The sentence “The Williamsburg “aka Roebling” Oil Spill is getting a lot of attention from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, but not much attention from the mainstream media.” is also troubling, since the only secondary sources are essentially a blog (Gowanus Lounge) and a short New York Times article.

Glad to know we were thrown in with the Times story, though, in terms of our level of disrepute. Which, apparently, is quite severe for the WikiPeople:

While it may be amateur journalism, and regardless of the credentials of the author, the Gowanus Lounge blog is an independent blog hosted on Blogspot, and I don’t think it is a reliable source.

We’d argue that the Roebling Oil story is deserving of a Wikipedia entry just as many other “local” topics are. We’d also argue that serious journalistic blogs such as Curbed and Brownstoner and, dare we say, GL–regardless of where the online reports are hosted–are reliable sources of information. To tar and feather online media as being “unreliable” simply by virtue of the fact that they exist online rather than coming off a printing press–or to insist upon viewing them as “cute” and “quirky”–is an antiquated concept the flow of information.

Regardless, however, the story is very important because it touches on a host of environmental issues in Williamsburg and North Brooklyn that have been largely overlooked for decades by the mainstream media and have gotten little serious attention from even community-based media. They are particularly compelling as Williamsburg’s formerly industrial sites are developed for residential use with a fairly hands-off regulatory approach and without any attention from either the publications that have investigative reporters on staff to check out, say, the toxicity of Williamsburg waterfront parcels and whether regulators are doing their jobs and clean ups are adequate to safeguard future residents or even the community-based or local publications that can also be said to have been asleep at the switch on some issues, at least, in terms of sounding alarm bells.

We digress, however. We’d argue that the Roebling Oil Field and the issues that it raises deserved a Wikipedia entry. You can check out the entire discussion here if you wish. That, of course, is one of our unreliable photos of the imaginary local problem–whose local source has yet to be identified or, at least, communicated by the Department of Environmental Conservation to the public–above.

Here’s fun vid about the threatened Red Hook Vendors, including a bunch of interviews with the vendors themselves. (While the vendors will be in place through the end of their season in October this year, the Parks Department still intends to put their permit out for competitive bidding. Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe has said that the bid will be structured so that the highest bid won’t be the sole determining factor in the decision and that things like experience running a successful vending program will be given weight.) Watch the embed or click over to the vid on YouTube.

Sugar:

• A Look Around the Old Domino [Curbed]
• CPC Shows and Tells Its Plans for Domino [Brownstoner]
• Plan Unveiled for “New Domino” Housing [Sun]
• Developers Unveil More Plans for Former Domino Plant Site [NY1]
• Developers May Give Domino Plant New Life [amNY]

Not Sugar:

• Jefferies Calls Atlantic Yards Special Tax Breaks “Offensive” [AYR]
• Mill Basin Mess [Brownstoner]
• Plan to Fix Grand Army Plaza So You Don’t Die Crossing It [Streets Blog]
• Inky, the Roebling Oil Cat, Not Showing Gratitude by Spraying Apt. [Bad Advice]
• Million Dollar Condos Atop Atlantic Yards “Blight” [Set Speed]
• Brooklyn Garden Competition [7online via McBrooklyn]
• Loathe Thy Neighbor [newyorkshitty]
• Stoopid Dope Stoop Sale [BK 11201]
• The Stuy and Hart Micronabe [Bed-Stuy Blog]
• A Look Inside the Child’s Restaurant Building [Kinetic Carnival]
• Drewes Village in Bay Ridge [Bay Ridge Blog]
• Food Town Selling Expired Food [Kensington Brooklyn]

If the approval process goes smoothly, the developer hopes to start construction in late 2008 or early 2009, which would mean that it would be 2017 or so before the entire development is finished. The “New Domino,” as it is being called, would have 2,200 apartments, 660 of which would be categorized as affordable. CPC’s Michael Lappin, who did the heavy lifting during the presentation talked at great length about the affordable housing, noting that the developers will work on that part of the phased project first. The affordable units would be distributed by lottery, with half being reserved for people currently living in the area covered by Community Board 1. Development would start on the southern part of the site

“This is an important site to the community and can be an important asset if it is done right,” Mr. Lappin said.

The main Domino plant building would be preserved, but the developer wants to add floors to the building, which could be controversial in the context of landmarking it. In addition, there could be controversy over plans to demolish another historic structure on the site that is not up for landmarking.

The site totals 11.2 acres; 4 acres would be set aside for open space. Residential towers designed by Rafael Vinoly would be as tall as 30 and 40 stories. (Assuming the developers get the rezoning they are seeking.) The development would include 120,000 square feet of retail space and 100,000 square feet of “community space.”

The developer acknowledged there will be “a transportation issue” with 3,000-4,000 new residents in a part of Williamsburg that is fairly distant from the subway. Mr. Lappin said that the project will include a pier for New York Water Taxi and jitney service to the subway. (The issue of subway lines that are already crowded was not addressed.)

The first presentation to the Planning Commission about the project is on July 31, and there is much more to come on the subject. We’ll have a slideshow of photos from the plant grounds, which we’d never be on before, tomorrow. If you’re interested in some of the contentious management-labor history of the plant back when it was open, check out this old story in the Village Voice. Domino was not quite a sweet and happy place back in the day.

The Eberhard Faber factory in Greenpoint produced No. 2 Mongol pencils until 1956. The Landmarks Commission will be considering a two-block Eberhard Faber Pencil Company Historic District. Given the loss of industrial buildings in North Brooklyn, preservationists have placed a lot of weight on protecting Eberhard Faber. (Several buildings in the complex are already being demolished or severely altered as part of new developments.) The Eberhard Faber discussion is a preliminary designation hearing, which is one of several steps.

The Commission is also expected to designate a number of pools including the WPA-Era McCarren Pool (and the Sunset Park pool). (In non-North Brooklyn action, there will be a calendaring hearing for the Dumbo Historic District. It is the first step in the process.)

The landmarking hearings will take place starting this morning at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room on the ninth floor of the Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street, in Manhattan.

Mr. Vinoly, meanwhile, will be unveiling plans for another likely landmark, the Domino Sugar Plant. In this case, however, the developers will eventually be seeking to add several floors to the building. More than 2,200 apartments are plant for the site of the old plant, in buildings up to 30-40 stories. It will be interesting to see Mr. Vinoly’s vision for the site.

We found this little tale of postal woe while scanning the brooklynian.com Park Slope Forum. There is something about it that is amusing in a pet that someone dumps three hundred miles from home that manages to find its way back sort of way. (Not that we find dumping pets funny. We love animals.) We also know that this would not happen with a piece of mail that one actually wanted, which is what makes it even more poignant in its own postal way. Here it is:

Last week I received a letter addressed to a woman who has not lived in my building for approximately eight years. I don’t have a forwarding address for her, so I wrote “WRONG ADDRESS — RETURN TO SENDER” in large capital letters on the front of the envelope, with an arrow pointing to the return address.

Knowing that this was not enough to prevent the post office from redelivering this letter to me, I took a Sharpie and crossed out the bar code on the envelope, and I inked over the plastic window on the envelope so my address was completely covered. Then I took it to the Van Brunt post office and dropped it in a mailbox there.

The letter was redelivered to me today. The post office had actually removed the inked-over plastic window to uncover the address. Then they put a new bar code sticker on the envelope. So here it is again. What the hell? Why are they so stupid? Why were they so determined to redeliver this letter to a place where it is clearly unwanted? And meanwhile, letters that are sent addressed to me, at my correct address, at a house that has been standing here for 100+ years, get returned to the sender marked “no such address”? Why why why?

We’ll answer the last question with the obvious answer: Because.

Q: When are planning bodies not eligible for certain planning grants?

A: When they’re community boards in New York City.

From Community Board 6 comes a reminder that a measure that will help these entities do planning is awaiting NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s signature. An email says:

You may recall that two years ago Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblywoman Joan Millman introduced into their respective houses a bill that would allow Community Boards to apply for certain planning grants from the Brownfield Opportunity Areas program administered by the State of New York. That’s right. The Community Boards, New York City’s municipal community-based planning bodies, were not eligible for planning grants from the State of New York. You can’t make this stuff up.

Despite the bill passing both houses last year, it was vetoed by Governor Pataki for technical reasons. Flash forward a year, and the revised bill (A.1088/S.557) passes both houses again. It was just transmitted to Governor Spitzer for his signature this past Friday, July 20th. You can really help make the difference if you act right away by weighing in with the Governor’s Office. Please let him know that you think giving Community Boards the ability to compete for resources from the State in the form of planning grants would be a good thing.

That sound like it’s definitely the understatement of the day.

• ESDC Says Consultant’s Ratner Work Was Disclosed [AYR]
• 1 Train Rules, F Train Stands for Filth [Gothamist]
• Subway Group Ranks 1 Train Tops [Sun]
• What Ratner & Gehry Won’t Tell You About Brownfield Bucks [No Land Grab]
• Newtown Creek Alliance Meeting Tomorrow (7/25) [Green Brooklyn]
• Tour Underground Brooklyn (Literally) [McBrooklyn]
• Calling in Sign Requests Really Works [Kensington Brooklyn]
• Keri Russell Really Living in Fort Greene [Set Speed]
• Big Price Cut at Greene House Penthouse [Brownstoner]
• What’s the Deal with the Broadway Renovation [Bushwick BK]
• What to Do with This Building? [Clinton Hill Blog]
• Pencil in Landmark Status for Eberhard Faber in Greenpoint [City Room]
• Vigil Against Greenpoint Harassment and Displacement [UNO]
• For Charles Barron Race is About Race [Gothamist]
• Checking Out Unknown Valentino Park [BK 11201]

The good people at the Brooklyn Artists Gym emailed about two cool upcoming shows of winners that have won prizes in their shows. One is Pepe Villegas, who won first prize in BAG’s “Look See: Reflections” photography show. The other is Lucy Mink, who won first prize in the second annual “Small Works Show.” (That is one her works here on the right.) Mr. Villegas’ show is on August 4 and August 5. Ms. Mink’s show is August 11-12. The receptions are on Sat., August 4 from 4-6 p.m., and Sat. August 11 from 6-8 p.m. BAG is located at 168 7th Street, between, 2nd and 3rd Ave, 3rd floor. It is open M-F, 10-5pm, Sat 10-6pm and Sun 1-5pm. For more information call (718)858-9069 or visit the BAG website. To get to bag, take the F to 4th Avenue or the R to 9th Street.

A resident of Fourth Street It was around 9 a.m Sunday July 15 She was in the ledge over the door on a brownstone on 4th street between 8th Ave and the Park. First one cop car came, then another. Buncha cops standing around smoking cigarettes, taking pictures of her on their cell phones. She appeared fast asleep–we thought maybe she was acting and that at some point a film crew would pop out – ashton kutscher – we’d been punked! Or an NYU film class project or something.

One of the cops said ‘maybe she’s a fallen angel.’

Then an ambulance came. Parameds got out, looked at her, started taking pix on their cell phones. Then another cop car came–now we’re up to three cop cars–and a second ambulance. By now an hour has passed. Finally they put a ladder up, try to rouse her. She appears to be out cold. They gently lift her down, put her on a stretcher. She had a little pillow under her head – turns out it was a teddy bear, one of those stuffed animal purses, they open it up and pull out a little blue ring box.

Honestly, I didnt see this part with my own eyes, but others who were closer to the action said that inside the box was a ring!

Now, when they took the bear away from her, she shrieked for a moment, then they gave it back to her and she appeared to go out again. I mean, either she gets an academy award or Houston, we have a problem here! They put cuffs on her and strapped her to the stretcher and took her away. I figured the cuffs would be the moment she would say, “Actually this is all a prank …” but she never seemed to come out of her reverie.

She was beautiful, too, like a young Sigourney Weaver. And barefoot. And the dress was draped so beautifully off the ledge, like a scene from The Illusionist. Indeed she seemed to be in a trance.

Now – there is no way she got up there without a ladder. but there was no ladder! So – did someone drug her and put her up there and take the ladder away? Did she put herself up there and have an accomplice who took the ladder away for her? Was she mentally ill? A jilted desperate woman seeking revenge or making a statement? The victim of a strange prank? Did they take her to bellevue for treatment or central booking for trespassing?

The people who live in that house were away for the weekend. We know that because there were a couple of newspapers on the doorstep. Moral of the story: Do not let your New York Times deliveries collect on your doorstep, because then people will know you are gone and maybe a woman in a wedding dress will camp out on the ledge over your front door! Our whole block was abuzz for the week!

Everyone is dying to know the true story of …

The Brownstown Bride! The Bride of Brooklyn!

As we said, it’s either the most elaborate ruse of the year or film rights waiting to be sold. The latest word on the Brooklynian Message Board is that “she is ill” and that “her parents are coming from overseas to take her home.” If anyone knows the story behind this for certain, do shoot us an email.

[Photo courtesy of Nathaniel Harpaz, Age 9!]

We have reps from the Department of Buildings, the Department of Environmental Protection, Keyspan and Con Edison at the site along with 5 various trucks. Work started at 7AM and will go through the day and might go into Sunday if the Sewer line is as badly damaged as a Rep from D.E.P thinks it is. This site has already been given a stop work order for nearly damaging the L train tunnel that is right under the site. As soon as they were allowed to go back to work they damaged the sewer line. You would think that a developer who is getting up to 1.8 million dollars for a unit would want to get the building up in a timely manner. This is not progress.

Another email let us know that work on the site yesterday (Sunday) went until 4PM. By the time we strolled past around 7PM, all was finally quiet and some of the neighbors were sitting outside enjoying a nice evening.

2) The space formerly known at the Toll Brothers sales office for the North8 Condos at N. 6th and Bedford has a new tenant. Yesterday, there was a temporary sign in the window saying women’s shoes and accessories, some clothing hung in the windows and boxes scattered around. It was hard to say whether it’s more of a pop-up, temporary type of store or something more permanent. It looked like more of the former than the latter.

Was it only last week that we watched people hoisting the Giglio and carrying it down the street? Well, the Giglio is now only a skeleton of its former self, which we found interesting in both a before-and-after and how-things-are-made kind of way.

Even though developer Joe Sitt has said he wants to have amusements on the Astroland land, there has been no progress on keeping the park open. A bunch more photos of Thor’s empty land is posted here.

Here are nearly two-dozen vids (of widely varying quality) shot at the Siren Festival in Coney Island on Saturday and posted to you tube. Click the ones that interest you on the embed below or go over to the playlist.

• Huge Hole in Atlantic Yards Financing [AYR]
• Different Kind of Hole on Pineapple Street [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
• Feel the Brooklyn Critical Mass Video [Streets Blog]
• Charles Barron Open Brooklyn Borough President Campaign [Sun]
• Man at Work on Gowanus Expressway [Big Sky Brooklyn]
• Kensington via Blog as the Next Park Slope [Metro]
• Less Roti, More Real Estate [Across the Park]
• Bay Ridge Duane Reade is Toast, How About a Supermarket? [Bay Ridge Blog]
• Dumbo Then & Now [Dumbo NYC]
• Man Shot After Traffic Dispute [NYT]
• Suspect Caught in Double Shooting [NYP]

Friday it was located on the sidewalk at 159 Green Street. Yesterday it had managed to cross the street (148 Green Street). Today it has decided to hang out in front of 106 Green Street. Tomorrow, who knows?

To quickly bring you Wandering Stop Sign fans up to date: The sign, which is at the treacherous intersection of Manhattan Avenue and Green Street, was mowed down. It was replaced. It was mowed down again. And, apparently, people have been moving it around. Well, at least, that is how one would presume it is getting from Point A to Point B.

The legendary Mr. Pomus’ music and words were given spectacular treatment, both reverential and rollicking good fun at the same time. (Click here to find some wonderful information about Doc Pomus, including a great biographical article. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, many of his songs will.) At the end of the night, you had to wonder what one the most influential blues and rock songwriters of his era would have thought of the performances–soulful, rocking and moving.

Mr. Willner produced a Neil Young tribute two years ago at Celebrate Brooklyn that was equally spectacular fun. See our flickr slideshow embed below for more pics or go over to our flickr set.