Is this the image of a 2009 Carroll Gardens development discussion? A “for sale” sign has gone up at 227 Carroll Street, which houses the Casa Rosa restaurant. Last night, we got an email titled “Development Fever Spreading,” that said “huge realtor sign on Casa Rosa Restaurant….Building for Sale…development Site…” It’s being marketed by Massey […]

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Caputo’s Bakery, which is one of several excellent bakeries on Court Street, is ready for love. It has “Big pink heart-shaped cookies with chocolate glaze…Cup cakes with, oh, so colorful flowers and of course, the frosted chef d’oeuvre with delicate sugar roses.” In case you don’t know, it’s at 329 Court Street.–Pardon Me For Asking

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That oyster bar planned by Jim Mamary on Hoyt Street is not wining friends among the neighbors. They’ve now organized as the Hoyt Street Alliance and are distributing fliers around the neighborhood asking residents to oppose the opening of the establishment on a residential street. They’re urging people not to sign a petition in favor […]

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There are not happy times at Carroll Gardens’ Marco Polo restaurant on Court Street. The restaurant’s owner, Joseph (Marco Polo) Chirico, was caught up in the Gambino crime family busts last week. The 63-year-old restaurant owner, who is a friend of many of Brooklyn’s top public officials, including Borough President Marty Markowitz, was arraigned yesterday […]

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Our wonderful Carroll Gardens Correspondent just sent us this pretty shot. Finally, a little snow in Brooklyn.

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The big news to come out of developer Billy Stein’s appearance at the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association meeting last night wasn’t even fresh: architect Robert Scarano has been off the job at 360 Smith Street since December. Mr. Scarano, who had designed the early versions of the 360 Smith Street structure that we named the […]

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This is the site of the proposed Oyster Bar on Hoyt Street near Union that has local residents fired up, opposing a new establishment on the quiet, residential street and raising cries of Not Another Smith Street. Our Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill correspondent sent the photo and an observation: This is the site of the Jim […]

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With the big development at 340 Court Street about to enter the demolition phase, the Union-Sackett Block Association, which is keeping tabs on the controversial development, is having its next meeting on Saturday (2/9) at 11:30 AM. The meeting will take place at the Carroll Gardens Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, which is located […]

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We started getting emails yesterday afternoon about boring machines drilling test holes at the future site of the controversial 360 Smith Street building in Carroll Gardens. It would indicate that the project is getting closer to getting underway. Speaking of which, we understand that 360 Smith developer Billy Stein will be appearing at the Carroll […]

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Here’s how you “bastardize” a townhouse: First, start with a developer and an architect. Then, you need greed and a real estate agent to peddle it. Also, you can’t have any consideration from the neighbors. Make it stand out from everything else in the historic neighborhood, hopefully by adding something to the roof that can […]

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We got an email with a photo off the latest art work posted in Carroll Gardens about the development at 360 Smith Street. This one isn’t posted on the Democracy Wall, but rather, is nearby because it’s aimed at parents of the Hannah School. “I wonder how much the parents are of about the coming […]

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After all the dust has settled, it may turn out that nothing has changed in terms of movement on the rezoning of Carroll Gardens. The Department of City Planning still can’t commit to “a precise timeframe for action,” which is what they’ve said all along. This does not sit so well with some, and never […]

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We can see why some people get a little perturbed about fliers being tossed outside their buildings. This picture is from Carroll Gardens and came our way via our intrepid Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill Correspondent. It can’t be seen in this particular frame, but the good news for bargain hunters is that Kohl’s is having a […]

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We came across an email relating a disturbing incident at Carroll Park on Thursday afternoon in which an adult (a father, no less) is alleged to have kicked a five-year-old boy because he didn’t like the way the little boy “had grabbed” his own child. The child ended up with a bruise and the adult […]

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The Carroll Gardens development battle over the building at 360 Smith Street has spawned many things, including a neighborhood group that has agitated for a downzoning and development moratorium and the wall we named “The Democracy Wall.” This is about the latter. Apparently the person who goes by “Art Dog” and has created many of […]

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Another Carroll Gardens small business is in its last weeks. Hole in the Wall Video on Court Street is closing in March. It has been there for two decades and will be closing its door for good on March 19. “During those years, my kids went from renting The Little Mermaid to checking out Deadwood. […]

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Yesterday, City Council Member Bill de Blasio formally introduced a resolution calling for an immediate downzoning study for Carroll Gardens and a halt on construction of anything taller than fifty feet both of which were subjects of a rally on Tuesday. The Carroll Gardens group, CORD said that “for all intents and purposes, he asked […]

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Like many retail strips in Brooklyn where businesses are facing skyrocketing rent, Smith Street currently has its share of empty storefronts. They come from old businesses being squeezed out and from restaurants that have gone belly up. Is Smith Street “fizzling”? Well, here are photos of ten vacancies.–Pardon Me for Asking

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A volunteer with the Union-Sacket Block Association uploaded videos of Tuesday’s rally on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall calling for fast action on the downzoning of Carroll Gardens. The two vids (Part I is on top and Part II is below it), which show a significant part of the rally, are below:

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Yesterday morning, Carroll Gardens resident, community activists and local politicians gathered on the steps of Borough Hall to try to create some momentum for a downzoning of their neighborhood, which is under increasing development pressure. The 45-minute long rally was organized by City Council Member Bill de Blasio, who is introducing a City Council resolution […]

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Yesterday’s rally to call for a downzoning of Carroll Gardens was an uplifting thing. There has been little doubt that the neighborhood would be rezoned at some point. Yet, the key issue remains the point at which it will happen. Getting the zoning changes enacted will take time, and a game of what we call […]

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The CORD group, which helped to generate significant attention for a Carroll Gardens downzoning and has pushed for an interim moratorium on buildings taller than 50 feet, is now pushing an effort to write Mayor Bloomberg. (Their petition drive for the moratorium has attracted more than 3,000 signatures.) The letter was posted yesterday on the […]

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Workers are up on the roof of the old International Longshoreman’s Association building at 340 Court Street poking holes in the roof. Hard to say what they’re doing other than prepping the building for demolition. “First one, then two little masked figures.Poke, poke, poke. Just a little longer, then this place comes down!”–PMFA

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Yesterday, we posted a side-by-side comparison of the former International Longshoreman’s Building at 340 Court Street (which has an impending date with the wrecking ball) with a modernist building in Prague. This is Part II, featuring another two photos sent to us by our Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill Correspondent. Call it the Tough Tony Anastasio Building […]

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The planned rally to call for action on a downzoning of Carroll Gardens took place on the steps of Borough Hall this morning. Our special Carroll Gardens-Cobble Hill Correspondent was there and reported back with photos and a details of the rally. City Council Member Bill de Blasio promised to push the downzoning, which City […]

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