I think it’s interesting that some people think the new space is sufficient offering to ‘the people’- trees in pots, concrete, and green paint. Why no community garden? Why no community involvement? It feels like the BID just threw it together to appease the throngs of prospective home owners touring the area. The space isn’t inviting or warm, for a local at least, it more feels like the last nail in the coffin to what once was ….a different neighborhood.

I advocate for parking spots…. let the poor, the homeless, the working class and the nouveau and old rich enjoy their lives by the river. And plant those poor trees in the ground for god sakes… how about on York street between Gold and Bridge?

Beyond the joys of online banter, I’d love to start a petition. advocating for the return of the parking triangle and the planting of more trees in the ground!

And who are the many ‘we’ you’re referring to as the ones who love to hate the ‘elite’ like me. The majority of Dumbo is chockablock with incredibly high-end apartments and their owners and it’s only climbing higher.

Just because we have the lovely waterfront park doesn’t mean that this is a subsitute for trees and greenery in the streets of Dumbo, regardless of whomever is (or is not) supplying them. Trees, flowers, and public spaces are a big part of what makes a neighborhood great. I am no apologist for Guttman. He and all of the rest of the developers should do their part to plant greenery and not create general eyesores in the neighborhood, but I’m not going to advocate for the removal of the triangle simply because Guttman didn’t do his part.

And if you’re going to whine about the developers who kicked out all of the artists, you are forgetting the part where they (Walentas Bros.) invited a great many of them in in the first place with low rents and were very clear about the fact that the units would only be available for a finite period of time. I question a lot of the ethics here while I’m simultaneously bowled over by the business acumen.

One last thing regarding cars and SoHo, and only because I pity your lack of comprehension… You claimed that more parking is vital to local businesses (not to residents like you, to BUSINESS) so I cited a study that suggests you’re claim could be false. Like you said, you take the subway to SoHo (to shop). Do you think it might be possible that others take the subway/bike/walk here to shop? That was my point.

The shame of this is that I basically agree with you on a lot of this stuff. Seems you miss that though since I’m not completely inline with your myopic perspective.

there was never a parking problem in DUMBO, it is a growing problem now and should have been addressed before spots were taken away. the neighborhood has some of the most glorious green areas in Brooklyn, let alone the city, along the river between the bridges.

Very few people are going to use the container garden, traffic island as a place to relax or eat lunch. It is so noisy and floods after even the lightest summer shower.

adam what is your point? people take subways to SOHO? who cares, you were right, DUMBO, is in fact, not SOHO. in addition, i too take the subway to SOHO and still have to park my car in DUMBO.

the barriers do look post-9/11, you know what would have been better, a raised curb and trees in the ground (check the artist rendering, does it look like that?) you need friends, adam, i know, not gonna find one here.

?, you are the new elite we all hate. park your car in a garage or don’t have one, so very elitist and privileged of you. your comment id is a reflection of the cluelessness of your perspective.

let’s attack the developers and landlords, who have kicked out all my artist friends, pulled the rug out from people that built this neighborhood and refuse to plant trees. Guttman where are the trees. money and painted asphalt are not the only green.

the vanilla-ization of the neighborhood into a bastion of the privileged with new construction towering above the old gair buildings is well advanced. the construction of the 2 towers near the manhattan bridge, the desecration of the old foundry on water street (remodelled to house ms. walentas’s carousel as an EXHIBIT for children–how pathetic) and the arrival of the chains (west elm & its fancy sibling & starbucks) & of over-priced UES businesses is a done deal. the smaller businesses that remain (including the poor struggling galleries) on the walentas teat will have their plugs pulled when he finishes his recreation of the neighborhood and they’re no longer useful to him to testify at public hearings about what a good guy he is..

as for the new water/dock street building, perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to bring teens from east of eden into the neighborhood & let them mix it up with kids of a different social background in a decent school with a parent body that’s committed to good education for everybody. it would probably be good for both groups of kids. OF COURSE THAT PRESUMES THAT THE DUMBO AND BH KIDS DON’T ALL END UP IN PRIVATE SCHOOL.

the fact that the skyline of brooklyn as seen from the brooklyn bridge will be further blemished by another big modern block no longer seems such a big deal. another ugly pimple joining several others on the face of the new neighborhood.

Couldn’t have said it better myself, Bozo.

What Dantean irony that the aims of the BID and the DNA are precisely to obliterate the “neighborhood.”

The “improvements” are resulting in the inevitability of Dumbo becoming a carbon-copy of every other homogonized upper-class white neighborhood. Force out anyone who doesn’t look or dress like “us”—we have our Starbucks; Gap Kids can’t be far behind.

Dumbo will not be a neighborhood if it has no character. It will just be a place on a map.

The BID couldn’t care less about your or my concerns. They are run by the developers who own the politicians. They will do as they like, when they like. Ergo, getting involved with a neighborhood organization to help with anything, has become an act of utter futility. (I know, I tried.)

And so, Adam, when someone (presumably someone from the DNA) encourages people to approach the BID and get involved, they are either ignorant or disingenuous. I believe the latter.

The DNA is a sad joke. People who have worked with the DNA are now working with the Park Conservancy and a number of them live in One Main and are Walentas friends and associates.

In the future, cars will be exiled from Water Street between Main and Dock. The main access to Dumbo will be from Old Fulton Street on Front, where a car will have the option of parking in the Dock St. Garage, the 45 Main garage, or travel over to Jay Street and park in the garage at Jay and John. Once the Dock St. project is done, and once the Empire Stores is developed (and it will be and it will be done by Two Trees), Water Street will be akin to the South St. Seaport. Once the area beneath the Manhattan Bridge is reclaimed, Water Street between Jay all the way to Dock Street, will be car-free. And every weekend there will be a street fair or a festival with mommy and daddy and children children children. With balloons and bubbles and bouncy castles and . . . Ahhh, the suburbs.