NYT: City Offers to Replace Dumbo and Vinegar Hill Belgian Blocks with New Faux Aged Belgian Blocks

Washington Street

Belgian block restoration on Water and Washington Streets in Dumbo started in May 2009 and completed in September 2011. The NYC Department of Transportation installed a new 14″ thermal block bicycle lane in the center lane of Washington Street, a look that disappointed preservationists. Doreen Gallo told us (in November 2011) that most people are unaware of what is being sacrificed and what the difference is between restoring the Belgian block in an historic, authentic way and the recent execution on Washington and Water Streets.

Today, The New York Times published an article that the city “has offered to install new cobbles that are aged artificially, like a pair of stonewashed jeans, to appear more worn.”

“Somebody cut those things — thousands of people,” said Doreen Gallo, the executive director of the Dumbo Neighborhood Alliance, a residents’ group. “And we’re careless.”

The Transportation Department has pledged to save as many of the old cobblestones as possible. Some have been retained, but turned 90 degrees to create makeshift bike lanes, pointing in the direction of traffic flow — a visually striking intervention that the city “just made up,” Ms. Gallo mused, to promote cycling.

But many of the stones must be replaced, the Transportation Department said, in part because, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, stones on a crosswalk or sidewalk must vary in height by no more than a quarter of an inch — far less a discrepancy than is found along the typical stretch of Belgian block.

Mindful of some community members’ disdain for the machine-cut cobbles that already exist on Washington Street, the department has promised an exhaustive search for the perfect replica stone. (Technically, cobblestones are rounded and irregular, but New Yorkers generally describe Belgian blocks as cobblestones.)

Andy Wiley-Schwartz, the Transportation Department’s assistant commissioner for public space said that in a citywide study in neighborhoods that retain their historic stones, including TriBeCa, SoHo and the meatpacking district, “…you see a much more uniform color and size of stone,” he said. “In Dumbo, there are a variety of colors and a variety of sizes.”

Residents from the Vinegar Hill Neighborhood Association have posted an online petition to preserve the original Belgian block streets in Vinegar Hill. Their letter states:

To:
The City of New York
As a resident or friend of Vinegar Hill, I oppose the use of mass-produced, modern cobblestones in Vinegar Hill.

Hence, when the planned sewer and water work on Water Street in Vinegar Hill are complete, I oppose the use of machine-made or machine-altered cobblestones of any kind or for any purpose in Vinegar Hill because they are incompatible with the designated historic character of our landmarked neighborhood, of which our Belgian blocks are a vital and irreplaceable component.

I also oppose the addition of a bike lane on Water Street made from anything but our own historic Belgian Blocks.

This measns infrastructure changes to Water Street (sewer work, water work, etc.) should faithfully restore in kind, not replace or redesign in any way, our historic Belgian block street surfaces.

Additionally, any planned changes to curbs and intersections should not include modern materials or designs.
Sincerely,
[Your name]

What do you think about the restoration of the streets in Dumbo?

Previously:
{$20 Million for Phase II of Dumbo Streets Announced, 07Nov2011}
{Belgian Block Paving On Washington Street, 25aug2011}
{Water Street Belgain Blocks Looking Good, 29Jul2011}
{Washington Street Prepped for Belgian Blocks20May2011}
{Belgian Blocks Being Replaced on Water Street, 02Oct2010}
{Water and Washington Street Reconstruction Project Update, 03Dec2009}
{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin This Week, 04May2009}
{Dumbo Belgian Blocks, 13Jan2007}

37 Comment

  • Washington and Water streets look amazing. “Preservationists” need to chill out and realize new stones will look new.

  • Washington and Water streets look amazing. “Preservationists” need to chill out and realize new stones will look new.

  • I think faux, “artificially-aged” cobblestone will look GREAT in front of the new Pinkberry! The shiny fauxness will fit right in.
    Now if we could add a 7-11 or maybe a Subway Sandwich to go along with the frogurt chain, out of town bicyclists will finally have a worthwhile destination to bike to before going back home after their visit!!
    Dumbo could be the next Universal City Walk!!!

  • I think faux, “artificially-aged” cobblestone will look GREAT in front of the new Pinkberry! The shiny fauxness will fit right in.
    Now if we could add a 7-11 or maybe a Subway Sandwich to go along with the frogurt chain, out of town bicyclists will finally have a worthwhile destination to bike to before going back home after their visit!!
    Dumbo could be the next Universal City Walk!!!

  • Way to spend time, resources and money NYC!!!

  • Way to spend time, resources and money NYC!!!

  • I live on one of the yet to be fixed cobblestone streets. Riding on them with a motorcycle is not much fun but I’d much rather ride slower and more carefully and preserve a part of history. The modified version on Washington lacks historical value of any kind. As an aside I rode down my old street in Manhattan’s West Village today. Bleeker Street is chock full of soulless chain stores now. I guess all they need is a Pinkberry…

  • I live on one of the yet to be fixed cobblestone streets. Riding on them with a motorcycle is not much fun but I’d much rather ride slower and more carefully and preserve a part of history. The modified version on Washington lacks historical value of any kind. As an aside I rode down my old street in Manhattan’s West Village today. Bleeker Street is chock full of soulless chain stores now. I guess all they need is a Pinkberry…

  • i think this is great because the one thing that dumbo has really been lacking is noise and dust from construction. BRING IT ON.

  • i think this is great because the one thing that dumbo has really been lacking is noise and dust from construction. BRING IT ON.

  • The cobblestones now are impossible to bike on. I welcome a change that accommodates current and future commuters.

    The being said, scapegoating cyclists when “according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, stones on a crosswalk or sidewalk must vary in height by no more than a quarter of an inch” is pretty ridiculous.

  • The cobblestones now are impossible to bike on. I welcome a change that accommodates current and future commuters.

    The being said, scapegoating cyclists when “according to the Americans with Disabilities Act, stones on a crosswalk or sidewalk must vary in height by no more than a quarter of an inch” is pretty ridiculous.

  • Hey “bike commuter” (who secretly works at the D.O.T.)
    The cobblestones are not “impossible” to ride on. Granted, there are a couple of stretches that make riding one’s bike challenging (because of the bumpy ride) but certainly not impossible. I currently commute on my bike all the time. And on those couple of stretches I either tough it out (like the old pioneers did, or current Europeans do) or simply get off my bike and walk it for fifteen yards or so. Nobody is scapegoating cyclists. Just calling bullshit on the ones who inflate their experience about commuting to (in?) Dumbo.

  • Hey “bike commuter” (who secretly works at the D.O.T.)
    The cobblestones are not “impossible” to ride on. Granted, there are a couple of stretches that make riding one’s bike challenging (because of the bumpy ride) but certainly not impossible. I currently commute on my bike all the time. And on those couple of stretches I either tough it out (like the old pioneers did, or current Europeans do) or simply get off my bike and walk it for fifteen yards or so. Nobody is scapegoating cyclists. Just calling bullshit on the ones who inflate their experience about commuting to (in?) Dumbo.

  • The “new” cobble stones look great. I hope they get started ASAP.

  • The “new” cobble stones look great. I hope they get started ASAP.

  • So many of us fell in love with Dumbo for it’s historic charm and while I was originally not opposed to the machine cut bike path on Washington St, seeing it in place I’ve changed my mind. They seem very out of place and detract from the historic nature of our street scape. Im unclear whether this argument is only about the square cut granite blocks being used on the washington st bike path or if the new cobblestones that were laid on washington and water st are also being protested to be used elsewhere. While these new streets look considerably better than they used to, the new stones don’t have the smooth rounded surfaced that the historic stones had. The best case scenario would be to re-lay the stones that already exists and replace missing/damaged stones with vintage stones.

    For such a small swath of the bike path, it seems like bikers should just deal with it. I ride around Dumbo on my bike and it’s not the most pleasant but it’s doable.

  • So many of us fell in love with Dumbo for it’s historic charm and while I was originally not opposed to the machine cut bike path on Washington St, seeing it in place I’ve changed my mind. They seem very out of place and detract from the historic nature of our street scape. Im unclear whether this argument is only about the square cut granite blocks being used on the washington st bike path or if the new cobblestones that were laid on washington and water st are also being protested to be used elsewhere. While these new streets look considerably better than they used to, the new stones don’t have the smooth rounded surfaced that the historic stones had. The best case scenario would be to re-lay the stones that already exists and replace missing/damaged stones with vintage stones.

    For such a small swath of the bike path, it seems like bikers should just deal with it. I ride around Dumbo on my bike and it’s not the most pleasant but it’s doable.

  • I like Washington Street’s cobblestones. They are smooth to ride a bicycle on. Every other street in dumbo sucks to ride a bike on. Has anyone ever tried to ride a bike on York St? It is a bad experience. I don’t believe the new cobblestones are “incompatible” like that petition says. Nasty, asphalt and cobblestone mixed streets like Main street between Front and Water are truly incompatible. I welcome the new cobblestone streets. And by the way, the fear that new, smooth cobblestones will welcome businesses like “Subway” is ridiculous, over the top, and whiny. Lord Walentas would not allow some suburban, mid-western chain anywhere near dumbo.

  • I like Washington Street’s cobblestones. They are smooth to ride a bicycle on. Every other street in dumbo sucks to ride a bike on. Has anyone ever tried to ride a bike on York St? It is a bad experience. I don’t believe the new cobblestones are “incompatible” like that petition says. Nasty, asphalt and cobblestone mixed streets like Main street between Front and Water are truly incompatible. I welcome the new cobblestone streets. And by the way, the fear that new, smooth cobblestones will welcome businesses like “Subway” is ridiculous, over the top, and whiny. Lord Walentas would not allow some suburban, mid-western chain anywhere near dumbo.

  • I’m not a DOT employee… I guess I just sound like one. 🙁

  • I’m not a DOT employee… I guess I just sound like one. 🙁

  • “mid-western” chain? Is that the region of the country that’s the cut-off point for inclusion here?

  • “mid-western” chain? Is that the region of the country that’s the cut-off point for inclusion here?

  • Hey Ian,
    Couple of notes; “ridiculous”, “over the top”, and, “whiny” as three separate descriptive declaratives are “over the top”. Two too many.
    As well, describing biking on York street as a “bad experience” (like ‘Nam”?) is a bit “whiny” when one considers that there are literally two blocks that are laid with cobblestones. I repeat, “two”.
    Talk about whiny.
    Love,
    david

  • Hey Ian,
    Couple of notes; “ridiculous”, “over the top”, and, “whiny” as three separate descriptive declaratives are “over the top”. Two too many.
    As well, describing biking on York street as a “bad experience” (like ‘Nam”?) is a bit “whiny” when one considers that there are literally two blocks that are laid with cobblestones. I repeat, “two”.
    Talk about whiny.
    Love,
    david

  • A pox on all your houses.

  • A pox on all your houses.

  • I can’t believe this is an issue. I can’t believe the city is taking the “issue” seriously. Wow. We’ve lost all perspective. There are far more important ways to spend city funds than to stone wash the stones because someone fell in love with them. Good god.

  • I can’t believe this is an issue. I can’t believe the city is taking the “issue” seriously. Wow. We’ve lost all perspective. There are far more important ways to spend city funds than to stone wash the stones because someone fell in love with them. Good god.

  • Incidentally, given a choice between the horror of machine cut stones on my block or improving the homes of our neighbors in public housing just a couple blocks away… let’s save the ridiculous Dumbo whining.

  • Incidentally, given a choice between the horror of machine cut stones on my block or improving the homes of our neighbors in public housing just a couple blocks away… let’s save the ridiculous Dumbo whining.

  • Golly Keith! What do our neighbors a few blocks away need? Schools? Parking lots? Community centers? Daycare? Baseball diamonds? Football fields? Handball courts? Basketball? Swimming pools? Bocce ball courts? Oh snap! They need a merry-go-round! Oh, the humanity!

  • Golly Keith! What do our neighbors a few blocks away need? Schools? Parking lots? Community centers? Daycare? Baseball diamonds? Football fields? Handball courts? Basketball? Swimming pools? Bocce ball courts? Oh snap! They need a merry-go-round! Oh, the humanity!

  • I think the cobblestones on York st., between Jay and Adams st.s should be replaced then any other streets in DUMBO!!! Plus Front st between Gold & Hudson ave.

    That’s my 2 cents!!!

  • I think the cobblestones on York st., between Jay and Adams st.s should be replaced then any other streets in DUMBO!!! Plus Front st between Gold & Hudson ave.

    That’s my 2 cents!!!

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