Hi, dear Readers! Am spending the week at the beach in South Carolina. Mercifully, I missed the freak snow storm in Brooklyn this past week-end. The weather is still pretty mild here by the ocean and we had a great cloudless day yesterday. Today, less luck. Its gray and windy and the ocean is churning. No complaints, though. I am always happy to be here. Stay tuned for more photos and for some Brooklyn news I have wanted to post before I left, but didn't have time to put up. And of course, Happy Halloween to y'all
Happy birthday to the Statue of Liberty. She is 125 years old today. When I came to this country in 1975, I remember being disappointed that she was not the first thing I saw when the plane landed. I can only imagine the emotion felt by those immigrants who came by boat and glimpsed her in the harbor.
The house at number 441 Carroll Street, between Nevins and Third Avenue in Gowanus, was never the prettiest on the block by any stretch of the imagination. Actually, the two-story, aluminum-clad building was so crooked, its porch leaning so precariously, that one had to wonder how it held together. And yet, it had a certain charm all its own. In May of this year, a permit was filed with NYC Department of Buildings for "proposed horizontal enlargement at rear and front of 1st floor," but instead of enlarging the house, it was entirely demolished. The D.o.B. eventually caught on and gave the site a violation for "work without permit. Work performed significantly exceeds scope permitted." To date there are two unresolved ECB violations on file. A new permit which encompasses the true extend of the work is being reviewed by the agency right now. Take a look at the large gable on the lot line, facing Nevins Street and the Gowanus. What do you think?
As the New York Times reportedon Tuesday, an unusual sun and moon alignment is responsible for a 'king tide" yesterday and today. The normal tide is expected to be higher by 2 feet. As per the Times article: "A king tide will be running Wednesday and Thursday because gravitational forces of the sun, the moon and the earth will be lined up in a cue shot of fleeting geometry and rare power. It will raise the water level between one and two feet above normal high tides for many areas on the Atlantic coast. It’s an entirely natural phenomenon." I took my camera to the Gowanus at 10 Am this morning to check it out. It was high tide, and with the additional 2 feet, the canal was almost ready to flood some of the lower uplands. There was almost no clearance left under the Carroll Street Bridge and the sewer overflow pipe next to the bridge was almost blocked completely. This is a glimpse into what will become reality for this neighborhood in the next few decades. Rising sea levels will make tides like the one we are experiencing today routine. Is anyone experiencing flooding in their basement today? Let me know.
When I posted the interview with John Khoury, who recently completed his South Brooklyn memoir "Go Sit On Your Own Stoop" back in September, I mentioned that the book is now available through John's web site and through Amazon. To celebrate, John and his neighborhood friends are getting together for a launch party next Thursday, November 3rd at the social club on Henry Street. If you happen to be around, they would love you to stop by.
To read my interview with John Khoury and to learn more about his book, click here.
from l. to r.: Erin Tobin of the Preservation League of NY, with FROGG members Marlene Donnelly, Linda Mariano, Bette Stoltz, Lisanne McTiernan and Lizzie Olesker
Founding FROGG Members Marlene Donnelly, Linda Mariano and Bette Stoltz
Lisanne McTiernan with Susan Golberg
Old map from c. 1839 of the Gowanus area showing the original creek, marsh and mill ponds.
John Vetter, EPA archeologist for the Gowanus Canal Superfund, Marlene Donnelly and Eymund Diegel
A deservedly proud Linda Mariano
from l. to r. Linda Mariano,NY State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Marlene Donnelly, Eymund Diegel, Bette Stoltz and Leslie-Arlette Boyce, author of newly published The Glory Of Brooklyn's Gowanus
According to the Preservation League of NY: "This neighborhood, listed as a Six to Celebrate by the Historic Districts Council, has many landmarks and architecturally significant structures, including the Carroll Street Bridge, the oldest retractile bridge in the country. Buildings within the Greater Gowanus neighborhood include not only industrial structures, but also small laborer housing, and the area has retained much of its 19th century industrial architecture and cultural heritage."
Linda Mariano, one of FROGG's founding members and tireless advocate for historic preservation of the Gowanus corridor stated:
"Acceptance of this grant comes with a great responsibility to complete our project "The Architectural Survey Of The Gowanus Canal Corridor". The purpose of the Survey is to authenticate the buildings, the vistas, the bridges and all else which may be discovered along the way that constitute a link to New York City's and the nation's industrial past.It is our hope that the Survey will justify the placement of the Gowanus Corridor on The National Register of Historic Places as an Urban Industrial District.The Gowanus Canal Corridor is the Gowanus Canal and the areas adjacent to the Canal, which contain many architecturally significant buildings that once formed the backbone of one of the nation’s most important industrial centers. Placement on the National Register will help preserve and protect those buildings which continue to growas a vibrant industrial sector, and to preserve and protect the remaining buildings to be conditioned for re-use and for new industry.There is a need for continuance of light industry in the GC Corridor. Most of the architecturally significant buildings are being used for noninvasive industry. FROGG and this community of caring people hope to maintain and sustain this need. An additional outcome of the Survey will be to use the special district designation as a tool for preventing other kinds of zoning or even re-zoning .To work toward preservation rather than against it, to coordinate historic preservation policy with zoning. We could establish a citizen based planning process rather than so called "experts" who take the community out of community and transform our neighborhoods into an artificial landscape. Although some buildings are currently vacant, it does not mean they are useless. They can be adapted for future reuse.A special district gives us a sense of identity and a chance to preserve something of the past. It is an opportunity to share in community pride .We must preserve and protect the past for the future."
Personally, I would like to thank my friends at FROGG for their vision, for their tireless engagement and for their advocacy on behalf of the Gowanus Community.
And last, but not least, thank you to Joseph Mariano for sharing some bottles of his very own Vinum Nostrum, made right here in the Gowanus. It was delicious.
Gardiner Cross of NYS Department Of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery
Councilman Steven Levin
Last night's Environmental Protection Agency's Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group (CAG) gathered at the Brooklyn Historical Society for its monthly meeting. The evening's agenda included updates on the ongoing work done by the various CAG committees.
-The Archeology Committee is planning a historic walking tour of the Gowanus Canal with EPA's Archeologist John Vetter this Friday. The tour will include such historically significant structures as the Coignet Stone building, the Carroll Street bridge, and the former site of Brouwer's Mill built in 1652. (I am taking part in the tour and will post about it afterwards.)
-The Water Quality and Technical Committees reported on a meeting they held recently with EPA's engineer for the Gowanus Canal, Christos Tsiamis. The agency is planning to release its Feasibility study for the Gowanus Canal clean-up in December.
At last night's meeting, DEC's Gardiner Cross was asked to clarify some aspects of the clean-up plan. In particular, there was a concern about why the High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) liner, which is meant to help manage storm water, is supposedly going to be installed 2 feet below grade on the site. Surely, some CAG members argued, it would make more sense to install the liner deeper, especially if the City plans to build on the site. It would seem that the liner could easily be compromised by any digging on the site . Cross promised that he will look into the possibility and will get back to the CAG with an answer.
I always admire people who have a knack for growing tomatoes. My own attempts have never been anything but disappointing. So, my hat off to the Cobble Hill resident who has obviously a gift for coaxing a bumper crop of plum tomatoes from one plant on the third floor fire escape. Though it is nearly the end of October, these beauties were still ripening and looked picture perfect. Notice the one hanging down on the thinnest of stalks?
The Brooklyn Artists Gym, an artist and gallery space in Gowanus, is inviting serious artists to bring art and ideas to their monthly open critique on November 6th at 5 PM.The Brooklyn Artists Gym is located at 168 7th St. between 2nd and 3rd Avenue.
Just in time for Halloween, The Heights Players, "Brooklyn's oldest self- sustaining community theatre, is presenting "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."
Don't wait to get your tickets. Read on:
The Heights Players Theater for Children kicks off its 56th season with The Legend of SleepyHollow on October 29 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $6 each and reservations can be made at: theaterforchildren@heightsplayers.org.
There will be two other Theater for Children shows this season. On December 10 and 17 (at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) we will be presenting Wenceslas; and, on April 21 (again, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) we will be presenting three "Green" Fairy Tales written by young playwrights from MS 442.
Hope you had a chance to take advantage of this Saturday's Second Annual Smith Street Soup Festival. It was a blast and the perfect activity on a beautiful autumn day.
The various soup entries competed for gold, silver and bronze Ladles, which were handed out by four judges.(see list of winners below)
Some of the proceeds for the event will be shared with High School For International Studies to support the wonderful high school's culinary arts program.
Which one was your favorite soup?
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
In the Meat/Poultry based Category
Gold - Lunetta - for their Italian Wedding Soup
Silver - Jolie Cantina - for their Pasole - a Mexican Classic Pork,
Hominy, Guajillo Chili and Thyme Soup
Bronze - Etons - for the Spicy Pulled Pork Noodle Soup
