Dumbo NYC

Looks like the Treats Truck that came to Dumbo yesterday did pretty good business. With the Gaia opening at Halcyon, Jan Larsen Art and Frog’s Treats DJ outside Halcyon, the Pearl St. Triangle got a good flow of people. Kim Ima, “owner/baker/driver/eater” of Treats Truck told us that she hopes to return to Dumbo soon. We hope so too.

Everyone’s coming up with some, um, creative ideas for the use of Pearl Street Triangle (Bumbo Olympics on the official Bumbotron anyone?). But one idea to bring people there is with some snacks via the Treats Truck. The Treats Truck will be there this Saturday between 1pm and 7pm. Treats Truck is a mobile bakery with some tasty cookies, brownies, crisps, and desserts. They will also have drinks to wash the treats down. Come get some desserts and chill at the triangle this Saturday.

We received a few emails to update readers on the sidewalk reconstruction on the Pearl Street side of the 68 Jay Street building. Well, here it is (above photo). Earlier commenters were asking the building owner, Mr. Guttman (who is paying for the sidewalk paving) for planted trees to ‘beautify’ the area next to the new Pearl Street Triangle. There are no in-ground trees on the sidewalk, but why “prettify a neighborhood whose appeal is based largely on its industrial past”? As commenter Rascal stated eloquently:

“…A major challenge to usage of this space will be that no food or beverage vendors currently populate this triangle. A cafe or coffee shop seems an essential anchor; maybe this will provide an incentive for such an establishment.

I wish the DNA had made the opening of the bridge archway their first priority with the DOT rather than this, although this was probably easier to facilitate, a faster route to evidence of action.”

Yes, we need a food/cafe in the plaza that will bring people to the triangle. If 155 Water Street is going to become the rumored hotel, the ground floor area will be perfect for a cafe.

{Google StreetView of Pearl St.}
{Pearl Street Triangle Moving Quickly, 28June2007, DumboNYC}

The Dumbo Improvement District has pushed the DOT to move quickly on the Pearl Street Triangle and even worked on the plaza with their own staff. On Tuesday, the Dumbo BID staff painted the plaza area grey, and by this morning, some planters have been put in place. There’s some discussion from Monday’s post about Pearl Street Triangle on whether or not the street furniture will encourage homeless people to linger around. While no one wants to see someone else homeless, we can’t just push them out to another neighborhood. Out of sight, out of mind is not a way to help others in need. As one commenter stated, “Homeless people need SERVICES, not to degrade themselves by begging for spare change.”

The Dumbo BID plans an “adopt-a-street-fixture” program to allow business and residents to dedicate furniture to public spaces. Community-based public art is also in the works for the Pearl Street Triangle. Work on the initial phase of the triangle is scheduled to be completed in early July.

 Pearl Street Triangle, 26Jun2007

 Pearl Street Triangle, 28Jun2007

 Pearl Street Triangle, 28Jun2007

 Sidewalk reconstruction is a parallel improvement by the property owner Josh Guttman, separate from the work with the DOT along Pearl Street, 28Jun2007

{Pearl Street Triangle Plaza Begins Work, 25June2007, DumboNYC}

[UPDATE: More Pearl Street Triangle updates.]

Starting today, the Pearl Street Triangle will be closed to begin work on the pedestrian plaza. Water Street between Pearl Street and Anchorage Place will be closed to traffic. Cars parked in the triangle (between Anchorage Place and Pearl Street) will be towed and the dozen or so spaces will be gone for good. The initial planters and furniture will be installed while the pavement is being put in place to accommodate the area. This project is one of the previously announced initiatives by the Dumbo Improvement District. The NYCDOT will revise parking regulations in the immediate surrounding area to provide some additional parking spaces.

Previously:
{Pearl Street Triangle Survey, 28Mar2007, DumboNYC}
{Pearl Street Triangle Planning Session Tomorrow, 21Mar2007, DumboNYC}

 155 Water Street, 5/20/2007

 155 Water Street, 5/20/2007

I know Brownstoner had a posting about 155 Water Street on Tuesday, but I have few other photos I took over the weekend. Not sure what developer Josh Guttman is planning on doing with the space (condos? rentals? commercial lofts?), but when the planned Pearl Street Triangle is completed, whoever occupies the building will have a pedestrian plaza in front of the building. Even better if a rumored Greenmarket comes to the plaza.

{BIS Job: “Install Windows In Existing Openings”}
{BISweb on 155 Water Street, BISweb on nyc.gov}
{In DUMBO a Parking Lot Will Become a Piazza, 23May2007, streetsblog.org}

If you weren’t able to attend the Pearl Street Triangle planning session last week, the Dumbo Improvement District has set up an online survey through their website to collect your thoughts on the project. I wasn’t able to attend. For anyone who attended, was there consensus on making the Pearl Street Triangle a reality?

Click HERE to complete a short survey of how you’d like to see at the Pearl Street Triangle developed.

 (Images courtesy of Dumbo Improvement District)

From the Dumbo Improvement District:

Re-imagining the Pearl Street Triangle…Can’t we do better than this???

When: Thursday, March 22, 5:30pm
Where: 111 Front Street, suite 258
To RSVP for the meeting please contact:
Tucker Reed, Executive Director, Dumbo Improvement District, 718.237.8700 or tucker@dumbonyc.org

ModernTots officially opened (1st day was on Jan 3) their new kid’s store in on 53 Pearl Street, Dumbo Brooklyn last week. They carry modern children’s furniture, clothing, toys, and home decor. They join Pomme and Half Pint in Dumbo where there are increasing number of young families. Welcome to the neighborhood Sarah, Bruce, and ModernTots staff!

ModernTots
53 Pearl St., Ground Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
{www.moderntots.com}

For the second in the series of “Dumbo Streetscapes Then and Now”, we are looking at photos down Plymouth Street west from Pearl Street. In the 68 year old photo, circa 1938, you’ll notice that the brown brick building on the right side of the photos is still in its original form (more or less) on the corner of Plymouth and Adams Streets. This building used to be part of Arbuckle Coffee Co. The Arbuckle Coffee Mill also occupied the Empire Stores for a number of years. In the foreground is Manhattan Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge tower is at the center of the photos. The Belgian block street is mostly paved over, but some eroded areas still show the original street blocks.

On the back: “Plymouth Street, west from Pearl Street, showing at the right of the Arbuckle Bros. Coffee Co. building. In order is also shown the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridge.
April 4, 1938″

Percy Loomis Sperr, 1890-1964 — Photographer

   1938

   September, 2006

{New York Public Library photo of Plymouth Street West Pearl Street}
{Dumbo Then and Now: Washington and York Street}