BKLYN DESIGNS 2007, NY’s hippest design show, will return to Dumbo, Brooklyn, May 11 – 13, 2007. The annual three-day exhibition will feature the borough’s top established and emerging designers of contemporary indoor and outdoor furniture, rugs, lighting and accessories. A record-breaking BKLYN DESIGNS line-up of 64 exhibitors, including 30 newcomers and 35 show veterans will launch their 2007 spring collections. This year will have several exhibitors with sustainable products and green solutions.

St. Ann’s Warehouse will serve as the show hub but as we’ve seen in the past, the entire Dumbo neighborhood will be alive with events, gallery openings and parties. This show kicks off the many summer events and festivals that occur in the neighborhood. Bklyn Designs exhibitors are selected by a jury, which includes prominent designers as well as editors from leading design and shelter magazines. The show gives attendees a chance to be among the first in the world to see the new design trends as they are being set. Many of the trends show up in more mainstream furniture retail stores a year later. A must for art, design, and architecture lovers!

DATE/TIME: Friday, May 11, 10am – 8pm; Saturday, May 12, 10am – 7pm; and Sunday, May 13, 11am – 6pm
PLACE: 3 DUMBO Brooklyn Locations – St. Ann’s Warehouse, 38 Water Street; Smack Mellon Gallery, 92 Plymouth Street & the BD Annex, 81 Front Street
ON EXHIBIT:

• Largest- ever BKLYN DESIGNS line-up of 64 jury-selected exhibitors
• 29 Debuts featuring up-and-coming designers exhibiting for their first time
• 20 Green Designers to show a host of clever green solutions/products for home/office
• BKLYN DESIGNS+ – a brand new cash-and-carry market of fashion and home accessories
• A look at the next generation Pratt Institute student exhibit + design competition

For the listing of all the exhibitors, go to www.brooklyndesigns.net/exhibitors.html.

With the discussion about the plot of land where the current Nova Clutch building stands and rumors about new development there, I decided to do a quick search on the net to find out more about the building. The Zerega building, now known as Nova Clutch building was built in 1848. From a brooklynbridgepark.org ‘fun-facts’, Antoine Zerega built the first American pasta factory in 1848 on Front Street in Dumbo which remained in operation until the 1950s when Antoine’s grandson moved it to New Jersey. According to the Zerega website, they “trace our roots back to Brooklyn, NY, where Antoine Zerega founded the American pasta industry in 1848. ”

The three story building has since been occupied by Nova Clutch Inc, which imports and manufactures motor vehicle clutches and mechanical power transmission equipment. The name “ZEREGA” is still etched in the stone below the second floor windows.

 Photo by DumboNYC (Click for larger version)

Nova Clutch Inc
39 Front St # 2
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 858-8282

See also:
{Dumbo Then and Now: N Side of Front St at Dock St, 21Jul2009}
{(Temporary) Parking Lot on the Nova Clutch Site, 08Aug2007}
{Goodbye Nova Clutch Building, 20Jun2007}
{Zerega Building, 28May2007}
{Two Trees Seeking Approval for 15-20 Story Building Abutting Brooklyn Bridge, 18Apr2007}

 (Click for larger version)

Although an email tip received yesterday did not cite any specific sources, they mentioned that it came from ‘a credible source’. Thus, it is rumored that:

“David Walentas of Two Trees is renewing his efforts to get city approval for a 15-20 story building next to the Brooklyn Bridge on the current site of St. Ann’s Warehouse and Nova Clutch. The proposed plan calls for a rental building of 400 Studio and 1BD units with 450 parking spaces and 14,000sf of retail space.

His prior attempt to build a tall building on this site in 2004 failed due to opposition from community residents.

This proposed prominent building would obscure the panoramic Brooklyn Bridge views from 70 Washington, 30 Main, and 1 Main, for which residents paid millions in premium prices to Walentas.”

Neighborhood residents concerned about this and other neighborhood development can attend a public informational meeting with the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission tomorrow regarding the proposed landmarking of DUMBO. From the NY Times article on the 38 Water Street site, Councilman David Yassky agreed that instead of a 15 story building, an “eight-story building that would not rise above the Brooklyn Bridge would be a terrific use of that site”. Would you agree?

See also:
{Dumbo Then and Now: N Side of Front St at Dock St, 21Jul2009}
{(Temporary) Parking Lot on the Nova Clutch Site, 08Aug2007}
{Goodbye Nova Clutch Building, 20Jun2007}
{Zerega Building, 28May2007}
{Nova Clutch building at 39 Front Street, 20Apr2007}

 American Cancer Society, Brooklyn Region Office, 31 Washington Street, 4/2007 (Photo by DumboNYC)

  Sweeney Building, 30 Main Street, Dumbo Brooklyn, Photo courtesy of Linus Gelber
  (Click for larger version)

[DumboNYC.com is on vacation for Thanksgiving. In the meantime, take a look at some of the best photos of Dumbo. Have a great weekend!]

  Photo from New York Daily Photo

New York Daily Photo, always entertaining and interesting, takes a great shot of Eagle Warehouse. He does his research on the building:

The Eagle Warehouse stands at 28 Old Fulton Street in the Fulton Ferry Landing area of Brooklyn (between Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO). The photo shows the Romanesque Revival arched entrance. This massive medieval structure was built in 1893 (as the Eagle Warehouse and Storage Company) by architect Frank Freeman on the site of the old Brooklyn Eagle building (in its construction, the old three-story Brooklyn Eagle pressroom building was kept.)
…
The Eagle Warehouse was converted to condominium lofts in 1980. There is a large clock at the top of the building – its glass face is the window of one of the lofts.

{Eagle Warehouse, newyorkdailyphoto.blogspot.com, 11/16/06}