Dumbo NYC

Notes from the DUMBO, Brooklyn NY neighborhood


Demolition at 205 Water Street

January 24th, 2007


 Photo by Brian Mosbacher

[Correction: February 14, 2007 - Mr. Anthony Cardinale, of New York Insulation, Inc. contacted DumboNYC and stated that his company handled the asbestos removal at 205 Water Street properly and completed their job with fully licensed state and city asbestos handlers. There was a third party air monitor on site to assure that the public or workers were not exposed to any danger of asbestos as is mandatory on any abatement job. The original story did not have any reliable source or proof in the statement that the asbestos was improperly removed from the building, and was a third party quote obtained from the DNA. DumboNYC apologies for any inaccurate accounts of asbestos removal.]

The DUMBO Neighborhood Association (DNA) have recently found out that the owners of a 19th Century warehouse, with the address 205 Water Street have begun preparation for the building demolition. The DNA and the Historic Districts Council has applied for landmark status for the Dumbo area, which includes 205 Water Street. Their concern is that the owner of the property (developer is Harry Kotowitz of HK Organization, also developer of 99 Gold Street) is rushing to complete demolition prior to hearings being set.

Please contact your council-member, David Yassky to voice your opinion about this topic or email issues@dumbo-dna.org if you would like to help stop demolition of historic buildings. You may also support DUMBO’s historic designation by writing to Mr. Robert Tierney, Chairman, Landmarks Preservation Commission, 1 Center Street, NY, NY 10038.

{Press Release: DUMBO Residents Work to Stop Health Risk from Industrial Demolition, [PDF] DUMBO Neighborhood Association}
{Suspicious Demolition at 205 Water Street, DUMBO [PDF]}

[See also:
Dumbo Residents Fight Demolition the South Slope Way, Curbed.com
Brooklyn Streets Unsafe for Art, New York Magazine]

Filed in Water Street at 3:09 am
Comments
  • sam123
    Outrageous! when will DUMBO get landmarked?? I can't believe the beauracratic incompetence....
  • steve
    why hasn't there been a stop work order or any kind of third party investigation to the asbestos issue?
    this is unacceptable and neighbors should think about filing a class action lawsuit.
  • spartacus07
    How frustrating! Reporting or complaining to city departments seems to run into a bureaucratic wall every time!! We should keep trying, but Landmark Protection would solve the problem once and for all. Whatever else you do, WRITE A NOTE TO LPC, 1 Centre Street,9th Floor, NYC 10007. Just say
    Now.
    Then sign it with your name and address. Take a stand for what you believe in!
  • spartacus07
    Message to LPC omitted from above:I am a resident and property owner/renter and I support landmark status for DUMBO. Now.
  • old-timer
    Not for nothing, but that photo was taken from the end of 50 Bridge, the original no-permit piece-of-crap illegal development on that block. Funny how people suddenly get religion about permits and landmarking after they have their own feet on the ground.

    I'm not saying they aren't entitled to say anything, or that what's going on at 205 isn't wrong but they sure didn't think too hard about the legalities of Josh Gutman's handiwork. It's tough to grant the high moral ground to people who only became concerned neighbors once they ignored neighborhood concern to get theirs.

    I'm not a hater. Everyone's allowed to spend their money as they wish, time marches on, things change. But really, anyone who thinks Josh Frekiing Gutman took much care in abatement at 50 Bridge, or that it isn't likely still chock full of semi-interesting industrial wastes itself is whistling in the dark.

    How's that lawsuit going?

    See you all at Superfine.
  • Baby
    If the city agencies do not follow through on their responsibilities to protect the health of residents and workers in DUMBO, aren't they liable? This should be stopped immediately! Add this to lead removal on the Manhattan bridge, and DUMBO looks pretty toxic right now.
  • new-timer
    Experience has shown me that people who feel compelled to state they are not something,i.e. a hater, a bigot, a liar, usually are. It seems like the old-timer's bitter heart is firmly rooted in the belief that someone has given him some parcel of the moral high-ground to bash people that my have, knowingly or unknowingly, been part of the problem, but are now becoming vocal and positive part of the solution. I know a number of people from 50 Bridge, and for the most part a very good and caring bunch. Many have come to love the area and are now at the forefront of the fight to save the old-timer's DUMBO and Vinegar Hill from the likes of Gutman and the HK Organization. It's good to see that the new guard is fighting the good fight while the old-time is sitting over at superfine sitting on his ass and bitching over his beer much like he did when Gutman was busy doing his handy work at 50 Bridge. Cheers.
  • anonymous
    Amen to 'old-timer.'

    'New-timer,' it's so nice to know you and the residents of 50 Bridge "have come to love the area." Growing on you, is it? Or is it the ever-increasing property values you've come to love? The reality is you're suddenly at the forefront of this fight because you have a financial stake. Simple as that. Classic case of NIMBY. And that's perfectly fine, understandable. But don't go slamming other people down for striking a little closer to the truth of the matter. I commend 'old-timer' for seeing through the rosy "I heart DUMBO" bullshit.
  • sam123
    Go New-Timer, Go! Well said.
  • Dumbo Resident
    We moved our family to DUMBO apx. 2 years ago. We loved DUMBO for the beautiful architecture, unpaved streets and rich history. Never did we expect to fall so deeply in love with the neighborhood the way that we have, and who knew we would devote so much time to fighting developers who do not care about our home. Residents new and old fighting together to preserve what is important is a special thing...artists and bankers-it does not mattter. Old timers comments saddend me, but new timers were right on target. I hope that together, with strength in numbers we can fight the destruction of DUMBO!
  • longtermresident
    I hope that all of you whiners are members of DNA and VHNA. If not, kindly get down from your soapboxes.
  • nick
    Does anyone even know what they plan on building at 205 water street?
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