Dumbo NYC

2008 U.S. Boxing Team (Photo courtesy of usaboxing.org)

What does Dumbo and Beijing have in common? Apparently the two have boxing ties to the Beijing Olympics, according to a trainer who worked out at Gleason’s Gym. Corpas is the author of a book on boxing called New York City’s Greatest Boxers. He trained at the gym (owned by Bruce Silverglade) when the very first Chinese boxers trained at Dumbo’s Gleason’s Gym in 1989 for the 1990 Asian Games to make an impression on the International Olympic Committee who had an eye on China as a possible choice for hosting the Games.

There’s exactly one week to go for the 2008 Olympic Games. The United States Olympic Boxing held their final training sessions on Friday, July 11 at the legendary Gleason’s Gym in Dumbo Brooklyn. The nine member squad are in Beijing to compete against the world’s best boxers, including the Chinese boxing team. In his own words, titled Beijing’s Debt to Dumbo , Jose Corpas tells us the story of the precursor to the 2008 Chinese team:

Read the rest of this entry »

What used to be a Revs and Peek painting (circa 2005),

has turned into a Nike billboard atop Pedro’s Restaurant freshly painted yesterday and today.

The non-corporate paintings of Neck Face and Pedro’s (new) hand painted walls still hang on.

Thanks to Dailysession.com and Untitled Name for the photos.

ISSUE Project Room, the arts group that was recently chosen to occupy the theatre at the 110 Livingson Street building has curated an evening of live music for part of the Music at the Bridge program at the Tobacco Warehouse, Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park tomorrow night, July 30, 2008 starting at 6:45pm.

They are bringing John Zorn, Theremin Society, and Jonathan Kane to the Park. Set times are as follows:

• John Zorn/Cobra 6:45pm
• Theremin Society 7:45pm
• Jonathan Kane/February 8:45pm

The performances are free and doors open at 6pm (capacity is limited. No Seating. Rain or Shine.)

{brooklynbridgepark.org Event listing}

Dumbo has changed so much since its Scent of a Woman (1992) filming when it was (more or less) free to block out several streets for the Ferrari scene. Dumbo has always been an attractive location for filming due to its Manhattan views, dramatic structures, and former industrial buildings. There are a number of factors that bring more movies and TV show filmings to Dumbo (and NYC in general) recently. Marketing and tax incentives are two of the biggest reasons for more film and TV crews to NYC. NY State tripled its tax incentive — to 30% to compete against incentives by other states and cities such as L.A., Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Toronto. Production companies that make movies in NYC will benefit from a combined state and city tax incentive of 35%. Any movie filmed in NY State receives a 30% tax break. On top of that, if you shoot in the city, there’s an extra 5% on any ‘below the line costs’, which include any production costs, except for the talent. 75% of the film or the TV show must be produced in NYC to ensure the production work is done in NYC’s soundstages. Before, movies based in NYC may have done production work on soundstages in Toronto or California, after filming for one or two days in NYC, which caused traffic and business interruptions without added benefit to the economy of NYC. These tax incentives have been very successful and while it is great for publicity, is not always great for local residents who may not see any benefit.

In Dumbo, the Dumbo Neighborhood Association’s film liaison ‘intervenes with commercial film producers to minimize the disruption of neighborhood lifestyle and traffic.’

We checked in with the DNA who noted:

The DNA’s film liaison recently spoke to Dean McCann of the mayor’s office (MOFTB). She was informed that the city has changed the tax incentive structure for filming here. So, apparently a lot of production will be moving here from LA and that Brooklyn in particular would be hardest hit, especially DUMBO. McCann said the intensity would last five years.

One action the DNA will be taking is requesting that the Department of Transportation (DOT) increase street parking for neighborhood residents. The DNA is actively looking for neighbors interested in working as film liaisons with crews that set up in Dumbo, as well as people who want to work on the issue of helping get more street parking from DOT. (If you’re interested and concerned, please email Marcia at marcia@dumbo-dna.org.)

Looking back at Scent of a Woman video clip above, I can’t imagine this type of filming occurring now, as Dumbo isn’t as desolate (no cars, people, retail businesses), but we will have more film crews, and while we more than welcome more celebrities to the area and filming is good for Dumbo publicity, we can work as a community to work better with crews to coexist.

{Lights, Camera, Tax Credit, 05Jun2008, NY Times}
{Fatter tax break, weaker dollar stir flurry of flicks in New York City, 18May2008, Daily News}
{With an Eye on Connecticut, Filmmakers Get a Tax Break in New York, 11Apr2008, NY Times}
{Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre, and Broadcasting, NYC.gov}

The following are selected links from this past week on blogs and websites with discussion about Dumbo (and its neighboring areas):

• Stewart/Stand Wood Pins, 21July08, foodflowerstyle.wordpress
• Denise Carvalho at Dumbo Arts Center, 23July08, artcal
• Purchase Building Destroyed…and for what?, 24July08, HDC Blog
• Purchase Building Demolition, 24July08, Brownstoner
• State: Grimaldi’s cooked books, 24July08, Brooklyn Paper
• Dumbo Business: Kathleen Lewis Beauty, 25July08, Brooklyn Eagle
• Public Hearing on Admiral’s Row, 23July08, Brownstoner
• Gossip Girl Filming in Brooklyn Heights, 25July08, McBrooklyn
• Emerging Green Builders Competition, 23July08, greenbuildingsnyc.com
• Alexis Bittar’s Dumbo Workshop, 25July08, newyorksocialdiary.com
• Row boat group looks for Brooklyn Bridge beachhead, 24July08, downtownexpress.com

A discussion post on StreetEasy poses the question: Is Dumbo worse off than other areas of Brooklyn? According to SteetEasy data, median listings in Dumbo have increased to $1,100,000 from $1,025,000 in March, and median rents are at its peak at $4,750 per month. Of course listings don’t mean much, as they don’t reflect the closing price at all, and some of the more aggressive listings have lowered their price lately. Also, Dumbo is a relatively small neighborhood, so high end penthouses such as the $7million 1 Main Street condo will skew data significantly. We periodically report the lowest priced condos and the entry price in Dumbo is still approximately $550,000. I don’t have the current statistics and while we won’t know how Dumbo is faring compared to other parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan, prices seem to be holding steady. But it depends on who you talk to.

What do you think?

n

Is Dumbo Real Estate and Rent Holding Steady?

• Yes, Dumbo is holding its value.
• No, prices have declined.
• It's about the same as it was last year.
• It can go either way. We'll see what happens in a few months.

View Results

What: Film: Farinelli (Dir. Gerard Corbiau, 1995, Italy 110 minutes)
When: Friday, July 25th, 8pm

Once in a while a beautiful film becomes an instant guilty pleasure. This film is a visual poem, a sunny, operatic masterpiece of bodice-ripping and unconsummated pleasure set in the Dionysian torment and sexual squalor of the 1700’s operatic Italy. This film is dripping with sensuality and if you like dripping films, well, this ones for you.

What: Premiere Screening of FRAMEWORKS dance film series
When: Saturday, July 26th, 8pm

$10 at the door
A program featuring new innovation and talent in choreography for the camera

A Landmark permit and Certificate of Appropriateness was issued to DumboSpace, the owners of 192 Water Street building at the end of March. Recent activity started on the building, which is planned for residential use with a ground floor theater and recording studio and gallery on the second floor. According to the NYC building permit,

The proposed work, as approved, includes the removal of masonry at the ground floor Water Street elevation and combining two existing masonry openings to create one large opening with a concrete lintel to match existing; the installation of glass and steel storefront painted forest green color with multiple fixed lights, a lit logo reading “Dumbo Space”, and a double leaf wooden door; the installation of a green painted steel awning with recessed lighting and lit steel logo reading “Dumbo Space”; the removal of three metal doors at the first floor of the Water Street elevation and the installation of two metal doors painted forest green with fixed single light transoms, and one glass and metal framed door with a fixed single light transom, all within existing masonry openings; the construction of a one story rooftop addition, a stair bulkhead, and a elevator bulkhead clad in brick with three paired, and one single glass and metal framed doors, exterior lighting, a metal ladder and railing leading to the roof at the Water Street elevation; and four paired glass and metal framed doors at the rear elevation.

The Landmark Commission noted in the DUMBO Historic District designation report that describe 192 Water Street as an “American Round Arch style stable designed by Edward N. Stone and built in 1898″; and that the style, scale, materials, and details of the building are among the features that contribute to the special architectural and historic character of the DUMBO Historic District. Sounds like an interesting project and we’re looking forward to the finished “Dumbo Space.”

Previously: {Condo and Theatre Conversion at 192 Water Street, 02Jan2008}

As Brownstoner reported yesterday, David Kramer of Hudson Companies revealed that the J Condo retail location on the corner of York and Jay Street (just outside of the York Street, F subway station) will be occupied by Choice Market, which is a cafe in Clinton Hill Brooklyn. Choice Market is a neighborhood cafe and takeout store, which serves organic and healthy foods, has a the boho vibe of a hippie hangout in a college town, according to the NY Mag listing of its Clinton Hill location. As a neighborly community cafe and hang out location, the now empty corner of York/Jay Street has the potential to become a destination for neighbors to grab a coffee and a house baked pastry or a lunch spot for a savory salmon burger or the grilled hanger steak with chimichurri sauce. The above photos are from Gothamist.

{Choice Empire Exanding to Dumbo’s J Condo, Brownstoner}
{Citysearch Listing of Choice Market}
{Camera in the Kitchen: Choice Market, Gothamist}
{NY Mag Choice Market Listing}

In case you missed the CBS News Sunday Morning last week that highlighted Jane’s Carousel in Dumbo, below is the YouTube video clip. Based on the piece, carousels are making a comeback. At the peak of their popularity there were about 1,500 carousels in this country. Today, there are only about 150. But they are, as Charles says. “coming back in favor.” The Walentas family intends to donate the carousel to the city to go somewhere in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

{CBS News Sunday Morning, 13July2008}
{Jane’s Carousel Open For Season, 22May2007}
{The Carousel News and Trader Talks About Jane’s Carousel, 19Jan2007}
{To the Children of Dumbo: Experience Jane’s Carousel 12/8, 8Dec2006}
{A Chat With Jane At The Carousel Opening, 16Oct2006}