A T-Shirt For DUMBO, from Digital DUMBO & Brooklyn Industries

By Andrew Zarick, Co-Founder, Digital DUMBO

Since its founding in January of 2009, Digital DUMBO has seen tremendous growth. Quickly approaching a community size of nearly 10,000 digital influencers, this year we as organizers have been focused on creating additional value for our community. Our monthly events have proven to create lasting business and personal relationships, resulting in revenue growth for the businesses that attend and even a couple Craigslist Missed Connections for the singles in the crowd. Beyond the connections that our events have created, we’ve been actively reaching out to and working with partners that we think both benefit and fit with the organic makeup of the Digital DUMBO community. One of these partners is Brooklyn Industries.

Earlier this year, we met with Brooklyn Industries and began discussing the potential of collaborating on the design of a Digital DUMBO t-shirt. At the time, Brooklyn Industries had recently relocated to DUMBO from the Brooklyn Navy Yard and had just opened a new retail store on Front St. We could have gone through the usual channels to create a t-shirt, but we wanted to do something special for our community by working with not only a Brooklyn company, but a DUMBO company, and a company that actively engages the local community in art, clothing, design and style. Fortunately, they were into the idea of a Brooklyn Industries and Digital DUMBO collaborative t-shirt and agreed to work with us.

After a few weeks of brainstorming followed by design revisions, we agreed on a design that we not only felt represented the Digital DUMBO community but also DUMBO as a whole. Until now, neither Digital DUMBO nor DUMBO had a t-shirt to call its own. The shirt features elements of DUMBO’s digital fabric, using a mouse to create a D and the outline of an iPad for the U, but also prominent DUMBO landmarks like a pillar from the Manhattan bridge to create an M, and the clocktower atop of the old Robert Gair cardboard warehouse on Main St. for the O. And, of course, the bicycle to represent the over 8,000 people that commute to and from DUMBO on a daily basis for the B.

We hope that our community and those that have had the opportunity to experience DUMBO, whether as a resident, commuter, artist or tourist, will be proud to wear this shirt and this design.

The t-shirt will be available for purchase at the next Digital DUMBO event on September 29th and at select locations after the conclusion of the event. Please email contact@digitaldumbo.com with any Digital DUMBO or t-shirt related questions.

This post was originally written by Andrew Zarick, Co-Founder of Digital DUMBO, for DUMBO.is.

On September 29th, Digital DUMBO will be hosting their own Fashion Night Out with a release of a new t-shirt design for Dumbo and the Digital Dumbo community. Partnered with Dumbo-based Brooklyn Industries, Digital Dumbo will have an official T-Shirt Release Party with Brooklyn Industries and Radballs.

T-shirt supplies are limited and available initially at Digital Dumbo events.

September 29, 2011, 6:30-9:30pm
Dumbo Loft
155 Water Street, Brooklyn NY 11201

DAMN Digital Studio is hosting a meet-up tonight, Friday August 5th at 6:00pm at their studio location (45 Main Street, Suite 410, Brooklyn, NY 11201) to which all residents and businesses from the New York community are invited to take part in. This event will be centered around “Pro Tools Music Production” and will be hosted by their very own Composer/Audio Engineer Jay Simmons. This interactive seminar will be the first of its kind to take place at their studio and will showcase Simmons’ technical insight and innovative presentation to all who attend.

A bit about DAMN Digital:
We are an interactive advertising agency located in DUMBO, Brooklyn, where newness and artistic visions boom on the streets everyday. Inspired by the go green culture, DAMN Digital strives to kindle a cultural shift to the digital lifestyle and ultimately eliminate the everyday use of paper. This is our company’s mission, and our lifetime goal. Our efforts will work to accomplish our vision of a world where all communications take place via digital platforms, and the reckless slashing and pillage of trees and paper-wasting habits can come to an end, once and for all.

Yes, we are the new kids on the block. You may have heard of us Digital Defenders/advocates of the paperless, digital lifestyle, but most of you have not. So today, we introduce ourselves-the DAMN Digital Team.

As we set off on our go-digital campaign to stimulate the digital (r)evolution, we seek your support. Thinkers and idealists alike, we welcome you to champion our cause. Visit our website www.DamnDigitalStudio.com and look out for our upcoming mini web series called “The Digital Zone,” which will illustrate the animated lives of 6 individuals as they transition into the digital lifestyle.

To contribute, go to our KickStarter and donate your dollars-hugs are accepted too. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/damndigital/you-are-now-entering-the-digital-zone?ref=live

Welcome DAMN Digital to the New York Digital District!

Three digital companies have signed leases in Dumbo last week, according to a Two Trees representative. Official.FM (20 Jay Street), North American Ideon (45 Main Street), and Breakfast (55 Washington Street) have joined the New York Digital District, the neighborhood that offers free wireless access and the Dumbo Business Incubator.

Official.FM U.S.A. Inc, is a company that offers artists, labels and music media a website to share their music. They signed a lease for 1,590 square feet of space in 20 Jay Street. This will be their U.S. office location and they will continue maintain a presence in Europe.

Ideon Financial Solutions, a company that produces software and provides support for financial institutions, is based in North America and Europe, with the main headquarters located in Madrid. North American Ideon, L.L.C., the North American division, are based in New York City with additional offices in San Antonio, Texas and now DUMBO with the acquisition of 1,436 square feet of space at 55 Washington Street they are leasing.

Breakfast are innovators who create and develop new digital products and custom technology. The company will be renting 1,436 square feet of space at 55 Washington Street.

Welcome to Dumbo, the New York Digital District!

Previously:
{Lease News: 4 Digital Firms Sign in Dumbo, 28Jun2010}

Naked Apartments simplifies the NYC apartment rental hunt with broker reviews, anonymous messaging, no duplicate listings, and reverse search — where brokers and landlords send renters suggested listings. The site has over 15,000 apartments, of which several thousand are no-fee only. The site is completely free for renters. They have a quality blog as well with infographics and issues related to rentals.

Their latest post includes rental prices for NYC based on data they collected and from Trulia. Not surprisingly, the Dumbo neighborhood is the highest average rental cost at $3,620 per month in Brooklyn. The #1 in Manhattan is Tribeca at $4,947, #1 in Bronx is Riverdale at $1,190, and #1 in Queens is Hunter’s Point at $3,046. Dumbo also is #8 priciest neighborhood for 1 bedroom apartments in NYC ($3,280 per month).

Naked Apartments was launched almost two years ago and growing, as more renters discover that they offer a unique platform to find their next apartment. We asked the founder and the CEO how Naked Apartments competes against the larger rental sites. “Naked Apartments competes against these large players by providing a better site for New Yorkers looking for their next apartment. We certainly can’t outspend the major sites, and we certainly can’t compete with their brand-recognition, but we can compete by putting out a better site with features that solve the frustrations that NYC renters face,” says CEO Joe Charat. “We enable renters to search by several features that aren’t available on many of the leading sites. Those include move-in-date, doormen, free-months-rent, no-fee, balcony, elevator, laundry, etc.”

Compare DUMBO Apartments for Rent at Naked Apartments:
nakedapartments.com/nyc/dumbo-apartments

The 2011 Brooklyn DIY Business Association Conference will be held on June 26 at the DUMBO Loft (155 Water Street) and Etsy Labs (55 Washington St, Suite 712).

From DIYBA:

For the first Brooklyn DIY Business Association Conference, we’re bringing together the independent music industry, freelance communicators, innovators of art and craft, Internet and tech gurus, and business and service providers for a day of inspiration, information, empowerment, and networking.

Conference attendees will attend four action-packed panels and—based on the information you provide in a goal-based registration survey—will engage in an affinity group and a DIYT (Do-It-Yourself-Together) incubator group.

A full-day pass is $125 per person and includes breakfast, lunch, and evening cocktails.

Splashlife.com will give a $1,000 microgrant to one attendee of the Brooklyn DIY Business Association Conference, on June 26.

More than 30 creative leaders will be speaking at the Brooklyn DIY Business Association Conference, including:

• Andrew Wagner, ReadyMade Editor-in-Chief
• Grace Bonney, Design*Sponge Founder and Editor-in-Chief
• Dean Haspiel, Illustrator for HBO’s Bored To Death, creator of Billy Dogma, Street Code, and ACT-I-VATE for web comics
• Susan Gregg Koger, Modcloth.com Chief Creative Officer?
• Melissa Helmbrecht, Splashlife.com CEO
• Shaina Feinberg, This American Life contributor, audio producer, writer, and comedian Dave Hill’s editorial director
• Danielle Maveal, Etsy Education Coordinator?
• Gregory Jackson, touring and session bassist for various artists, including Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z, and Erykah Badu
• Molly Neuman, Senior Director of Label Relations for eMusic; Owner, Simple Social Graces Discos and Kitchen, and former drummer of Bratmobile
• Evie Nagy, Managing Editor of Rollingstone.com
• Mary S. Butler, Senior Content Strategist for Razorfish?
• Ryan J. Davis, Huffington Post blogger, political pundit on The Hill, Social Media Director for Blue State Digital
• Caroline Suh, Director of Frontrunners and frontrunner of Iconoclasts
• Jessica H. Lawrence, Managing Director at New York Tech Meetup

For full conference schedule, go to diybusinessassociation.com.

Following the prior announcement of the free Dumbo wi-fi last week, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly), and Two Trees Management today announced a new City-sponsored business incubator to support the development of technology startup businesses in Brooklyn. The DUMBO Incubator, located at 20 Jay Street – one block from Brooklyn Bridge Park – will accommodate technology entrepreneurs in the downtown Brooklyn neighborhood and across New York City over the next three years and is expected to be fully operational by the fall of 2011. NYCEDC provided a $250,000 grant to establish the incubator, the ninth sponsored by the City as part of a plan to encourage entrepreneurship within a variety of economic sectors. NYCEDC President Seth W. Pinsky and Tucker Reed, Director of Special Projects at Two Trees Management Company, announced the DUMBO incubator during an Internet Week NY panel on the City’s “Digital Corridors.”

Dumbo will be the ninth incubator in NYC and NYU-Poly signed a three-year lease for 6,440 sqft with Two Trees Management. The Incubator space will provide approximately 30 dedicated workstations, and additional co-working stations, targeted to New York City-based startup businesses and entrepreneurs across various industries, including financial services, media, green, bioscience, and fashion, with a focus on technology. Tenants will be able to access educational programming and services, such as business counseling sessions, workshops, and networking events on relevant topics. Two Trees principal Jed Walentas noted that “Many of the startup businesses in DUMBO such as Etsy, Carrot Creative, Huge, Brooklyn Digital Foundry, Big Spaceship, and SawHorse Media, which hosts the annual Shorty Awards for best Twitter content, have grown tremendously, while other digital and creative businesses continue to be drawn to our ‘state-of-the art’ community.” This is great news for Digital Dumbo and New York Digital District.

(note: Sawhorse Media is no longer in Dumbo. However, the Shorty Awards did start in Dumbo and founder Gregory Galant is still involved in the Dumbo tech community.)

Read the full press release in PDF format here (153kb).

US Senator Charles Schumer kicked off Internet Week NY 2011 this morning with a keynote speech. In his speech, he mentions Dumbo as a place for internet companies to thrive as part of the NY Digital District, and could incubate “the next Google or the next Facebook”. Last week, free wireless connectivity was made possible through a deal between Two Trees Management, Dumbo’s largest real estate developer, NYC Wireless and the DUMBO Business Improvement District.

This is what Senator Charles Schumer had to say:

“To me, the perfect example of the transformation of this sector in New York is what is happening right across the East River, in Dumbo. Fifteen years ago, Dumbo was a community of warehouses and underused industrial buildings, many of which had been languishing for decades. Now, it is one of the most vibrant mixed used neighborhoods in the city. It is a neighborhood transformed. And what is the main industry in Dumbo? Internet companies. The largest employer is Huge, a company that builds digital platforms for some of the biggest companies in the world, and has over 300 employees in Brooklyn. At the same time, there are more and more small start ups and midsized companies that have found affordable collaborative work spaces, creating exactly the sort of synergies that give rise to companies with similar growth potential. I wasn’t surprised when last week when it was announced that the first public wi-fi network in the city is in Dumbo. And I would not be surprised if the next Google or the next Facebook is born in one of these Dumbo buildings.”

Thanks to DUMBO Business Improvement District for the tip.

Dumbo Brooklyn First to Offer Free Wireless Access, 02Jun2011

DUMBO Business Improvement District (BID), Two Trees Management Company, and NYCwireless announce that Dumbo is now New York City’s first neighborhood to offer wireless internet access on streets, in its parks and plazas. DUMBO Wi-Fi is made possible by a public-private partnership between the neighborhood’s largest real estate holder, Two Trees, and the entity most directly responsible for guiding the development of public space in the Dumbo community, the Dumbo BID.

“We are encouraging people to step out of their offices and homes and engage with one another and the neighborhood in new and different ways,” said Alexandria Sica, Executive Director of the Dumbo BID. “Dumbo is the epicenter for digital start-ups and production companies. Wi-Fi is one more way to inspire the workforce we have and help attract new talent to the Brooklyn Waterfront. In DUMBO, you can put together a proposal while gazing at the Brooklyn Bridge and all of Manhattan. Creativity can literally flow into the streets. Businesses will be born in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The next Etsy could be thought up right under the Manhattan Bridge!”

The building, installation, and maintenance of the Wi-Fi network is executed by NYCwireless, a non-profit organizations that builds, supports, and advocates for free, public Wi-Fi Internet access in New York City.

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was in Dumbo today for the announcement at The Archway. He said, “For the first time in New York City, an entire area has become a hot spot – a haven for bloggers, Tweeters, emailers, Facebookers and everyone else who thrives on the internet. One day, mark my words, this area will rival Silicon Valley in terms of high tech ingenuity – so it’s only natural that Dumbo is the first neighborhood to be truly connected 24/7.”

The Dumbo BID has provided free wifi at the Brooklyn Bridge Park (Main Street Lot) since 2006 and was the first Brooklyn park to do so. Today’s announcement by the Dumbo BID may pave the way for the 64 other Business Improvement Districts in NYC to offer internet access for their residents and businesses.

{Using Internet Outside? In Part of Brooklyn, Free Wireless Access Arrives, 02june2011, NYTimes}
{Press release from Two Trees (610kb PDF file)}

(Photo credit: Yana Paskova for The New York Times)

Dumbo was mentioned in NY Times, with a story about Studiomates at 10 Jay Street on Wednesday, and Dumbo will be in Sunday’s paper as well.

NY Times writer Jake Mooney, who covers Dumbo, has written about the changes over the years. In his article in the National Real Estate section of Sunday’s NY Times, titled Bringing Up Dumbo, he discusses the new real estate development projects happening in East Dumbo, the former factory and manufacturing buildings closer to Vinegar Hill:

Now the next chapter is being written. In recent years, debates about the neighborhood’s future have brought about designation of a historic district and a rezoning of the eastern end, designed in part to encourage residential growth. Old commercial buildings continue to be converted, and several major construction projects are in the works, including one in the historic district from the giant builder Toll Brothers. Prices and rents in the neighborhood are among the highest in Brooklyn, and the city as a whole.

Dumbo’s indigenous warehouses have become home to advertising, design and creative companies like the online crafts marketplace Etsy, whose young workers have brought activity to the quiet cobblestone streets in the shadows of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

In a nod to Dumbo’s new creative community, Mooney speaks to creative media companies, such as HUGE, BBMG, and Etsy, and makes mention of other DigitalDUMBO and New York Digital District companies, Carrot Creative, Big Spaceship, and Brooklyn Digital Foundry.

These businesses are concentrated in buildings such as 45 Main Street, 55 Washington Street, 10 Jay Street, and 20 Jay Street. The concentration of new residential development projects in East Dumbo, such as 220 Water Street, 205 Water Street, 192 Water Street, and 37 Bridge Street, are due to the fact that most of the buildings West of Adams Street are occupied, such as 1 Main Street, 70 Washington Street, Beacon Tower (79 unit building completed in 2006), and J Condominium (267 units completed in 2007. Newly converted 25 Washington Street also got a mention.

In established Two Trees buildings near the area’s heart, like 1 Main Street and 70 Washington Street, asking prices for one-bedrooms are solidly above $1 million — closer to $2 million at 1 Main, which is nearer to the water, and occasionally below $1 million at 70 Washington. A 2,139-square-foot two-bedroom apartment at 1 Main Street is on the market for $2.2 million, and a two-bedroom, 1,384-square-foot unit at 70 Washington is listed at $1.35 million.

Read the full article for a good summary of the area’s new thriving businesses and real estate activity. Also see accompanying photo slide show.

A few past Jake Mooney mentions on DumboNYC:
{NY Times Highlights Dumbo Neighborhood Association, 04Jun2007}
{On Arty Streets, a Cluster of Hip Furniture Stores, 21Jan2007}

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}