Category: Linked

Williamsburg’s first historic district takes its first steps.

(The Fillmore part is at the end of the article. I’m sure the Hubbard designation is a good thing as well.)

“This is the fifth consecutive quarter where the median sales price has declined in Brooklyn,” said Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel…

Greenpoint and Williamsburg are considered the strongholds of the borough. The median sales price there rose to $596,125, up 3.7% compared to the last quarter of 2007. However, the number of sales plunged there as well, dropping 42% year-over-year to 142 transactions, according to the Prudential report.

I suspect that 42% drop is a lot more significant than the 3.7% median sales price increase. 142 transactions in a market that is slated to add hundreds of new units in the next year or two is not a healthy sign. All signs point to more rentals.

One thing that the owners of the Austin, Nichols & Company warehouse at 184 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, were firm about throughout the long battle over the building’s fate three years ago was that it was not historically valuable.

[Shameless self-promotion link.]

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

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.

No.

[Click through for a good explanation from BushwickBK.]

40% off at Fuego 718.

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.

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.

Evan Thies owes me a new monitor. Mine is covered in coffee after reading this article.