Looks like there will be quite a bit of low-key work before any dramatic demolition occurs. The prep work reminds us of something we saw recently when huge warehouses were demolished to make way for a new soccer stadium in Harrison, NJ. The buildings were stripped of their metal facades and interiors, leaving steel skeletons that were then demolished.

Pictures:

• A Salt Pile in Red Hook [bluejake]
• Timeless Red Hook [Sunset Parker]
• Hello, My Name is the Cyclone [seriously exited!]
• Climb Away [Lex’s Folly]
• Park Slope Santa Display [Park Slope Street Photography]

Words:

• Gehry’s Frustrated Sigh About Huge Atlantic Yards Signs [AYR]
• Lefferts Park [Across the Park]
• Eating Locally [Clinton Hill Blog]
• LIC and Williamsburg Duel Over Cool [NYT]
• Restaurant Inspection Information [Brooklyn Masala]
• Red Hook Farewell Tour [Thoughts on New York]
• Broken Dreams on Third Avenue [NYDN]
• Drivers Can Run Red Lights and Kill People and Only Get Summons [Gothamist]
• Bensonhurst Then and Now [Sunset Parker]
• Is the Wonder Wheel Next? [OTBKB]
• Patsy Grimaldi Out of Retirement [NYT]

Yes, it’s the weekend, and time to scan the land of sadness, hope and comedy known as Missed Connections on Craigslist for items that touch our soul. For instance, this one about love and booting up in the bakery:

I vomited in the bakery and you asked me if I was ok – m4w – 27
I answered that it must have been the tacos I had eaten the previous day. You smile, I left in shame, feeling rather rancid. But maybe from this sorta awkward beginning, friendship or more can bloom?

I am familiar with all Apple products, and own a Wii. Let’s talk about it.

Honorable Mention:

• Guy standing behind me at the Park Slope Copy Center – 25
• blue oyster cult t-shirt at union pool – m4w

“Deno’s Wonder Wheel can’t be torn down and replaced, but maybe we can incorporate the Wonder Wheel in a hotel and have it stick out the roof,” said Dennis Vourderis, co-owner of the famous Coney Island ride.

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park encompasses an area from the Bowery to the boardwalk and from West 12th Street to Jones Walk, the border of Astroland.

It includes its namesake Wonder Wheel, which like the Cyclone is landmarked and can’t be moved, along with 21 other movable rides, two arcades, a pizzeria and a snack bar….

However, Silberstein stopped short of saying the two are negotiating a deal on the property.

“We don’t comment on anything proactively or speculatively. If we have something to announce we’ll announce it,” said Silberstein.

Vourderis said there haven’t even been discussions with Sitt concerning selling the amusement park.

“I have no plans to sell at this time,” he said.

Vourderis said he and his brother Steve, who run the park, have large families and their children have expressed interest in continuing to run the park.

It would be the third generation of the Vourderis family running the park, he said.

Vourderis noted, though, that Sitt is a very intelligent business person, and that given the opportunity, would probably love to own the Wonder Wheel as a centerpiece of Coney Island.

We’d be willing to bet significant money that Wonder Wheel Park is toast too.

As of yesterday evening, the wrecking ball directed by Thor Equities and CEO Joseph Sitt had not yet swung in Red Hook to destroy the iconic Revere Sugar factory whose presence defines the neighborhood’s waterfront. Thor’s spokesperson, who usually speaks to reporters, refused to confirm or deny the impending demolition or to say when it would occur. Demolition permits were issued on December 5 with work authorized to start immediately. A local source originally said the dome was slated for a date with death on Friday. Some equipment remains parked on the site and activity has been observed, but no demolition work.

If the developer was hoping to accomplish the demolition without press coverage, and to have the conical dome down before anyone noticed, he seems to have failed. A source brought the demolition permit to the attention of Curbed on Wednesday afternoon and it immediately reported the scoop, followed by other blogs which cover development in Brooklyn. On Friday, amNY, Newsday and the New York Post reported the story. New editions of several of the Courier Life papers also have stories on Thor’s demolition plan.

In a sense, the story highlights the extent to which bloggers have subtly altered the development equation in Brooklyn. While outcomes may not be changed, instant internet coverage of stories like the Revere demolition has shined a light on events that otherwise might have gone unreported until after the fact or not have been reported at all.

It’s getting harder and harder to slip things by with this newfangled internet blogging thing going on.

Photos:

• Red Hook Revere Sugar Plant Pool Slideshow [flickr]
• Revere Sugar Plant Photoset Slideshow [f.trainer/flickr]
• Red Hook Photoset Slideshow [davechangphoto/flickr]
• Red Hook Storefront [callalillie/flickr]
• Gowanus Sunset [seriously excited!]
• Industrious Gowanus [No Words_Daily Pix/Hugh Crawford OTBKB]
• Blue Waves [Brit in Brooklyn]
• Harry’s on Havermeyer [Test of Will]

Words:

• Thor’s Hammer Poised to Squash Sugar Factory [Carroll Gardens Courier]
• Ratner Plan Heads to Control Board [NYP]
• New Atlantic Yards Eminent Domain Suit Filed [AYR]
• Altantic Yards Gets Nod, New Suit [NYT]
• ESDC Approval Took 15 Minutes [AYR]
• NYPD vs. Sunset Park [Sunset Parker]
• Fulton Ferry Condo Progress Report [DumboNYC]
• Vintage Color Coney Film Gems [Kinetic Carnival]
• Fearing the End of the “People’s Playground” [Courier Life]

Sound:

• Indie Rockers Losing Death Grip on Williamsburg [Daily Intel]
• The Future of McCarren Pool [Brooklyn Record]
• Neighbors Want McCarren Concerts Whacked [Brooklyn Downtown Star]

The Lotus is Alive: Fresh Direct Says So (Above)
Is Boerum Hill Attitude a Match for Park Slope
Novo Park Slope? Let’s Call it Boymelgreen Hall
Revere Sugar’s Last Night on Death Row?
Park Slope Tower Unveiled, Becomes Novo Park Slope
Forte Redux: You Want Coffee With That?
Workers Banging Away at Woody Greenpoint Condo
Forte Getting Ready to Tower Over Fort Greene

For the record, the Empire State Development Corp. voted this afternoon to approve the Atlantic Yards development and to allow the use of eminent domain to take property for the project. Rent stabilized tenants that would be evicted filed a lawsuit. Attention now shifts to the Public Authorities Control Board, which must approve the project, and to the courts.

15-story tall illuminated freaking billboards, people, towering over brownstone Brooklyn. That should be quite striking at the end of Fifth Avenue.

Speaking about Atlantic Yards and brownstone Brooklyn, Richard Moe, the president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation said, “If it is built as proposed, its massive scale and incompatible design would gravely impact the essential historic character and setting of these treasures.”

15-f***ing-story tall Times Square-looking illuminated advertising billboards.

On the other hand, Frank Gehry says they could be used for “community” purposes and to display art.

And they’ll only be set to maximum on game nights.

Whew. Thank God for that.

The Empire State Development Corporation will vote to approve (we feel very safe in predicting this) Atlantic Yards today, setting the stage for a very interesting end-of-the year drama with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver in the lead role. In an appearance on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show yesterday, ESDC Chair Charles Gargano–who Silver has called “the most corrupt” member of the Pataki Administration–could not get the word “condemnation” out and, at first said there would be no vote on eminent domain today. Specfically:

Brian Lehrer: Part of that vote is any condemnations that you decide are needed. Does that mean seizing property under eminent domain?

Charles Gargano: At this point, we have, we do—we have not used, or–have not used to date any eminent domain condemn-condemn-condemnation.

BL: And you don’t anticipate a vote on anything like that tomorrow?

CG: No, there is nothing about that tomorrow.

The ESDC’s spokesperson later said that the Chairman “misspoke” and that they would, in fact, vote on eminent domain.

Perhaps with the spinach scare and the Taco Bell problem, Mr. Gargano though that Mr. Lehrer had switched topics to food safety and asked about imminent ptomaine rather than eminent domain?

Who is Coney Island and Red Hook developer Joe Sitt? Like most developers, except for a certain New Yorker who attaches his name to all his projects, Mr. Sitt keeps a relatively low profile. But we found a couple of items written about the man who proposes to rebuild Coney Island and whose firm is demolishing the Revere Sugar refinery in Red Hook. Mr. Sitt has been profiled in US News and World Report in an article headlined “Urban Makeover Artist” and did an interesting Q&A with Inc. , called “How I Did It,” published in January. There is also quite a bit about Sitt in New York Magazine’s 2005 article on the Coney Island “Glam Rock” makeover.

Mr. Sitt, who is 42 and the founder and CEO of Thor Equities, primarily known for its development of urban retail malls, grew up in Bensonhurst. US News said that Thor is “focused on bringing retailers to blighted, urban areas of primarily low-income residents.” A bit more:

He started the company in 1986 when he was just 21, with the purchase of a plot of land in the Bronx. He built a one-story retail building that eventually attracted Rite Aid Pharmacy and Payless ShoeSource. Today, the company owns more than 4 million square feet of real estate in cities nationwide, including Detroit, Chicago, and Atlanta. Thor Equities buys and develops primarily retail properties and consults with stores on their urban expansion strategies.

Mr. Sitt Sitt founded Ashley Stewart, a big clothing chain catering to African-American professional women, in 1991 and sold it in 1998.

He told Inc. that he named Thor Equities after the Norse god. “I was a comic-book collector and Thor was the Norse god and the comic-book character that protected planet Earth from the monsters that were destroying the buildings on the planet. That fit in with my concept of being the protector of the cities.” The first property that Mr. Sitt purchased was on East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx, and it’s clear that he saw inner city markets as being lucrative ahead of some his competitors. You can read the rest for yourself, but a couple of points are worth making here. Mr. Sitt considers Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, who he knew, to be a role model. He says of Walton:

He was a monstrously big person, and he’s had a lot of influence in my life. He was altruistic and socially conscious about his business and making the world a better place, and I’ve tried very hard to keep that ethos.

And he says that Coney Island is a “brand name“:

We’re nostalgic not just from an emotional point of view, but a return point of view. Palmer House is 130 years old; Coney Island is a 150-year-old project. After 150 years, it’s been able to establish an immeasurable brand name.

Just a taste of the man who is well on his way to becoming one of the most talked about–and increasingly controversial–figures in the world of Brooklyn development.

Links:

• How I Did It: Joe Sitt, Thor Equities [Inc.]
• Urban Makeover Artist [U.S. News]
• Coney Island’s Glam-Rock Makeover [New York]
• Chains Thrive Where They Once Feared to Tred [Shopping Centers Today]

Atlantic Yards Day:

• Ratner to Seize Land [NYDN]
• Empire State Development Corp. User’s Guide [AYR]
• Sheldon Silver User’s Guide [Brooklyn Papers]
• Ratner Stoop Really Blows [Brooklyn Papers]

Just Another Friday:

• Park Slope 100 Expands [OTBKB]
• 100 of the Best People in Park Slope [Brooklyn Record]
• Do You Know the Urban Utopia Known as Boerum Hill? [Random Brooklyn]
• Z Wants the G and the V Train [Z. Madison]
• How to Have Fun at Rush Hour on the G Train [My Brooklyn Year]
• Gowanus Canal Stroll [Green Brooklyn]
• Red Hook Farm is Really Cool [NYDN]
• 40-Story Condo Tower on Gold Street [Brownstoner]
• Media Crowds Bay Ridge Club, Doesn’t Find Skin [Brooklyn Papers]
• Sunset Park Casket Truck Horror [NYPost]
• Have You Seen Giuseppe, the Black Cat? [Clinton Hill Blog]

Just Another Holiday Season Day:

• Bad Christmas Lights: Turn Them Off [GerritsenBeach.net]
• Bummed Out by the Christmas Trees in Park Slope [Daily Heights]
• Gothamist Baby Goes to Macy’s Santaland [Gothamist]
• Monk Parrot Christmas [Brooklyn Parrots]

More on the saga of Clinton Hill’s Broken Angel from Neil Feldman, who publishes the fantastic Not Only Brooklyn e-newsletter. Neil emails to report:

I just returned from a meeting with Arthur and Cynthia in the office of New York City Council Member Letitia James. I learned that there will be a hearing before Judge Sylvia Hinds-Radix of State Supreme Court at 360 Adams St. in downtown Brooklyn 11:30am Thursday, Dec. 14. It does appear that DOB is seeking legal authorization to demolish Broken Angel, perhaps as soon as possible.

While no one is claiming Broken Angel is in full compliance with all NYC building regulations, it has stood safely for three decades and, even after the small, quickly extinguished fire, is not at risk of either collapsing or damaging nearby structures…I am contacting you to both make you aware of the imminent danger to this irreplaceable treasure and to ask you to think about what you can do to help preserve it. Professor Brent Porter of Pratt Institute: School of Architecture is generously contributing his time, but right now what would be most helpful would be an expert from a firm such as Robert Silman Associates | Structural Engineers or another respected structural engineering firm who might care so much for Brooklyn that they would be willing to get involved. That would be invaluable in obtaining the legal protection to prevent Broken Angel’s possible imminent destruction.

If that can be accomplished, then the next step will be creating a plan for Broken Angel’s long term survival. Plans will need to be drawn up to bring it into compliance with regulatory codes while maintaining as much as possible of the unique structure and appearance that make it such a treasure. Once such plans are approved, dedicated contractors who appreciate the structure’s value will need to do the work.

Obviously, all of this of this will cost money. Hopefully this email will inspire you to go over to 4 Downing St. and take another look at it. And that you will agree with me that the existence of Broken Angel enhances the quality of life of every New Yorker. If enough imaginative people do so, maybe a plan can be crafted to convert it into a resource that could be used, not just seen, by New Yorkers, and public funds could be made available.

Precedent exists. The City plans to allocate a few million dollars in public funds to purchase a building for Dick Zigun’s Coney Island Museum.

This is not a fund raising letter. It is an invitation to join me, one private citizen with no official status, in trying to one little piece of what makes Brooklyn so special. Cynthia and Arthur have no financial resources. They could easily sell Broken Angel, their only asset, to a real estate developer, who would be happy to guarantee their financial security by demolishing it and building million dollar residences in the now cool location. But they are prepared to sacrifice that security to preserve their handiwork. Maybe there will be a time to give money. But right now, how about donating a little thought, a little time? Ask yourself if you know architects and structural engineers you can contact. If enough people care enough to make a few phone calls and send a few emails, maybe we the public can save and preserve a piece of Brooklyn that really is priceless.

Broken Angel’s creators are still selling art and photos at Artezn to raise funds. You can also check out the Broken Angel flickr page. To contact Mr. Feldman, email arbruner (at) aol (dot) com.

Have any unused computer or electronic equipment sitting around? You can drop it off tomorrow (12/9) from 8AM-4PM at PS 321 on Seventh Avenue at Second Street in Park Slope. They’re accepting working and non-working computers (laptops, desktops, servers), monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, cables, TV’s, audio-visual electronic devices and cell phones. The email announcing the recycling noted that electronics contribute 70 percent of toxins found in landfills, even though they only represent one percent of the volume of landfills. So, take the opportunity to drop the stuff off at PS 321 on Saturday. Click here for more information.

Despite our carping about Thor Equities plans for Coney Island and our suggestion that Coney Island is the New Atlantic Yards and that developer Joe Sitt is the New Bruce Ratner, we’d been waiting to see where the Coney plans were going before reaching any definitive conclusions. After yesterday’s news that the Revere Sugar Refinery is going to be flattened by Mr. Sitt’s wrecking ball, however, we are asking ourselves:

Do Thor Equities and Mr. Sitt suck as much as, if not more than, Mr. Ratner and Forest City Ratner?

We know that this is not a very nice question to pose, nor a kind statement to make nor a terribly intellectual way of voicing an objection, yet they do seem appropriate in light of demolishing a Brooklyn landmark without any community discussion and without entertaining any options that might have saved part of the structure.

We anticipate that the developer, whose motto seems to be something along the lines of “Don’t worry, I’m from Brooklyn,” will say that the economics of the situation forced demolition of the Revere factory and that there was no choice.

We understand that no one favors preserving a rotting industrial hulk in a state of rot. However, there could be thoughtful and economically viable ways to incorporate parts of that structure into a new project and to save something that symbolizes Red Hook.

In Coney Island, Mr. Sitt appears ready to demolish and vacate entire city blocks long before he ever gains permission to build a single thing. He seems to be doing the same thing in Red Hook, where he is leveling the Revere plant long before any plans are in place and before any zoning decisions have been made.

In this, Mr. Sitt has much in common with Mr. Ratner and others working on major projects in Brooklyn today: Tear it down before anyone can raise an objection.

On the bright side, at least it didn’t burn down.

It is hard to imagine Red Hook without the Revere Sugar plant, although we’re not going to have to imagine it thanks to Thor Equities. Over the last several years, sensing that the end would come at some point, we’ve shot hundreds of photos of it. Other local photogs have documented it too, and a lucky few have gotten inside. Sadly, in a few days, all we’ll have are our photos, which will instantly become fodder for a future “Lost Red Hook” volume. We featured Soupflowers amazing inside photos of Revere this summer, and they’re worth mentioning again, especially given the circumstances. Also, there’s a new Revere Sugar Plant photo pool at flickr, started by the above mentioned Soupflowers. (Put your pics there if you’ve got some up on flickr. We just did.) Urban Exploration New York offers an amazing and evocative set of photos of this building, viewed from within. Also, check out Gary Jarvis’ cool panorama of the plant, also over at flickr.

For some words and photos, there is, as usual, one definitive source–Forgotten NY. Check out “The Transoms of Red Hook.”

A Thor executive had told Red Hook residents that the firm might preserve the dome and had also, at one point, expressed a desire to work with the community so that the project would not become contentious and be “another Atlantic Yards.” Expressing shock that the developer was demolishing Revere, one source told GL that “We hoped to have a say” about Revere’s future when discussion about rezoning the property took place.

Again, one source says the dome that has been a Red Hook waterfront landmark for generations is being demolished by Thor Equities tomorrow, but even if that’s off by a few days, one of our favorite Brooklyn structures is toast, barring a miracle.

Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn’s list of the “Park Slope 100” is out and we will say three things about it, before simply suggesting that you absolutely should check it out: (1). It’s a fasincating selection of people in the community that are in one way or another making a mark or making positive contributions, (2). It’s very well-done and its creator, Louise Crawford, put a lot of thought and effort into it and (3). Truth in advertising requires us to say that we’re absolutely tickled and honored to have made the cut.

It is wonderful to see so many people whose work we respect on the list and we look forward to learning more about those we don’t know.

Oh, and one more thing: There is one person we know for sure that is missing from the list: Louise Crawford, for working hard to keep us posted on what’s going in the Slope, for her upbeat coverage, for creating a great blog day in and day out and for her consistently positive approach.

Man, this is just getting tiresome. Yet another NYC landmark has crumbled under the thumb of a developer. Scarily named developer, Thor Equities has finalized the purchase of Astroland, the Coney Island amusement park. The Astrojump Tower is coming down. The Wonder Wheel probably is gone. And, despite promises that the Cyclone won’t be touched, there are no guarantees the City won’t allow for the sale of that property, so it too can come down.

They’ve already bought up a ton of other land in the area, and plan to knock down Astroland to build a year-round attraction, put up luxury condos, and throw people out of the main drag (Stillwell Ave) to make way for a promenade. Surely, only places like Virgin Megastore and Starbucks will be able to afford the rents.

Maybe I’m a jinx on this city. Since I moved here, the Lower East Side has seen a number of luxury buildings open, gritty birthplaces of the Ramones — CBGB’s and The Continental — have closed down, the Williamsburg waterfront was rezoned for rich, tall buildings, and the plans for the new Nets arena was finalized, which will displace thousands.

I’m in a relatively untouched enclave of Greenpoint, but can’t help but think this area will be next. After all, there’s only so much land left to gentrify for the rich and corporate, and who cares about the Polish, right? Sigh….The scary part is that other than a few small groups and token rallies, everyone more or less is resigned to this happening, and don’t seem to have the energy to put up a real fight against any of this. Most communities are bending over faster than Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback.

Indeed.