Twitter Police HQ in Dumbo fighting against bad Tweets. We’re probably next. twitter.com/DumboNYC.

The Beautiful Life, a new series about the life of a high-fashion model, which premieres on Sept 16, 2009 on the CW network is filming today in Dumbo on Washington Street between York and Front Streets, and on Front Street between York and Washington Streets starting at 7am. Please send pics to dumbonyc@gmail.com.

After a year and a half of review process by the City Planning Commission, the rezoning of a 10 block area of Dumbo (primarily East of the Manhattan Bridge) roughly bound by Bridge St, John St, Front St, and Adams Streets was passed by the City Council yesterday evening with a vote of 46-1 (The lone vote was opposed by Councilman Tony Avella). The approved rezoning boundaries allow buildings to be built up to 12 stories tall along Jay Street, with street level fronts rising to 6-8 stories. Buildings along Bridge Street could rise to 8 stories, with 4-6 stories at street level. Included are blocks containing 10, 20, 68 Jay and 155 Water Street zoned M1-4/R8A.

In April, the Community Board 2 rejected the Department of City Planning’s proposal by a vote of 13-10. The Community Board is only advisory, and the Borough President Markowitz proposed a rezoning recommendation (PDF).

We spoke with representatives from DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance, who supported Markowitz’ proposal, and were disappointed with the outcome. (Read DNA’s testimony (PDF) and proposed plan (PDF)).

The opposition to the rezoning argued that a Dumbo rezoning will allow building owners to convert buildings from commercial to residential that would lead to a loss of jobs to the area. In response to this, the Dumbo Improvement District made the following case to the Community Board 2:

---

10 Jay:
As of summer 2007, it was estimated that 10 Jay housed roughly 80 businesses and 250 workers. With or without the DUMBO rezoning it is possible that this building will one day convert to residential. That residential growth may occur at this site is no indication of job loss since the businesses could relocate within DUMBO.

20 Jay:
20 Jay is home to over 100 of DUMBO’s commercial businesses, over 500 workers, with retail at its base. Recently, Two Trees, its owner, invested over $5 M in the building’s upgrade. Two Tree’s principal, Jed Walentas has submitted a letter to the land use committee of CB2 stating that Two Trees has “…no plans to convert 20 Jay Street for residential use nor is the building even convertible. It features 40,000 sq. ft. floorplates and the building is 200 feet deep, which means that it is appropriate solely for commercial uses.” This building will continue to flourish as a home to the creative businesses the Dumbo Improvement District is proud to support.

68 Jay and 155 Water:
68 Jay houses roughly 500 workers in over 300 businesses. By its mere shape and large floorplates, 68 is not a conversion candidate – it is too large and too square to be converted. Pearl Realty, its owner, has confirmed this. Pearl is also on record discussing the success of their most recent commercial project, Green Desk, which according to their testimony at the CB2 public hearing offers “start up business affordable works space in an environmentally friendly venue. The project [located at 155 Water] has already filled up its space with more than 100 new businesses and brought more than 200 jobs to DUMBO.”

---

While any conversion/change of any buildings may happen, because the rezoning is within the Dumbo Historic District, the building owners must go through the Landmarks Preservation Commission for approval of the change.

We spoke with one building owner who wished to remain anonymous to get their take:

“The way I see it, DUMBO is split between the side north of the Manhattan Bridge and the side south of the bridge. South of the bridge almost all of the buildings are over 8 stories with a good mix of commercial & residential & no empty lots. North of the bridge there is a mix of residential & commercial, but a good number of empty lots & shells of buildings that might as well be empty lots.

I don’t see how making the buildings on the north side a few more stories will dramatically hurt the neighborhood considering the success of the south side… and if its going to take a rezoning for the large real estate holders (ie Guttman) to finally build something in these lots or finish gutted buildings then i guess we don’t really have a choice…
we may loose a few artists, but i believe the market will work out a middle ground between commercial & residential use & we should see a more vibrant north side in a few years, once the lots are filled in…

While the newly rezoned area of Dumbo may change the 10 block area, it remains to be seen what the impact will be to small businesses, retail, commercial and residential.

{City Planning Commission Report (PDF) 01Jul2009}
{Department of City Planning: Dumbo Rezoning}
{Dumbo Rezoning Being Considered, 27Feb2008}
{Dumbo Rezoning Proposal on the Table, 19Feb2009}
{City Planning Presents Dumbo Rezoning Proposal, 04Mar2009}
{Dumbo Rezoning Public Hearing, 18Mar2009}
{Dumbo Rezoning Plan Hearing Results, 20Mar2009}
{Dumbo Rezoning Rejected by CB2, 08Apr2009}

Why I Love Dumbo by Greg Malcolm. Check out Greg’s other videos on YouTube.

Galapagos’ Digital Design (not to be confused with this Thursday’s Digital Dumbo) is taking place tonight, July 28 at 7pm, featuring a line-up of Khoi Vinh (Design Director of NYTimes.com), Liz Danzico (Chair, MFA in Interaction Design, School of Visual Arts), Erin Sparling (Lead Design Technologist, The Wall Street Journal), and Jason Santa Maria (Creative Director for A List Apart). This lecture series should be interesting as we’re fans of NYTimes, WSJ, and especially A List Apart.

Also Carmen Scheidel of Mediabistro and Ben Kessler of Graphics.com will also be there for this event.

Tickets: $5 advanced and at the door. 6pm – 7pm Special 2-for-1 “Happy Camper” cocktails & Free haircuts by a Galapagos resident hairstylist throughout the evening.

(Photo by CraigElimeliah)

The Schnitzel & Things Truck is parked on the corner of Front and Adams Street today. According to their website, schnitzelandthings.com, Schnitzel is a hand pounded, lightly breaded thin cutlet fried to golden perfection. It is traditionally served with a lemon wedge and a side of Austrian potato salad. Our varieties of schnitzel include chicken, pork and cod and all are made fresh to order. If you like them, comment or follow them on Twitter @schnitzeltruck. Hopefully they will be around Dumbo more often. Has anyone tried them?

(Manhattan Bridge moving to traffic)

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

• Running from Red Hook to Dumbo, 24Jul09, NY Times
• Brooklyn A ‘More Authentic’ Visit, 19Jul09, National Post
• Do Locals go to River Cafe?, 18Jul09, Telegraph.co.uk
• Nonstop Helicopters above BK Heights/Dumbo, 20Jul09, NY Post
• Vinegar Hill House Review, 19Jul09, byanymeansbefabulous
• Telegraph: Vinegar Hill House Review, 21Jul09, Telegraph.co.uk
• P.S. Bookshop, 17Jul09, ablogvoyage
• 30 Main St, #4G, $1.995mil, 22Jul09, Brownstoner
• Bikini Under the Bridge Aug 15, 2009, 20Jul09, Going
• 70 Wash PH, 943sf, $1.1mil, 23Jul09, NY Post
• Why Dumbo is Special – Jim from SBUX, 24Jul09, baristajim
• Vinegar Hill Tour, 17Jul09, Untapped NY

(12 Everit St. is the left townhouse. 8 Everit is on the right.)

Here’s one we haven’t seen in a while; a townhouse for rent in the Fulton Ferry Historic District at 12 Everit Street (aka Columbia Heights) on the corner of Doughty Street (Google map). This is one of the charming two story brick buildings on the border of Brooklyn Heights and Fulton Ferry (and near Dumbo). It is in a convenient but busy location; and by busy, I mean a block away at the Fulton Ferry Landing with tour buses and Grimaldi’s lines during the summer season.

Per the broker listing:

“The title says it all! The Landlord is a sculptor and has personally worked on renovating this 2.5 Bedroom townhouse. Everything in the entire space has been restored and refinished with meticulous detail. From the moment you walk in to the building you can feel the love and care that has been poured into making this townhouse one of the premier homes in all of New York.”

For $5800 per month, you get 2.5 bedrooms, a roof deck, parking, and the location. You can see a walkthrough of the home on YouTube video. What do you think? Is this reasonable?

Tungsten Property Listing

It’s too nice outside to be indoors today. (Photo by Josh Derr)

One week to go:
Join the Dumbo Improvement District, Gleason’s Gym & halcyon the shop for USABoxingMetro sanctioned amateur boxing matches in The Archway on Saturday, August 1st at 7PM.

Tickets to the Fight are $25 for standing general admission and $50 for reserved ringside seating. DJs from halcyon will be spinning throughout the fight. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

DUMBO Fight Night 2009 is a fundraiser for the Dumbo Improvement District & The Archway. To purchase tickets, go to the secure site here.

{Dumbo Fight Night 2008}
{Dumbo Fight Night 2007}