Manhattan Bridge Archway Opens in Dumbo

September 8th, 2008

Manhattan Bridge Archway opening

Manhattan Bridge Archway

Manhattan Bridge Archway

The NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Dumbo Improvement District held a press conference this morning to announce the opening of the Manhattan Bridge Archway in Dumbo, a joint project of both groups with Rogers Marvel Architects and Jim Conti Lighting Design. Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, Borough President Marty Markowitz, and DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, among others attended.

The opening of the archway is one of the initiatives of the Dumbo Improvement District and will be opened in two stages. The public space has been closed for 17 years and previously occupied by DOT’s Division of Bridges for the cutting and storage of metal needed for bridge projects. Today marked the “soft opening” at which point the Improvement District will keep the Archway open to the public as a pedestrian thoroughfare and plaza, locking the gates at night. The archway will be further beautified with lighting, benches, and to remove the asphalt to reveal the Belgian blocks and will be open 24 hours upon completion to coincide with the Manhattan Bridge’s 100th birthday in 2009. This fall, the Dumbo Improvement District will continue to fundraise, to support the longer-term restoration of the archway, maintenance, and programming costs. The Dumbo Improvement District’s annual fundraiser, Dumbo Fight Night 2008, will be held on October 2, 2008. As Marty Markowitz stated in his speech, he envisions events with tables, benches, and exhibitions in the 8,000 square foot archway once the restoration is fully completed.

Manhattan Bridge Archway


 Rogers Marvel’s rendering of the completed Archway

Filed in Anchorage Place, Dumbo Improvement, Dumbo Streetscapes, Dumbo in Media, Manhattan Bridge at 12:28 pm
View Comments
  • Dreidel Hustler
    I can't say that the doofus duo has ever bothered me. So what if they stand in front of our grocery store?

    More importantly, why on earth would you want to bust someone for selling weed to stroller moms? That's kind of awesome. If they were pushing crack, then that's another argument. Oh, or if it were poor quality weed, then, yeah, that's also a no-no.

    Anyway, leave 'em be. Pick a fight with the Water Street window smashers instead.
  • Simon Dale
    Smokey and Cracky? Jesus Jimenez people you live 3-4 blocks from the Farragut Projects. There has always been a handshake trade around DUMBO. If you want to get a handle on it put up a 'neighborhood watch' series of networked cameras like the Audubon Society uses to watch for Birds and surveille the hood from your windows.
    Link:
    http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000NVSPQW/so0b9-2030149-20
  • z
    C+S will never leave because thats where all the yuppies get their weed from. Who wants to stroll over to the projects to buy their weed? All these weed smoking baby carriage moms WANT C+S to stay! Thats why they will never leave.
  • dime bag
    It would be really helpful if anyone who has witnessed a deal could call the 84th and ask to speak to Inspector Abel. If you can't reach Abel, be persistent and ask for a Community Affairs Officer.

    Cracky & Smokey are a big problem and there isn't much the 84th can do about them if they're just standing on the corner, but there's a lot they can do if everyone starts to call tell the 84th what they've seen. If a local officer or an operator tries to blow you off or gives you a hard time, don't be discouraged, such responses are not at all representative of how the senior people at the 84th feel about these two. They take this situation seriously, but the people who keep befriending and giving money to these two are making their jobs a lot harder.

    You can also call 311 to report these guys if they're harassing you or you see them harassing someone else, or dealing. The 311 operator will usually transfer you to 911. It's really important that everyone is calling. Someone from the 84th told me to call and call until I wear out my phone.

    Also -- I've given the police descriptions of several businessmen I've seen buying from Smokey -- all of the men work at 55 Washington.
  • TK
    Indeeed. He keeps his stash in that shiny new backpack that he hides in one of the news boxes on the corner.

    But that still doesn't explain all the mothers with strollers who stand there chatting amiably with Cracky like she's their oldest friend. I just don't get it.
  • I've seen smokey's smooth exchange. He says hello to a "long lost friend" greets him with a warm "handshake", that's where the first exchange is made. They talk for 2 secs. and say goodbye then another "handshake", that's where the 2nd exchange occurs. He then turns around and stuffs the money he just received in his pocket. The guy is basically a dealer in the neighborhood. Why people are so friendly with him I don't know.
  • TK
    It's not really fair to blame P&P for the continued presence of Smokey and Cracky. I've talked to the owners about them, and they hate the situation. But what, exactly, are they supposed to do? Smokey & Cracky stand on public property. They never, technically, block access to the store (even though the real-world effect is that they appear to charge a toll for entrance or exit).

    It has been said a million times, but people just have to stop giving them money. A few weeks ago I watched them for a few minutes, and was simply amazed how many people in the neighborhood treat them as dear friends. It was a parade of hugs and howdy-dos and happy talk. If I got that much love, I'd never leave either.
  • Can somebody please register smokeyandcracky.com and put up a forum so everybody can whine about this neighborhood's vagrants and espouse their personal theories on apartheid in bklyn elsewhere?

    And re: crime anywhere is a good place to get mugged, if that is going to happen. I seriously doubt this landmark or the new park developments will ever be a magnet for crime - the nearby streets may be another story.
  • anon
    I was just there. There are cameras installed there. It's not easy to see, but you can see one of them in the second photo above.
  • great
    yeah, better get some cameras in there...
  • not2sure
    Is it me or does this just seem like an ideal place for people to get mugged, dragged to and f*cked up some more?
  • maybe he's really an informant for the cops that's why they let him hang out there. Or better yet he's really working undercover for the dea. Also why would the owner of P&P tolerate this thug literally hanging out on his doorsteps 24/7.
  • WaterSt.
    Sorry to be a Debbie-Downer, but just heard Smokey yell "YOU F**KING F**GOT!" from the stoop at Peas 'N Pickles along Washington. Pretty crowded on the streets, and a few people turned and gave dirty looks at him.

    Definitely not shopping at Peas n Pickles until they lose this parasite thug.
  • Enjoy it before all the people from the projects "tag" up the place with their graffitti.
  • Perry
    I will be one of the first to do a photoshoot there. Mwahaha.

    -Perry
    perryoki.com
  • WaterSt.
    Just checked it out - very cool to finally walk through, and the trains aren't so loud underneath. The ugly metal gates are still there (but open), and there is a nice potted plant/tree at the entrance, but it may be one from the Anchorage Place plaza.

    A few times over the past several months, I noticed bright lights on inside the archway and wondered what was going on there. It all makes sense now.

    Anyone know how long until the area under the bridge at Plymouth and Adams is reopened/ landscaped?
blog comments powered by Disqus
Other Posts of Interest