04/23/13 12:37pm

Citibike on Front Street at Washington St

New York City’s bike share program, called Citibike is expected to launch in May. The program will allow members to use one of 6000 bikes from 330 stations in Midtown, Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. The bike stations have been installed in the following locations in and around Dumbo:

  • North side of Old Fulton Street near Water Street – 41 bike docks
  • North side of Front Street near Washington Street – 30 bike docks
  • West side of Pearl Street near Water Street – 24 bike docks
  • South side of York Street near Jay Street – 27 bike docks
  • South side of Front Street near Gold Street – 23 bike docks
  • North side of Sands Street near Gold Street – 19 bike docks
  • East side of Cadman Plaza East near Red Cross Place – 27 bike docks
  • West side of Cadman Plaza West near Middagh Street – 23 bike docks

The bike program has had some delay and some controversy surrounding the bike racks with advertising in Historic Landmark locations (such as in Dumbo, Vinegar Hill, and Fulton Ferry Landing). Gothamist spoke with the LPC:

“Landmarks Preservation Commission says that the stations are just fine, since the landmarks law generally allows advertising in historic districts—including on street fixtures like bus shelters, pay toilets and newsstands. “We approved the plan for the installation of bike share stations in historic districts throughout the city because they have no effect on the historic fabric of those neighborhoods,” said Elisabeth de Bourbon, the commission’s communications director”

In a Brooklyn Eagle article, store owners on Front Street in Dumbo said they were not notified or consulted with before the bike stations were installed. Doreen Gallo of the preservation group DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance (DNA) said in the article, “DOT never contacted us and never brought it through Landmarks. It’s more visual clutter in the wrong spot. That’s a great open space and it should be an open piazza; but they keep adding more and more crap. It’s an inappropriate use of this great municipal space.”

The Front Street location (top photo) seems to be a tight fit for the traffic that goes by in the busy intersection where delivery trucks pass. Thoughts?

Citibike at Pearl Street Triangle

For bike station listing, go to citibikenyc.com/stations

04/17/13 2:47pm

Old Fulton Creperie: 17 Old Fulton Street

The former O’Crepes store has relocated and opened in Fulton Ferry Landing. Now called Old Fulton Creperie (facebook.com/ocrepes), they are located at 17 Old Fulton Street (formerly occupied by the tourist trap store called Julians and Julius).

Viktoriya, the founder of the store tells us, “We miss our locals, and wanted to give everyone another food option that’s not a pizza place or a tourist trap. We serve gluten free and buckwheat crepes, Vietnamese sandwiches, soups, coffee, tea. For locals [who mention], get two large savory or sweet crepes for $17.”

Congrats Viktoriya and good luck!


 [+]

Old Fulton Creperie
17 Old Fulton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: 7 days a week, 10am-8pm

Previously:
{O’Crepes in Dumbo to Relocate Near Brooklyn Bridge Park, 09Nov2011}
{O’Crepes Open in Dumbo, 01Apr2010}

03/20/13 6:31pm

This morning, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey came to Fulton Ferry Landing with elephants, clowns, bicycling unicyclists, performers, and the Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz as the honorary ringmaster. Water, Main and Front streets were closed to traffic for the performance on Old Fulton Street and Furman Street.

PETA was also there to protest the torture of animals.

From March 20-April 1, 2013 The Greatest Show on Earth will make its Brooklyn debut at the Barclays Center.

Photos by Jane Kratochvil:

Ringling Bros in DUMBO

Ringling Bros in DUMBO

Ringling Bros in DUMBO

Ringling Bros in DUMBO

Ringling Bros in DUMBO

01/31/13 9:03pm

Denise Brian 0445

Throughout the month of February, in honor of St. Valentines Day, and having the Hurricane Sandy damaged heating system restored, Jane’s Carousel will be offering “2 for 1” rides.

“Two-somes” of any age will ride with just one $2 ticket.

hours: Thursday-Sunday, 11:00a-5:00p. Feb 1-28, 2013

Jane’s Carousel (www.janescarousel.org), Brooklyn Bridge Park
Entrances at Dock & Water St. or Main St. (between Water & Plymouth St.)
Nearest subways: F (York St), A/C (High St), 2/3 (Clark St)
Contact: 718-222-2502

young love

10/02/12 4:00pm

Empire Stores from Manhattan Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the adaptive reuse of the historic Empire Stores Warehouses, located in the Empire Fulton Ferry section of the Park. The RFP seeks qualified developers for the long-term lease, rehabilitation and operation of commercial and retail development in the historic structures. Revenue generated by the development of the site will help fund the maintenance and operations of the of the Park. The space will not be turned into condos, according to the proposal.

The Empire Stores are a complex of seven contiguous four- and five-story historic warehouses with an approximately 75,000 sq. ft. footprint and containing approximately 327,000 gross sq. ft. Constructed shortly after the Civil War, the Empire Stores played an integral part in the prosperous shipping activities that once dominated the Fulton Ferry portion of the Brooklyn waterfront.

The warehouses have been vacant for over 50 years and have slowly deteriorated. Since December 2007, the Empire Store buildings in the Brooklyn Bridge Park have been boarded up due to structural issues with deteriorating brick window frames.

According to the press release:

“The re-development of the Empire Stores is part of a larger effort to transform underutilized buildings and piers on 1.3 miles of Brooklyn’s East River Waterfront into an iconic park. The 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park project is the most significant park development in Brooklyn in over a century. The park has already proven to be a huge hit, attracting almost 90,000 visitors during an average weekend including 20,000 a month to Jane’s Carousel, located adjacent to the Empire Stores site…

The RFP requires respondents to submit conceptual plans that demonstrate thoughtful adaptive reuse of the structures, responsiveness to the site design guidelines and a level of design that is on par with the investment made on the part of the public sector.”

This site offers a highly visible opportunity to transform a historic waterfront complex into an active retail/commercial location. Developer Shaya Boymelgreen lost his deal to develop the Empire Stores after he let it sit for three years (2002 – 2006) while moving forward with luxury condo projects in other parts of Brooklyn.

Proposals are due on December 10, 2012.

{Empire Stores on Endangered List, 05Dec2008}
{Sidewalk Bridging Being Installed at Empire Stores Warehouse, 08Jan2008}
{Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park Temporarily Closed, 21Dec2007}

08/24/12 11:00am


(68 Jay Street storefront rendering)

The NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission lists the following two items in Dumbo and one in Fulton Ferry Historic District (via Community Board No. 2):

  • 1 Old Fulton Street — Fulton Ferry Historic District — A Greek Revival style saloon and hotel building built in 1835, and altered in the Italianate style in the 1860s. Application is to modify the storefront with French doors, retaining the existing residential entrance, columns, bay window, and cornice, with the last element extended around the building.
  • 68 Jay Street — DUMBO Historic District — A Daylight Factory style building with transitional American Round Arch style elements designed by William Higginson and built in 1915. Application is for a master plan for the storefronts, including a standardized signage scheme, and removal of the existing awnings, flat panel signs, bracket signs, lighting and conduit that are current LPC violations.
  • 117 Front Street — DUMBO Historic District — Application is to modify the storefront, including new wall signage, canvas blade sign, louver venting for HVAC, and window graphics. This is the new Pinkberry store location.

Image courtesy of Community Board No. 2.