Dumbo NYC

Notes from the DUMBO, Brooklyn NY neighborhood


David McCullough To Attend Dumbo Rally Against Dock St Development

April 1st, 2009

Brooklyn Bridge

The Dumbo Neighborhood Association, Fulton Ferry Landing Association, and The Brooklyn Heights Association will be holding a rally today (April 1) beside the Brooklyn Bridge to protest a proposed 18-story tower (Dock Street Dumbo). Per the press release:

Brooklyn, NY-Renowned historian, lecturer, Pulitzer Prize winning writer and author of The Great Bridge, David McCullough, along with a coalition of elected officials, community activists, local residents and preservationists will hold a rally on Wednesday, March 31st, beside the Brooklyn Bridge, to protest a proposed 18-story tower that will permanently destroy views of the Brooklyn Bridge, a National Historic Landmark, the fragile waterfront and the historic Empire stores…The rally will start at 11:15AM at the corner of Water St. & Dock St. in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Councilman Bill DiBlasio will attend the rally. Other politicians have also been invited to attend. This event is open to all media outlets and the public at large.

To read the press release, click here.

{Past Dock Street Dumbo news}

Filed in Brooklyn Bridge, Celebrities, Dock Street, Dumbo Residents at 10:27 am
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  • huh?
    I paid a little extra attention to the Front Street Pizza building when I walked by it this morning. I don't like it, but it kind of cracked me up to see that it is the closest of all the new construction in Dumbo to the kind of building that N2W2T might find acceptable, with its red brick and old school blocky fenestration on the ground floor. Kind of like the one on Hudson Street. Just sayin'.
  • No2Walentas2Trees
    Well the new building on Hudson ave, at least the architect of that one at tried to blend the building in with the neighborhood and it isn't that much of an eyesore. But the Front Street and water street buildings in VH are horrendous, have no respect for the neighborhood.....just like the disaster that is planed to ruin the BB view, no respect for the bridge or surrounding area. Honestly, if you people what generic crappy buildings, move to the projects....oh forgot...y'all don't want to do that, nor have your kids attend the middle school already in the area.....gee I wonder why?
  • davoyager
    when I went to Stuyvesant we were taught to win arguments on the merits not thru attempts at bullying and personal attacks. It is sad that a few people attempt to dominate this discussion using Karl Rovean tactic of discrediting the messenger by any means. So distasteful and so destructive to an honest search for truth.
  • Publius
    DA:

    I get it, you're being sarcastic! Good for you.

    And if you insist on referring to me at Pubi, I'll insist on calling you d-bag.

    I can't believe we're both Stuy alumni. Depresses me.
  • huh?
    Sorry, I forgot about the "Front Street Pizza" building, but that's the only new building in Dumbo from TwoTrees. The others are courtesy of Guttman, Boymelgreen and David Kremer. The buildings in Vinegar Hill were done by smaller new developers.
  • davoyager
    Oh and, Pubi and Carlo...
    get a room.
  • davoyager
    I agree with the esteemed author formally of Brooklyn Heights: I too think all the buildings around the bridge should be torn down especially those who's views will be spoiled by the proposed Dock St. project. Let's make the whole made up "bowl" a national park and restore it to it's 1860's architecture. I personally would love that.
    We can all home school and teach evolution if we choose.
  • heavy flo
    Al is right, as is No2 w...., Huh is wrong.

    Both buildings have the same fenestration which is depicted at the following link:

    http://dumbonyc.com/category/front-street/page/5/

    I believe both were designed by Beyer, Blinder and Bell, Two Trees preferred Architects.

    I really liked TT's Jean Nouvel-designed steel-and-glass hotel which was abandoned (wrong location) in 1999 for the right reasons. Too bad he wasn't called upon for this project.
  • Al
    The "Front Street Pizza" building is a Two Trees new construction, as is the building on the corner of Court and Atlantic, which houses the YMCA. Both buildings are as generic as they come- cheap and non-descript- not at all worthy of the Brooklyn Bridge.
  • huh?
    None of the buildings you mentioned are TwoTrees projects. All of the new stuff -- new from the ground up -- is by other developers, including the buildings in Vinegar Hill.
  • Hmmmm
    Huh, I think No2Walentas is getting a bit too emotional, lol. Yes, the newer buildings in DUMBO are ugly, but I am not sure if TwoTrees built them or not. No2Walentas, take a chill pill. I'm with ya.
  • No2Walentas2Trees
    I am not referring to the converted buildings.

    I was under the impression that the addition to the building across from the York St. Station was a TwoTrees Project, and the building on York which replaced the Between the bridges pub was also a twotrees project, and the two disasters in Vinegar Hill (front st and water st, respectively). I am pretty sure these new buildings were two trees as I distinctly remember seing 'Two Trees Management' on the work permit they posted on the wooden walls surrounding these buildings when they got built.
  • huh?
    Walentas has not built ANY buildings in Dumbo, he converted the old Gair buildings from raw warehouse space to condos. So the buildings you are calling "UGLY" are considered by most of the rest of us to be historic landmarks.
  • No2Walentas2Trees
    Just took a stroll through DUMBO and looked at all of twoTrees new buildings....I must say, this guy, Walentas, is he artistically challenged? I mean, honestly, these buildings he built are UGLY, and not just ugly, but horrendously ugly. Honestly, can't this guy afford a decent architect? A 3rd grader could design something better...I mean Yuck, it is just horrible, never mind that he didn't use union labor, but building after building, it is just an eyesore, and now this kind of crap will be next to the majestic Brooklyn Bridge?
  • Carlo Trigiani
    Thanks Publius. I'm Italian and not Greek so can't speak to your BTW. In my dialect, "hoy pa-loy" means folks who think they are better than others. Try the mirror.

    Please find a post, Freedom-of-Information me if you need. I'm sure you're great at that. I've always said take a floor or two. You are the father of no higher than the walkway. Perhaps you have historical support from the founding fathers or the Greek Gods to bolster your position.

    Sorry Pubi, we aren't all as well-medicated, smart and honorable as you. Sorry we all don't have the foresight you possess. You brilliant man of Brooklyn! Why don't you run for Comptroller? Wait. Are you Yassky?

    I am humbled and remain a low life shill for evil who will sell my soul for what is sure to be terrible school.
  • anon
    Carlo,
    You most definitely did say that, I remember responding to you about your change of heart when you were talking compromise and lowering the height. Not sure what changed your mind but you absolutely said that. You seem to be more aggressive and angry now which is perhaps clouding your judgment. 50 people does constitute a rally especially when it is short notice and in the middle of the day. Also, I see no need to attack Mr. McCullough. According to you only people who live in NYC or pay a lot of money can appreciate the Bridge?? now Publius beat me too it but I echo his hoi-palloi comments.
  • Publius
    Wow, Carlo, have the doc adjust your meds.

    Are you going to make me search all your past posts on BHB to show you made that concession? This was during your Kum-bai-ya days of pretending to work with the community rather than for the developer. But I really wasn't fooled. You keep playing the tired shell game brainstormed by the lobbyist to make this about the school or the height of the building. In fact, it's all about the height of the building. Keep it below the roadway, and you can have or not have your school. It's up to the corrupt SCA to hammer that out through secret emails with Two Trees.

    BTW, I believe you're missuing the word "hoi polloi" or as you bastardize it: hoy pa-loys. In fact, hoi palloi is a Greek term for the common people. I'm sure Judy would appreciate that. Maybe you and the "hoi palloi" can all get together some night at the Ale House and pound some PBRs.
  • Carlo Trigiani
    My sincerest apologies Anti. Since you know that Publius is not in the photo, you must know him. Does he shop at Key Food too? They have a great deal on avocados.

    One floor would make the building lower than 70 Wash or One Main. What the hey, take two floor off. It's not my building but come on now, let's be reasonable.

    And by all means, say hello next time you see me.
  • anti-Dock
    Carlo,

    Publius is not in the photo. That is me, and I'd appreciate it if you stop misidentifying me as him.

    See you in Key Food.

    And what kind of deal is one floor? What the hell will that do? It would still be 96 feet from the bridge, ruining views FROM the walkway and the streets below. Come back when you have more than a crumb to offer.
  • Carlo Trigiani
    No pull with Jed - understand I'm not his shill.

    I'm throwing your boy Yassky a bone. Save face Dave, negotiate a floor down, tell Judy and the hoy pa-loys that you cut the best deal you could, built a school for nothing. The views won't really be destroyed, just for the 40 angry buyers (rally goers) who didn't read their offering plans.

    I have never "agreed to reduce the height of the tower to below the bridge roadway." What sauce are you on????

    I'm afraid you're losing it my bald friend. I never described you as "tall", my flattering word was "distinguished." Perhaps in Alexander Hamilton's day you would be considered tall at your current height of 5'9. You are 5'9 aren't you? I'm 5'8 and a half.

    In closing, if there's no need for Yassky, why are you giving him the microphone every time you gather? What is he supposed to be doing? My tax dollars fund his paycheck. Please Pubi, enlighten me.

    Seriously, public discourse is what makes America great. I mean, isn't it wonderful that we can argue this freely, get all the info out in the open. Freedom of Information this, New York Times that. I appreciate it - truly.

    Your fellow American. (That was fun.)
  • Publius
    Oh, if your side is sucessful in diminishing our National Mounument AND you don't get the school, the 8,000 people who signed the petition against the project as currently proposed, plus the scores that testified at Borough Hall, plus the 50 at this recent rally (which was announced less than 1 day before it occured and which took place during a work day), will be lined up to take a turn at the dunking stool.

    Am I the tall balding man with the grey hair in the back of the photo? You'd love to know! Focus less obsessively on who I am and more on the force of my arguments.

    So I take your previous agreement to reduce the height of the tower to below the bridge roadway and this new commitment to getting the deal all in writing. I'd be on board with that. Let's see that delivered BEFORE the ULURP process is completed.

    Why do we need Yassky to do that? One of Two Trees in-house or rent-a -lawyers can draft the binding letter to reduce the building height below the roadway and guarantee the school in exchange for ULURP approval. It would be signed with the SCA, the CPC, and Yassky.

    Do you have any pull with Jed to make that happen? Or does he feel that he's "ahead" in the process and doesn't need to put his promises in writing?
  • dumbostreets
    Yassky is irrelevant.

    SCA willfully mislead the public . That is a fact. Perhaps laws were broken. Two Tree's own communications are extremely self-implicating. The motives of the messenger, good or bad, are irrelevant.
  • Carlo Trigiani
    Dear Publius,

    Agreed. Let's get it in writing. Shouldn't Yassky be protecting our interest? Why isn't he negotiating to take some height off the tallest part of the design and getting the school in writing? Answer - he's playing politics. Which for you conspiracy theorists and everybody with money is evil crowd, should make David Yassky as repugnant at the Walentases.

    Believe me, every letter and email I've sent to elected officials asks them to get it in writing.

    If the existing design were a floor shorter and included the school in writing - this is a no brainer.

    Assuming Yassky can get it in writing - no need for me in the dunking booth. But then again, there'll only be 50 of you showing up to take a shot. I can handle that.

    Is that you in the background? Distinguished balding guy with the long gray hair. Just curious.
  • Publius
    Carlo:

    Would you promise and commit now that when Two Trees screws the small group of people, including yourself, that believe a school will actually materialize in that space assuming the zoning change makes it through ULURP, that you'll be as vigorous in admitting that you sold the Brooklyn Bridge, our National Landmark, for an empty sack?

    Nowhere is a written binding commitment tied to ULURP approval. But we're all expected to believe that once Walentas gets what he wants, a zoning change to build a tower over the Brooklyn Bridge roadway, he'll deliver on his promise. Possible that he will, possible that he won't (and likely blame it somehow on economics or SCA).

    If this makes it through ULURP, I'll start building the dunking booth. Then we'll wait and see if you'll take the seat if and when the time comes to admit your mistake.
  • Carlo Trigiani
    Sorry I missed the rally yesterday. Do 50 people constitute a rally these days? I would have shown up in opposition to the opposition but had to work.

    The value of the shell space construction and the condo interest could approach $50 million. That would more than cover the SCA's $43 million estimate to open the school. Is anyone else offering anything close to that? Certainly a candidate for comptroller understands that.

    Can Yassky sit down with Walentas and hammer out a deal as I suggested he do at a middle school committee meeting over a year ago? Good politicians engage and negotiate. (That's one of the many painful lessons learned from George W.) Yassky is playing the issue in his run for higher office. A real leader would have been on top of the issue and brought all the alternatives to the table by now. Instead, Yassky was running for congress and now comptroller. What did he think Walentas was going to do when his 2004 application was rejected? Move to Maine?

    Speaking of Maine, when Mr. McCullough starts paying NYC taxes and matches the TT offer, I'll start taking him seriously.
  • dumbostreets
    Aside from the whole bridge issue...

    If Walentas opened his books and proved that the building really needs to be so high to be viable he would have a stronger case... but I am certain he is just greedy, and this becomes a factor when you want to mingle with public infrastructure.

    It is not appropriate for a private developer to make x30, x40, x50 returns on a public school.
  • Publius
    The NYT ran another fair article about Dock St./Dumbo today: http://tinyurl.com/dbl4jt

    Unlike the local newsapapers who rent space from Two Trees.
  • No2Walentas2Trees
    Hey Barty, the DNA, VHNA and BHA are made up of the residents, some long time residents. the Dock street project IS the wealthy. I, have lived here a number of years, and believe me I am broke, and I am against this developer's greedy plans. Don't believe the HYPE of what W is putting in your head.
  • Barty Lamar
    Does anyone really think the Dumbo Neighborhood Ass'n consists of anything other than wealthy people whose view would be blocked if Dock Street went up?
  • No2Walentas2Trees
    lol....you think you will be able to afford it? keep believing what these corporate execs tell you....after all, they ruined the economy, so they must be honest!!!
  • BrooklynLove
    snore.

    when will 2 trees be releasing rental rates for this building? i'm especially interested in the 18th floor units.
  • No2Walentas2Trees
    Do any of you people actually believe this thing is going to get built? It is a disaster after disaster.

    First, you fools believe the 'lets get a school' line from a greedy developer.

    You yuppies are 'hurray, we have a place to put our kids'- too bad it will be about 15 years, you know, WHEN YOUR KIDS HAVE KIDS.

    Then the DOE back tracks.

    There is nothing but flip flopping going on.

    And sadly, you 'go with the flow' yuppies are buying every lie the developer feeds into your greedy mouths. HOW PATHETIC!
  • Anon
    But it also includes St. Ann's Warehouse.
  • anon
    The red brick building isn't part of the proposed development, that is the Tobacco Warehouse and it is part of the park, you can actually rent it out for events.

    http://www.bbpp.info/park_rental.html

    Walentas' proposed sight is where the Novo Clutch building used to be, It is now a parking lot.
  • That's too bad. I remember back in September during the Art Under The Bridge festival when there was a cool bottle display in the shape of Manhattan in that red brick building.

    It was: Reina Kubota - City of light
  • Publius
    The NY Post has a good article today about the SCA/Two Trees/Dock Street scandal:

    http://tinyurl.com/czd9dx
  • Thanks Publius, I've corrected. The rally is today, April 1.
  • Publius
    Hideyoshi: There appears to be an error on the date in your entry. Today is 4/1, not 3/31.

    Unless the whole thing is an April Fool's joke for Jed.
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