photo credit: Sam CasalinoThe 2nd Place F Train station just a few weeks ago,
surrounded by blue construction fencing.
photo credit: Sam CasalinoThe entrance in the process of being demolished
photo credit: Sam Casalino
photo credit: Sam CasalinoIt would seem silly to be sad to see a subway entrance torn down, but the one at 2nd Place at the corner of Smith Street was rather special. It had a plaza in front of it, where Carroll Gardeners could wait above ground as the Manhattan bound F and G trains slowly came into the station on the elevated tracks just beyond.
The subway entrance has been closed since the middle of September because of the development at 360 Smith Street by Boom, LLC, which will be built right above. The developer has promised to restore the plaza once construction is completed, but residents will have to wait till the end of 2010.
Local residents are more than a little upset at being inconvenienced. Those who take the train at that end of the neighborhood now have to squeeze through a much smaller entrance across the street. During rush hour, that is not easy. And then, there is the nostalgia for what used to be. Reader Mike expressed his feelings at the loss of the plaza by writing that he was "more upset about this then the loss of Shea Stadium...i'll miss reading my paper glancing up every minute to see if the train is coming in . I've been doing it for 18 years."
Behind the blue construction fence, the station was still visible as of two weeks ago. But friend Sam just sent me the photos above. The entrance has now been completely demolished.
Two of the plaza's trees are still standing, but I am sure their days are numbered.
Related Reading:
Last Glance At Old Carroll Gardens Subway Plaza on Second Place
When Carroll Gardens Commuters Come Home Tonight, The 2nd Place F Train Plaza Will Be Closed
The subway entrance has been closed since the middle of September because of the development at 360 Smith Street by Boom, LLC, which will be built right above. The developer has promised to restore the plaza once construction is completed, but residents will have to wait till the end of 2010.
Local residents are more than a little upset at being inconvenienced. Those who take the train at that end of the neighborhood now have to squeeze through a much smaller entrance across the street. During rush hour, that is not easy. And then, there is the nostalgia for what used to be. Reader Mike expressed his feelings at the loss of the plaza by writing that he was "more upset about this then the loss of Shea Stadium...i'll miss reading my paper glancing up every minute to see if the train is coming in . I've been doing it for 18 years."
Behind the blue construction fence, the station was still visible as of two weeks ago. But friend Sam just sent me the photos above. The entrance has now been completely demolished.
Two of the plaza's trees are still standing, but I am sure their days are numbered.
Related Reading:
Last Glance At Old Carroll Gardens Subway Plaza on Second Place
When Carroll Gardens Commuters Come Home Tonight, The 2nd Place F Train Plaza Will Be Closed
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6 comments:
When I saw the pictures my first reaction was sadness too.
Cynthia
This is disgusting - how one developer can do so much harm to the mood of a neighborhood and upset so many people. And what he's building is gross.
oh, please, get over it. Nostalgia for littered dirty 'plaza' where smokers waited for train.
I'm sure will be much nicer when finished. Just hoping the ugly other side of smith street gets demolished and rebuilt also.
They would help what was a rather depressing introduction to the neighborhood into a nice one.
Sorry our precious self-entitled neighbors are inconvenienced a little.
The sadness isn't for the old station entrance but for the loss of the sky that we will no longer have here once this developer does his thing here (which is not the community thing).
Why is it that redevelopment today has to take away from a community those important assets that make the community appear valuable to the developer in the first place?
This is not the 60's or 70's any more. Today's redevelopment brings more loss of value to these old communities as it imposes it's new density and sky-ward scale on our existing, and highly valued, community. These developments just are not giving back to the community in any way to make up for what they are taking away.
Is there any wonder why the community has such strong feelings for the loss of a run-down subway station given what it will be replaced with?
We in Brooklyn who love our open sky are going to have to fight to keep it.I have been working in Manhattan lately - never see sky. Can't wait to get home, and breathe. Margaret
9:41 - Your "Sorry our precious self-entitled neighbors are inconvenienced a little" is very dismissive of derogatory, and obnoxious to people who really are upset. You can make a point without dismissing people with real concerns, can't you?
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