Tower Day #2: Klein May Move Forward in Greenpoint

11/02/2011 | Comment

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Greenpoint Waterfront: The Future
(Rendering by City Planning)

More tower news (it’s Greenpoint’s turn)! Matt Chaban in the Observer has a piece on the imminent launch of phase one (at least) of the 10-tower project at the very north end of the Greenpoint waterfront. The project would be completely as of right, thanks to the 2005 rezoning, and would presumably benefit greatly from the construction of Barge Park to the north, if that ever happens. As with other waterfront developments, the project will include the buildout of a waterfront esplanade and the construction of 20% of the units as affordable (onsite, I believe).

Tower Day #1: Williamsburgh Savings Bank Hotel Tower

11/02/2011 | Comment

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WilliamsburgHotel, proposed


The Architects Newspaper has the winning renderings from an “international design competition” for a hotel on the parking lot to the west of the landmarked Williamsburgh Savings Bank, which look pretty amazing in a 40-story sort of way. Brownstoner wonders how theoretical this project is, and the answer is probably “extremely”. The developer is not named , nor are the other competition entrants (the design is from Oppenheim A + D [warning: Flash site]). It is not clear if this is requires zoning waivers, or if the project is using development rights (and waivers) from the landmark bank next door. Etc. Etc.

Still – pretty pictures (pigeons and all) to contemplate.

Fallout From Housing Official’s Arrest Hits Vulnerable Neighborhoods And Workers

NY World, writing in the City Hall News:

The impact of the alleged criminal activity is especially vivid on the streets of Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, two low-income neighborhoods HPD programs sought to assist. Under HPD’s HomeWorks program… developers were supposed to take vacant city-owned buildings and sell them to new homeowners. But in one of those projects – the three-story brick townhouse at 53 Rochester Ave. in Bushwick – thieves have torn through immaculately painted walls in search of copper and pipes to sell. Once-polished floorboards jut out dangerously, splintered and cracked.

Santorini Grill: Pay What You Want for Dinner

For its fourth anniversary, Santorini Grill on Grand Street is instituting a pay-what-you-want policy. Santorini’s food is great (as Gothamist notes), the portions are huge, and the staff and owners are very nice. It was a bargain before, even more so now.

BushwickBK Shuts Down

10/20/2011 | Comment

BushwickBK, last night:

For many reasons, it’s not working out. It takes too much money and time to do this, so BushwickBK is shutting down for some period of time, and possibly forever. Turns out, sadly, we were never in the pockets of The Developers ™ or anyone else. The site and all its resources will stay up, and we will probably run occasional pieces. The Twitter feed (@bushwickbk) will probably continue to update as well.

This is a loss – BushwickBK managed to be a lot more than a neighborhood blog. It had some great reporting, strong editing and a ton of content. That’s tough to maintain, even if you are in the pockets of the The Developers or anyone else.

The 70’s as #OWS Prologue

Perhaps the most creative acts of resistance occurred in November, when the city shut Engine Company 212, a fire company in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Tipped off to the imminent closure by an air-raid siren, residents occupied the fire station, refusing to leave or to let the fire engine be driven away. They slept and ate there, and held meetings every Tuesday night that were open to the community and attracted large numbers of activists. After a 16-month occupation, the firehouse reopened.