All renderings of Dock St. Dumbo from Two Trees

Since Two Trees Management released their plans for the 18 story building in June, city politicians were quiet about their stance until they saw the plans. On Sunday, the NY Times published a letter from Council member David Yassky, who does not think the building is appropriate on a historic block so close to the Brooklyn Bridge.

“Families should not need to accept an inappropriate building for the soon-to-be-landmarked Dumbo neighborhood in order to get a much-needed middle school. I have spoken with the Department of Education, and am forming a task force comprising neighborhood residents and P.S. 8 parents to evaluate the qualities the middle school should have. Based on that evaluation, we will consider available locations and create an appropriate middle school for the area.”

I’ve also received an email from a Dumbo resident who received this reply from Mr. Yassky:

—–Original Message—–
From: dock07@gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, July 26, 2007
Subject: Re: Fw: The proposed Dock Street Monstrosity

Dear Mr. [anonymous],

Thank you for writing me about your opinion of the proposed building, now known as Dock Street DUMBO. As you may know, this is not the first proposal for this location. In 2004, Two Trees proposed a 17 story building at 38 Water St. which I opposed. My position was and remains that a building at a location this close to the Brooklyn Bridge should be no taller than 8 stories or 80 feet.

The block where Two Trees is proposing to build Dock Street DUMBO, – which now includes the site of the former Nova Clutch Building on Front Street, as well as the 38 Water Street location – is of particular historical significance. The Tobacco Warehouse and Civil War Warehouses are both located on the block along with other historic buildings that are part of the calendared DUMBO landmark area. It is my opinion, that the proposed building would be totally out of character with these historical resources, many of them excellently restored by Two Trees. In addition, I find a development this tall to be unacceptable at this location, as it would block views of and from the historic Brooklyn Bridge.

The developers have included space that they would lease to the Board of Education for a middle school. There is a dire need for a middle school in the DUMBO/ Brooklyn Heights area to serve the graduates of PS 8. Children from these neighborhoods now go to variety of public and private schools throughout the borough and even in Manhattan. I have been in discussions about this issue with the Department of Education for some time. In the early fall I will be sending information about a joint task force composed of DUMBO/Brooklyn Heights residents and PS 8 parents to begin a middle school search process. I feel strongly that this location is not the only solution — a school should not be used as a reason for an inappropriate building.

As many of you are aware one of the prime aims of my work as a city council member has been to create affordable housing. Again I do not feel that this incentive should be used to build an inappropriate building.

I feel this makes my position on this issue clear, but if you have further questions please do not hesitate to write me at dock07@gmail.com or contact my district office at (718) 875-5200.

Sincerely,

David Yassky

Looks like Mr. Yassky set up a gmail account to receive emails regarding the Dock Street Building. Finally, a website has been created by a group of citizens opposed to the development, savedumbo.org, which include some renderings of the building by Two Trees (below). While I don’t think a building on the lot is a bad thing, many residents are opposed to the size and having a middle school in the same structure as a residential rental building.

{More Middle Schools in Brooklyn, 05Aug07, NY Times, Letters to the Editor}
Previously:
{NY Times: Middle School Needed in the Area, 30Jul07}
{Dock Street Dumbo Plans Revealed, 27Jun207, }
{Two Trees Seeking Approval for 15-20 Story Building Abutting Brooklyn Bridge, 18Apr07}

Yesterday’s NY Times article by Gregory Beyer notes that “For a long time, Public School 8 in Brooklyn Heights was so troubled, it served as a sort of benchmark for local parents: If your child was old enough to attend, it was probably time to move out of the neighborhood.” But in 2003, with a new principal and involved parents, the quality of PS8 have improved and credited with keeping Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, and Fulton Ferry area families in the neighborhood. Now that the grade school kids are getting old enough for middle school, parents are forced to think about where to send their kids next:

The school district includes middle and junior high schools in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Park Slope, Vinegar Hill, Prospect Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant. According to Margie Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Education, the district’s middle schools have more seats than students.

But many Brooklyn Heights residents find these options insufficient. They think the best way to capitalize on the success of P.S. 8 is to keep its graduates together in a new school of their own, preferably in their neighborhood….

To address the issue, Two Trees Management, a Dumbo development firm, submitted a proposal for a middle school serving about 300 students. The school would share a building on Dock Street — not yet built — with stores and housing. Jed Walentas, an owner of Two Trees, said his company insists on including a school component in the building. The Department of Education is examining that proposal.

According to the article, there are seats available in neighboring areas. So are those middle schools not adequate? Are they too far? Any parents care to comment about private school options in the Dumbo area?

{Wanted: A School of Their Own, 29July2007, NY Times}

Walked by the new 206 Front Street the other day and noticed some residents have moved into their condos. Any residents care to chime in about the building? Are you happy with your new place? Any gripes? Welcome to the neighborhood!

Previously:
{The Vista Received Its TCO, 11May2007}
{The Vista on Vinegar Hill Sold Out, 26Apr2007}
{New Residents, How’s Beacon Tower?, 3May2007}
{Vista on Vinegar Hill Progress Report (2/13/07), DumboNYC}
{Vista on Vinegar Hill Progress Report (11/13/06), DumboNYC}
{Vista on Vinegar Hill Progress Report (9/19/06), DumboNYC}

Dumbo Brooklyn based Dumbo Pet Care, Inc., owned by Cynthia Barnett, is more personal than a typical kennel. If the boarding facility looks like the pets home, it’s because Dumbo Pet Care is a loft home on Jay Street where the pets are allowed to roam, sleep on the couch, and play with their friends. Pets are not caged but have crates available for nighttime use. Dumbo Pet Care also provide dog walking services, home visits, and day care. With new residents moving into the area, there will no doubt be new pets to the area. I’ve asked Cynthia about future plans for her business:

How long have you been in business in Dumbo?

One year

How have your clients in Dumbo changed over time?

They haven’t changed, there are just more of them now.

What inspired you to start this business?

Aside from an obvious love of animals there was a desperate need for these services in Dumbo. For a long time there were only a few dog walkers serving the neighborhood and no boarding or daycare services available. I have a large loft in a pet friendly building and wanted to start my own business, so this was an easy choice.

What are some challenges in owning a small business?

As with any small business there are many challenges to overcome and being home based presents some unique ones. Working capital, advertising and promotion, pet safe cleaning supplies, being respectful to our neighbors, and more are issues we deal with regularly. It forces you to think more creatively, which I like.

What are your plans for the future?

We’re seriously considering opening a pet food store but plan to keep our boarding and daycare services home based. A lot of dogs don’t do well in a sterile commercial environment locked in a kennel obviously, and our customers definitely aren’t looking for that. This has become a home away from home for the dogs who stay often and we really like that. It makes their boarding and daycare experience pretty much stress free. We’re able to spend quality time with the dogs and work on issues like aggression, socialization, and house training. Our plans for the future include securing a larger loft in the same building (our landlord has been very supportive), partnering with rescue organizations to hold adoption events, and opening a pet food and grooming shop.

What do you most enjoy about what you do?

Being my own boss! I used to “baby sit” musicians and I have to say dogs are a lot more fun and a LOT less stressful!

—

For more information, please contact Cynthia Barnett at (347) 405-1423 or Cynthia@DUMBOPetCare.com.
www.DUMBOPetCare.com

If you would like to be considered for an interview, please contact us at dumbonyc@gmail.com.

 (Photo by Austin Mann Photography)

It’s easy to believe that the neighborhood, Dumbo, was coined by developers who wanted a cool sounding acronym like SoHo, NoHo, or Tribeca. But in fact, Dumbo was named by residents and artist loft tenants in the late 1970s who were looking for an uncool, anti-marketing name to protect their turf from developers who they thought were going to ruin the character of the neighborhood. Some things never change. After DumboNYC wrote an article titled Dumbo, the Historic District With the Modern Name, a long time resident sent an email and introduced me to Crane Davis.

Crane Davis is a writer and producer who lived on Washington Street in Dumbo from 1976 through 2006. In the 1980′s, he served as president of the Fulton Ferry Local Development Corporation. He recently retired to a home in the Hudson Valley near Woodstock. Crane is today’s guest writer. He lets us in on what the area now known as Dumbo used to be, and how he and a few others named Dumbo.

Click below to read Crane’s story. Read the rest of this entry »

The 2007 Dumbo Town Meeting last night at Powerhouse Arena attracted a few hundred attendees who enjoyed the snacks and finger food provided by neighborhood sponsors Foragers, Retreat, and Ferrigno’s. The Dumbo Neighborhood Association (DNA) organized the event, which brought together Dumbo residents, business owners, DNA staff, Dumbo Business Improvement staff, bloggers (Brownstoner and DumboNYC (others?)), elected officials, and artists to ‘meet-and-greet’ and to discuss neighborhood topics. As expected, the DNA did a great job organizing the annual event to inform people about Dumbo’s unique industrial landscape.

Councilman David Yassky was there to support the Dumbo neighborhood and discussed three main topics:

• Landmarking Dumbo – The office recognizes the importance to neighbors on landmarking and will work towards “having a landmark district within a year and a half” for Dumbo.
• Dumbo Area Schools – Mr. Yassky recognizes that there are many young families moving to the area. P.S. 8 has been improving. To keep families in the neighborhood, the next step is to bring a middle school to the area. The office is looking at ‘opportunities to open a middle school.’
• Brooklyn Bridge Park – The much discussed Brooklyn Bridge Park will begin its transformation soon. This summer will begin the opening of its floating pool between piers 4 and 5 south of Fulton Ferry.

Producer of the local film “Dumbo, Then & Now”, Julia Ryan, showed her poignant documentary that chronicled the rise and fall, and resurgence of the industrial Dumbo buildings. Preservationist Lisa Kersavage of the Municipal Arts Society showed the importance of Dumbo’s commerce and manufacturing in the late 1800s and early 1900s and how the bridges removed the importance of Brooklyn’s waterfront.

The evening ended with Jonathan Butler’s (of brownstoner.com) story of how Brownstoner came to be. Being a Manhattanite for most of his life, he moved to Brooklyn in 2003 not knowing everything he knows now about the variety of Brooklyn neighborhoods. But through his reporting, he’s immersed himself in all things Brooklyn. (‘Stoner, you’ve got street cred in Brooklyn despite what you say.) Questions for Jon ranged from the fate of the Nova Clutch building and Admiral Row to what his thoughts are on the Brooklyn Bridge Park. (Someone even asked, what do you do? (?!)).

With so much change in the area, there are people concerned with housing and live/work space affordability, building preservation, and over-development. These are issues that local elected officials are aware of. Great event DNA and hope to see you at the next annual meeting!

[5/15/07 - For a recap of the meeting, go here: Dumbo Town Meeting 2007 Recap]

Monday May 14 – 6:30PM at Powerhouse Arena (Corner of Main & Water Streets)

Open to all who live or work in DUMBO – especially welcoming all the new residents who have moved in or are moving in to DUMBO this year

There will be a Jazz and Wine reception with gourmet treats donated by neighborhood sponsors such as Foragers, Retreat & Ferrigno’s.

• BBPrez Marty Markowitz and City Councilman David Yassky are scheduled to attend, and perhaps Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez – talk to the electeds and let them know what you think.
• Hear featured speaker Jonathan Butler, recently “outed” host of Brownstoner.com, now that he has gone public.
• Also hear Lisa Kersavage of the Municipal Arts Society speak on DUMBO’s unique industrial landscape and the historic Brooklyn waterfront.
• See the acclaimed short film “Dumbo, Then and Now”.
• We are also having a door prize raffle with great gifts from neighborhood sponsors – free dinners at Water St Bar & Grill, Superfine and Five Front, Merchandise from Tivoli Home, Lifepop and Modern Tots, Pies from Bubby’s, Gift certificates to La Bagel Delight, Stewart/Stand, Zoe, Bridgestone Cleaners, Half Pint and others, Framed Photograph from artist Octavio Molina, CD’s from local musicians, Free fitness classes from The Fitness Guru and Noodle Yoga and more.

Mingle, meet your neighbors and perhaps voice your opinion during our open mike Q&A. Please come and find out more about your ‘hood, meet your neighbors and support the efforts of the DNA in keeping the community informed, improving infrastructure and services and sponsoring fun community events.

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}

There seem to be many small business owners who live and work in Dumbo, but TuneCore’s technology has earned its music clients millions of dollars; not quite small business. Co-founders Gary Burke and Peter Wells live and work in Dumbo Brooklyn. They’re close to convincing President, CEO, and co-founder Jeff Price to move to Dumbo as well. I caught up with co- founder Peter Wells, Sr. VP Operations about what TuneCore does to help fellow music artists earn millions and how TuneCore and Dumbo are alike:

For people who aren’t familiar with the business model, how does TuneCore work?

Three of us founded TuneCore in 2005 so everyone could get music distribution under a new model where they keep their rights and earnings. iTunes is the 4th largest seller of music in the U.S., and there’s room at iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, all the download stores, for an infinite number of albums, why should only the big record labels have access, and why should gatekeepers force you to give up your rights or a huge percentage of your earnings just so you can get in? TuneCore gets your original music (even covers!) on iTunes and many other online digital stores for what comes to about $20 an album, average. You keep your rights, you control your own masters in a non exclusive agreement that you can cancel at any time and best of all, whatever your music earns you keep: we pass it all along to you, without taking a cut.

TuneCore is based in Dumbo Brooklyn. What bought the business here?

DUMBO was the perfect place to set up shop. TuneCore founder and CEO Jeff Price was already here, running his indie label spinART Records out of a seventh-floor office at 20 Jay St. spinART’s been around almost 18 years, the last few in Dumbo, which has always been a place artists of all kinds can be without going broke over rents, but close enough to vibrant Brooklyn and Manhattan scenes. Now that DUMBO is its own scene, it made sense to bring TuneCore’s headquarters here. In January, Gary Burke (our chief of technology) and I moved from Massachusetts to an awesome loft on Washington St. We’d fallen in love with DUMBO when we came to scout out office space, and decided it’d be the perfect place to live as well as work. We’ve been here about two months and already love it. So now TuneCore and spinART Records share space on Jay St. and we have a 3-block commute by foot.

Sounds like TuneCore and Dumbo are very intertwined. How are TuneCore and Dumbo alike?

Both have a hidden but very real history, both are about the artists first, but are moving hard and fast into the new century. Both are up-and-coming, and while DUMBO does all it can to grow and still hold on to its artistic, free-spirited roots, TuneCore is becoming a major player in the music world, but still remembers it’s all about the music, and keeping the door open for anyone who wants their music to get heard. If you can get your album up on iTunes and sell it, keep the money and pour that back into your band, you’ll be able to keep playing longer, make more music, keep the dream alive. We’re also providing all the tools you need, from making CDs to posters, stickers, buttons, t-shirts, so you can turn profits into promotions. That seems to be DUMBO’s move, too: from the plans for the Pearl St. Triangle to the park, the success of the neighborhood is pouring back into the area to improve it.

How can music artists grow with Dumbo as the neighborhood changes?

That’s the energy that made us decide to stay in DUMBO, and even live here. In just a couple of months, I’ve seen this neighborhood change radically. I can’t imagine what will happen when J-Condo and 85 open up. I can’t imagine those empty retail spaces are going to stay vacant long. As the price of living here grows, if there are companies that help artists reach their audiences inexpensively, using all the new technology that’s out there, DUMBO won’t have to give up its soul while it finds success.

—

For additional information, contact Peter Wells, Sr. VP Operations, Customer Advocate at peter@tunecore.com or go to www.tunecore.com for further information.

If you would like to be considered for an interview, please contact us at dumbonyc@gmail.com.