Dumbo NYC

From the inbox…Again, more car break-ins, recommendations on local contractors, and Washington Street repairs. Thanks for your emails. Apologies if I haven’t been able to get to all of them.

1) Subject: More Car Break-ins
Saw some more car windows being broken last night while walking on York street between Washingon and Front Streets. Can you tell the police about this? What can we do to stop this?

[Ed Note: We had the car break-in email from a previous mailbag post, and we get emails every so often about them. Please call 311, the 84th Precinct 718-875-6811 (store this number in your cell phone), or 911 if you witness any crimes! We did see a few windows broken this morning so if your car was broken into, you may want to get them repaired asap (photos above).]

2) Subject: Local Contractor reviews
Some of the other neighborhoods in our fine borough offer this service via the parent network. Being a parent myself, I’m always looking for people that can build, paint, repair, plumb and wire. Any suggestions? Carl.

[Ed Note: Can anyone provide any suggestions for Carl?]

3) Subject: Washington St Repairs
Washington Street is being repaired with new Belgian Blocks. This is great news. I’m wondering, are you going to do work on Main Street next?

[Ed Note: We're not part of Dumbo Improvement District, but their website states that "three blocks of Washington Street from York Street to Plymouth Street will be completely repaired and restored" and they are continually lobbying the City to restore the Belgian block roadbed as part of the reconstruction. The above roadwork photo was taken this morning as the DOT was working on fixing the Belgian blocks on Washington Street.]

When we wrote about the cheapest Dumbo apartments on the market in August 2007, the real estate market was well on its way down outside of NYC. The lowest priced condo on the market was $475,000 ($880/sq.ft). Today, 10 months later, there’s still talk of real estate bottoming out, but based on some of the recently sold condos in Dumbo on streeteasy.com, it doesn’t seem so much a bottom…yet. The price per square feet for smaller condos (under 800 sq.ft) in contract are pricing out around $740, while the larger condos (above 1200 sq.ft) are pricing out over $1200. (Excluding the Brooklyn record at One main Penthouse at $7million ($2187/sq.ft)).

To get a better sense from realtors, we spoke to a few Dumbo-based realtors who said, “although there are units sitting on the market a little longer, they’re still selling at or near asking price.” They agree that inventory is still tight in Dumbo but the ones sitting on the market longer aren’t in “prime Dumbo” buildings.

Currently the cheapest Dumbo condos listed in contract are:

• $550,000 (70 Washington, $686/sq.ft)
• $580,000 (85 Adams, #15B, $745/sq.ft)
• $580,000 (85 Adams, #15C, $745/sq.ft)
• $590,000 (100 Jay, #8H, $737/sq.ft)

The cheapest on the market not in contract is listed at $599,000 at 100 Jay Street, #8L ($795/sq.ft) offered by Nestseekers.

What do you think? Is the Dumbo market stable? or will it go down much more?

 [+larger]

Some residents found their cars towed this past Monday due to several parking regulation changes made over the weekend. According to the Department of Transportation, there will be further parking changes in the near future and advised to check signs. The following parking changes were made:

• Front Street: North side Main to Washington Street - 2 Hour Limited Parking
• Front Street: North side Dock to Main Street - 2 Hour Limited Parking
• Front Street: South side York to Washington Street - 2 Hour Limited Parking
• Front Street: South side Washington St to Adams St -2 Hour Limited Parking
• Water Street: North side Pearl St to Hudson Ave - No Standing Anytime
• Water Street: South side Pearl St to Hudson Ave - No Parking 8-9:30 Friday

{New Street Parking Spots in Dumbo, 24Aug2007}

The previous post on NYPD’s Sky Watch got mostly positive comments on the NYPD’s response to the recent crime in Dumbo. Some took the post as complaining, which is absolutely not the case. I really wanted to convey appreciation to the NYPD for taking action based on the overwhelming concerns that residents and business owners had on neighborhood safety. Thank you to Captain Alan Abel of the 84th Precinct and our officers who heard our concerns! I spoke with three of our officers yesterday who told me that Sky Watch has reduced crime and should be in Dumbo for “maybe several weeks”. If they’re at Front Street Pizza or at J Condo, they’re likely on their break, so before you think they’re wasting time, thank them for looking out for us. (You can call the Precinct at (718) 875-6811 to give positive feedback too).

(Photo courtesy of epc)

The NYPD deployed Sky Watch yesterday, a “mobile platform for surveillance, assessment, and response” on Front Street between Adams and Pearl Street in Dumbo Brooklyn. We haven’t had a chance to check with NYPD how long they’ll be there, but could this be a result of the recent crime in Dumbo and Vinegar Hill? The menacing looking Sky Watch has high powered sensors, cameras, mics, and spotlights and was rolled out to high crime areas of Crown Heights and Harlem in 2006. We’ve seen a lot more foot patrol in the area since the Precinct meeting last week, which is great, but is this over the top?

{Increased Crime in Dumbo at Night, 11Mar2008}
{84 Precinct Council Meeting, 12Mar2008}
{Arrest of Three Men in Vinegar Hill, 18Mar2008}
{Sky Watch: For Officers and Overseers, 09Oct2007, Razor Apple}

Our Vinegar Hill correspondent witnessed the arrest of three young men in front of 206 Front Street last night at approximately 9pm. They were not there to see what the men did, but saw a police car with two officers called to the scene to put the three men in custody. Three additional officers who were on duty patrolling the streets were there. Several people have commented on this site that they have noticed an increased presence of police officers and cars patrolling Dumbo and Vinegar Hill after several muggings were reported last week and residents started calling the 84th Precinct and David Yassky’s office (718-875-5200). One of the victims shared his story last week and another comment reported a separate incident in Vinegar Hill by “a group of kids”.

There is a 84th Precinct Council Meeting tonight at 7pm in Dumbo (Phoenix House, 50 Jay Street, between Plymouth and Water) to address and report on the recent crimes. Call the precinct at (718) 875-6811 or their community affairs line for further information at (718) 875-6850.

{Increased Crime in Dumbo at Night, 11Mar2008}
{84 Precinct Council Meeting in Dumbo, 12Mar2008}

(16 Main Street, the future home of The Galapagos Art Space. Photo courtesy of blackoutny)

An article in today’s NY Times talks about artists and organizations receiving subsidized rent from the Walentas’ Two Trees Management. Of course there’s the notion that the subsidized rents are temporary and that given the pace of gentrification, the future of Dumbo’s artists remain uncertain. A few tibits from the article:

• When 70 Washington was converted to condos, Two Trees offered every artist in the building below-market rates at 20 Jay or 55 Washington and 80% accepted.
• Mr. Walentas would like to move St. Ann’s Warehouse to the 19th-century Tobacco Warehouse in Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park and convert the Empire Stores Warehouse, on Water Street between Dock and Main Streets, into studio and gallery space. Both are owned by the state.
• The Galapagos Art Space almost moved to Berlin before Walentas offered a 15 year lease at 16 Main for $6.82 per sq ft.
• The rents vary depending on the organization and “depends on the space and who they are and what they contribute”: In the 55 Washington building, for example, the James Glass Studio pays $6.77 per square foot per year; Chris Perry Woodworking, $11.39; and the Robinson & Grisaru architectural firm, $19. At 45 Main Street, Lynn Veitzer, an artist, pays $14.61; Jennifer Riley, also an artist, $12.79; and the Dumbo Arts Center, zero.
• “In 2003 the Walentases told Smack Mellon that it had to vacate its gallery and studio space at 56 Water Street to make room for a 1922 carousel restored by David Walentas’s wife, Jane, an artist. But the developers moved Smack Mellon into a former boiler house at 92 Plymouth Street, gratis, and helped pay for the renovation.”

There’s no question that artists add value to any area/neighborhood, but as gentrification (and rezoning) takes place, and market rate rents go up, artists are forced out of a neighborhood they originally helped to create.

{The Lords of Dumbo Make Room for the Arts, at Least for the Moment, 06Mar2008, NY Times}

New York Magazine’s Best of New York issue, released this week, has a few Dumbo-based winners for 2008:

• Best Brooklyn Boutique: Zoe, 68 Washington Street
• Best Mid-Century Modern Home Store: Galleryqb, 163 Plymouth Street
• Best Chair for the Chic Parent: Lisa Albin’s Mod Rocker at ModernTots, 53 Pearl Street
• Best Party Venue: Smack Mellon, 92 Plymouth Street

Congratulations to the Dumbo winners.

{NY Mag’s Best Of}
Photo credits:
my soleil, @ Smack Mellon, galleryqb.com, nymag.com

According to a story in the Architect’s Newspaper, the City Planning Commissioner Amanda Burden announced at yesterday’s commission meeting that the Department of City Planning was undertaking a rezoning of Dumbo. They will be presenting its first official version of the rezoning to Community Board 2, elected officials, local preservationists, and other concerned parties during a closed-door meeting on Thursday.

“Everyone’s been taken aback by how fast this has taken place after the landmarking,” Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council, told AN. The Department of City Planning did not return calls for comment, but Bankoff and another source said they have heard talk of rezoning the area R8A.

Such a contextual zoning that would create bulky 10-12 story buildings, which would conform with some of the areas taller lofts but tower over others. The area is currently a patchwork of lots zoned for manufacturing or residential [.pdf]. “It’s looking like they want a high-density residential neighborhood,” Bankoff said. “What will happen to the remaining factories and illegal lofts, we don’t yet know.”

That mix—new condos, converted lofts, and factories, both active and derelict—captures the neighborhood’s meteoric rise over the last decade from industrial hub to artists’ colony to haute ‘hood. As with previous rezonings, this one should update the area’s outmoded regulations while trying to both encourage and control development. The question remaining for those in the neighborhood is what is appropriate development.

According to the Department of City Planning spokesperson Jennifer Torres, the “proposed rezoning aims to preserve the mixed-use character of the neighborhood, allow for residential conversion of existing loft buildings, promote new construction at densities consistent with the built character of the area, and provide incentives and opportunities for affordable housing development in DUMBO.”

The Dumbo Neighborhood Association is holding a one-hour press conference with Councilman David Yassky at 10:30am today (Wed, Feb. 27) at the PowerHouse Arena (37 Main Street) on protecting the community against inappropriate development.

{DNA Press Conference info (pdf)}

So your car got towed in Dumbo? I realize that this may not apply to a lot of people in Dumbo, a neighborhood that’s promoting environmental responsibility and green-ness, but I’ve received enough emails about towed cars and where to go that I’ll post a recent experience. I have a car, but only drive on weekends, so I park on the street. I’ve never had any problems finding parking but occasionally I forget to move the car on no parking days.

For the first time, my car was towed last week, and found that all cars towed in Brooklyn go to the Brooklyn Tow Pound in Vinegar Hill on the corner of Sands and Navy Street (thank god it’s so close!). It’s a 10 minute walk from Dumbo. You’ll need any outstanding tickets paid before you can redeem your car. Bring your registration and current insurance card. If it’s in your car, they will allow you to get it. Once you get to the pound, (go early when there’s no line), pay your tow fee ($185 plus $20 per day) and you’re on your way. It was much easier than I had anticipated. I just have to remember to move the car next time. Anyone have other experiences to share?

Brooklyn Navy Yard; corner of Sands St. & Navy St.
Tel: 718-694-0696
Mon-Fri 8am-9pm; Sat 8am-4pm; Sun 12pm-8pm

{How to Redeem Your Towed Vehicle, nyc.gov}
{Towed Vehicles, nyc.gov}