Pretty amazing – U.S. housing starts were up 9.1% last month, and the increase was fueled almost entirely by multi-family construction in NYC. Single-family housing starts dropped 5.3% nationwide, and excluding multi-family housing starts in the northeast, overall new housing starts dropped 4%.

FT attributes the NYC increase to the enactment of the new building code on 1 July, which they say prompted builders to rush to file plans under the old code. I bet the changes in the 421-a program also had a big impact on these numbers. Either way, it will be very interesting to see how many of these “starts” stay building, and how many wind up as grandfathered foundations.

Its that time of year again. Time once again for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to honor the best architecture of the borough with its Building Brooklyn Awards. And once again, north Brooklyn gets the short end of the stick. Yes, once again, not a single project in Greenpoint or Williamsburg was deemed worthy of merit.

Pretty amazing, when you think about it – Williamsburg and Greenpoint are home to the biggest building boom in the borough. There is more “architecture” happening here than anywhere else in Brooklyn. And yet, by the standards of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, all of that architecture sucks.

They obviously have good standards.

UPDATE: Oops, there was a north Brooklyn project honored. More here.

It appears that that whole moment-of-truth thing might have been a tad premature. I just learned that the owner’s attorney’s have requested a one-week adjournment. No word yet on BSA’s response to the request.

Developing, as they say.

The view from 80 Metropolitan (for now).

On Curbed today, an owner at the Mill laments the loss of his sliver view of the Williamsburg Bridge – blocked in part by the construction of 80 Metropolitan. Which brings to mind the old NYC adage that if you want views that can’t be blocked, buy on the park. (I think the adage refers to Central Park, but I suppose it applies to McCarren too.)

80 Metropolitan’s website proves the point. That million dollar view in the first Flash screen is probably not long for this world – Domino’s development of 20 to 40 story towers (shaded red above) will easily block the bridge views in this image, leaving the Woolworth building and Knickerbocker Village. The view west is already crap (the last bit of industrial waterfront in Williamsburg, which is owned by Con Ed and probably not going anywhere), and the view to the north is quickly being eaten up by 184 Kent, Northside Piers and the Edge.

Even Northside Piers is about to block its own views – the new towers that are part of phase 2 will block much of the western views from phase 1.

Just goes to show.

For those unaware, Bedford Ave between Metropolitan Avenue and North 9th street will be open as a pedestrian mall from noon to 7pm for the next four Saturdays (July 19th, 26th, August 2nd & 9th) as an experiment in re-imagining the use of public space in the neighborhood.

Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) is one of the organizers of the event, and they are looking for volunteers for Williamsburg Walks to help with either with event logistics or with non-partisan voter registration, especially for this upcoming Saturday (July 19th). If you are interested, contact NAG at (718) 384-2248 or email mfs at mikebot dot com.

More information about the event is available at http://www.billburg.com/walks/about/

NY WATER TAXI

Photo:Cassandra

Also while I was away, the Water Taxi returned to Shaefer Landing – finally! Months late, and more than half a year after the initial “seasonal” shutdown, service was finally restored to the full East River route on the 7th. And today, I enjoyed my first summer evening ride up the East River – as a special bonus, the voyage now includes an up-close look at the waterfalls.

Not that there’s nothing to complain about – since last winter, NYWT has adjusted its afternoon commuter schedule, eliminating the 7:00 p.m. boat and adding a boat at 3 p.m. I’m not sure if that’s for the bankers or the tourists, but it sucks for anyone who doesn’t work in the financial sector (a growing proportion of downtown’s workforce).

Still, it was a beautiful evening, and a great ride.

I was out of town when this hit, so am coming to it a bit late. Based on what I’ve read, it seems as though Rangel was on thin ice for using one rent-stabilized for purposes other than a primary residence (it was his campaign office), but is OK on the other three because the mini-compound forms his primary residence. So today he has given up the campaign office, but is keeping the others.

Fair enough, its apparently all legal. But can someone explain to me why its legal? Why is a program that is designed to make more housing available allowing people to “live” in more than one apartment? This isn’t a question of Rangel’s right to live in three apartments, but one of a rent stabilization law that would allow any tenant to occupy more than one apartment.

Moronic.

No Gas.

The last post, in particular Will Femia’s photo, reminds me that Mobil sign in Will’s photo is no more. Above is a picture I took on 1 July, showing the new chain link fence and the decapitated Mobil sign. The sign itself was lay in the parking lot, freshly cut, the day I walked by. I have no idea when a Mobil (or any other gas) station last operated at this site – never in my Williamsburg life. The service station moved out in 2001 or so (they’re now at McGuinness and Java).

Based on this recent activity, the site is being prepped for work. Shockingly, it will not be luxury housing. The owner wants to open a Tibetan cultural center of some sort. This requires a partial rezoning, as part of the site does not allow commercial uses as of right.

144 North 8th Street (aka The Finger Building)
Photo: A Test of Will

The moment of truth for the Finger Building may finally be at hand. On 22 July, the Board of Standard and Appeals will hear an appeal by community residents on the BSA’s previous decision to allow the construction of the building to go forward. (That decision is still pending resolution of the partnership dispute over air rights between developer Mendel Brach and the owner of the adjoining properties, Scott Specter.) The hearing will be at the BSA, 40 Rector Street in Manhattan, 10 a.m. on 22 July. By mass transit, take the J/M/Z to Broad Street or the 1 via the L to Rector Street.