Dumbo NYC

Notes from the DUMBO, Brooklyn NY neighborhood


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)


A daycare is planned for the corner of York and Adams Street (July 2008)

Also, in the current exhibition of the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Tony Linberger has a painting, titled Podium, of the pub:

BWAC 2008

Please comment if anyone has any good stories of the old longshoreman’s pub.

More photos of 85 Adams construction after the jump.

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(Photo courtesy of Brownstoner.com)

According to a story by Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Imagine Early Learning Center has leased the ground floor space at the Beacon Tower at 85 Adams Street. The 3,753 sq ft space had “specific needs in terms of lighting, air, egress conditions and licensure requirements” according to Petar Videv of A&I Broadway Realty, who handled the transaction. Dumbo has grown in population and with gentrification comes young families, so a day care center is a much needed service for these families. Imagine Early Learning Center also has a location in Brooklyn Heights.

{Imagine Early Learning Center Leases Space at Beacon Tower, 30Apr2008, Brooklyn Daily Eagle}

Rent check is a scan of some current rentals in Dumbo listed by building. Today’s post looks at 85 Adams Street (aka Beacon Tower).


3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1785 sqft Penthouse for $9000. This unit was featured on DumboNYC in October for sale and is still on the market for purchase (price lowered since from $3,390,000 to $2,999,990) but can also be a rental. [Corcoran]


2 bedroom, 2 bath, 1165 sqft, 16th floor for $5500. [Corcoran]


1 bedroom, 1 bath, 847 sqft unit for $2950. [Corcoran]


Manhattan Bridge Anchorage at the intersection of Front and Adams Street

The Dumbo Improvement District is working with the Brooklyn Arts Council and the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), bringing a temporary public art project, “Applied Kinetics,” a video art project that projects a large screen on the Manhattan Bridge anchorage at Front and Adams Street. Dumbo’s Leo Kuelbs has curated Brazilian video-artist, Adriana Varella for this project. It was a cool sight to see the whole anchorage wall (pictured above) lit up last night showing the video installation.

Thursday, March 6th-Sunday, March 9th
Dusk-11:00 p.m.

Press release after the jump.
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This top floor penthouse unit (PH2 A) at the Beacon Tower (85 Adams Street) was just listed yesterday by Corcoran. This is the largest apartment in the Dumbo building offered at 1,785 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 360 degree views with a 550 sq.ft. terrace. This 23rd floor condo must have dramatic views of the Manhattan skyline, the harbor, and the Statue of Liberty. Maintenance is $1,356/mo with $54/mo real estate tax.

These views come at a hefty price: $3,390,000 ($1,899/sq.ft.). Compare that with this Richard Meier On Prospect Park listing at $3,400,000 for 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2,125 sq.ft. condo, or this fully renovated 25 ft. wide, 4 floor Kane Street townhouse in Cobble Hill for $3,400,000. Of course all of these are very different, but for $3.4million, which would you choose: the views in Beacon Tower, a Cobble Hill townhouse, or a Richard Meier glass condo? Choices, choices.

{Corcoran Listing}
{85adams.com}

One year ago today, we only had renderings of the Beacon Tower zen garden. One year later, we have an almost complete urban zen garden. The first photo below is a June 16 photo and the ones below were taken on September 2.

Residents of Beacon Tower can look out from the exercise room to their garden. Nice view while working out.


 [+] larger

Previously:
{Beacon Tower Garden Update II (2/16/07), 16Feb07}
{Beacon Tower Garden Update I, 6Sept06}
{Get Your Feng Shui On in the Beacon Tower Garden, Curbed}

The weather is perfect for playing tennis on the roof of the five story building at 69 Adams Street in Dumbo (next to Beacon Tower). But the court is only open to Jehovah’s Witnesses who live in the Watchtower buildings. The rest of us have to play in one of the NY City Park tennis courts in various locations. There are indoor and outdoor courts at Prospect Park. Those JW’s really take care of their people: tennis courts, housing, health care, and food. BONUS: Below a rare photo of a JW ambulance in broad daylight.


   69 Adams Street, Jehovah’s Witness Tennis court, Dumbo Brooklyn, May 4, 07 (click on photo to show larger version of photo)


   May 4, 07 (click on photo to show larger version of photo)


   (click on photo to show larger version of photo)

{Courts are appealing to Jehovah’s Witnesses, 5/5/07, The Brooklyn Paper}
{Watchtower to Sell Standish Arms, 3/28/07, Brooklynheightsblog.com}
Previously:
{Glimpse Inside Jehovah’s Witness Headquarters, 11/16/06, DumboNYC}



 Beacon Tower, 5/2/2007

Looks like some of the Beacon Tower residents have finally moved into their place (windows in the above photos are lit). Residents, how do you like it there? Do the soundproofing windows live up to the claims? Any gripes? It’s good to see that the high powered lights on the side of the building aren’t turned on so they’re not shining into the windows and saving energy. Welcome to the neighborhood!

Previously:
{Beacon Tower Turns Off Some Lights, 1/23/07, DumboNYC}
{Dumbo’s Beacon of Light, 1/9/07, DumboNYC}

Remember the Beacon Tower garden post on here 5 months ago? Well, the construction crew have poured the foundation and is busy finishing up the lobby and entrance to the garden area. It’s still a noisy area, but the noise could be calming for New Yorkers who are used to car and subway noise around them. Your own little urban oasis. Just bring your noise cancelling headphones.

{Beacon Tower Garden Update I, DumboNYC}
{Get Your Feng Shui On in the Beacon Tower Garden, Curbed}

One week after I wrote about the bright lights on the patios of the 18th floor at Beacon Tower, the building shut off the lights on the south side. (Not pictured is the north side patio on the 20th floor balcony is still lit.) Maybe they were concerned about the migrating geese, global warming, or concerned residents, but they deserve some kudos for responding so quickly.

Since residents won’t have to foot the electric bill for the lights on one side, maybe the building can use the money saved to commission a local artist similar to what J Condo is doing or bring back Between the Bridges Bar (you know, that neighborhood bar that used to occupy the space where Beacon Tower is now) in their retail space to give something back to the community. Don’t count on those, but maybe resident’s maintenance bills can come down a bit.


 Photo taken two weeks apart; one week after Beacon shut off patio lights. Click image for full size.

{Dumbo Condo Report: Everything Is Illuminated, Curbed.com}
Previously: {Dumbo’s Beacon of Light, DumboNYC}

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