Jet Lowe, Photographer, 1982. (Click photo for larger version)
From the Library of Congress archives. The caption of the photo reads “Long distance view looking NW towards Manhattan showing access ramps to bridge. Jet Lowe, photographer, 1982.” The 27 year photo shows a few differences with the facade of 70 Washington Street updated and the addition of the top of 1 Main St building today, but may change in the coming years if Dock Street Dumbo were built and the proposed Verizon building facade is updated across the Brooklyn Bridge in Manhattan.
There is a photo exhibit at the Brooklyn Heights branch of the Brooklyn Public Library by artist Paul Raphaelson. He lived and photographed in Dumbo from 1995 through 2004 before being evicted from the artist loft building on Plymouth Street. (The most famous of the evictions in Dumbo was the 247 Water Street building which we referenced in a previous post.) Raphaelson’s photos are a reminder of what the community of Dumbo Brooklyn used to be and how much it has changed in just 5 years. “While walking the streets of DUMBO with a camera, I was vaguely aware that these pictures might be of historical interest someday. And that day came sooner than I ever expected. The changes have been so swift and indelible that the old neighborhood already seems gone forever.” We asked him about Dumbo past and present:
When did you live in Dumbo? Why did you leave and where are you now?
I lived in Dumbo from 1995 to 2004. I left when my landlord, who is probably the best known of the artist slumlords east of the Brooklyn Bridge, decided to clear out the building. I had it easy… he gave me plenty of notice. In previous years he tried to empty buildings by flooding people out, orchestrating raids by the Department of Buildings, and even arson. In my case it seemed his plan was to empty the whole block, get it rezoned, and convert the buildings to luxury lofts. But zoning attempts were thwarted by the state, and most of those buildings, including mine, are still empty.
I moved to an old brewery in Bushwick. It’s a very different neighborhood. It lacks DUMBO’s grandeur. It also has a thriving local population. In DUMBO the artists were pioneers; in Bushwick we’re guests.
Why did you first move to Dumbo and how would you describe the area when you first moved there?
My friend Anne McDonald lived there. I met her at the opening of a group show that we both participated in, and she persuaded me to visit. I had been living in Providence and considering a move to the city, so the timing was perfect. After walking down Jay street and Water street and setting foot in her space, I knew I had to live there. I gave notice at my job and started packing immediately.
Back then the neighborhood felt huge and empty. You could walk blocks without seeing a soul. There was something powerful in the quietness and austerity of the landscape. That quality is still there, but it’s been heavily diluted by the crowds and development. Today it feels a bit more like a film set than the real thing.
You titled your exhibition, Wilderness, which is what Dumbo was in the 90s. What are your thoughts on what Dumbo has become?
Upper West Side South!
Which you might be able to say about most of Brooklyn, and Manhattan, and Queens…
Very true. There will no doubt be many more changes to Dumbo in the next 5 years, and it’s not easy to live in Dumbo affordably, but we hope the artists here today will continue to be a part of the community.
—
October through December 2008
Brooklyn Public Library Brooklyn Heights branch (1st floor)
280 Cadman Plaza West at Tillary St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
If you would like to be considered for an interview, please contact us at dumbonyc@gmail.com. (more…)
From the NY Times: The Brooklyn Bridge The walkway across the bridge was not divided into lanes for walkers and bikers in 1978. The financial district looks much the same, save for the absence of the twin towers.
85 Water Street, circa 2001 (Photo courtesy of Mo’s Fo-Toes’)
85 Water Street, 2008 (Photo courtesy of tinygines)
Originally built in the 1830’s, the landmarked building, known as 85 Water Street was used as a pepper mill before it became vacant from 1950 until about 2003. It was then renovated by Two Trees and Bob Vila featured on “Bob Vila’s Home Again” in season 14 in 2003. The rehab and renovation episodes are interesting and can be viewed online at BobVila.com.
The rehabilitation removed an elevator shaft, converted each of the three upper floors to separate living spaces, and remodeled the commercial space on the ground level. Chris Vila worked with Dumbo’s architectural team of Della Valle and Bernheimer Design to create a contemporary living space while preserving the historic elements of the building.
The New York and Washington, D.C.-based Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects & Planners also helped in the architectural restoration and worked to gain Landmarks’ approval since the building is part of the Fulton Ferry Historic District. The initial plans added another set-back floor on top. However, the LPC denied this plan.
Although the renovation took place only 5 years ago, the building keeps its historic character and now consists of a ground floor with a retail tenant, Almondine Bakery, and three upper rental units (offered by Two Trees) plus a roof. The teams did a great reno job by keeping the building’s bones in tact, and now, Dumbo is lucky to have one of the best bakeries in the city located at 85 Water Street.
The Bar and Grill Park in Dumbo does not have a bar nor does it allow grilling. The green patch is named after Between the Bridges Pub that used to be across the street on the corner of York and Adams Streets. The building that housed Between the Bridge Pub (then 63 York Street), along with two other buildings were torn down in 2004 to make way for the 23 story 85 Adams Street (aka Beacon Tower) condo building. (We followed their progress in 2006.) We’ve found some great photos from Joel, who followed the progress of 85 Adams Street building.
(Photo by joel, dated 02-Mar-2004)
Corner of York and Adams Street (Photo by manny, dated 10-Apr-2003)
Continuing the series of “Dumbo Streetscapes Then and Now”, we are looking at a 1927 photo of the corner of Front and Jay Street. In the 80 year old photo, by photographer, Percy Loomis Sperr, the rowhouses on Jay Street no longer exist. There used to be five three-story rowhouses and one larger six-story building on this block. The five row-houses have since been demolished and replaced with various storefronts and gallery space. The north side of Jay Street has four buildings:
73 Jay St. – Formerly a Lipton Tea cafe and The Jay Restaurant (as seen in the old photo). Currently is Pedro’s Restaurant.
67 Jay St. – Formerly a 3 story townhouse built in 1910. It is currently 3 floors with a Chinese antique furniture and home decor store, Jay East (jayeast.com) (owner: Guttman Vera)
65 Jay st. – Formerly a 3 story townhouse, rebuilt into a 4 floor building. The current ground floor retail is From the Source, a crafted/reclaimed wood furniture store (fromthesource.us) and a photography studio in the floor(s) above (65jay.com). The owner is 65 Jayat Realty Corp.
57 Jay St. – Now a 6 floor commercial building owned by Haim Joseph
On the back of the NY Public Library photo:
“67-73 Jay Street, east side, north of Front Street; No 73 is at the corner of Front Street, Nov 1, 1927
P.L. Sperr”
The now photo isn’t as interesting without the Belgian Block streets.
