Lepoldo Hernandez, 57, was struck and killed by two vans at the intersection of Borinquen and Keap yesterday morning. This is a particularly pedestrian-unfriendly intersection, in the pre-dawn hours, with a (allegedly) speeding van. DNA Info (which is new to the neighborhood beat) includes a set of heart-wrenching on-the-scene photos.
Leopoldo Hernandez
Three Williamsburg Charters to Close
Three charter high schools run by the Believe Network, which has had numerous problems over the years. As one state official put it:
Over the last few months, both the State Education Department and the Department of Education have laid out a very troubling pattern of what is, at best, financial irregularities by the school’s management and perhaps much worse
This “troubling pattern” will likely leave as many as 1,500 local high school students without a school come June.
“Rape”
Interesting use of quotation marks by the Post.
Former HPD Commissioner to Head CPC, Domino Developer
Rafael Cestero, who headed HPD for two years, will take over the helm at Community Preservation Corporation/CPC Resources (the latter is the developer of the Domino project). Michael Lappin, who was CEO of CPC/CPCR for 30 years, announced his retirement in November.
C. P. H. Gilbert – The Permastone Years
705 and 707 Willoughby Avenue
Architect: C. P. H. Gilbert?, 1885
Photo: via PropertyShark
Chris Gray and his Streetscapes column were back in Brooklyn this week, profiling one of the great architects of the Gilded Age. Much of Gilbert’s early work was done in the Park Slope area, but his first Brooklyn commission may have been this pair of buildings on Willoughby Avenue in Bed-Stuy.
Despite the permastone, there are some traces of old stuff, particularly the profile of the roof and the cresting atop it. And the massing of the buildings looks quite consistent with Gilbert’s other work of the period.
The East River Ferry App (and Surcharge?)
The East River Ferry giveth, and the East River Ferry (maybe) taketh away.
NY Waterway has released an app that lets you but tickets on the iPhone/iPad (no word on apps for Android or other mobile devices). The app free, though obviously the tickets aren’t. In addition to buying tickets and checking schedules, the app will let you uptown commuters check the whereabouts of the next shuttle bus too. All very nice stuff.
On the flip side, starting on Monday the ferry might be adding a $2 surcharge for passengers who buy tickets on the boat. Tickets bought through the ticket kiosks will still be $4 (or $140 for a monthly pass). But, if you are like me and are running late for the boat with no ticket in hand, you might get hit with a surcharge (luckily, there’s an app for that!).
This, at least, is what the attendants on the boat were telling customers. However, Metro is reporting that the surcharge is not happening, and the PR rep for the East River Ferry told Metro that “there are no changes to the fare structure at this time”.
UPDATE: Via Twitter, East River Ferry confirms that there is no surcharge. And, via comments, Withers confirms the existence (and greatness) of an Android app too. Last, I tried out the ticket purchase on the iPhone tonight, and it too is great.
The Hot Seat: Laura Treciokas
Brownstoner interviews Laura Treciokas, co-chair of Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park and a Where’s Our Park? organizer.
Scottish Scientists Re-create 100-Year-Old Whisky
I had no idea you could carbon date whisky.
Brooklyn History Photo of the Week
Clinton Avenue at Fulton Street
March, 1888
Photo: A. A. Martense via BHS.
This photo, taken on Clinton Avenue at Fulton Street in March 1888 comes via the Brooklyn Historical Society’s blog. BHS has the full details, but what I like about the photo is the signage on the side of the building: trusses, crutches, and the Sutherland Sisters Hair Grower and Scalp Cleaner (which may have something to do with the “electricity applied” in the sign at the far right).