Disgusting Sight On 2nd Place: Raw Sewage Flowing Onto Sidewalk

Just got these rather discussing photos from a reader who reports: "Massive amounts of raw sewage being dumped onto the street from the building on the corner of Smith and 2nd Place. Kids and parents are walking through it. Totally disgusting. And a mystery."
Pretty horrific, for sure.
Usually, we see sewage being dumped into the Gowanus Canal. But on 2nd Place?

Another eyewitness reports that the sewage seems to be coming out of the big garage door at 360 Smith Street, the brand new rental building.
I wonder if this little sewer problem is related to Hurricane Sandy, or just your run-of-the-mill plumbing problem.

If that is not enough of a yuck factor, CORD has some additional photos here.


Read more

For Real Now? New Date Set For Re-Opening Of F Train Station Entrance At Second Place

First the Second Place F/G subway entrance in Carroll Gardens was supposed to re-open in February, then it was delayed till April and now that it is June, it s still closed. So what's up?

Apparently, about 60% of the stair treads leading down into the station have failed the initial safety inspection by the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Before the station opens, the problem needs to be fixed and the stair treads need to be brought into compliance.

The new date for the re-opening has been scheduled for June 17th. I know many neighborhood commuters have been dying to find out. Lets hope that date will not come and go like the others.

The F train subway plaza and the staircase leading to the station at Second Place were blocked off during construction of the new building at 360 Smith Street back in the fall of 2010 . Since then, riders have been forced to use the smaller, narrower entrance at the corner of Second Street.

Read more

For Real Now! Second Place Entrance To F Train Nearing Completion

The Second Place subway entrance to the F train here in Carroll Gardens was supposed to re-open at the end of February, but there have been delays. (Aren't there always?) Since then, there has been some visible progress. On Monday, a new concrete sidewalk was poured. When asked, two of the workers said that the entrance will re-open in two weeks.

The F train subway plaza and the staircase leading to the station at Second Place were blocked off during construction of the new building at 360 Smith Street back in the fall of 2010 . Since then, riders have been forced to use the smaller, narrower entrance at the corner of Second Street.
And for those who forgot what the plaza used to look like before the construction, here is a photo.

photo credit: Bob Guskind

°°°°°°°°°°°°

Read more

The Big Dig On 2nd Place

Reader Matthew sent me an email on Thursday asking me if I knew anything about the enormous trench being dug on 2nd Place between Court and Clinton Street.  He thought that National Grid was doing the work. When I took my camera along on Friday to check it out, I asked one of the members of the crew.  I was told that the city sewer line is actually being replaced along the entire block.  

Looks like quite a project...and quite a mess.  

ShareThis Read more

REMINDER: 2nd Place Transit Garden Group To Honor Carroll Gardens Activists

REMINDER

The great volunteers of the Transit Garden at the corner of Smith Street and Second Place are hosting a gathering to honor Carroll Gardener activists for the work they have done for the community. I am incredibly thrilled to be one of the honorees.

I will certainly be there. Hope you can make it to.

Here is the announcement from the Transit Garden group:

"Come and celebrate your neighbors and friends, who fought the winning campaigns for the creation of the Transit Garden, the wide street Text Amendment, neighborhood rezoning, the Hannah Senesh courtyard kerfuffle, the Super Fund designation and keeping development sane in Carroll Gardens."

May 2nd, 5 - 7 pm. (after Court St. Fair)

Rain date to be determined.

at the Transit Garden,

2nd Place & Smith Street

Share Read more

Good News! Crossing Guard Coming To Busy Intersection Of Smith And 2nd Street

Ellen Whelan-Wuest, Brooklyn Office Director for State Senator Daniel Squadron, just sent out the email below regarding a crossing guard for the busy intersection of Smith and 2nd Streets.
It seems that many complaints have been called in to the State Senator's office since the closing of the 2nd Place subway station has forced local schoolchildren to cross Smith Street to the subway entrance on 2nd Street.
Ellen informs us that a crossing guard will soon be stationed there.
Read on:

Great news! On behalf of Senator Squadron, I am happy to announce that kids crossing Smith Street at 2nd street will again have a crossing guard!

Since the closing of the 2nd place Carroll Street F train station, all subway riders (including hundreds of schoolchildren) have been forced to enter and exit the station across Smith Street, at the 2nd Street entrance. Our office has received many complaints since the start of the school-year and has been working with the City Department of Transportation and the 76th precinct to implement safety measures at this intersection.

I am happy to inform you that our office has just received word that the 76^th Precinct is in the process of hiring and assigning a crossing guard to the 2^nd Street and Smith Street location. This guard will be on hand during regular crossing guard hours to help safely guide children across the street as they travel to and from PS 58, the Hannah Senesh Day school and the Brooklyn New School every day. Many thanks to Detective Paul Grudzinski, Traffic Officer Hample and the entire 76th precinct for their work on this matter.

Additionally, Senator Squadron is working with the CIty DOT to examine and implement traffic calming measures which will increase the safety of this intersection. I will report to you as soon as we have more details on this front. If you have any questions regarding either of these developments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best,

Ellen

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

Read more

Frank J. Verderame Way: Carroll Gardens Honors One Of Its Finest With Street Renaming

***REMINDER***

This Saturday, September 19th, Frank Verderame, former New York State Assemblyman, lawyer and neighborhood activist, who passed away in December 2008, will be honored for his lifetime accomplishments by having the one block of Second Place, between Court Street and Smith Street, renamed The Frank Verderame Way.

It is an appropriate and well deserved honor, not only because Frank was one of the most honorable, smart and engaged member of the Carroll Gardens Community, but also because he spent so much of his life right on that block.

Thanks go to his brother John Verderame, who worked so hard in the last few months to make this re-naming a reality.

I know Frank would have been very, very proud of this honor and of his brother John, for making it a reality.

For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Asking

Read more

Picture Of The Day: Dawn Of The Dead In Carroll Gardens

On 2nd Place
Between Court And Smith
This frightful creature,
Neither dead nor alive,
Greets commuters
As they come pouring out of the F train.

Read more