Dumbo, Brooklyn

There’s something about tagged up signage that draws our camera. This battered “No Parking Active Driveway” sign is in Greenpoint.

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

• “Atlantic Yards Community”? [No Land Grab]
• Last Lap for Park Slope Armory Renovation [Brownstoner]
• The Ultimate Greenpoint Street Couches [newyorkshitty]
• What’s with the Loose Chickens on Columbia Street? [Lost City]
• Number of Brooklyn Sales Declines [Brooklyn Daily Eagle]
• Williamsburg Satmar Rebbe Lays Cornerstone for Jerusalem Housing [Jerusalem Post]
• Last Hurrah for Red Hook Soccer Field Tacos? [amNY]
• Red Hook Ballfields [Blather from Brooklyn]
• Sign the New Astroland Petition [Kinetic Carnival]
• Landmarks Commission Holds Off Discussing Vinegar Hill Bldg. [Dumbo NYC]
• 110 Livingston’s Restored Entryway [110 Livingston]
• Damaged Tree List Needed [Kensington Brooklyn]
• Cops in Sheepshead Bay Shootout [NYP]
• Panel Hears About Buckeye Pipeline Security Concerns [NYDN]

Check out the Street Films vid and blog post about the new Pearl Street Triangle space in Dumbo and the city’s project to transform 30 streets into public spaces. As one would expect, Dumbo NYC has had great coverage of the project.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Of all the ghosts whose presence is felt in Coney Island, one of the most charismatic is Steeplechase Park. It existed from 1897 to 1964 and, then, died at the hands of Fred Trump who notoriously invited guests to break the windows of the pavilion. In any case, amusementparks.com has some wonderful Steeplechase Page including a general intro page, an Inside Steeplechase page and more. Check it out.

Last week, Kinetic Carnival noted that attendance at the Cole Bros. Circus in Coney Island was less than had been hoped for. This week, the Brooklyn View fills in more blanks with priceless detail. Like this gem from someone attending the circus:

“Everyone loves Coney Island but after dark it is a different story,” said Anthony Davidson, who sat in the third row with his three-year-old son. “It’s risky to even walk the streets sometimes. You hear gun shots and you’re always afraid to get mugged.”

Gunshots? “Always afraid” of getting mugged? On the boardwalk or Surf Avenue? We’ll admit to jumping when a balloon in one of those water games pops, but that’s about the entirety of the level of personal threat we’ve ever felt in the heart of the amusement area. Here’s the text of the story, which is available only in a PDF:

Due to parking problems, congestion and the reputation of the neighborhood, the Cole Bros. Circus had lackluster attendance numbers during its nighttime performances in Coney Island, according to the circus. For the past several years, the circus set up its tent in Marine Park and filled the seats, but this summer, the circus struggled to fill seats. Not one event sold out in the six consecutive days of production.

Although the ringmaster told crowds the circus was excited to showcase their flying trapeze and Andrey, an acrobat, the company left Coney Island a bit disappointed. “With all the fun and excitement of elephants, lions, balloons and clowns, there was a sea of empty seats throughout several nights,” said Edna Williams, as she clapped for the performers. She sat in the front row during the last performance on August 5.

“This is Coney Island, home to the freaks and the melting pot of the world. We figured we’d fit right in,” said Frank, a circus employee.

Chuck Werner, Cole Bros. senior marketing director, said families did not attend at night because they feared bringing their children to an environment that, while booming during the day, is often crime-ridden at night. Drug dealings, prostitution and violence, while not as prevalent for the past two years, is still reported often to the 60th Precinct. However, due to efforts of the police, the area has become known for a large drop in crime. This has contributed to a spike in tourism and the newly proposed development of a rejuvenated amusement park and resort by the boardwalk.

“The area is improving, the community is starting to work hand in hand with the precinct and that helps us to do our jobs to catch the bad guys,” said Deputy Inspector Robert Johnson, Commander of the Precinct. “Everyone loves Coney Island but after dark it is a different story,” said Anthony Davidson, who sat in the third row with his three-year-old son. “It’s risky to even walk the streets sometimes. You hear gun shots and you’re always afraid to get mugged.”

Thor Equities, which has bought a large portion of the amusement area along the boardwalk, said that they were not surprised to see the multitude of empty seats during the performances. The company focused on just bringing the Circus into the area. The corporation plans to turn the area into a “resort paradise” which would include a retail and entertainment strip with an indoor water park and a 500-room, four-star hotel.

Another reason that contributed to the low attendance according to Cole Bros. senior marketing director Chuck Werner, was a major parking problem in Coney Island. There were thousands of people and very few parking spots. Parking lot owners also charged high prices. Many Circus visitors said that they were forced to park several blocks away…

People didn’t go because of “a major parking problem” and “congestion” and a “crime-ridden” environment or had to park “several blocks away”? We’re guessing circus fans didn’t want to take the subway because they were afraid of being gunned down walking the block from the Stillwell Avenue Station to the circus tent?

Our friend, Kinetic Carnival, who covers the Coney Island landscape in very thorough fashion, brings news of a new petition (both online and in paper form) to keep Astroland open next year. As things currently stand, the park will close for good on September 9, which is less than a month away. Go over to Kinetic for the details and click here to head over to the petition. Send Thor Equities and City Hall a message. Sign it. And, if you’re really motivated, download a copy and get everyone you know to sign it and mail it in.

Yesterday was a busy day for Brooklyn’s Underground Railroad history. Mayor Bloomberg announced via press release that he is committing $2 million for capital and construction of “a project to commemorate abolitionist activity that occurred in Brooklyn in the 1800s.” As you may recall, rowhouses on Duffield Street that the city intends to demolish to make way for underground parking are at the heart of a controversy (and were the subject of an expensive and controversial consultant’s study). Advocates say the homes were part of the Underground Railroad. The consultant says there is no hard evidence. Some have suggested memorializing the anti-slavery struggle in Brooklyn in some way.

Duffield Street Underground, a blog set up to oppose the demolition of the buildings writes:

The announcement is certainly a victory for those who want to promote the development of Downtown Brooklyn through the commemoration of the Abolitionist history at 227 Duffield Street and other nearby historic properties. It is a clear recognition by the Mayor that these buildings can provide an important cultural resource to the area.

It remains to be seen whether today’s press release is just an excuse to tear down these properties and to build a memorial at some other location. The EDC made this suggestion at the May 1st 2007 public hearing on the historical claims surrounding the Duffield Street homes threatened with destruction by their Downtown Brooklyn plans.

Here are some links to coverage of yesterday’s announcement:

• Mayor Appeases Underground Railroad Rancor [The Real Estate]
• Honoring Brooklyn’s Role in Ending Slavery [City Room]
• A Victory or New Justification to Demolish Abolitionist Homes? [Duffield St. Underground]
• Honoring Brooklyn’s Role in Ending Slavery [Duffield St. Underground]
• Underground Movement [NYP]

We’d be remiss in not noting the controversy about the Mermaid Parade video above produced by Thor Equities and posted on YouTube. If you watch the vid, you’ll see a woman, who is a Thor employee, toward the end saying “The spirit of Thor matches that of Coney Island!” As you might imagine, this did not go over entirely well with Coney Island USA. Late last week Dick Zigun put a post on the Coney Island Message Board that said:

Thor has just been sent a email informing them that they have NO PERMISSION to use the name or logo MERMAID PARADE within their FUTURE OF CONEY ISLAND logo such as they have done at the start and finish of the YOU TUBE piece. We have asked them to make a correction asap. We do thank Thor for the High Steppers at the parade.

Yesterday, Mr. Zigun wrote that “Thor has been in touch with me and promises changes this week.” There’s an article about it all in today’s Metro. Needless to say, the vid doesn’t picture any of the anti-Thor protesters that marched in the parade.

No, it’s not, you know, those Doors. It’s tagged up and messed up doors, a species that is diminishing as the makeover of industrial Williamsburg continues. We’ve shot a scad of photos of them on one of our neighborhood photo walks, and we’re going to put up a selection in a couple of posts this week.

We return to our on-and-off series Brooklyn Back in the Day with this photo of Roebling Street in Williamsburg, circa 1923. It comes, as do many excellent historical Brooklyn photos, from the Brooklyn Public Library’s extensive online Brooklyn collection.

We love poking around Kevin Walsh‘s superb website Forgotten NY. Every time we visit, we learning something new. Mr. Walsh is the consummate keeper of information about things that have come and gone (or are in danger of going) in New York City. Mr. Walsh recently started a new feature called Forgotten New York Slices, which are shorter items on interesting places in neighborhoods. One of the new posts is about 52nd Street in Sunset Park. (Which takes note of the fact that the Brooklyn Twister of 2007 went through part of the neighborhood not long after Mr. Walsh’s visit.) Check out the new 52nd Street in Sunset Park “slice.”

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

• Dailies Blow the Ward Bakery Collapse Follow Up [AYR]
• FEMA Tours Bay Ridge Tornado Damage [Metro]
• Crumbling Hopes for 160 Imlay? [Brownstoner]
• Red Hook Dead End? [Gothamist]
• Red Hook is “Dead Hook” [NYPress]
• Brooklyn Alternate Side Tornado Tickets Dismissed [NYP]
• New Justification for Tearing Down Duffield Street Buildings? [Duffield St. Underground]
• NYU Taking Over Part of Livingston St. [110 Livingston]
• Brooklyn Roads? [Erica’s Blog]
• Details on the Third Avenue Traffic Mural [Streets Blog]
• Dumbo Map, 1872 [Dumbo NYC]
• Inflatable Move Madness at Coney Island [Kinetic Carnival]
• G Train Blog Already Makes the Press [Metro]
• Interesting Choice to Head Brooklyn Arabic-Themed School [NYP]
• Bed-Stuy Resident Raising HIV Awareness [Bed-Stuy Blog]
• Stacked in Brooklyn Heights [Velvet Sea]

We return to our “Say What?” series of signage that has been compromised by construction, stickers or graffiti with this primo specimen from the messed up sign capital of NYC, Williamsburg. It can be found on Havemeyer Street near Grand Street.

Red Hook, Brooklyn

Greenpoint, Brooklyn

The part of Williamsburg around Jackson Street and Manhattan Avenue has been quite the hotbed of construction over the last year or so. The building above is 368 Manhattan, which is finally emerging from its construction phase. The Jackson Foundry building (first photo below) has been turned into condos. There are a number of them on the Corcoran website, with one bedrooms around $800,000 and a two bedroom listed at $1M. The photo at the bottom is 131-139 Jackson Street. If it looks a little familiar (think Roebling Square in Williamsburg), that’s because it’s also the work of the ubiquitous Karl Fischer.

Maybe it was the online F Train petition that inspired it, but the longstanding “Save the G” effort has a new blog. Well, it’s a one-entry blog so far proclaiming an intention to do more. The organizers write:

After a too-long hiatus, Save The G is re-establishing our web presence. You’ll be hearing about our advocacy efforts for longer trains, shorter waits, and cleaner stations. Our website is also getting a much-needed overhaul; we’ll let you know when it’s back up. In the meantime, we want to hear from you. Please post G train related news, comments, and ideas and meet your fellow G train riders!

The Save the G website, meanwhile, appears to be down, so there’s no sense in linking to it right now. The new Save the G blog includes a poll for G Train riders about what they’d most like to see on the G (longer trains, more frequent service, etc.).

The Red Hook community-based photo project “What’s the Hook?” organized by Harriet Zucker got under way yesterday and we understand that more than 100 photographers have already expressed interest in participating. The photo project will run through Saturday (8/18). For more information you can go to the What’s the Hook? website, but the bottom line is that if you have a camera and you want to go to Red Hook and shoot photos between now and Saturday, you’re invited to submit them to What’s the Hook. A number of young people from the Red Hook Justice Center’s Photography Program are participating along with other neighborhood young people, which is very cool. Some of the best photos will be posted online and in establishments around Red Hook. there will also be some events this week, including a get together for photographers at the Red Hook Fairway on Thursday (8/18) from 4PM-6PM. The gathering will take place at the cafe in back (the one with the awesome view of New York Harbor). Ms. Zucker emails that Bait and Tackle at 320 Van Brunt is offering a beer to participating photogs. (Contact Ms. Zucker at whatsthehook2007 (at) gmail (dot) com to get a “chit” for Bait and Tackle.) Also the venerable Sonny’s Bar is giving photographer a free drink (up to $5 in value) on Wednesday night (8/15). (Again, email Ms. Zucker for info.)

Here are some of Ms. Zucker’s thoughts on photos:

There are few things I would like to see if possible. The first image that comes to mind when you think of Red Hook.

If you live in Red Hook, can you shoot from the top of your building or any building?…If you can shoot from the water, try. Late at night and v. early am

Soccer field activity on the weekends soccor baseball and amazing food.

I have permission for a photgrapher to shoot at Red Hook pool…..weekends are probably not great. I need to let them know time and date. Pool opens at 11 am
that is when kids line up. Closes from 3-4 (check that) and opens again.

People fish at both Piers (Valentino and Columbia st) Columbia street fisherman are there quite early.

Tons of gardens in Red Hook, some great yards

Lots graffiti too. some interesting businesses….old and new. Yellow buses and water taxis. Trucks. Traffic. Lots and lots of change.

All in all, it’s an excellent project that will produce a valuable “week in the life” document of a neighborhood that’s changing quickly.

Among the things we love about Coney Island is that just when you think the news can’t get any more odd, it does. Take, for instance, this story about Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, developer Joe Sitt and fixing the decrepit Coney Island boardwalk. Apparently, Ms. Gotbaum “is in talks” with Mr. Sitt “and will ask him about possibility of paying for repairs to the crumbling boardwalk.” That’s the report in the new Bay News. We have no idea what Ms. Gotbaum could be in talks about with Mr. Sitt, but the timing of asking Mr. Sitt to kicking in boardwalk repair money when the city is considering a land swap to ensure the integrity of the amusement district is indeed curious. Here’s a sample of the story:

The idea of involving a private developer in a public space has evoked mixed feelings from local residents but the city Parks Department says it’s open to the possibility of financial assistance.

Department Spokesperson Phil Abramson explained, “A complete restoration of the entire boardwalk is required and we need a multimillion dollar allocation of capital funds for this to happen. While we hope to obtain public funds, we would also welcome donations from private individuals or businesses for this purpose.”

Given that the boardwalk is a major public asset, the penny-pinching by the city that has allowed it to fall into such an embarrassing state of disrepair is inexcusable. It needs to be stabilized quickly. While both Thor Equities and Taconic Investment, the two big Coney Island players, should be required to kick in some money for the repair project, the funding should be a public priority.

Related Posts:
More Fun With Coney’s Break-Your-Face Boardwalk
Busted Up Coney Boardwalk Continues to Generate Concern

We’re going to be doing some photo-oriented Coney Island posts in the next week or two, starting with today’s pics of some of the kiddie rides. Enjoy.

There’s a fundraiser this evening for the Transportation Alternatives and Groundswell Mural Project, which are sponsoring a traffic awareness mural project along Third Avenue. It takes place from 6PM-8PM. There’s a mural preview at the corner of 3rd Ave & Butler St at 6PM and refreshments at 7PM at Sheep Station, which is located at Fourth Avenue and Douglass Street. The suggested donation is $50, and it’s for a great cause. The project was inspired by the tragic death of James Rice–who was struck and killed by a Hummer at Third Avenue and Baltic Street on his way home from pre-school in February–and many other children that have been injured and killed by cars. We go to the copy & paste for a description from the sponsors:

This summer Transportation Alternatives is collaborating with Groundswell Mural Project to honor children who have been killed by cars and trucks along 3rd Avenue and to win pro-pedestrian street changes that will prevent future tragedies. The Groundswell project team is an outstanding youth group from the Third Avenue corridor community that has worked under the guidance of acclaimed social activist artists Christopher Cardinale and Nicole Schulman. For seven weeks, they have researched traffic calming strategies and in turn designed and are now painting a large-scale mural. The mural is the centerpiece of an ongoing campaign for safer streets along the 3rd and 4th Avenue corridors.

The project is close to completion, and we are close to meeting our fundraising goals! Please join us on Monday night as we meet the artists and preview the mural. We’ll then adjourn to Sheep Station for refreshments.

If you’re interested in lending a hand, you can RSVP to Brooke DuBose at ped (at) transalt (dot) org. The actual mural dedication will be coming up on August 28.

Related Post:
Traffic Safety Mural Coming to Third Avenue

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

• Celebrating More Crappy Williamsburg Design [Brooklyn 11211]
• A Question for the Department of Buildings [newyorkshitty]
• Reflecting on the Deadly Pacific Street Arson [Duffield Street Underground]
• City Puts the Screws to Sitt [Courier Life]
• Roof with a View and a Grill [Brooklyn Nester]
• Ditmas Park Links [Living in Victorian Flatbush]
• Dumbo Weekly Links [Dumbo NYC]
• Brooklynite Goes Skinny Dipping on Long Island [NYSun]
• Dead Horse Bay [A Brooklyn Bachelor]
• Bootlegging Wars of Red Hook [Lost City]
• Really High Tide [Brooklyn 11211]
• Gunman Shot in East New York by Cops [NYT]
• Fourth Avenue Car Wash Carnival Thing [Big Sky Brooklyn]
• Obama Rally in Brooklyn on Wednesday [McBrooklyn]
• Seeing Serra in Greenpoint [Gothamist]

Our eyes and camera lenses are still getting used to Union Avenue in Williamsburg without the Beach Russ building, that red brick structure that went down fast. We thought we’d share another pic of the intersection, which is at the epicenter of an incredible amount of change in that part of Williamsburg.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn