This overgrown field was the site of a bakery before it was demolished. Then foundation work was so frantic that it was going on until 4AM some nights and neighbors were calling the Department of Buildings. Now, nothing’s happened on the site for close to a year. It was being developed as a rental building by Kalmon Dolgan, and it’s still up on their website as a 50 unit rental buiding at 510 Driggs with occupancy expected in 2009. Okay. Sure. This is what we had to say about it in better days (AKA last year). To us it looks like an abandoned construction site and we’re putting it in our new Dead Pool of projects we suspect are gone with the wind. If anyone knows otherwise, do leave a comment. The permit for the building expired this week and someone immediately phoned in a complaint to DOB. There is a small building going up next door, however.

This is 205 N. 8 Street in Williamsburg, which has been under construction since 1986. Just kidding. But it’s been going up for a long, long time. It’s a six story building with five units and the original permit was approved four years ago. It’s also attracted 14 complaints to the Dept. of Buildings and has several active violations, but, hey, it’s actually in the process of becoming a building after being stalled for all these years. Unless, of course, it had a burst of activity and stopped again. The thing next door, eh, still not so good.

[Photo courtesy of Deborah Matlack]

Saying anything about this would just be stupid.

This is a very emotional day for us and when we feel emotional we always turn to Joy Division. We have been doing this for more than 30 years. This is the only music video Joy Division ever made. As many of you know, Ian Curtis, the most brilliant songwriter and singer of his generation and most others, killed himself at the age of 23 on May 18, 1980. Control. Lack of control. Loss of control. No control. It’s all an illusion, anyway. Ian knew that and took his genius from us.

[Photo courtesy of K. Lapp/GL Flickr Pool]

When we first glanced at this photo in thumbnail form, it struck as an English Village but it is Carroll Gardens. The photographer writes, “This guy is walking down one of my favorite streets in all of NYC – Dennett Place. You see the entire length of it here.”

The Brooklyn Public Library 4th Annual PowerUP! business plan competition awarded Brooklyn Fudge with $15,000 for their great business plan on how to get more people to eat more fudge. Amanda Jones has concocted one hell of a business plan that has spread her family’s secret fudge recipe throughout our great borough, and broken the all limitations by creating a fudge that is both kosher and vegan! So, congratulations Amanda and Brooklyn Fudge. We look forward to breaking our resolution with a big ole hunka Dark Wasabi Pecan… or maybe the Dark Raspberry Almond?
–Vaduzuvunt

Few people probably have the patience for watching this entire vid, but we definitely suggest checking it out and skipping around. It’s one person’s visions for a huge roller coaster in Coney Island. Def worth a glance.

In July (7/15) the 9th Annual Building Brooklyn Awards, presented by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and the Real Estate & Development Committee, will be at Steiner Studio’s Stage 6 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. But now’s the time to submit nominees for recognition of nineteen different categories of the bettering of the Brooklyn community including completed building, renovations and capital improvements. Per the Chamber:

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for buildings, storefronts, adaptive reuse projects, renovations, and capital improvement projects across 19 different categories for the 2009 Building Brooklyn Awards. Award recipients will be selected by a panel of industry experts, including architects, planners, economic development experts and business leaders. Submissions eligible for consideration must be recently completed projects that have a permanent or temporary certificate of occupancy filed by December 31, 2008. Projects that were nominated last year and did not win an award may be re-submitted for consideration.

So, here’s your chance if you have a favorite Robert Scarano (Satori!) or Hot Karl Fischer (so, so many fromm which to choose) to make sure these stars of local architects are recgonized for their contributions to our cityscape. Henry Radusky of Bricolage Designs, for the Love of God! For more information, or for a pdf download of the nomination form, go to iBrooklyn. The deadline is February 12. Show our friends some  love.

[Photo for GL by E.C. Stephens]

It was small and it looks like it had dignity, but when E.C. Stephens came across it, it was out on the sidewalks of Park Slope waiting to die, covered with snow.

A young woman expresses her feelings about President Obama.

We’re reluctant to buy a plot for it yet in Green-Wood Cemetery, but if we were to put a wager on 544 Union Avenue, which was supposed to be a huge Gene Kaufman building at 544 Union Avenue in Williamsburg on the site of a former factory, we’d say it was looking a little corpse-like. (The part of Union Avenue that is turning into the wrong side of the tracks, so to speak.) After an orgy of pile driving almost a year ago, nothing has happened on the site, except for the fence falling down, weeds growing and the little mural it recently acquired. Dead as a doornail because of a lack of financing or just, you know, taking a nap until all the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed? You decide.

See the ‘silvery metallic megastructure that was supposed to rise here.

[Click to enlarge image]

If you thought planning and zoning maps were boring, think again. Well, actually, they are boring and confusing. They’re like the law–meant only to be understood by planning and zoning experts so that only they really know what’s going on and the average member of the public, upon seeing the 40-story building going up next store says, “Duh, how’d that happen?” That is what they call an opaque process and New York City has one of the worst in all of m America. But the city does hold meetings to try to explain all this stuff, with the only problem being that .0000000000000000000000001 percent of the population shows up, leaving everyone else dealing with the Duh Factor. That’s why we wanted to run this Coney Island zoning map, just so more people can see exactly how many towers the city would allow with its much pubicized and/or criticized amusement park. This map, which is deep in the city’s hundreds of pages of planning documents is fascinating, though, because it show just how many apartment towers and hotels could theoretically be built un the new zoning as well as the diminished (from the original plan) amusement zone. Those purple blocks are hotels. There are FOUR of them. Who will build four huge hotels in Coney Island is a good question, but by 2090, assuming global warming hasn’t submerged it all, it could happen. The yellowish blocks are apartment towers–a lot of apartment towers. Twenty one of them. If you pay attention to anything on the map just count the number of big buildings that the zoning would theoretically allow.

This letter from an architect who identifies himself only as JL, comes our way via the CORD neighborhood group. We’re running it because we think it makes some interesting points about how development is outstripping the community’s ability to handle it:

As a trained architect and urban planner, but more importantly, as a concerned 20-year resident of Carroll Gardens, I write to register my utter incomprehension of the real estate development scenarios being played out in my Brooklyn neighborhood. The scale and density of the developments planned and conceived for the Carroll Gardens area, since it’s creation a part of ‘brownstone Brooklyn’, are grotesquely out-of-place and severely at odds with the realities of the current economy. Just as the laissez-faire de-regulation and greed of the financial industry fanned the flames of the present economic disaster, ill-conceived planning motivated by the greed of outside developers will lead to the unraveling of Carroll Gardens’ charming neighborhood fabric. In the same year that our fire-house has been abandoned due to the inadequacies of City funding, the Toll Brothers development alone aims to add some 500 additional housing units to the area.

Read the rest, ahead.

· Brooklyn Pol Goes From Free House to Big House [NYP]
· Brooklyn’s Slowest Pizza Place to Open Next Month [Brownstoner]
· New Childcare Cooperative in Sunset Park [BVIB]
· Rose Walkway Returned to Public [McBrooklyn]
· Save the Baltic St. Community Garden [Flatbush Gardener]
· How They Hug in Greenpoint [New York Shitty]
· Screwing While Pregnant & Afterward. Learn. [OTBKB]

[Photo courtesy Barry Yanowitz]

Electricia writes of this pic on the Coney Island Message Board: “I love this photo and also like cats! I found out this kitty is one of what I call the “Cyclone cats”— feral cats living in the precincts of the Cyclone. They are used to going back and forth across the street to Astroland. But they are about to lose some of their territory.” Even the cats are feeling the pain

As we noted there was some sledding mayhem in Prospect Park on Martin Luther King Day and a child ended up being injured. Here’s the rest of the story and the outcome from a Park Slope Parents email. As it turns out, it wasn’t a teen that injured the child, but an adult, who then walked away without so much as saying “I’m sorry,” which is an utter outrage:My son was the one driven away by an ambulance. He was thrown into the air and landed on his face, flipped back from there and then hyper extended his back into a bridge. Luckily he appears to have `only’ sprained his back. We are hoping this will not have any long term consequences for him. He did not get run over by an unsupervised bigger kid, but that does not mean we shouldn’t remind our big ones to be considerate. My son got run over by a dad who not only did not seem to know how to control his sled on a crowded slope but instead of offering an apology or showing any concern for the child lying in front of him in pain and unable to move, he could only remark that my son should have moved since he had called out to him to get out of the way! And then he disappeared! I cannot believe how inconsiderate people are and find the reaction of that dad outrageous. So again our son appears to be o.k., although he has not been in school the last two days. The lesson learned, other then watching out for each other, is clear to me and unfortunately disappearing in our society rapidly, that we need to take RESPONSIBILITY for our actions- no matter what it is. So I on behalf of my son will still accept an apology (man who ran into my kid if you are reading this) in case you would like to leave the “dark side”.

GL ANALYSIS:
The mother of this little boy is far too kind. As much fun as we have poking fun at kids in Park Slope, someone should find this vile adult–allegedly a father no less–who hurt a kid and do more than make him apologize. Surely, someone who was there knows who this “dad” is. The Mad Sledding Father of Park Slope owes the entire community an apology and it sure sounds to us like there may be serious legal liability if the events are accurately described. He’s probably one of those people who won’t even slow down when he turns a corner even if he’s going to hit you. And, he’s a father? Maybe as an encore, he could kick a puppy out of his way on the sidewalk and curse the owner because the little dog dared get in his way. What a sickening story about someone who sounds like he could stand some quality time with a therapist. We’ll leave it to your imagination what we really think someone should do to this dude.

Of all the things to end up discussing after the city’s massive Coney Island plan was released, the fate of Nathan’s famous seemed unllikely. We figured we’d be talking about the four high rise hotels the city would allow or the dozens of residential towers. But no. One of the biggest items of mainstream media interest has been the fate of the landmark Nathan’s Famous buildings. Nevermind, the fact that it’s been known for nearly a year and a half that the land upon which it sits would be rezoned to allow for a much taller building. Suddenly everyone is acting shocked. The President of Nathan’s issued a reassuring statement on Tuesday sayng there’s be no Nathan’s Tower, but no less a Coney authority than Dick Zigun of Coney Island USA says the building (which is not an official landmark) could end up being (as they say in the trade) “vertically enlarged.” Here’s Mr. Zigun’s statement from the Coney Island Message Board (he resigned from the board of the Coney Island Development Corp. after the city reduced the amusement zone from 17 to 9 acres).:

The rezoning creates enormous economic pressure on the Handwerker Family to demolish the current building when the lease is up in 20 years. The city is economically encouraging (almost forcing) the family to upgrade to a 15 story building with a new home for the Nathan’s Restaurant. Even if a themed Nathan’s stays… even if it becomes a larger Nathan’s… the city has shown NO RESPECT for the historic building where fast-food was invented. The current building is an icon and a treasure and the city should be zoning for a tall building BEHIND the current two story structure. If Nathan’s should be tempted to accept a NEW version of the restaurant then this could happen well in advance of the lease expiration. The historic building is, YES INDEED, very very very threatened by this zoning plan.

All of which brings us back to the landmarking process and why very important building in Brooklyn aren’t protected, but that’s a different subject.

“The issue of sex shops and adult-related businesses near the Sunset Park waterfront was raised again yesterday by David Galarza of Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors. Galarza, who is also active in zoning and housing issues in the neighborhood, organized a rally yesterday afternoon. This included a march from 39th Street and Second Avenue to a Pentecostal church on 39th Street and Third Avenue and finally to the headquarters of Community Board 7 at 43rd Street and Fourth Avenue.”–Brooklyn Eagle

[All photos courtesy of Gary Mirabelle]

Local artist and GL contributor Gary Mirabelle spent a lot of time in Prospect Park in the snow in recent days. We’ve put them all in a slideshow. Highly recommended.

Brooklyn students reflect on Tuesday’s inauguration of Barack Obama.

[Photo courtesy of K. Lapp/GL Flickr Pool]

The photographer writes: “Strolling the canal today, I discovered that the old flat mirror on a woodpost that allowed me to see back to the Kentile sign has been taken down, and a new convex mirror has been put up. It offers its own cool views, as seen here.” Indeed it does.

[Photo courtesy James and Karla Murray]

The Brooklyn Historical Society’s current exhibition, “The Disappearing Face of Brooklyn’s Storefronts” is a captivating look in to the storefront facades that shape our neighborhoods. The exhibition has been extended through March 29, 2009 and is a must see.

Brooklyn’s neighborhood storefronts have the city’s history etched in their facades. Each store is as unique as the customers they serve and are run by owners who share a commitment to provide a special service. Many shops are lifelines for their communities, vital to the residents who depend on them for a multitude of needs. Yet such shops are disappearing on a daily basis as their neighborhoods rapidly change. Photographer-curators James and Karla Murray have scoured Brooklyn to observe “mom and pop” businesses from humble neighborhood stores tucked away on narrow side streets to well-known institutions on historic avenues. Through panoramic photographs, portraits of individual storefronts, and illuminating interviews with shop owners, this exhibition reveals how neighborhood stores help set the pulse, life, and texture of their communities.

Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street (at Clinton Street), Brooklyn Heights

–E.C. Stephens

If you haven’t wearied of beautiful snow photos, and it’s hard to do so in January, check out this slideshow of this beautiful neighborhood in the snow, shot by Flatbush Gardner. Just do it.

[Photo courtesy of Betty Blade]

The photographer, who posts some utterly priceless photos of Brooklyn just a short generation ago, with which we’ve fallen in love, writes of this shot: “Reflection in store window. location: On Church Avenue (near Dahill Road) facing toward 36th Street – Culver L in the distance. The factory in the distance and the Culver shuttle were both ghosts from Brooklyn’s post WWII past. fade to black…photo: 1980.”

There’s a benefit coming up on Thursday for Coney Island USA that is called “Save Coney Island” (which is an entirely different effort) on Thursday (1/22). Per the email that land in our inbox:

Starting at 7PM, everyone is invited to come show their support for Coney Island and enjoy: Complimentary wine from George Spirits. Screening of Peter LiPera’s short documentary “Save Coney Island.” Guest speaker and Unofficial Mayor of Coney Island: Dick Zigun. Side Show Performances by Serpentina and Donny Vomit. Musical performances by TJ Sawn and The Xylopholks. Tickets are $25 (donation) and all proceeds benefit Coney Island USA, Coney Islands not-for-profit arts organization. Vox Pop, part cafe, bar and performance space (and all-around awesome place to be!) is located at 1022 Cortelyou Road, Brooklyn.

We encourage everyone to attend, but we’re going to have something to say about the disorganized state of the Coney Island opposition and how it has made it easier over time for both developer Joe Sitt and city planners to rule the day. Anyway, go to the benefit, but unless we’re missing something here, don’t confuse it with the Save Coney Island group.