Dumbo NYC

The 2007 Dumbo Town Meeting last night at Powerhouse Arena attracted a few hundred attendees who enjoyed the snacks and finger food provided by neighborhood sponsors Foragers, Retreat, and Ferrigno’s. The Dumbo Neighborhood Association (DNA) organized the event, which brought together Dumbo residents, business owners, DNA staff, Dumbo Business Improvement staff, bloggers (Brownstoner and DumboNYC (others?)), elected officials, and artists to ‘meet-and-greet’ and to discuss neighborhood topics. As expected, the DNA did a great job organizing the annual event to inform people about Dumbo’s unique industrial landscape.

Councilman David Yassky was there to support the Dumbo neighborhood and discussed three main topics:

• Landmarking Dumbo – The office recognizes the importance to neighbors on landmarking and will work towards “having a landmark district within a year and a half” for Dumbo.
• Dumbo Area Schools – Mr. Yassky recognizes that there are many young families moving to the area. P.S. 8 has been improving. To keep families in the neighborhood, the next step is to bring a middle school to the area. The office is looking at ‘opportunities to open a middle school.’
• Brooklyn Bridge Park – The much discussed Brooklyn Bridge Park will begin its transformation soon. This summer will begin the opening of its floating pool between piers 4 and 5 south of Fulton Ferry.

Producer of the local film “Dumbo, Then & Now”, Julia Ryan, showed her poignant documentary that chronicled the rise and fall, and resurgence of the industrial Dumbo buildings. Preservationist Lisa Kersavage of the Municipal Arts Society showed the importance of Dumbo’s commerce and manufacturing in the late 1800s and early 1900s and how the bridges removed the importance of Brooklyn’s waterfront.

The evening ended with Jonathan Butler’s (of brownstoner.com) story of how Brownstoner came to be. Being a Manhattanite for most of his life, he moved to Brooklyn in 2003 not knowing everything he knows now about the variety of Brooklyn neighborhoods. But through his reporting, he’s immersed himself in all things Brooklyn. (‘Stoner, you’ve got street cred in Brooklyn despite what you say.) Questions for Jon ranged from the fate of the Nova Clutch building and Admiral Row to what his thoughts are on the Brooklyn Bridge Park. (Someone even asked, what do you do? (?!)).

With so much change in the area, there are people concerned with housing and live/work space affordability, building preservation, and over-development. These are issues that local elected officials are aware of. Great event DNA and hope to see you at the next annual meeting!