New York Shitty Day Ender: Skates

September 25, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11211, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

skates

From River Street.

Miss Heather

THIS WEEKEND: Empty Cages Collective Two Day Adopt-a-thon

ECC92609

Yet another contender in this jam-packed weekend has come to my attention: Empty Cages Collective will be having a two day adopt-a-thon at St. Francis School stating tomorrow, September 26, at 10:00 a.m. Even if you are not in the position to adopt a pet why not swing by, say hi and give these adoptable cuties a belly rub or two?

Empty Cages Collective Cat Adoption Event
September 26-27, 2009
St. Francis School Yard
410 Humboldt Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211

And as always, these folks can always use volunteers and donations. To learn more about Empty Cages Collective and how you can help click here and you will be directed their web site.

Miss Heather

Williamsburg Photo Du Jour: Prayer

September 25, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11211, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

prayer

From Grand Ferry Park.

Miss Heather

Williamspoint Photos Du Jour: Animal Lover’s Special

yamato

Green Street

QRST

North 5 Street

owl1

Metropolitan Avenue

owl2

North 6 Street

lonewolf

North 1st Street

DKT

Kent Avenue

octopussy

Grand Street

Miss Heather

Williamsburg Street Art Du Jour: C215

September 25, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11211, Street Art, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

c215

From North 8 Street.

Miss Heather

TOMORROW: Fall Cleanout

September 25, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

fallcleanout

Adam writes:

Hey Miss Heather,

I’m a big fan of your blog.  Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been talking with friends in the neighborhood about local goings-on and someone will say “Oh yeah, I read about that on NewYorkShitty!”

Anyway, thought I would drop you a line to let you know that my neighbors and I are banding together to create a stoop sale this Saturday, the 26th, at 111 Huron Street (between Franklin and Manhattan).  Items up for grabs include men’s and women’s clothing, bags, books, a television, CDs, and other surprises.  We’ll be kicking things off at noon.  Between this and the other stoop sales that will be taking place for the Kent Street Festival, it should be a good weekend for bargain hunters in Greenpoint. I’ve attached a copy of our flyer in case you should feel moved to post something on your blog.

Thanks and keep up the good work!

Thanks for the kind words, Adam. They are greatly appreciated. I look forward to seeing what “surprises” you and yours have in store for us tomorrow!

Fall Cleanout
September 26, 2009 starting at noon
111 Huron Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222

Miss Heather

New York Shitty Day Starter: Dissonance

September 24, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11211, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

chilidog

Bayard Street

627union

Union Avenue

Miss Heather

New York Shitty Day Ender: Reading Is Fundamental

September 24, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11211, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

lorimer1

detail

From the intersection of Metropolitan Avenue and Lorimer Street.

Miss Heather

BREAKING: The Sweater Factory Lofts Gets DOB’d Again!

September 24, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Remember the Sweater Factory Lofts?

SFLscreencap

You know, the building at 239 Banker Street that is zoned as a hotel but is actuality being used as residential space? The one which despite being fined $5,000 for violating a long standing Stop Work Order kept on working anyway? Day and night. Well, something very interesting came to pass there this afternoon.

vacate1

Anonymous writes (at 3:19 p.m.):

Breaking news! That building next to what was studio B is being served vacated notice right now….

ousted

Unhappy residents on an unpaid vacate(ion). I’m sure Curbed will be interested. Building dept guys didn’t like me snapping pics.

WOW. I wonder how my buddy Max took the news? Just under two weeks ago he sold the Greenpoint Hotel for a paltry $3.5 millionand now this!?! I’m not too sure what motivated the Department of Buildings to issue a vacate order but if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say non-compliance with fire code had something to do with it.

Miss Heather

UPDATE, 5:27 p.m.: Apparently the Red Cross has been brought in to help displaced tenants from this building (pets and all) find a place to hang their respective hats. Per a reader:

The DOB showed up today, I think, around 2, and cleared the whole building. There’s an order to vacate posted on the front (“occupancy is perilous to life”), and a  (new?) stop work order plastered on the front door, plus about a 6 yellow sheets that I didn’t get close enough to read, mainly because all the tenants were trying to read them. Probably on their arrival home from work. I do feel a bit bad for those who moved in without a clue what they were getting themselves into.*

The Red Cross is outside finding people places to live, the landlord is scurrying around, and the tenants are outside with suitcases and their cats in carriers.

Curious what finally caused the DOB to crack down?

UPDATE, 7:29 p.m.: Musings on ‘point offers his expertise:

It’s not a fire issue, FD would have been present. It’s probably a combo of two things: it’s a factory, not a residence and structural issues; the facade seems to be falling off.  The DOB is loathe to vacate solely because of occupancy contrary to the CO (see 475 Kent) but “perilous” is usually code for “we think it might fall down.” I haven’t been following this or researched it but that would be my guess. If it’s not, I wouldn’t want to be living at 475, because they’re just as susceptible to just such selective enforcement.

*I agree. The Red Cross should NOT be pressed into providing housing to individuals whose only mistake was not being informed consumers. This organization was not founded to assist people who have found themselves homeless as a result of a landlord’s malfeasance and this city’s ineptitude and/or lack of responsiveness when it comes to protecting and serving its citizens. The blame for should be laid where it is truly due:

  1. This city and the agencies charged with enforcing housing/building/fire code. Had the standing Stop Work Order on this property been enforced, this would never had happened.
  2. The landlord: for not obeying the the aforementioned Stop Work Order and having a disregard for the safety of his tenants.
  3. The real estate agents who leased out these “residential” lofts knowing full well that they are illegal and hazardous. Anything for a buck.

UPDATE, 11:44 p.m.: another reader sends photographs:

redcrossNYSsmall

DEREKLEE1

Maybe this one will stick?

Greenpoint Street Furniture Du Jour: Corduroy

September 24, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Furniture 

teal

From Greenpoint Avenue.

Miss Heather

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