Someone is climbing the Manhattan Bridge in Dumbo. As seen on Twitter @tim_nolan. (Follow @DumboNYC on Twitter.)

There is a Landmarks Preservation Commission public hearing meeting tomorrow, 09 February 2010. On the agenda are two items for Certificate of Appropriateness at 9 Old Fulton Street (previously heard) and 201 Water Street. 9 Old Fulton Street is a vacant lot within the Fulton Ferry Historic District and has a job/filing application to construct a four story building with one story penthouse. (Zoned M2-1). The 201 Water Street (aka “Jay Street Arts Building”) application is an amendment for a previous approval to alter ground floor openings and install storefront infill. 201 Water is a “Daylight Factory style factory building designed by Frank H. Quinby and built in 1913; and a vernacular style factory building built c. 1900.” Will an approval begin construction of storefronts on the ground level of this building bring more foot traffic down Jay Street?

{NYC.gov BIS for 201 Water St}
{NYC.gov BIS for 9 Old Fulton St}
{LPC on 192 Water and 9 Old Fulton Streets}

(Photo by Jane Kratochvil)

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

• Brooklyn Bridge Park Update, 02Feb10, BK Eagle
• HDC Object Store’s Bracket Sign in DUMBO, 02Feb10, BK Eagle
• River Cafe Request for Cabaret Parties, 03Feb10, Gothamist
• …And CB2 says YES to Cabaret License, 04Feb10, BK Paper
• Flashback: Brooklyn, 1936, 05Feb10, Gothamist
• Day Care Centers Vow To Fight Budget Cuts, 04Feb10, BK Eagle
• St. Germain liquor in Dumbo, 01Feb10, BC
• Digital Design Firm Relocates From Tribeca to DUMBO, 05Feb10, BK Eagle
• Art in New York – in DUMBO, 04Feb10, Tour Guide Bill
• BBPark Delayed, Again, 04Feb10, BK Paper
• River Cafe rent: $5,536, 03Feb10, NBC
• Richard Baker Discusses his art in Dumbo, 01Feb10, BK Rail
• Dumbo Photo Session, 04Feb10, hsandler.blogspot
• Dumbo defies Real Estate odds, 01Feb10, TRD
• 9486sqft Condo Sold at 1 Brooklyn Bridge Park, 04Feb10, NY Times

This 70 Washington Street penthouse just came on the market yesterday (Sotheby’s listing #0135065). The Sotheby’s listing is titled The Ultimate DUMBO Penthouse, and it may come close to it (though some other 1 Main and 30 Main loft penthouses aren’t too shabby as well). The space is pretty breathtaking and the interior is completely redone in a clean, modern style that suits Dumbo. NYC public records indicate that this unit was partially combined with the next door unit (PHK) to total 2,130 square feet of interior space and 642 sqft of outdoor terrace space. This Penthouse unit (PHL) was originally purchased at $2,200,000 and PHK was $1,650,000. If you like the interior design, it was concieved by the talented owner, Athena Calderone, who designs spaces professionally.

So what does this large 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 1 office room, and private terrace go for? $4,200,000 ($1,971/sqft, excl terrace, common charges: $1,038, taxes: $191), which would make this the third most expensive unit currently on the market in Dumbo Brooklyn. What do people think, will this sell, even though Dumbo has defied the real estate downturn? (Before anyone says it, we don’t know the owners and aren’t connected to Sotheby’s in any way. We just wish we were rich enough to buy this place.)

{Sotheby’s listing #0135065}

According to a Verizon press release, Verizon FiOS high speed fiber optic network is coming to Dumbo. We contacted a representative who could not give an exact date for Dumbo yet, but it may be available to the neighborhood this year. With speeds up to 50 Mbps downstream and 25 Mbps upstream, FiOS is a very fast internet connection.

It looks like cabling is being installed in Cobble Hill, according to Cobble Hill Blog, so maybe Dumbo installations aren’t too far off. Is anyone planning to make the switch?

A festive occasion each month for art lovers. A chance to visit many quality galleries at night in the Dumbo Historic District – galleries showing works from artists of many disciplines, especially photography, while hosting receptions, producing live music performances and curator/artist talks among other highlights.

Let’s not forget the incredible views you can enjoy as you walk from one gallery to the next and the local drink specials afterward. Most of the art is for sale. Printed maps and 1st Thursday cards are available on-site.

Participating galleries may vary each month. For more information contact Zannah Mass at zannah@twotrees-dumbo.com or 718-222-2500 x38.

Check gallery websites for updates.
A.I.R. Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 228
Amos Eno Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 202
Bose Pacia, 163 Plymouth St.
Brooklyn Art Project, 5 Front St.
Brooklyn Arts Council, 111 Front St., Suite 218
Caption Gallery, 55 Washington St., Suite 802
Central Booking, 111 Front St., Suite 214
Collective Consciousness NYC, 10 Jay St.
DUMBO Arts Center, 30 Washington St.
Farmani Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 212
Giacobetti Paul Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 220
Henry Gregg Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 226
Klompching Gallery, 111 Front St.
Kris Graves Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 224
Magasin Totale, 10 Jay St., Suite 724
Melville House, 145 Plymouth St.
Mighty Tanaka Gallery, 68 Jay St., Suite 416
Pochron Studios, 20 Jay St.
Possible Projects, 68 Jay St., #510
Powerhouse Books & Powerhouse Arena, 37 Main St.
Rabbithole Studio, 33 Washington St.
Randall Scott Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 204
Smack Mellon, 93 Plymouth St. @ Washington Street
Spring, 126a Front St.
Umbrage Gallery, 111 Front St.
VII Photo, 28 Jay St.
Watermill Brooklyn Gallery, 55 Washington Street, Suite 216

A tipster sent us an email about the entrance to the 202 Plymouth Street building, which is located within the Dumbo Historic District and features rail tracks entering the building.

Walked down Plymouth St btwn Jay & Bridge the other day to find a massive hole in the ground in front of Gutman/GUMA garage/loading dock @ 202 Plymouth St. The sidewalk there has always been horrible, but their big dumpster trucks finally destroyed the street. They filled it in with sand making quite a mess and then tore up the sidewalk & cobble stones w/ a backhoe and have now poured concrete into it.

See pictures. Unfortunately I didn’t get a pic of the hole, but it was at least a foot wide and a foot or two deep.

I called 311 and they looked up if there was any approved work w/ DOT on the cobble stones or the street and they found none so i entered a complaint. I know the 311 complaint will do nothing, but this was done in complete disregard for the Landmarks designation we are in. Any possible ramifications or will Gutman keep doing as he wishes?

Also now that we are designated a residential neighborhood are there not laws that restrict loud trucks late night, because GUMA runs their dumpsters at all hours of the night…

We walked over early today on our way to work and while it’s not clear in the photos, cement was poured over the area on and around the tracks. We also called 311 to find out more, but did not get details. Nothing on the Dept of Buildings property records for 202 Plymouth indicate work being done there (DOB BIS listing link).

According to the Landmark Designation report, the building was built in 1903 and was a one story brick foundry for the E. W. Bliss Company with gable end facing street and peaked roof (they manufactured machines, tools, presses, dies, and sheet metal), later sold to the Brillo Company (which invented “Brillo” by combining steel wool and a reddish soap to clean metal utensils in what we now know as Dumbo). Bliss invented a machine for stamping out sheet-metal cans which were initially used for kerosene and paint.

If anyone has more info, please let us know or comment below.

The publicity power of Two Trees Management has gotten recent articles in the NY Times interview with David Walentas, NY Post’s article about the Clocktower PH, among others. The NY Post writes that Prudential Douglas Elliman’s Raphael De Niro is the new co-exclusive listing agent for Walentas’ $25 million and that celebrities such as Jay-Z and Ralph Lauren have taken a look at the 7,000 sq.ft. $25 million triplex in Dumbo. The NY Times interview quotes Mr. Walentas “I’m close to selling it. We’re showing it. It’s not sold, no.” The new Douglas Elliman listing has some beautiful photos (see below) by photographer Evan Joseph. Click on each photo for a larger version:

Floorplans: