Nova Clutch building at 39 Front Street

April 20th, 2007

With the discussion about the plot of land where the current Nova Clutch building stands and rumors about new development there, I decided to do a quick search on the net to find out more about the building. The Zerega building, now known as Nova Clutch building was built in 1848. From a brooklynbridgepark.org ‘fun-facts’, Antoine Zerega built the first American pasta factory in 1848 on Front Street in Dumbo which remained in operation until the 1950s when Antoine’s grandson moved it to New Jersey. According to the Zerega website, they “trace our roots back to Brooklyn, NY, where Antoine Zerega founded the American pasta industry in 1848. ”

The three story building has since been occupied by Nova Clutch Inc, which imports and manufactures motor vehicle clutches and mechanical power transmission equipment. The name “ZEREGA” is still etched in the stone below the second floor windows.


 Photo by DumboNYC (Click for larger version)

Nova Clutch Inc
39 Front St # 2
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 858-8282

See also:
{Dumbo Then and Now: N Side of Front St at Dock St, 21Jul2009}
{(Temporary) Parking Lot on the Nova Clutch Site, 08Aug2007}
{Goodbye Nova Clutch Building, 20Jun2007}
{Zerega Building, 28May2007}
{Two Trees Seeking Approval for 15-20 Story Building Abutting Brooklyn Bridge, 18Apr2007}

Filed in Dumbo Architecture, Dumbo Streetscapes, Front Street at 9:44 am
View Comments
  • juan
    wow, i cant believe nova clutch was torn down, i worked there so long for my old boss ms.r fisher and his son ab . working for nova clutch was some of the best years of my life. i am going to miss you nova
  • Rula Lenska
    so let me get this straight. You're some bigshot landlord who has nothing better to do than harass children on the Dumbo blog. It was turds like you and your scumbag parents who turned Brooklyn into the toilet it was when I came here 25 years ago. All those Yuppies from the hinterlands saved your empty warehouses and your hairy ass, asshole.
  • Michael
    To all of you "community activists", who really are not native brooklynites, but good folk from Osh-Kosh, Iowa or Nebraska. It was fine to change Brooklyn when you arrived... remember converting all those warehouses to the lofts that you are now living in. But now that you have you nice little neighborhood, well lets stop all developement there. We don't need or want any more people here right !!!

    So nice of you to be so objective, uh... i mean subjective about developement in your area. You got yours and damn everyone else.

    I hope whoever owns the Nova Clutch building puts up a skyscraper.

    Newsflash...you live in a city. Not your personal city but a city for all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Whenever I get angry like this I take solace in the fact that so many Yuppies pay me rent.
  • lower bmi
    that's GRINDING WHEEL !
  • lower bmi
    For many years I walked by the Nova Clutch building when it was...well...Nova Clutch. It seemed that they had only one worker at the place. An older guy in a rubber apron-like smock, rubber gloves, and cheap face mask stood in front of a griding wheel all day long griding what looked like brake shoes & linings or clutch plates and throwing them into a box. It's all I saw him do, year after year. Anybody know what material was used on the surface of clutch plates and brake componets for many years? As-best-as I can try to remember the name of the substance eludes me.
  • oldtimer
    Fez - Careful what you wish for. As noted above, there is a lot of history here -- last time Walentas tried for something much larger than what you suggest. It is not clear that he will settle for something more modest this time. We all agree that the current zoning for DUMBO is ridiculous. But the best approach would be to correct that as part of an overall plan rather than these piecemeal variances.
  • Fez
    I would encourage him to seek a variance. The DCP has done a piecemeal rezoning job in the DUMBO area in attempt to appease community reactionaries. The M1-2 zoning district is totally unacceptable and is out of character with every other adjacent zoning district. He should be able to get at least a R8A, which will prevent a tower but make the site redevelopable. So no tower but enough square footage to turn a profit.
  • Fulton Ferry Res
    He is apparently just altering the existing building for now. possibly for use as a parking garage, but long-term he will want a tower there.
  • DJ
    I noticed as well - sounded like more action over there this morning too. Could W be moving very quickly before opposition can organize??
  • Fulton Ferry Res
    Sweeney: There is plenty that can be done to prevent the construction of a tower at 38 Water/Nova Clutch that no-one in the community wants. Repeating what I said in a post on the DUMBO Historic district thread, in order for Walentas to develop the Nova Clutch/38 Water(St Ann's)parcel, he will have to go through the ULURP process for a variance just like in 2004. This starts with CB2, then Borough Pres, then City Planning, then City Council. I testified against his planned 17 story tower in 2004, when the pressure from a united front of neighborhood associations, including BHA, DNA, VHNA, FFLA and others ultimately turned Tony Avela and the City Council against the plan, and Walentas pulled it. We will need to reprise that effort to prevent him from building this new proposal. Also, see Gary's comment on the other Walentas/Nova Clutch thread on this blog.
  • dumbostreets
    I've looked more closely at the job filings and for now they say: "No change in use egress or occupancy filed on this application." They will be installing a plywood fence, shed, and scaffolding for "demolition" and "remedial" repairs. Once again, I don't know what this may mean ultimately concerning all this speculation of residential towers... but it looks like they are, for now, fixing up the building. The contact number for the contractors is provided on the permits and I suppose someone could ask them what they are going to do... or if someone knows more about how to interprete these filings, that might shed some light on what will happen at 39 Front.
  • sweeney
    There is no doubt that Walentas will attempt to build as high as possible. What can the community do to stop this before it's too late?
  • Rascal
    I would agree that the facade looks considerably newer than 1848. But the provenance of America's first commercial pasta production is AWESOME. Great job, DumboNYC!!!
  • dumbostreets
    This is the job overview for 39 Front Street from the NYC database. Looks like recent filings for demolition and alteration work... although I am not expert enough to determine the extent.
  • Belgian Blockhead
    With regard to the demolition, a few weeks back there was a small brigade of blue-suited workers tearing the roof down to its wood beams (they even worked Sundays). There hasn't been anything done since, this being what I assume is just a pause in the action.
  • MMT
    It's worth noting that this building was the subject of a fine photograph by Rudy Burckhardt made just before the war.
  • DOT
    Is the NYPD building the Purchase building? If so, that building is being demolished to make room for the BB park.
  • TWC
    I was confused by people saying Nova Clutch was being demolished as I too only saw workers at the NYPD building. Any idea what is going on there?
  • dumbostreets
    Given it's history, it would make for a cool restaurant as well.
  • The building is old, but the facade looks newer. If you look at the side and rear of the building, the bricks look more like the Empire store brick work. I don't see any construction workers on this building. The NY City Police - Fleet Division building, directly under the bridge is being worked on.
  • TWC
    You would think a cool historic building like this could be gutted, turned into a 3 or 4 high end condos and call it a day and a profit for Wallentas. Those kinds of projects can help keep the character, bring in more residents and beutify our borders.
blog comments powered by Disqus
Other Posts of Interest