The 25 Washington Street building conversion looks like it’s making good progress. The externals of the two story addition are in place and the window frames are being installed on most floors. They have also announced that applications are now being accepted for 21 affordable rental apartments in the building. This building is being converted from a commercial building to 105 residential housing rentals with financing provided through the 80/20 Housing Program of New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The state offers tax-exempt financing to multifamily rental developments in which at least 20% of the units are set aside for low-income residents-so-called “80/20″ projects. (More info on 80/20 Housing Program).

Dumbo is still one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Brooklyn with the highest median household income in Brooklyn, so this a welcome opportunity for those who cannot otherwise afford to live in Dumbo. (FWIW, as someone pointed out to us, it is the same apartment as the Humphrey’s loft in the TV show Gossip Girls.) As of today, there’s nothing under $2,600 per month rentals in Dumbo (according to StreetEasy), so a 2 bedroom for $819 or $641 is well below the market value. What do you need to do to qualify for one of the 21 low rent apartments? According to the Homes and Community Renewal document we received, the below are the minimum and maximums for each apartment type.

Set aside for households with incomes at or below 50% of area median income:

Set aside for households with incomes at or below 40% of area median income:

*Subject to occupancy criteria
**Gas & Electric not included
**Rents subject to change
***Income requirements subject to change

To request an application, mail a postcard indicating your name and full address to:
Washington Street Apartments, 45 Washington Street, Box 257, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

Requests must be postmarked by February 5, 2011. Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only to a different address that will be listed on the application, and must be postmarked by February 19, 2011. Applications not sent via regular mail will not be accepted. Applications postmarked after February 19, 2011 will be logged in after all other applications.

Applications will be selected by lottery.

Priority will be given to applicants who live or work in New York City and who do not live in 80/20 developments in appropriate-size units. No broker’s or application fee should be paid to anyone regarding these applications. Since there are only 21 available units, only the first 8,000 requests for an application will be honored.

Application Notice (71kb PDF file)

Previously:
{25 Washington Rentals to Open in March 2011, 23Jul2010}
{25 Washington St Progress, 14Jul2010}

Liz Craynon Frank, founder of a new business called Abundant Learning, is opening this week in Dumbo. Abundant Learning will be offering a variety of services to the Dumbo community. First, it is a place for students to come after school where they can study and receive help with their homework. They are offering what they call a “homework academy”–which is similar to a study hall. In their homework academy, up to six students work individually, with a single, experienced tutor answering questions and helping out with difficult questions and problems.

They also offer one-on-one tutoring in all academic subjects, as well as help with test prep. On Wednesday evenings there will be a chess club (a pizza dinner included) and on Saturdays, beginning in February, there will be an art class. Abundant Learning is also a venue for all types of classes and workshops–from yoga to psychology–for both adults and children.

With Dumbo Gymnastics (#509), Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club (#508), and now Abundant Learning (#513), part of the fifth floor of 68 Jay Street in Dumbo is starting to look like great enclave for kids activities. We can appreciate that they are planning to be very involved with the community.

They have a grand opening event on Thursday, January 6, from 4-7pm. The Dumbo community is invited and will be showcasing the artwork of students from nearby PS 307 (prior post). We spoke with Liz (whose family has a long history with the Dumbo neighborhood) about the new learning center:

Why did you decide to open in Dumbo? When did you first hear about the area?

I chose Dumbo because its my neighborhood! I have had a private tutoring practice in the neighborhood for a couple of years. I sublet small office spaces in various buildings, but I was always getting displaced. After the last displacement, I found myself scrambling for space, and I found my current location – which was great but too big for just me, but perfect for expansion. Simultaneously, I have been actively day dreaming about some kind of educational center for the neighborhood. I live on Plymouth and Bridge. I see young families everywhere and no real services for them in the immediate area. And with the new buildings going up – this neighborhood seemed a perfect fit for a learning center for families.

I first heard about Dumbo from my husband’s family. They were living down here 30 years ago, when there really weren’t any services. My father in law and husband run a factory on Bridge Street.

Abundant Learning seems to be a great way to supplement school work for children. Are there any specific philosophies or models you follow in teaching and tutoring kids?

With regard to tutoring, the Abundant Learning Center adheres to the idea that we are all individuals with differing sensory systems providing each with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses. Once the learning profile is discovered we craft lessons to stimulate weaknesses, while honoring strengths, bringing the two closer together. That said, kids (and adults) tend to learn when they are relaxed and having fun! The ALC is a quiet, calm venue where the teachers are lively, interesting, and thorough.

My personal practice focuses on reading skills. The bulk of my students are dyslexic. I rely on multi-sensory tools and programs, such as Lindamood-Bell. We also offer a homework academy, and classes/clubs such as art and chess.

Finally, we have an adult component, which I am super excited about. We plan to offer classes for adults that delve into areas such as the educational research, philosophy and education, and the mind, body, spirit connection and how it affects learning.

With Brooklyn Bridge Fencing, Dumbo Gymnastics, and others providing children’s activities and services in Dumbo, what are your plans for partnering with them? The PS307 exhibit sounds like a great start to this.

We plan to cross market with Dumbo Gymnastics and the Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club in several ways. We have an event this Friday for the Dumbo Parents Organization called Friday Night Out. The kids will to gymnastics, fencing demo, and the ALC for art/chess. Also, we are offering all DG and BBFC families and 20% discount on rates through the end of the school year.

Abundant Learning Center (abundantlearning.org)
68 Jay Street, Suite 513
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: 917-727-8839
email: dorian@abundantlearning.org

In 2010, the US economy continued to struggle, an oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico spilling an estimated 4.9 millions of barrels of oil, Obama’s healthcare bill was signed, China ascended as the world’s second largest economy, we saw the rise of social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Groupon, and Foursquare, and a little tablet computer called the iPad was launched to market by Apple. Some bright spots, and some not so bright areas of the world affected everyone, including those of Dumbo residents and businesses. Based on data provided by the NYC and the lack of inventory, Dumbo’s real estate held its own. While the US unemployment rate stayed around 10%, early stage companies and ‘digital’ businesses in Dumbo were hiring, growing, being acquired, and even becoming too big to stay. Nimble companies based in Dumbo saw opportunities in social media and app development for the iPhones, iPads, and Android markets. Digital Dumbo, the local networking event for social media, digital, and tech firms saw a huge rise in attendees, participants, and companies looking to hire.

As in the past years, Dumbo continued it’s change. That word seems to be the constant in the neighborhood in the past few years. Dumbo had a year of being a construction zone to make its infrastructure more modern, while keeping the old world charm of Belgian block streets. Parks were closed for renovation while new ones opened up. And finally the retail opening and closings seem to happen every month or so. Let’s take a look back at 2010 and see how Dumbo has changed for better or for worse.

1. New Retailers Opened in Dumbo in 2010
   Dewey’s Candy, Stewart/Stand (relocation), Taylor Fitness, ñ Restaurant, Choice Kitchens, Priviledged, DUMBO Muffin, the Cafe (opened, closed, and reopened as Archway Cafe), MotoDumbo, Abhaya Yoga, P.S. Bookshop and Brooklyn Bridge Gardens, O’Crepes, DUMBO Gymnastics, NOS Men, Shibui, Barber on Pearl, Rapid Realty, and The Best Chocolate Cake
2. …But not as many retailers closed shop this year.
   Compared to prior years, Loopy Mango and Mikey’s Hook-Up were the two retailers that moved out. Many of the retailers have told us that if they survived Dumbo in the past two years, they are ready to take on 2011 and beyond. Is the worst of the poor economy past us?
3. Dumbo as Construction Zone
   Both Water Street (from Adams to Old Fulton Streets) and Washington Street (from York to Plymouth Streets) were dug up to install water and sewer mains so the area has updated infrastructure. Construction is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2011. Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge are also being worked on.
4. Construction Includes the Parks
   Empire Fulton Ferry State Park closed to improve drainage, add park furnishings, lighting, and of course house Jane’s Carousel (which is still generating controversy for its placement). Another concern by some include the removal of the trees. The scheduled reopening is spring 2011. The Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1 and 6 opened with much fanfare this past Spring.
5. Dumbo’s Techs: NY Digital District, Digital Dumbo, Silicon Beach, Whatever
   Whatever name is given, what unites this historic Dumbo is the creative community (artists of all types- painters, sculptors, and the digital type), the dynamic entrepreneurs who navigate their business worlds with will power and hard work, and the new residents. Dumbo’s online presence in social media, websites, and services blossomed and ‘the media’ declared the neighborhood’s companies as the ones to watch. (NY Digital District, Digital Dumbo, Silicon Beach)
6. Dumbo’s Real Estate Defied Larger Market Trend
   A 70 Washington Penthouse sold in 4 weeks for $3,850,000. A 30 Main St apartment was listed for almost $5.4 million. A $25 Million Dumbo apartment is in negotiation. Is this 2006? According to realtors, clients are on the sidelines waiting for listings to come to market. If it’s not the Wall Streeters whose bonus this year increased over 2010, more inquiries are coming from where else? Asia, or specifically China.
7. Gentrification Is in Full Swing in Dumbo
   NY Magazine declared that Dumbo is one of the ‘most livable neighborhoods’ with David Walentas as the “benevolent dictator with a vision for the whole neighborhood.” If that doesn’t say gentrification, we don’t know what is. The MTA even declared it so by putting Dumbo on the map and showing how the 2009 subway ridership in Dumbo area stations went up. There was even a foot tapping song about it called Yuppie Exodus From Dumbo (by Jed Davis). Other ‘signs’ in 2010 were the installation of Dumbo’s First stoplight, a new Two Trees marketing sign on 45 Main Street building and Downtown Brooklyn Wayfinding Sign Installations. And finally a national AP story describes Dumbo as ‘trendy’, ‘offbeat’, and ‘a secret neighborhood’, which means that if you haven’t heard of Dumbo by now, it’s too late to ‘discover’ the neighborhood.
8. Even with Gentrification, Keep an Eye Out for Crime
   Of course car break ins occurred again and again. And if you think just because there are lots of rich residents in Dumbo, you’re immune to muggings. It happened in broad daylight, and again, and again. There was even a bank robbery this year, though the robber was arrested thanks to a vigilant doorman.
9. But We All Still Love Dumbo’s Festivals (Big and Small)
   As is every summer, there are festivals in Dumbo (BKLYN Designs, New York Photo Festival, Bent Festival). There was a fun Night Market, hosted by the celebrity chef David Chang, a 2010 World Science Festival, RE/Mixed Media Festival 2010, the 6th Annual Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival, and of course the largest one, the Dumbo Arts Festival 2010.
10. Food Truck Craze Hits Dumbo
    One of the biggest complaints I hear from friends and neighbors is that it’s missing some good food options (especially Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Italian). 2010 brought us the food trucks for the lunch crowd in Dumbo: Halal truck, wafels & dinges, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Munch Truck, and Schnitzel and Things. (Though we haven’t seen Schnitzel Fridays, Cravings Truck, or Treats Truck in a while. Come back!) Someone even spotted a free range chicken, but turned out it was not for lunch or dinner.

Of course there were many more changes and events in Dumbo. There will be much more to come in 2010. Please comment below on other items of significance in Dumbo in 2010 I may have missed.

{Dumbo Top Ten in 2008}
{Dumbo Top Ten in 2007}
{Dumbo Top Ten in 2006}

Happy Holidays from Dumbo! Hope you had a great year and hope 2011 will bring you joy.

[DumboNYC.com is taking a vacation. In the meantime, take a look at some photos of Dumbo (in the DumboNYC Flickr Pool) or submit a story or event about Dumbo. We'll be back next week.]

Curbed and Brooklyn Paper looked at some findings from the Census Bureau’s early returns, so we thought to look at more local data of Dumbo area’s sample data from the NY Times’ interactive map of American Community Survey (ACS) sample data averaged over the course of 2005-2009. Note this is not based on the actual data from the 2010 Census (to be released in 2011), but shows the increase in household income, education level, and home value over the 5 year period. Not surprising, Dumbo (or the Tract that includes Dumbo) has the highest median household income in Brooklyn, which is needed to afford the second highest median home value, and highest median monthly rent.

Other stats from the map for Tract 21, which is the area bound by Hudson Ave, York St, Old Fulton St, Waterfront (includes Dumbo, Vinegar Hill, and Fulton Ferry):

• Households earning over $200,000: 35% (+15% change since 2000)
• Median household income: $148,611 (+55% change since 2000)
• Distribution of racial and ethnic groups: Whites 62%, Blacks 8%, Hispanics 12%, Asians 15%, other groups 2%
• Median home value: $986,800 (+69% change since 2000)
• Education levels: HS graduates 91%, Bachelor’s degree or higher 73%, Master’s degree or higher 31%

Highest Median Household income in Brooklyn (top 6):

1. Tract 21 Dumbo – Area bound by Hudson Ave, York St, Old Fulton St, Waterfront ($148,611, 1,008 households)
2. Tract 754 Midwood – Area bound by Avenue K, E. 27th St, E. 23rd St, Avenue M ($143,452, 444 households)
3. Tract 752 Midwood – Area bound by Avenue I, E. 26th St, E. 22nd St, Avenue K ($132,713, 353 households)
4. Tract 4 Bay Ridge – Area bound by Shore Road, Bay Ridge Parkway, Colonial Road, 79th St ($123,903, 475 households)
5. Tract 301 Brooklyn Heights – Area bound by Pineapple St, Joralemon St, Hicks St, Furman St ($122,520, 2,469 households)
6. Tract 151 Park Slope – Area bound by 9th St, 8th Ave, 13th St, 6th Ave ($118,295, 1,557 households)

{Mapping America: Every City, Every Block, NYT}
{Fun With Maps & Census Data, Curbed}
{Making sense of the Census, BK Paper}
{Census 2010 and the East Village, EV Grieve}
{Dumbo is Brooklyn’s Priciest Neighborhood, 02Oct2008}
{Dumbo Scorecard on NabeWise, 27Aug2010}
{NYMag’s Most Livable Neighborhoods List, 12Apr2010}
{Dumbo Named Best Manhattanized Brooklyn Neighborhood, 19Oct2007}

We featured Liz Lomax in an interview in early 2009, but since then, she has been continuing to do some amazing work. She recently was commissioned to create 11 giant celebrity chef’s heads for Barney’s NY 2010 Holiday window. In her words: “It’s been my dream to create artwork for Barneys window displays and to work with their legendary Creative Director, Simon Doonan…When the call came in from Lindsay, the kick-ass Manager of Display Production at Barneys, to sculpt 11 life sized caricatures of famous chefs in 7 weeks for their foodie themed holiday windows sponsored by the Food Network, Cooking Channel and illycaffe, I said “YESSSS!””

So in 7 weeks, Liz created the heads of celebrity chefs, Martha Stewart, Paula Deen, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay, Daniel Boulud, Anthony Bourdain, Emeril Lagasse, Guy Fieri, Ina Garten, Sandra Lee, and Wolfgang Puck. The end result looks amazing. And glad to see some Dumbo pics in there. Congrats Liz!

For more information on this project, go to lizlomax.com: here and here.

Press Release (PDF file)

Previously:
{Interview with Liz Lomax, 18Mar2009}

Beginning Thursday December 16, 2010 for approximately one week, there will be pile driving on Washington Street between Plymouth Street and Front Street. The street will be closed to traffic. This closure is necessary to accommodate pile driving work being performed as part of NYC DDC’s Water Street Project. There will be noise and vibration associated with this operation, which is driving the piles under where the sewer will be placed.

For more information, please refer to the Community Advisory Notice sent to us by The New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC) (PDF here), which is managing a capital construction project on Water Street from Adams Street to Old Fulton Street and Washington Street from York Street to Plymouth Street.

For More Information Contact: The Community Construction Liaison Paul Kidder 718-643-2850

Previously:
{Two Way Washington Street, 10Nov2010}
{Washington Street Construction (Oct 19 Update)}
{Washington Street Construction (Sept Update), 22Sept2010}
{Asbestos Abatement Project, 27Aug2010}
{Washington Street Construction Update, 13Aug2010}
{Construction Around Dumbo Through 2011+, 10May2010}
{Notice: Cars Parked on Dock Street, 12Apr2010}
{Water Street Reconstruction Update (Mar/Apr 2010), 10Mar2010}
{Water/Washington St Reconstruction Project Update, 03Dec2009}
{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}

Episode 2: Davide Cantoni (davidecantoni.org)
Directed by David Castillo
Created by David Castillo
Produced by Blue Barn Pictures, Inc.

Davide’s recent paintings are amazing. His paintings that reflect light remind me of the Japanese magic mirror (known as makyoh). Different medium but they use light reflection to show a subtle image.

Crossing Dumbo, a weekly web series of video portraits of artists, entrepreneurs and residents in Dumbo Brooklyn. This is a collaboration between DumboNYC and our talented friends over at Blue Barn Pictures. Different directors from Blue Barn Pictures, a creative content agency, bring their own approach to each interview to create a distinct profile of the person being interviewed and place them within the Dumbo community. The people at Blue Barn Pictures truly love what they do and support the community in a positive way, and for that we’re grateful to have them be a part of Dumbo.

{DumboNYC.com/category/crossing-dumbo/}

(Photo by epc)

:-( Ouch! The owner of the smashed scooter on Plymouth Street wrote us today asking for any witnesses:

I parked my beloved scooter in front of 143 Plymouth Street, at the corner of Pearl, right across the street from Chambers Paper Fibres Corporation. It looked like a safe spot. But when I returned on Monday this week I found my scooter in literally 100 pieces. Crushed multiple times by something huge and heavy–something like the massive garbage trucks that carry the scrap cardboard to Chambers Paper Fibres. I watched a few minutes later as a huge dump truck carrying cardboard ran over what used to be the front of my scooter as he backed into the narrow bay at 143 Plymouth to unload. Right in front of my eyes, as if it were no big deal. I need a witness to help me get restitution. It’s going to cost a lot of money just to dispose of the chassis, and I could be fined $1000.

If you saw this happen, help out the poor scooter owner by contacting him at 718-306-9746 or emailing newzembla123@gmail [dot] com (without the ’123′).

We’re pleased to announce a new video series on DumboNYC called Crossing Dumbo, a weekly web series of video portraits of artists, entrepreneurs and residents in Dumbo Brooklyn. This is a collaboration between DumboNYC and our talented friends over at Blue Barn Pictures. Different directors from Blue Barn Pictures, a creative content agency, bring their own approach to each interview to create a distinct profile of the person being interviewed and place them within the Dumbo community. The people at Blue Barn Pictures truly love what they do and support the community in a positive way, and for that we’re grateful to have them be part of our community.

Episode 1: Dan Kellner, Olympian fencer & founder of Brooklyn Bridge Fencing Club (brooklynbridgefencing.com)
Directed by Andrea Fumagalli
Created by David Castillo
Produced by Blue Barn Pictures, Inc.