Northside Pier – Weekends Only

01/11/2009 | 1 Comment

So much for silver linings.

Seems like it was only last week that the opening of the pier at Northside Piers* was blunting the impact of the seasonal closing of East River State Park. Then, suddenly, the pier was closed again. Now its reopened, but only on weekends (and presumably only until dusk).

* And what are we supposed to call this lovely, inaccessible, part-time public amenity? Northside Pier? Smacks of real estate marketer branding. Palmer’s Dock? Smacks of real estate marketer branding with a dollop of historical authenticity thrown in. North 5th Street Pier? About as inspired as East River State Park. The-only-part-time-park-in-the-city Pier? True, but it doesn’t roll trippingly off the tongue (nor does it lend itself to a pithy acronym).

How about a little preemptive branding on this one? Comments are open.

90 To Watch in ’09

Of particular local interest, #90, #73, #71 (no one asked me), #49 through #54, #32 (well deserved), #3 and #1.

$444.44

01/05/2009 | Comment

East River State Park – 4 January 2009
Photo: NAG

Via NAG, above is a photo of Williamsurg’s East River State Park in hibernation. By keeping East River State Park open for geese only, the State saved $444.44 today. Below, via Flickr, is a photo of Empire-Fulton Ferry Ferry State Park in Dumbo – which the State can afford to keep open to both geese and humans all winter long.

Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park – 4 January 2009
Photo: enderospeaker on Flickr

Williamsburg Waterfront Changes

Today, New York State of New York saved $444.44 by keeping East River Park closed. Happily, today is also the day that Williamsburg gained back a small slice of waterfront access. That’s because today was the day of the long-awaited opening of the pier at Northside Piers.

Is Stronger Hate Crimes Legislation Effective?

No.

[Click through for a good explanation from BushwickBK.]

Feliz Año Nuevo Grand Street

40% off at Fuego 718.

New Bike Lanes Touch Off Row in Brooklyn

The grey lady reports on the greenway. In all, a pretty objective recap of everything we’ve been seeing these past few months (though the reporter implies that its the luxury tenants at Schaefer who are up in arms). Now that DOT has finally stepped up and addressed some of the problems (which they should have addressed in the first place), maybe things will cool down. Right.

As Kent Avenue Turns

Between yesterday morning and this afternoon, both DOT and State Parks have been busy with the signs.

On Wythe Avenue, DOT has followed through on its promise to free up parking spaces, switching much of the stretch from Grand Street south to Broadway from No Standing or No Parking to alternate side rules.*

Meanwhile, State Parks has posted a new sign on East River State Park (BEDT park): The Park Will Reopen APRIL 1.

Happy New Year, please stay indoors.

*Yes, DOT had promised to compensate for lost parking on Kent as part of the implementation of the Greenway; it just took them a little longer to get around to the master plan part of things. But give them some credit – after a disastrous implementation, DOT has now: changed the stretch of Wythe in front Schaefer Landing from No Stopping to No Standing (allowing drop offs); added side-street loading zones for at least one business; and followed through on its long-standing promise to free up side street parking rules to make up for lost parking on Kent itself. That’s a lot of trade offs for the residents and businesses in the area of Kent, none of the fully to their benefit, but they mitigate a lot of the negative impact of the Kent Avenue bike lanes. And the impact on businesses still needs to be addressed further.