Fillmore Place on LPC Calendar

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.)

Brooklyn Housing Market Still Suffering

“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.

At an Old Warehouse, A Reversal of Fortune

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.]

Northside Pier – Weekends Only

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.



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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

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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.

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




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