Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Spreadin’ The Love: Greenpoint Style
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I happened upon this missive (which is scrawled on the side of a warehouse in Williamsburg) while walking home from what was, in my humble opinion, THE BEST FRANK SINATRA BLOCK PARTY KNOWN TO MANKIND. Spreading the love.
While not as “touchy feely” as our friends to the south, Greenpoint does indeed sport its own special brand of “love”. And like so much sewage discharged into Newtown Creek on a rainy day, Greenpoint’s cup of love for our fellow man overflowth. Usually with a little assistance from paint pen or can of spray paint.
Who do we Greenpointers love, you ask? Damned near everyone. With a few notable exceptions of course.
Huron Street
We don’t love the police, for starters.
Newel Street
That goes double if they happen to hail from Queens. We really don’t like them.
Diamond Street
“Polocks”? Don’t like ’em.
Russell Street
“John” isn’t too popular either.
Manhattan Avenue
If you happen to be Hispanic, wealthy and gay, Greenpoint is not the place to be. Wait, scratch that. We like them. Sorry about that— it’s getting hard to keep track of all this Greenpoint “love” I am experiencing.
McGuinness Boulevard
It’s nothing personal, mind you.
Some people are just assholes.
In all seriousness folks, life is hard enough as is. Taking the time to write racist, sexist and homophobic remarks— even seemingly funny ones— on public property does not help matters. If I had one thing to say to these people it would be this:
Why not try being nice to people for a change?
Not only does this cost not so much as a dime, but everyone benefits.
Even assholes.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Franklin Street
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I agree with this guy. Springtime in New York City is one of the most wonderful things known to man. Period.
Miss Heather
In Other News…
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Casa Mon Amour was shuttered by the Health Department this weekend. Per the notice posted in the window this establishment was “operating without a permit”. I suspect I speak for many when I wish Beatrice godspeed in ironing out her paperwork woes with our fine city.
Miss Heather
News On The Public Bathroom Front!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Last night I attended the Steering Committee meeting for Transmitter Park. There is little in the way of news to report other than we’re going to try to get someone from the Parks Department to give us a presentation of the revised park plan (which is slated to roll out next month) and yours truly is acting co-chair of said committee.
The one nugget of newsworthiness from this gathering came from Mike Hofmann of GWAPP. It doesn’t pertain to Transmitter, but the Greenpoint Playground on Dupont Street. This park used to have public lavatories. When the sludge tank was installed the water lines were cut (to these privies) so they were removed. Per Mr. Hofmann, $850,000 has been secured to install some high-tech replacements! These comfort stations will be “modular” —in other words more can be added later if the uh, need, arises and are to be built at the Brooklyn Navy Yard!
I do not know about you, but speaking as someone who lives in north Greenpoint I find this to be a tremendous relief. In more ways than one.
Miss Heather
More Fun With Max
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
You know, after spending so much time researching Max Stark’s holdings I almost feel like I know him. I was after all once a close neighbor of his delightful hotel. I can assure you, dear readers, it was an experience I will cherish for many years to come.
And on that note I have a very exciting piece of news to relay. Soon many more of my fellow Greenpointers will have the pleasure of calling Max a neighbor!
This is 239 Banker Street. It is located on the same block of Studio B. Neighborhood Threat (who took the above photograph) writes March 15, 2008:
construction shed but no posted permits. however, they now have a complaint for construction without a permit. but they do have one. remediation to comply with likely the dozen DOB complaints they already have. but these landlords are infamous for doing construction without permit and renting buildings with COA (see 467 Troutman St. – it’s the same people. they also have several buildings out at morgan as well as the rocket factory, which was their first.)
i am particularly interested in their plan to turn this building into a transient hotel, which was disapproved by the DOB in 2006. considering that they already own one, the good old greenpoint hotel.
While spot-on regarding the Rocket Factory and 467 Troutman Street, my buddy is dead wrong about the Department of Building’s kiboshing Max’s plans to convert this building into a hotel.
Plans to convert this building into (and I quote) “transient hotel” were green lighted by the Department of Buildings last week.
But don’t take my word for it. Click here and read for yourself!
Wow. First it was an illegal rooftop garden at Studio B and now there will be a hotel just down the block! Given how much value Mr. Stark’s other hotel has added to the Garden Spot, I can hardly wait to see how this, his latest venture into the hospitality industry, will pan out.
Those of you who find this development objectionable will be very interested to know tonight is the monthly meeting of Community Board 1. If you cannot attend (this is last minute after all) you can always send them a piece of snail mail at:
Community Board 1
435 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11211
Miss Heather
P.S.: Big props go out to Neighborhood Threat for tipping me off to this. Thanks!
Searching For 80 Clay Street
I am certain a number of you are familiar with this property. Its address is 239 North 9th Street. As my colleague at the Gowanus Lounge has noted, not only is this (surprise!) going to be the site of (yet) another Karl Fischer masterpiece, but its farce of a construction fence presents very serious public safety issues. But neither 239 North 9th Street’s safety practices nor Karl Fischer are the purpose of this post. That is subject matter best left to the Gowanus Lounge to cover. Rather, I am intrigued by a sign gracing the fence at 239 North 9th Street.
This sign, to be precise. As you can see the owner of this property is “Greenpoint Management”. The physical address for this entity is listed as being 80 Clay Street.
Hannah found this sign at 261 North 9th Street. It lists 80 Clay Street as being the address of the owner as well. Very curious.
This site (120 S. 4th Street) is located at the corner of Bedford Avenue and South 4th Street. It too lists 80 Clay Street as being the owner’s address. Realizing we had a bona fide mystery on our hands, Hannah and I set out to learn more about 80 Clay Street. The first thing we did was look to it up on the Department of Building’s web site.
Per the Department of Buildings, 80 Clay Street is also known as 1114 Manhattan Avenue. When I first moved to Greenpoint I lived on Clay Street. As a consequence I know the addresses there quite well. Not satified with the Department of Buildings take on 80 Clay Street I decided to go down personally and see it for myself. Ready to learn more about the contact address behind three rather ambitious Williamsburg developments? If so, read on.
Gee, this looks awfully run down to the be headquarters for a Williamsburg development empire. What gives?
Oh that explains it— It’s part of the Greenpoint Hotel!* Silly me.
It was at this moment, dear readers, that all the pieces started to fall into place. If you look back at the sign gracing the fence at 120 South 4th Street you will notice it lists a telephone number: 718 349 8067. On a lark I decided to Google it. Here’s what I found.**
I made one last compelling discovery when I perused filings for 261 North 9th Street, 239 North 9th Street and 120 South 4th Street via the Department of Buildings Information System.
261 North 9th Street
239 North 9th Street
120 South 4th Street
All list one Menechem Stark as being the owner. If this name sounds familiar to you I’ll tell you why: he is one of the co-owners of the Greenpoint Hotel. Who knew this chap had such a stake in luxury condominiumville in Williamsburg? I certainly didn’t. I don’t know about you but I can hardly wait for these condominiums to get completed. I can only hope 261 North 9th Street, 239 North 9th Street and 120 South 4th Street will all sport the same caliber of “dedicated professionals” and “comfortable accommodations” that are to be had at their humbler cousin at 1109 Manhattan Avenue.
Miss Heather
*Which, for the record is located on the southwestern corner of Manhattan Avenue and Clay Street. The Department of Buildings might want to look into that.
**Be sure to check out this other select morsel too. It would appear that 315 Siegel Street’s ownership also traces back to the Greenpoint Hotel. If the following quote is any indication, it sounds like one swinging place:
On July 30th, residents found bloody footprints in the building
Bedbugs are also mentioned. Where do I sign?!?
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Goodbye Kitty
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
From Java Street.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Kill Devil Hill
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Saturday night I noticed the storefront at 170 Franklin Street has a new tenant. Over the years I have seen many a business come and go from this space so it’ll be interesting to see if this one “sticks”. My curiosity is killing me as to what “Kill Devil Hill” will be. Anyone out there in the know? If so, do share.
Miss Heather
P.S. Here is neat little bit of background info I received from a reader about the origin of “Kill Devil Hill”. Doug D. writes:
Kill Devil Hill is the name of the place the Wright Bros. took their first flight airplane to test and is the place of their first flight. Its in NC.
http://www.killdevilhills.com/ for more
My guess is the shop owners may be from NC or OH.
I’ve been there, The Wright bros are from my home town of Dayton, Ohio. And before building airplanes they made and sold bicycles. I rode my bike from Dayton to FL in 2000, and went through NC and Kill Devil Hills on my way.
HALLELUJAH!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Friday evening the Mister and I were strolling down Manhattan Avenue. As we passed 1000 Manhattan Avenue something struck me as being different. At first I couldn’t out my finger on it so I stopped, turned around and walked back.
Yes folks, the inconceivable has indeed come to pass. That hideous “crutch” blighting this block is GONE!
Not believing my eyes, I swung by the next day. Still no crutch! Wishing to gauge how my fellow Greenpointers were adapting to this radical change in their environment, I crossed the street and stood watch.
As you can see, this woman mastered the newly unobstructed stretch of sidewalk like a pro. If any of you have the time and/or inclination to go out in this nasty weather, head to 1000 Manhattan Avenue and partake of this newly liberated sidewalk yourself!
Miss Heather
Canine Couture In North Brooklyn
I recently bumped into the person who keeps Mordred, the best dressed Chihuahua in Greenpoint. Her keeper (I will not disclose this person’s name) said to me:
Someone (upon recognizing Mordred) came up to me and asked “Are you Heather?”
Anticipating the worst (I have had lit cigarettes flicked at me for no other reason than being alive), I asked:
Was she nice?
Mordred’s Person replied:
At first I was confused because I have a good friend named Heather. But she said she was a big fan of your blog.
To wit I said:
You should have said you were me. I wouldn’t mind.
I mention this because yesterday on Graham Avenue I discovered Mordred has some stiff competition as the foremost four-legged fashionista of north Brooklyn.
Meet Dixie Cup. She is a resident of Williamsburg and just like her person sports a bone fide Mohawk. Check out the leopard print frock. Very nice.
Also of note are her assless pants. Or would these be chaps? In any case they are very David Lee Roth-esque. Maybe that’s why he wore them? It wasn’t exhibitionism: he simply didn’t want to drop trou in order to go to the bathroom.
Thoughts, anyone?
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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