Hevemeyer Street, November 14

Tourist Season

Saturday may have been a dreary day, but it was a perfect day for shopping on Bedford Avenue. This group came all the way from Canada by motor coach to shop in our little hipster paradise. The grown ups were in the vintage shop across the street.

via ThinkProgress

A week or two Governor Paterson seemed to imply that State budget cuts would halt the Kosciuszko Bridge project before it even got started (um, aren’t we supposed to be spending stimulus money on infrastructure projects?). Now, the Daily News and Brooklyn Paper are reporting that the $1 billion replacement bridge is going forward. Here are two of the designs that are supposedly on the table (the cable-stayed design is apparently the favorite, though I’m not sure I like the bow-legged towers). Thoughts?

Photo: NYS DOT via Brooklyn Paper

Photo: NYS DOT via Daily News

It wasn’t even close.

Congratulations to Diana Reyna, who won 60% of the vote to Martiza Davila’s 35% – a 3,000+ vote margin. After a tight primary victory over Davila, and with many local Democrats crossing party lines (and the local clergy coming out) to support her opponent, Diana triumphs in an empowering victory.

And in a humbling victory, Mike Bloomberg won a third term with less than 51% of the vote.

The Future India Street Park?

Matt Chaban has finally written his piece on the latest upzoning fishing expedition. This one is at least on the waterfront, where it might be appropriate to consider greater height and density in exchange for increased amenities (in this case, more park and more open space).

And it is a beautiful design.

[Update: Bumped up to full post status to allow for comments.]

A Place To Be In Harmony from russel fong on Vimeo.

This would be appear the moment for Anthony Delia. First he gets his own karaoke (er, car-a-oke) night at The Woods (Tuesday nights, 10pm to 2am), and now he is immortalized on Vimeo.

His advice to new Williamsburgers? Take care of the neighborhood – “Brooklyn was always a different part of the United States from anywhere else.” Indeed.

Rivington Street, 14 October

I wonder if Verizon distributes phone books with recycling bags or if you have to supply your own?

The Locale
Photo: TreeTop Development

Curbed reports that the Locale condo development is about to hit the auction block. This was, I suppose, inevitable, given the utter desperation of the development’s latest marketing ploy – creating a subway-themed development. Which makes sense, since the building is 10 blocks from the nearest subway station (the G at Nassau), you’ll probably forget what one looked like by the time you get home.

Nothing says misguided more than emphasizing your project’s biggest weakness. But then again, when you’re developing across the street from a toxic plume, your opportunities for positive spin are few and far between. (Not that anything else in their marketing plan made sense – if your Manhattan views are over the Newtown Creek sewage plant, you might not want to bring that up, either.)

It’s here – Democratic primary runoff day. One of the biggest wastes of money in electoral politics, but it’s an even bigger waste of money if you don’t vote. Today’s election pits Brooklynite Bill deBlasio against Manhattanite Mark Green for Public Advocate, and Brooklynite David Yassky against Queensian (?) John Liu for Comptroller.

Two citywide elections of considerable import that will probably be decided by less 10% of eligible voters. Personally, I’m voting the Brooklyn ticket down the line.