thighs to shut down. “The Department of Health is ordering its demise in one way or another– a true tragedy, only proving the extent to which the NYC administration continues to strip the city of its livelihood and spirit, that will leave us with just another barren wasteland of mirrored glass highrises and Olive Gardens…PnT needed to be landmarked, not closed. We’ll all be there for your grand opening though, PnT, cause you know what? FUCK THE DOH.”–Umami Mart

This nicely decorated alternate side sign, which has had plastic roses for a long time, comes from Manhattan Avenue east of the BQE in Williamsburg. The sign actually marks the route as St. Padre Pio Way.

Here’s some new Gowanus construction that is easy to get behind. At some point during the winter, someone put in some houses for the feral cats that inhabit this empty lot to use. Very cool.–Callalillie

The approval process for the Coney Island rezoning will be a long and technical one, including things like the upcoming Public Scoping Meeting. The session will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 6:00 PM at Abraham Lincoln High School, which is located at 2800 Ocean Parkway. In (relatively) plain English, the meeting will lay the groundwork for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. In advance, the city has posted several document: an Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS), Positive Declaration and Draft Scope of Work. Those with a keen interest in Coney Island and an ability to read planning documents can download them here. (All are in PDF form and there are links to each document.)

The documents lay out the details of the zoning changes. Among the interesting tidbits on the pages we skimmed is an estimate that the projects will start in 2009 and won’t be completed until 2019. What is called the “reasonable worst case development scenario” is interesting. This is what would happen if all the development allowed by he rezoning were maxed out: 1.4 million square feet of entertainment, retail and enclosed amusements, 4,800 apartments and between 6,300 and 8,300 parking spaces including replacements for the 1,100 that would be lost next to KeySpan Park.

We ran this yesterday, but it’s important: If you’ve been a victim of the credit card fraud we’ve been reporting, Detective Shy at the 78th Precinct is investigating. He can be reached at 718-636-6411. Victims will be asked to submit a list of local businesses where cards have been used in the last three months.–GL

The Citypoint website for the project that is going up on the site of the Albee Square Mall doesn’t go out of its way to highlight the height of the tower that will rise with the huge development planned for the site. (Brownstoner first drew attention to the site on Monday.) In fact, most renderings of the project has downplayed the tall building. A small rendering appears on the project’s website and a somewhat larger one has popped up on the Greenberg Farrow website. The building is planned at 65 stories, far taller than the Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, which is Brooklyn’s tallest structure. Here’s what the architect’s website has to say about the development:

City Point will enliven an already bustling office and retail district in the heart of Brooklyn. Next to the Metrotech office complex and along two major thoroughfares in central Brooklyn, this 1.9 million square foot development features over 500,000 square feet of retail, approximately 280 hotel rooms and 800 residential units along with 250,000 square feet of offices. This signature tower will rise to over 65 stories, rising above the Brooklyn skyline.

Is 65 stories too tall for Flatbush Avenue? Will there be any questions raised about the size of the Citypoint tower? Stay tuned.

Chalk it up to the mid-January slump, perhaps, but both Hotel Le Bleu in Gowanus and Hotel Le Jolie in Williamsburg have slashed their rates for “winter sales.” Rooms at both establishments are available for as little as $139 a night. We say this as a way of saying that prices for the time being are waaaay down. The biggest price cut is at Le Bleu, where rooms were in the mid-$300s after opening. Our friend Gabby Warshawer, in fact, provided an entertaining history of pricing at Le Bleu on Brownstoner yesterday. Some Le Jolie rooms are down to $139 a night as well, but bear in mind that “Elite” room with view of the city rather than the BQE will set one back $169 a night. Looks like the Le Bleu rates–at least, right now–creep back up later in January and in February, but the cheaper rates at Le Jolie (where the front desk is said to be behind bullet proof plexiglass) are good through the end of February.

“Though they didn’t say so explicitly, plaintiffs in the Atlantic Yards eminent domain case had to be pleased to learn that U.S. District Judge Edward Korman, the most skeptical member of a three-judge panel who last October 9 heard the appeal after the case had been dismissed, recused himself from the case. Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn (DDDB), which organized the lawsuit and whose spokesman, Daniel Goldstein, is lead plaintiff, issued a press release yesterday stating that Korman had recused himself. Though no formal reason was stated, Korman did in court offhandedly mention that he’d received an Atlantic Yards mailer “some years ago” and responded in the affirmative.”–AYR

The big lot next to the Red Hook Ikea is on the market. Actually, it has been for months, as these signs went up in November and we’ve had these pics on our hard drive forever. The property has an interesting history as people lived there for a while and it was also home to some of Red Hook’s wild dogs for a time. We caught a film shoot there in June. It is overgrown with wetland vegetation and a collection of graffiti and street art. It also has been the subject of the documentary. When all is said and done, it will probably end up as a big box retail neighbor of Ikea. Location. Location. Location.

Here’s the good news: There will be 50% more G Train service on weekday evenings and 20% more in the afternoon. Now, the bad news: Off-peak service is being eliminated to 13 stations as the G will end at Court Square, which means extra transfers for people going to Queens. Say, buh-bye Forest Hills.–NYDN

From the Sunset Park Autonomous Zone blog comes word of the “2nd Sunset Park Neighborhood Summit” this weekend. It takes place on Sunday (1/20) from 1PM-4PM at the Trinity Lutheran Church, which is located at 46th Street & 4th Ave. The meeting is sponsored by Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors (SPAN), Friends of Sunset Park, Trinity Lutheran Church, Sunset Park Autonomous Zone, 42nd Street Block Association. A previous “summit” was held in September. For more information email spanbrooklyn (at) yahoo (dot) com. Among other things the meeting will deal with displacement and development issues.

One of the more interesting community meeting venues in Brooklyn has been the Scotto Funeral Home in Carroll Gardens where the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association has been holding its meetings for years. No longer. CGNA is moving to a church meeting space a few blocks away.–PMFA

A letter from Coney Island Development Corp. president Lynn Kelly went out yesterday afternoon to announce an upcoming meeting that is the first step in the official public approval process for the city’s Coney Island rezoning proposal and plan. Here is some of what it said:

As you may know, the Coney Island Development Corporation (CIDC) and the New York City Department of City Planning held three public information sessions last week to discuss the City’s proposed rezoning framework for the Coney Island amusement area.(Detailed information regarding the rezoning plan is available at www.thecidc.org and at www.nyc.gov/planning.) Just as community participation was integral to developing the CIDC’s 2005 Strategic Plan, so too has recent input received from the community been key in informing the overall planning process.

In tandem with our community outreach efforts, we are also pursuing a detailed environmental analysis of the impacts of the proposed rezoning, in accordance with all regulatory requirements. The City has now completed the Environmental Assessment Statement (EAS) as part of the City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR) process, as well as a Scope of Work for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). The lead agency has issued a positive declaration and notice of scoping, here attached for your information. All of these documents can be found on the CIDC website at www.thecidc.org or on the website of Office of Environmental Coordination at www.nyc.gov/oec…As a next step in the environmental review process, a public scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, 6pm, at Lincoln High School, 2800 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY, to hear comments from the public regarding the proposed scope of work for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Coney Island rezoning. Written comments will also be accepted through Friday, February 29th, 2008, as further detailed in the official scoping documents…

The meeting is actually the most technical part of the long public process.

So, here’s a show about construction and renovation that has a very funny and very local Park Slope angle. The issue is what’s happening in a backyard on 12th Street and, we guess, why a dog is going over a wall to do his/her thing in a neighboring backyard. We posted it over at Curbed yesterday and realize that it veers into New York Shitty territory (or is NYS territory), but in case you haven’t seen it, we’re doing it again here. It’s about a show called Under Construction. The show is about renovation projects around NYC and features a lot in Brooklyn. The company that is featured is a local one, Design Tech Construction. It started airing yesterday.

Brooklinks is a daily selection of Brooklyn-related information and images:

• Markowitz and Staff Can Now Legally Park on Sidewalk [NYDN]
• A 20-Story Condo in South Williamsburg [Brownstoner]
• Check Out This Excellent Trailer Place [New York Shitty]
• Red, White and Blue Under the BQE [Lost City]
• Nominations Now Open for Building Brooklyn ’08 Awards [Brooklyn 11211]
• Leader of Grotesque Brooklyn Body Parts Ring to Please Guilty [amNY]
• Greenpoint Book Swap [Brooklyn Optimist]
• Man Arrested in Brooklyn for Florida Killing [Metro]
• Sustainable Flatbush Has an Events Calendar [Sustainable Flatbush]
• Take the Flatbush 2030 Survey [Brooklyn Junction]
• DOH Kills Williamsburg’s Pies ‘n Thighs [Eater]
• More About the Veggie Dog Lawsuit Against Nathan’s [NYDN]
• Brooklyn Heights Cinema Expanding [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
• Taj Mahal at the Brooklyn Museum [OTBKB]
• Upcoming Community Meetings [Clinton Hill Blog]
• A Gerritsen Beach Building Website [GerritsenBeach.Net]