How Much Did FCR Save on ‘Arena Land’ Buy? A Lot. [AY Report]
Introducing ‘Balconization’ [NY Shitty]
Big Fire Over the Weekend at a Bed-Stuy Crackhouse [Brownstoner]
Brooklyn Film Shoots all the Rage [NYDN]
Low-Income Bushwick Woman Nearly Evicted in Error [NYT]
It’s Cauliflower Season at the Greenmarket [A Year in the Park]
Reflections on Commmunity Development [Bed-Stuy Blog]

Making the rounds on Fourth and Fifth Avenue over the weekend we found some fences down and the place formally known as Terrapin Playground, which we like to call the Boymelpark in honor of Novo Park Slope developer Shaya Boymelgreen, open. The handball courts were in use. The brand new dog run was available. The adjacent skateboarding park was open. It’s all behind the Novo Park Slope which is bound to cause some very exciting interactions between condo buyers and park users. The status of the park, which was rebuilt by Boymelgreen after being used for construction staging for the condo, has been a bone of contention for more than a year. It’s opened more than a year later than expected and at one time the local community board was suggested denying the Novo a certificate of occupancy until the developer completed and opened the park. Well, here it is.

More Boymelpictures after the Boymeljump.

This is the new location of the A&S Pork Store on the very happening block of Fifth Avenue between Second and Third Street. (Except that it’s now M&S Prime Meats unless someone made a very major F’ Up with the sign.) It’s next to the new Bird and just down from the soon to open Baluchi’s. Live never this block, and you will be complete and never, ever, ever, have to leave Park Slope, especially if you work from home.

[All photos for GL Courtesy of Nathan Kensinger Photography]

Yesterday, of course, was the formal rededication of the Fort Greene Prison Ship Martyrs Monument and its centennial. The remains of more than 10,000 Americans who died on British prison ships in Wallabout, offshore of what is now the Brooklyn Navy Yard are buried in crypts beneath the monument in Fort Greene Park. GL Contributor Nathan Kensinger was on hand and provided us with these photos taken after sunset, when the monument was lit again. He reports: “Several hundred people came out on a cold, gray afternoon to celebrate the centennial of the monument. It was a solemn affair, with speeches reflecting on how much Brooklyn and America have changed between the Revolutionary War and the recent election. But the highlight was at the end of the ceremony, when it was completely dark in the park, and everyone from the neighborhood counted down like it was New Years, until they hit the lights and illuminated the newly renovated monument and plaza.”

More of Nathan Kensinger’s pics after the jump.

This morning’s Post brings news of a potentially huge development in Coney Island: the city may be close to a deal worth between $200 million-$250 million to acquire all of developer Joe Sitt’s land in the amusement zone where the city would like to develop and amusement park. This land would include the Astroland property. The city has already bought a key parcel of and in Wonder Wheel Park. The Post reports:

The Bloomberg administration is in serious negotiations to buy 10.5 acres of real estate in Coney Island that once appeared unobtainable – a move that would save both Astroland Park and the mayor’s plans to revive the slumping seaside amusement district, The Post has learned. Developer Joe Sitt is ready to give up his controversial plan to build a $1.5 billion Vegas-style entertainment complex, which the mayor wants no part of, and instead sell all of the beachfront land he’s purchased to the city. “God willing, we will get this done soon,” said Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr., who convinced both Sitt’s company, Thor Equities, and the city to go to the bargaining table and is helping broker the deal. While a price is still being negotiated, it is expected that the city would have to shell out $200 million to $250 million for the land, sources close to the negotiations said.

The city would allow Astroland to operate next year. Per the Post: “A Sitt spokesman declined comment, but sources said the developer had a change of heart and is willing to give up his two-year game of chicken with the administration over the future of Coney Island for several reasons” including the city’s purchase of the Wonder Wheel park property, a possible Bloomber third term and Mr. Sitt’s desire for developments in Red Hook and Bensonhurst that would require city approval. Given all the ups and downs of the Coney story there is still a chance no deal will be reached.

It’s just hard to find love for a big jail in a gentrifying neighborhood, especially when it involves a $450 million expansion and there are people that think the money ought to be invested in alternative programs that encourage rehabilitation. And so, yesterday, a number of elected officials including City Council Member David Yassky and State Senator-elect Daniel Squadron and well as New York City Housing Authority residents, in the words of press release “condemned the reopening of the Brooklyn House of Detention today, calling it Mayor Bloomberg’s first step in a backdoor attempt to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on a large new jail and radically shift city corrections policy to favor incarceration over rehabilitation for prisoners.” The House of Detention, which stands on prime real estate at Atlantic Avenue and Smith Street was closed in 2003 when the city had an excess of jail space. The city is now planning a new $450 million tower and is moving prisoners back into the faciity this week.

More anti-HOD talk right this way.

City Planning Chair Amanda Burden is comming to Gowanus tonight for a forum hosted by Commmunity Board 6. The general topic is the status of the contentious rezoning of the neighborhood to allow higher density, high-rise development. Per an emial alert:

An update by Commissioner Burden on the department’s land use activities related to the Gowanus Canal corridor. Developed from January through July 2007, the Department of City Planning created a land use framework for the Gowanus Canal corridor. The framework is a set of guiding principles relating to issues including use, density, bulk, and waterfront access, intended to provide standards for formulating and evaluating proposals for future land use changes. in May 2008 the Department of City Planning shared its draft rezoning proposal for 25 blocks along the Gowanus Canal with Brooklyn Community Board 6 and the community-at-large. Commissioner Amanda Burden will meet with the community to give an informational update on the status of the department’s land use activities and address any concerns. THE TOLL BROS PROJECT IS BASED ON THIS REZONING PROPOSAL AND WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR IT – ANY CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING TOLL BROTHERS PROPOSAL CAN BE ADDRESSED TO THE WHOLE FRAMEWORK.

The meeting starts at 6:30 PM and will take place at PS 32’s auditorium, which is located at 317 Hoyt Street. Ms. Burden’s last visit was last year in April.

[Photo courtesy of atomische.com/GL Flickr Pool]

Behold the canal and the graffiti and tags on the Big G on a November day.

[Photo for GL courtesy of Deborah Matlatck]

Here some of the last of that fast-disappearing fall color in Prospect Park courtesy of valued contributor Deobrah Matlack.

One of the hottest with our friends at Park Slope Parents is still the Berkeley Carrol School’s decision to close its (money making) child care center. (Mind you, the tuition is over $20K a year.) There is a group organizing to try to save a center that can be contacted at savebccc (at) gmail (dot) com. Nonetheless, there is intense rage in the community among parents whose children were attending the school and among those pissed off at the shabby treatment that the center’s staff is getting. Nothing like some righteous anger on a Sunday morning so we’re going to do some sampling of emails we’ve seen, starting with this:

My wife spoke to Beansprouts this week. They promised that they will be open will be open in the 2010-2011 year. They said they would tell us if they had any intention of closing. I am still amazed that anyone still believes that Berkeley Carroll didn’t know they were closing in 2009 way back in 2006. Does anyone believe that that couldn’t hold out till 2011? Methodist said it was possible. The headmaster at BC said the center was operating in the black.

I am angry everyday. Even more so at how they made my wife cry with their deceit. I have honestly had better customer service at the bagel store. The bagel store doesn’t brag about their HONOR CODE or community service on its website. They don’t tell you that they had no obligation to disclose their five year plan. When BC talks about how they shouldn’t be in the daycare business, it is an insult to the respected educators who thought it a great idea in 1999. How will local history look the current Headmaster or Board members. Google
Berkeley Carroll Grossman.

There is more ahead.

Sometimes it can feel good when an attractive female steps on you in her high heels. So good that you write her an MC, which brings us to our Sunday Brooklyn Missed Connection of the week:

To the beautiful girl in grey high heels who stepped on me – m4w – 26 (downtown express union square to fulton)
It was a little after 9am and we both got on the downtown express train at union square. Just before we both got off at Fulton street you fell into me and and stepped right onto my foot with your grey suede high heels. You were dressed in a black skirt, black tights, and black leatherish jacket, and you are beautiful. I didn’t mind that you stepped on my foot:))………..even though it did hurt a little

Dude digs you.

Next Saturday (11/22) from noon-3pm, Sustainable Flatbush and Freecycle™ New York City will be at the PS 217 playground (1100 Newkirk Avenue at Coney Island Avenue) to sponsor Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, a big ole swamp meet! Bring your reusable clothes, knick knacks, appliances… anything you got but want to get rid of for someone else to love. If you ain’t got nothing, but need to do some “holiday shopping,” head on down and see what you can find.
For more information, you can check out the post we found by the Flatbush Pigeon.
—Vaduzuvunt

Well, the Christmas snowflakes aren’t just up on Seventh Avenue some of them have experienced premature illumination. Oops. We caught this one last night around First Street.

[Photo courtesy New York Public Library]

We return to our long dormant Brooklyn Back in the Day series of pics of our borough way back when with this 1909 shot of the Williamsburg Bridge Plaza. There are one or two recognizable landmarks.

[Photo courtesy of Josh Derr/GL Flickr Pool]

A shot taken yesterday. Per the photographer: “Photo of me with Manhattan Bridge in the background, as reflected by a trash-can lid.”

“Just shut up and pay it.” How many times have we heard this? It’s a long standing concept the government thrives on, understanding that it actually costs us more to go down to the prospective governmental office or courtroom and contest said fines and defend ourselves than the cost of the fines. So, contesting the $100 summons turns into more than a $100 in lost pay, subway fare, etc. Okay, now that we’ve gotten that long winded complaint out of our system, here’s the story of one one Boerum Hill resident who got a ticket for litter outside her house and who didn’t shut up and pay it:

I live on Bond Street where a good many passers-by throw a good amount of litter on the sidewalk pretty much all the time. Is there any point in fighting this ticket, or is it simply my turn to cough up $100 for the benefit of our city’s coffers?

The rest of the story right this way.

And, now, it’s time for one of our favorite weekly features, the GL Adoptable Cutie of the Week:

This weeks adoptable kitties are brought to you by the Empty Cages Collective a great rescue organization that saves cats, dogs, bunnies and even birds. Up for adoption are 3 wonderful kitties in need of a warm lap to call their own. Lisa from ECC writes:

We named these three kittens after characters in “The Big Lebowski” because one of them is such a little “Dude”! The other two are Donny and Bunny.They are about 9 weeks old and have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated and tested for feline leukemia and FIV. They were rescued as part of a Trap-Neuter-Release feral cat project in Greenpoint.

Dude, these kitties will definitely tie the room together. Contact (800) 880-2684 or email: emptycagescollective@gmail.com.

Missed our other cutie pies? Check them out here, they are all are still looking for a loving home.

Bishop and Marbles
Annabelle and Augie

Chatzee!
Senor Don Gato

This vid, which features Lou Reed’s classic Coney Island Baby with pics of Coney Island almost brings tears to our eyes on a rainy and kind of sad fall Saturday morning. Watch it. It’s very pretty and evocative with Lou signing about the glory of love and that the city is a funny place, you know, something like a circus or a sewer and how people have peculiar tastes and how I’d give the whole thing up for you, Coney Island Baby. We found it thanks to our friends at Kinetic Carnival.

[Photo courtesy of A Year in the Park]

If you’ve wandered about Prospect Park, then surely you must have set your sights on the lovely Litchfield Villa on the western side of the park. If not, for shame. It’s kinda hard to miss since it stands on one of the highest points in the park and over looks the Long Meadow. Over 150 years old and miraculously spared the intended demolition back in the 60s, this building’s got some history. We came across a superb post in the A Year In The Park blog that offers an amazing peek at and personalized history lesson about the interior of this Brooklyn gem.
—Vaduzuvunt

Affordable Rentals in Bed Stuy [Bed Stuy Blog]
East River State Park Closing for Winter [Brooklyn 11211]
Bushwick’s BETA Spaces Art Shows and Open Studios Photos [BIB]
Fire Ravaged Gristedes to Re-open in Brooklyn Heights [BHB]
Only Six More Brooklyn Flea Markets This Season [Brownstoner]
The Bushwick Craft Beer Invasion [BushwickBK]
Greenpoint Finds Another Novel Use for Bicycle Lanes [New York Shitty]
Education Town Hall in Gerritsen Beach [Gerritsen Beach]
Urban Green Actually Exists [Curbed]
–Compiled by Lauren Fairbanks

[Photo for GL courtesy of Gary Mirabelle]

Is there nothing more beautiful in a chillingly industrial way than our own Gowanus Canal? Local artist and GL Contributing photographer Gary Mirabelle offers all the proof in this pic than anyone will ever need.

Ah, Chinese food. The quintessential cuisine for any New Yorker with an empty fridge. If you google for a Chinese restaurant in New York City, you get over 13,000 restaurants from which to chose. How many of those places you think cater to vegetarians? Vegans? Sure, there are some in Manhattan… but in Brooklyn… not so many. Well, we came across Flatbush Vegan’s post of just such a place (better late than never), New Green House at 1015 Avenue H (between 10th Street and Coney Island Avenue.)
The General Tso Chicken may be FV’s favorite, but the Kung Pao Beef is sounding mighty appetizing right about now.
—Vaduzuvunt

[Photo courtesy of megunski/GL Flickr Pool]

One of our favorite buildings in all of Brooklyn, the Boathouse in Prospect Park, looks beautiful in all seasons, especially fall.