DUMBO: Growing Pains or Victim of our Success

The following is a guest post as an open letter. Thank you to Ilene for submitting this to us. I will leave out any of my commentary. ~hide


When I moved to Dumbo in January 2001 I had been to Brooklyn no more than a handful of times. But I knew. I knew the amazing views, cobblestone streets, and untapped potential of the waterfront was going to be a great place to call home. And it was. Until recently.

My family and I have a lot of history in this neighborhood. I was married at 70 Washington – before the condo conversion. We stood at what is now the flag pole entrance to Fulton Ferry watching the Twin Towers fall. I share this as I feel a bit like I am betraying an old friend to be voicing so publicly the serious problems that have overtaken our neighborhood.

It is no secret that times have changed and Dumbo is now on the map. And not just on the new subway map. We are the destination for film shoots, photo shoots and of course….those lovely wedding parties seeking the ultimate NYC backdrop for their wedding day photos.

While we welcome everyone to enjoy our fabulous views, we are very concerned for the safety issue this traffic creates. As the neighborhood has grown, both in residents and visitors, we have in some ways become a victim of our popularity. The block of Main Street (between Water + Plymouth) becomes overrun with double, tripled parked limos every weekend. At some times, the block is impassable both to pedestrians and vehicles.

I recently started a petition to bring political attention to the safety issues of our neighborhood. The community response was incredible. As a neighborhood, we seem to be holding our breath expecting a tragedy to result from the reckless limo traffic. I also had dozens of people mention the other big issues (filming, construction) and asking what we can do about them.

As a community we are desperate for someone, anyone, to take hold of the multiple assaults that are combining to create an untenable, unsafe, situation for Dumbo residents and visitors alike. Since there is no Mayor of Dumbo (sorry David), it is up to us to create a critical mass.

When we had trouble with our condo board years ago, it took an organized effort and countless hours to enact change. This is just what we need to do in Dumbo. There is no one but the community of Dumbo that can call attention to these matters and get some real change in order.

Limos
I have been working with Assemblywoman Millman’s office on The Limo Issue. (See letter to Millman’s office: PDF format). We have been told the 84th precinct will be creating flyers that remind drivers not to double park, and suggest that they stage their drop off area over on Adams Street, where there is another entrance to the park. Apparently through all of our efforts and 311 calls, the city is aware this is an issue and this is how they see a resolve. I’ll keep you posted.

I also think the TLC needs to get involved and advise their drivers accordingly. The number of stretch hummer double decker limos has to be small and I am sure the offending drivers can be found. Take license plate numbers when you can.

Dial 311 or (212) NEW-YORK (212 639-9675) for all TLC related matters

Film Shoots
Film shoots happen almost daily. Often taking up significant amounts of our limited parking. And those are the correctly permitted shoots. As a producer myself, I have busted more than my share of unpermitted shoots dangerously laying cable across park paths and taking up sidewalks with their video village.

If you encounter a film shoot that is taking your parking, blocking your way, or operating in an unsafe manner ask to see their permit.

Read it. Make sure it says the correct date and exact address of the shoot. A few weeks ago someone tried to show me a permit that said they can shoot at the Brooklyn Bridge and take parking ‘as available’. They were illegally parked at 1 Main and had their crew taking the entire sidewalk forcing us into the street. Film production people are trained to take charge and look like they have the authority to do what they are doing. I should know.

If you do not want to face a confrontation (see: Man Head Butts film crew) here is what you can do:

Call 311. Call often. The city tracks which issues get the most calls, and responds accordingly. Keep your case number.

Call the Mayors Office of Film + TV , ask for the complaint department: (212)489-6710. You will get a live person who can look up the permit for the shoot in question and take action accordingly (business hours only)

**Use this number to complain about frequency of shoots. This office approves permits and is supposed to monitor how many crews and how often. They need to hear from you.

Also FYI this is what a permit looks like (they can be faked).

Construction
The course of action for this is a bit more obtuse right now. 311 calls seem to be the answer for now, as well as any additional pressure we can put on our representatives to draw attention to the matters.

Assemblywoman Joan Millman: 718-246-4889 (to come other representatives contact information)

I recently arrived home after several weeks out of the city. As I tried to navigate a small opening in the limo traffic to pull my car up in front of our building (young son, 2 dogs, completely stuffed car), I was literally verbally harassed by a gigantic wedding party whose bride’s photo op in front of a Time Warner van I inadvertently compromised. In front of my son. While this was not a safety issue, this time, things are clearly out of control.

In the melodic words of the great Peter Tosh “Get up stand up, stand up for rights. You can fool some people sometimes, but you can’t fool all the people all the time. So now we see the light, we’re gonna stand up for our rights”.

~ Ilene Richardson

56 Comment

  • As a Dumbo resident, and a neighbor of Ilene's, I applaud — loudly, standing — her tireless efforts to ensure the safety of everyone who lives in and visits Dumbo. Thank you, Ilene.

    • yes I agree 100% with Ilene. also what makes it worse on a Saturday at 5 p.m. is that people walk down the street instead of the sidewalks !!!

      • PEOPLE WALK ON THE STREET? OH MY GOD! How do we manage to survive at all? Just wondering, though: Since there's SO much traffic in Dumbo, according to these posts, how do those pedestrians manage to navigate all that heavy congestion?

        • You hit it so right! This woman should move out of DUMBO to Wisteria Lane and bring her SUV, dogs and babystroller with her. BTW, I saw people walking on the streets there too!

  • As a Dumbo resident, and a neighbor of Ilene's, I applaud — loudly, standing — her tireless efforts to ensure the safety of everyone who lives in and visits Dumbo. Thank you, Ilene.

    • yes I agree 100% with Ilene. also what makes it worse on a Saturday at 5 p.m. is that people walk down the street instead of the sidewalks !!!

      • PEOPLE WALK ON THE STREET? OH MY GOD! How do we manage to survive at all? Just wondering, though: Since there's SO much traffic in Dumbo, according to these posts, how do those pedestrians manage to navigate all that heavy congestion?

        • You hit it so right! This woman should move out of DUMBO to Wisteria Lane and bring her SUV, dogs and babystroller with her. BTW, I saw people walking on the streets there too!

  • All well and good, but to request that limos stage drop offs at Adams St instead of “your” Main St is self centered and elitist. Why should other people have to deal with the traffic caused by limos just so your block is free and clear? Part of living in the city is dealing with congestion and *gasp* people.

    • Couldnt agree more with Huh? !!!
      What a self-serving egocentric woman! Get the cars out of my “Main Street” and park somewhere else e.g. Adams St. I wouldnt be surprised why this woman was verbally harassed, she probably felt that with her two dogs, babystroller, SUV and kid, she was on her private “Main St” driveway somewhere in South Dakota! Jesus, what hypocrites. I happen to live on Adams St and never in my mind would I recommend 18-wheelers and limos park on Main Street. How selfish!

      • Thanks. Appreciate the positive feedback. On Adams and Water there are always buses parked in the morning and afternoon. If you want to trade the limos for the buses lets make a deal……

  • All well and good, but to request that limos stage drop offs at Adams St instead of “your” Main St is self centered and elitist. Why should other people have to deal with the traffic caused by limos just so your block is free and clear? Part of living in the city is dealing with congestion and *gasp* people.

    • Couldnt agree more with Huh? !!!
      What a self-serving egocentric woman! Get the cars out of my “Main Street” and park somewhere else e.g. Adams St. I wouldnt be surprised why this woman was verbally harassed, she probably felt that with her two dogs, babystroller, SUV and kid, she was on her private “Main St” driveway somewhere in South Dakota! Jesus, what hypocrites. I happen to live on Adams St and never in my mind would I recommend 18-wheelers and limos park on Main Street. How selfish!

      • Thanks. Appreciate the positive feedback. On Adams and Water there are always buses parked in the morning and afternoon. If you want to trade the limos for the buses lets make a deal……

  • Adams has a wider amount of available space, and less foot + vehicular traffic on the weekends. There is nothing elitist about the suggestion. The Main Street entrance to the park is the one most families and visitors use, and the limos are creating a very dangerous situation there.
    We've seen these cars on the sidewalk, going the wrong way on the one-way part of Plymouth and Main Street, back up fast without noticing kids and people behind them, etc.
    If there are better suggestions, let's hear them. But don't make this something about something it is not.

  • Adams has a wider amount of available space, and less foot + vehicular traffic on the weekends. There is nothing elitist about the suggestion. The Main Street entrance to the park is the one most families and visitors use, and the limos are creating a very dangerous situation there.
    We've seen these cars on the sidewalk, going the wrong way on the one-way part of Plymouth and Main Street, back up fast without noticing kids and people behind them, etc.
    If there are better suggestions, let's hear them. But don't make this something about something it is not.

  • Ilene is right – thank you Ilene. These folks are not long term investors /owners in dumbo and could care less about anything except their own selfish immediate needs. Old Fulton and Water St area has the same problem with traffic and parking and THERE IS NEVER A COP TO ENFORCE the rules – its a free for all and its very unsafe. Also, how a crappy restaurant like Petes Downtown is allowed to VALET PARK dozens of cars in a given hour and take parking away from people who LIVE and WORK HERE is beyond reprehensible. Pete's is singlehandedly compounding the issue – we need more Ilene's and more cops – SPEAK UP PEOPLE!!

    • Before we get into business bashing, they're affected by the filming and construction as much as the residents are. If Pete's or River Cafe need to valet park to run a business, they're entitled to parking as much as a resident.

      With the tour buses and limos, I agree, they need to watch out for pedestrians. But that's the case for any neighborhood. If they are violating any laws, we need to call 311 to report them.

    • I'm a long-term investor. Put most of my money into living here–can't afford the stuffed car, though. And, know what, I love sharing my neighborhood with others.

  • Ilene is right – thank you Ilene. These folks are not long term investors /owners in dumbo and could care less about anything except their own selfish immediate needs. Old Fulton and Water St area has the same problem with traffic and parking and THERE IS NEVER A COP TO ENFORCE the rules – its a free for all and its very unsafe. Also, how a crappy restaurant like Petes Downtown is allowed to VALET PARK dozens of cars in a given hour and take parking away from people who LIVE and WORK HERE is beyond reprehensible. Pete's is singlehandedly compounding the issue – we need more Ilene's and more cops – SPEAK UP PEOPLE!!

    • Before we get into business bashing, they're affected by the filming and construction as much as the residents are. If Pete's or River Cafe need to valet park to run a business, they're entitled to parking as much as a resident.

      With the tour buses and limos, I agree, they need to watch out for pedestrians. But that's the case for any neighborhood. If they are violating any laws, we need to call 311 to report them.

    • I'm a long-term investor. Put most of my money into living here–can't afford the stuffed car, though. And, know what, I love sharing my neighborhood with others.

  • I don't mind the film shoots as much as the snobby residents who think they discovered 'their' hood. I'm not talking about Ilene. I'm talking about the suits who think they are better than others.

    • Suits, snobby or otherwise, are entitled to uncongested and SAFE streets.

    • are we living in the same neighborhood?
      I've never encountered anyone like that.
      I really like my neighbors.

      • Seriously? The streets aren't safe here? Congested? What are you people talking about? There is less traffic in Dumbo than in your average small town in North Dakota. You guys are off your rockers.

    • So wearing a suit to work is a bad thing??? maybe skinny jeans, white sneakers and a flannel shirt would be a better attire???

  • I don't mind the film shoots as much as the snobby residents who think they discovered 'their' hood. I'm not talking about Ilene. I'm talking about the suits who think they are better than others.

    • Suits, snobby or otherwise, are entitled to uncongested and SAFE streets.

    • are we living in the same neighborhood?
      I've never encountered anyone like that.
      I really like my neighbors.

      • Seriously? The streets aren't safe here? Congested? What are you people talking about? There is less traffic in Dumbo than in your average small town in North Dakota. You guys are off your rockers.

    • So wearing a suit to work is a bad thing??? maybe skinny jeans, white sneakers and a flannel shirt would be a better attire???

  • Thanks for this post. The path for crossing from Old Fulton across Water into Pier 1 park is atrociously unsafe on some days with the stretch limos double parked, sidewalks closed off, construction, etc. I push a stroller through there often and am shocked by how not pedestrian friendly it is. I also was really disappointed to see the Pier 1 playground closed on Friday for a film shoot for Friends with Benefits (the irony abounds the closing of a kids playground to shoot a film by that name whose set included a fully stocked bar).

  • Thanks for this post. The path for crossing from Old Fulton across Water into Pier 1 park is atrociously unsafe on some days with the stretch limos double parked, sidewalks closed off, construction, etc. I push a stroller through there often and am shocked by how not pedestrian friendly it is. I also was really disappointed to see the Pier 1 playground closed on Friday for a film shoot for Friends with Benefits (the irony abounds the closing of a kids playground to shoot a film by that name whose set included a fully stocked bar).

  • The reason people walk on the streets is because people cannot use the sidewalk anymore due to these “entitled” babystrollers

    • ditto Patrick's sentiments. If I am walking in the street it's because I am being forced to be entitled mommies. If anything, I would implore more considerate babystroller etiquette.

  • The reason people walk on the streets is because people cannot use the sidewalk anymore due to these “entitled” babystrollers

    • ditto Patrick's sentiments. If I am walking in the street it's because I am being forced to be entitled mommies. If anything, I would implore more considerate babystroller etiquette.

  • [Folks, let’s keep the ad hominem attacks out of this.]

  • [Folks, let’s keep the ad hominem attacks out of this.]

  • You have to be kidding me, i agree with most of you, not all of you. And i'm not really sure where most of are from, but I grew up not too far from here, and have lived all my life in NYC (everywhere). Not just been to Bk a hand full of times Once upon a time this neighborhood was unliveable, trains were unrideable, streets were unsafe. NY in general was not a pleasent place to live. The only people that could and would stake claim to ANY block were gangsters, drug dealers, and hoodlums. You should feel good that ANYONE wants to come into this neighborhood and film, get married, take pictures, whatever..obviously safety is a concern, but shouldn't it always be??? Do you not look both ways before you cross the street everywhere else?? Should the people that own apartments on Park Ave be bothered when CSI is filming on their block??? Spike Lee celebrated BK by putting it on the map through MOVIES! No One is entitled to anyting in this neighborhood of OURS, the PEOPLE'S neighborhood. its almost an oxi-moron to shout “Stand up for your rights” while trying to impede on other people's rights. Next it will be, there are too many people walking over the bridge, too many cyclists on the street, etc…how about focusing our energy on crime?? vandals?? pan handlers?? or are those things part of the romantic aspect of living in such a “gritty” part of town??

  • You have to be kidding me, i agree with most of you, not all of you. And i'm not really sure where most of are from, but I grew up not too far from here, and have lived all my life in NYC (everywhere). Not just been to Bk a hand full of times Once upon a time this neighborhood was unliveable, trains were unrideable, streets were unsafe. NY in general was not a pleasent place to live. The only people that could and would stake claim to ANY block were gangsters, drug dealers, and hoodlums. You should feel good that ANYONE wants to come into this neighborhood and film, get married, take pictures, whatever..obviously safety is a concern, but shouldn't it always be??? Do you not look both ways before you cross the street everywhere else?? Should the people that own apartments on Park Ave be bothered when CSI is filming on their block??? Spike Lee celebrated BK by putting it on the map through MOVIES! No One is entitled to anyting in this neighborhood of OURS, the PEOPLE'S neighborhood. its almost an oxi-moron to shout “Stand up for your rights” while trying to impede on other people's rights. Next it will be, there are too many people walking over the bridge, too many cyclists on the street, etc…how about focusing our energy on crime?? vandals?? pan handlers?? or are those things part of the romantic aspect of living in such a “gritty” part of town??

  • We welcome everyone to Dumbo. It is a great neighborhood and the world is starting to notice.

    The point is that as the visitors and traffic increase in the neighborhood, some adjustments need to be made to handle it safely for all. Growing Pains people. Not a conspiracy.

  • We welcome everyone to Dumbo. It is a great neighborhood and the world is starting to notice.

    The point is that as the visitors and traffic increase in the neighborhood, some adjustments need to be made to handle it safely for all. Growing Pains people. Not a conspiracy.

  • I grew up in Brooklyn mostly during the 80s over near Prospect Park. While maybe a more dangerous time, I remember more of a community where people knew each other and had each other's back. This area may be safer than when and where I grew up but it's not nearly as friendly. DUMBO feels more to me like most Manhattan neighborhoods than Brooklyn. I've lived in Vinegar Hill for almost three years now.

  • I grew up in Brooklyn mostly during the 80s over near Prospect Park. While maybe a more dangerous time, I remember more of a community where people knew each other and had each other's back. This area may be safer than when and where I grew up but it's not nearly as friendly. DUMBO feels more to me like most Manhattan neighborhoods than Brooklyn. I've lived in Vinegar Hill for almost three years now.

  • I assume this post is a joke. I HOPE this post is a joke. Especially as it concludes with a call for “rights.” Right to streets free of limos? Right to stop film shoots? Out of control? My God, the humanity. How do we Dumbo residents go on through these mean streets? Seriously, we're lucky to live here. Lucky to have a nice neighborhood. New York City has more important things to do than worry about too many limos in Dumbo. Stop calling 311 so they can deal with someone else's REAL problems. Maybe people not fortunate enough to have two dogs, a stuffed car, an expensive condo, and time to fight for the right to limo-free streets and crusade against wedding parties. Really, if city inconveniences like cars and parking issues bother you so much, move to the suburbs.

  • I assume this post is a joke. I HOPE this post is a joke. Especially as it concludes with a call for “rights.” Right to streets free of limos? Right to stop film shoots? Out of control? My God, the humanity. How do we Dumbo residents go on through these mean streets? Seriously, we're lucky to live here. Lucky to have a nice neighborhood. New York City has more important things to do than worry about too many limos in Dumbo. Stop calling 311 so they can deal with someone else's REAL problems. Maybe people not fortunate enough to have two dogs, a stuffed car, an expensive condo, and time to fight for the right to limo-free streets and crusade against wedding parties. Really, if city inconveniences like cars and parking issues bother you so much, move to the suburbs.

  • Yes, absolutely. We need to stop the limos, stop the construction, and generally make sure the streets are clear when Ilene rolls up in her over-stuffed, over-priced car. God, yes. It's time to do something about the mean streets of Dumbo. Don't build anything. Don't drive anywhere. Hell, don't get married–don't expect to come from your low-rent neighborhoods and use OUR million-dollar view to make your day a little nicer. And, yes, let's be sure to inundate 311 and elected officials about these grave matters–because there are no more important problems facing New York City. At least not to Irene.

  • Yes, absolutely. We need to stop the limos, stop the construction, and generally make sure the streets are clear when Ilene rolls up in her over-stuffed, over-priced car. God, yes. It's time to do something about the mean streets of Dumbo. Don't build anything. Don't drive anywhere. Hell, don't get married–don't expect to come from your low-rent neighborhoods and use OUR million-dollar view to make your day a little nicer. And, yes, let's be sure to inundate 311 and elected officials about these grave matters–because there are no more important problems facing New York City. At least not to Irene.

  • So wearing a suit to work is a bad thing??? maybe skinny jeans, white sneakers and a flannel shirt would be a better attire???

  • So wearing a suit to work is a bad thing??? maybe skinny jeans, white sneakers and a flannel shirt would be a better attire???