1938

 September, 2009

In this series of “Dumbo Streetscapes Then and Now”, a 1938 photograph by photographer P.L. Sperr is looking down Front Street from what used to be known as Garrison Street (renamed York Street since the addition of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway). The building on the right is 70 Washington Street, and the center/left building is 45 Main Street. The far building in the center is the existing 55 Washington Street.

The original caption in the back of the photo reads: “Front Street, east from Garrison Street. April 4, 1938″

Today’s view, 71 years later, is pretty similar to the 1938 photo at first glance. The building structures are pretty much in tact, and the lot in front of 70 Washington was used as parking, just as it is now. The parking lot is owned by the Jehovah’s Witness (aka The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society). Because the Landmarks Preservation Commission granted landmark status to these buildings in Dumbo, the building exterior won’t change much in the future as well. However, the parking lot sits outside of the LPC boundaries for the Dumbo Historic District, which means the land owners may be allowed to build something on that plot someday.

One observation is the advertising for lofts on top of the 45 Main Street building in 1938 is similar to what it is today. in 1938, the ad space states: “Realty Corp. Lofts to-let”. Today, the building owner, Two Trees Management, has a sign that states: “Live. Work. Play. DUMBO” (Flickr photo)

{New York Public Library photo of Front Street – Garrison Street (1938)}
{Dumbo Then and Now, series, DumboNYC}
{Google Street View, from York St}

[UPDATE May 17, 2010: 5 Front Bistro has been replaced with Brooklyn Bridge Gardens, as mentioned here. For menu, go to their website: brooklynbridgegardens.com]

Unlike the Dumbo General Store sign controversy (or non-controversy), the new 5 Front Bistro Bar & Garden sign is fabric and Brooklyn Paper did not turn this sign into a “riveting neighborhood debate”. We’ve been to the garden patio and is an upscale atmosphere for drinks. Brunch was tasty and had the waffles, which were crispy and light. We can’t comment on dinner, since we haven’t been, but please comment with your thoughts on 5 Front.

5 Front Bistro Bar & Garden (fivefrontrestaurant.com)
Five Front Street, Brooklyn NY 11201
718-625-5559

Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 5:30 pm to 11 pm
Friday: 5:30 pm To Midnight
Saturday: 11am to Midnight
Sunday: 11 am to 11 pm
CLOSED MONDAY
(bar is open later)

Previously: {Five Front Restaurant Review, 21Aug2006}

The Dumbo Mural by Tattfoo Tan was removed by the Department of Transportation yesterday morning. The mural was installed in 2008 and was a colorful addition to what was otherwise a bare metal wall, an appropriate place for it, given the history of artists in the neighborhood. The Dumbo Improvement District commissioned the artwork and coordinated the installation with the artist and the DOT.

We contacted the Dumbo Improvement District to see what’s up with the space. They mentioned to us that they will keep the mural in Dumbo and are working on getting a new space for it. They also said that they will soon begin the fundraising and logistical process to site a new piece of art on the Front Street fence.

In an email from Tattfoo, he says to us:

“I had a great time working with DUMBO BID, PS307 and DOT and like to thank them and the residents of DUMBO for the opportunity. I hope to be able to be back in DUMBO soon and work on other new projects that I’m doing now like, “Mobile Garden”, “Black Gold” “S.O.S” which is all inline with NMS mural. Lastly, do “Remember to take your daily dose of color”.”

When we snapped the pics, the mural was being stored away in the 55 Washington St building. Any suggestions on where to place the mural?

{Dumbo Mural by Tattfoo and PS307 Children on Front Street, 29Feb2008}
{tattfoo.com}

(Photo courtesy of chrispescia)

Filming today/tomorrow (Aug 5-6) for “Morning Glory” in Dumbo Brooklyn on Front Street between Main and Dock Streets and Water and Old Fulton Streets.

According to The Brooklyn Beat, Morning Glory is a comedy with a star-studded cast including Rachel McAdams (The Notebook, Wedding Crashers), Patrick Wilson (Watchmen, Little Children), Harrison Ford, Jeff Goldblum, Diane Keaton and 50 Cent.

On Washington Street between Front and Water Street in Dumbo Brooklyn. [UPDATE: Filming for this production is occurring on almost every street in Dumbo.]

Aug 2 (Prep) and August 3-5., 5am-11pm.

According to a Twitter post, the filming is a SpikeDDB (55 Washington St) commercial for Rocawear…Starring Jay Z presumably.

For pics, see our post here.

The Beautiful Life, a new series about the life of a high-fashion model, which premieres on Sept 16, 2009 on the CW network is filming today in Dumbo on Washington Street between York and Front Streets, and on Front Street between York and Washington Streets starting at 7am. Please send pics to dumbonyc@gmail.com.

 1928 [+ enlarge]

 July, 2009 [+ enlarge]

In this series of “Dumbo Streetscapes Then and Now”, a 1928 photograph from the Eugene L. Armbruster Collection is looking at 29-35 Front Street, (north side of Front St) between Dock Street and what used to be called Garrison Street (now York Street). The center of the photo is a frame structured 3 story house, once the mansion of Joshua Sands (1795-1883), who served as a U.S. Representative and an officer in the United States Navy. As Commander, he was at the New York Navy Yard from 1841 to 1843. The house is only half the original structure, according to the caption in the back of the photo. The caption also states “To the left of it is a brick building occupying the site of the demolished section of the Sands house. That building at present (1928) is occupied by the Italian Mission of Santo Spirito.”

The right side of the 1928 photo shows the Zerega building (aka Nova Clutch building), which was demolished in June 2007 to make way for the highly publicized and controversial Dock Street Dumbo development that passed the rezoning process almost two years later in June 2009.

The original caption in the back of the photo reads: “The same, another view, showing in the center of the view the Sands house (frame). This is only half of the original structure. To the left of it is a brick building occupying the site of the demolished section of the Sands house. That building at present is occupied by the Italian Mission of Santo Spirito. August, 1928. Eugene L. Armbruster Collection. (May be reproduced.)”

The far right side of the photo is the seven story building now known as 57 Front Street, which has retail on the ground floor and condos above. The building near the upper portion of the photo is the Sweeney Building (30 Main Street), with its arched windows towards the top of the building. Today’s view shows much of the Sweeney Building since there are no townhouses blocking the view from this angle.

The old photo shows a charming street mixed with townhouses and brick factory buildings. Today’s view of the lot and parking garage isn’t much to look at, but if the Dock Street Dumbo building is completed on or around 2012, this view will be drastically different.

{New York Public Library photo of Front Street – Dock Street, 1928}
{Dumbo Then and Now, series, DumboNYC}
{Google Street View, Front St}
{(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}
{Two Trees Seeking Approval for 15-20 Story Building Abutting Brooklyn Bridge, 18Apr2007}

[UPDATE Aug 2011: This building is also known as 220 Water Street, which will begin rental occupancy in January 2011.]

New scaffolding was put up yesterday at the 201 Front Street building (aka 195-203 Front Street, 208 Water Street). The building is on the South side of Water Street (bound by Water, Bridge and Front Streets). While not much is revealed on the NYC DOB website, there’s a record on file from 6/22/2009 that states: “Propose to convert existing manufacturing building to residential use with accessory parking and retail store on the 1st floor.” The building was built in 1905 and is a Landmark Designation with a basement and 4 floors. According to these records, each floor can have up to 41 apartment units.

The Dumbo Historic Report Designation Report notes the architect as Henry S. Kissam and the original owner as Hanan & Son, a shoe manufacturer. “The Hanan company was among the first to stamp the firm’s name on every shoe, a daring idea at a time when most people still sought shoes handmade by the dealer…Shoe manufacturing was a major industry in Brooklyn in the late nineteenth century, with 65 factories doing a combined business of $2,300,000 in 1894; one-third of that business was done at the Hanan factory.”

“The simple brick facade, articulated primarily by its rectangular openings, concrete lintels and projecting sills, and corbelled cornice, marks 208 Water Street as an example of the vernacular factory building erected during DUMBO’s growth as an industrial neighborhood. This, together with its reinforced concrete construction, makes it representative of American factory architecture of this period and contributes to the architectural and historical character of the DUMBO Historic District.”

No word on when consrtuction will begin (or end), but if anyone has any info, let us know.

{NYC DOB record, 6/26/2009}
{NYC DOB record, 7/22/2009}

Speaking of parking, in the Mikey’s Hook Up blog, Mikey makes an observation about the fire hydrant that’s in front of their store in Dumbo (70 Front Street):

At least 3 to 4 times a day the Mikey’s Hookup in Dumbo is asked “Is this a real fire hydrant, can I park here?”

The real answer is Yes and No.

I’ve seen NYC traffic tow trucks make round after round scooping cars up and coming right back for more. It hurts to watch . I’ve also seen traffic cops walk right by and don’t feel it’s right to ticket cause of it’s placement.

It is a real live hydrant that’s a fact.

The curb was extended 3-4 years back when Front st. in Dumbo Brooklyn was getting a face lift. The city workers thought it was to much work to move the hydrant in a visible spot.

I’ve ask a number of different traffic officers and they all have different opinions about it.

According to the NYC parking violation code 40: Stopping, standing or parking closer than 15 feet of a fire hydrant. Between sunrise and sunset, a passenger vehicle may stand alongside a hydrant as long as a driver remains behind the wheel and is ready to move the vehicle if required to do so.

The hydrant is over 9 feet from the curb. So does that mean you really only need to park 6ft from it? There is nothing in the violation code stating the hydrant must be 15ft from the front or back of the vehicle . It just says “closer than 15ft”.

Don’t worry though. I’m sure it’ll get fixed sometime in the next 15 years. So be careful next time visiting the Dumbo MHU

Thanks for the parking tip Mikey. Now you know.

Filming for Step Up 3D will occur on Water Street between Jay and Bridge Street and on Front Street between Jay and Bridge Streets on Monday and Tuesday, June 8-9 between 6am and 11pm. They filmed a few weeks ago in Dumbo, and will be filming in and around Dumbo until June 16.

Previously: {Filming: Step Up 3D (Wed May 20, 2009)}