Author: linked
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Bob Scarano Drives a Truck
Yes, it is ridiculous that a cement truck fell on a house in Greenpoint while said truck was in the process of pouring concrete in violation of a stop work order. But Bob Scarano was not driving that truck. Why not single out the contractors – they are the ones doing the shoddy construction. Why…
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Its Huge
Like its big brother to the north, the Roebling Oil Field keeps getting bigger and bigger. My money is still on the creek as the carrier.
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The Silicon Valley of Its Day
From Modern Guitars, an interview with Fred Gretsch, the fourth generation owner of the Gretsch Guitar Co. Gretsch’s uncle sold the company to Baldwin Pianos in 1967, and apparently the Gretsch marque went downhill fast. So bad that in 1979 Gretsch stopped making guitars. Fred Gretsch was able to buy back the company when Baldwin…
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Andrew Cusack hates Architects
Actually, he hates Renzo Piano’s Morgan Library addition, a project I happen to like very much (and yes, had a hand in). I don’t know that it would make a difference to Mr. Cusack, but there are a few key points on which he is mistaken. Beyond that, he is certainly entitled to his opinion.…
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Black Mayonnaise
With all the recent press on the Greenpoint Oil Spill (its bigger!), this article is a bit out of date, but wonderful nonetheless. Author Julie Leiblach won a much-deserved award from the Society of Environmental Journalists for the article.
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Yassky, Katz & Felder, Oh My
We learn from the Sun that David Yassky has joined Melinda Katz, Simcha Felder and David Weprin in the race for New York City Comptroller. Hmm, Yassky, Katz & Felder – where have we heard of these three musketeers before? Oh yeah. I guess Weprin has the city’s preservation vote pretty well locked up.
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Guttman Trashes Massachusetts
Somehow I don’t think $6,000 is a “substantial” fine for Joshua Guttman or many other developers. Probably works out to be a bargain, given the cost of actually disposing of asbestos in a safe and legal manner. (Thanks, Laura H.)
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Nothing Like Soho
The Brooklyn Eagle fluffs for Tahoe Development: Regarding the influx of new people to their buildings, he is noticing that they are from all over the Midwest, but mostly from Manhattan and a majority of them are students whose parents are helping them. “There’s a lot of diversity,” he said. “They’re all meeting in college…
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Complaining to DOB
In terms of quality of life issues, one of the really stupid things about DOB’s BIS system is that IT DOES NOT TRACK WEEKEND PERMITS. There is an assistant commissioner who keeps a spreadsheet of weekend variance applications and permits, but you won’t find the information online. So if you want to know if the…
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Harold Leviton dies
Chances are, your (old) light switch was made in Greenpoint by Mr. Leviton (I always thought Leviton was a trade name). Leviton opened its Greenpoint factory in 1922; I have no idea if they still make anything in Brooklyn, but they have opened a large factory in China. More about Mr. Leviton at the Leviton…