Following last week’s incident, we received a few emails from residents on Gold Street and on York Street that there were more gunshots at Farragut Homes last night. According to one emailer, they “heard around 30 gunshots over at Farragut last night around 1:40am last night.”

According to SpotCrime, there was a shooting on Jul 18 (which is consistent with last week’s post), but does not show anything from last night:

The Gothamist map also does not show an incident. Did anyone else hear this? If so, please call the 84th Precinct (718-875-6811) or 311.

We received this email from a 99 Gold Street resident about a shootout at Farragut Homes last night. Did anyone else hear this and did you call the 84th Precinct (718-875-6811) or 311?

“99 Gold St resident here, there was a really out-of-control shooting at, where else, Farragut Housing, last evening. However, this time was different than the usual shot or two at 4 AM…this one was at 9:30 PM and bullets were literally whizzing down the street. I was stepping out and had to run back in with bullets flying. Pretty scary.

I wanted to find out more about the event and what the police is doing, but calling the precinct was a dead-end…what else can we do?”

So does the NYPD have to bring back Sky Watch again?

Permit # TV-8: Wednesday, 6/22/2011 and Thursday, 6/23/2011 between 6am – 2am

Filming for TV show Boardwalk Empire, starring Steve Buscemi and Kelly Macdonald will occur on Hudson Avenue in Vinegar Hill on Wednesday and Thursday.

If you have further questions you can contact their Locations Department (Jason Farrar/Amanda Foley) at 347-486-1632.

All filming posts are tagged here: DumboNYC.com/tag/filming

In other restaurant news, The Brooklyn Paper reported last week that Vinegar Hill House is expanding their operation with a cafe next door (70 Hudson Avenue). The plans are for a 20 seat, seasonal food menu for lunch and coffee. Per Brooklyn Paper:

“Community Board 2 has recommended a beer and wine license for the new establishment, and the State Liquor Authority is expected to grant the permit within eight weeks. Minor construction has begun at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Water Street for a café that will serve coffee in the morning, and beer, wine and light noshes throughout the day.”

The secret has been out on Vinegar Hill House for a while. But how do local Vinegar Hill residents feel about another restaurant on Hudson Ave?

Filming for feature film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, starring Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, and John Goodman is occurring today in Vinegar Hill on Front Street between Gold and Bridge Streets. Film crew is also using 155 Water Street as a location for breaks, lunch, and staging. Judging by the title, it could be a documentary about the subway lines that run over the Manhattan Bridge, but is not. The film is based on a 2005 novel by author Jonathan Safran Foer.

The photo below was sent to us from a reader, Todd, who says the he snapped the pic from his phone of Sandra Bullock on the stairs of one of the brownstones.

109 Gold Street, a 33 unit condominium in Vinegar Hill, that consists of studios, 1BR, and 2BR residences are now on the market. The snazzy website says: “109 Gold Street features Caesar stone countertops, Bosch stainless steel appliances, Liehberr fridge integrated with white lacquer cabinetry, white oak floors, Bosch W/D units, bike & common storage, private outdoor space, fully equipped fitness center, and a landscaped roof deck.” Based on the photos, they look fairly nice, but some will be turned off by the location. There is a “Vinegar Hill 109 Completion Party” on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 from 5-8pm. (If anyone goes, please let us know your impressions).

109 Gold Street joins new development buildings 100 Gold Street and 181 York Street rentals in the area. There are also 99 Gold Street rentals next door and 201 Front Street one block north. There’s also Nate’s Pharmacy next door at 111 Gold Street, and was left out of the list of shopping in the area on the marketing website.

There are ten active listings ranging $345k ($721/sqft) for a 478 sqft studio (#2E) to $720k ($714/sqft) for a 1,007 sqft two bedroom (#4D).

Previous:
{109 Gold St Development, 13Feb2009}

[+ click for larger]

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent an update to residents in the Vinegar Hill area announcing that the “site characterization of a former manufactured gas holder station”, located on Front Street will begin in the fall of 2010.

According to the mailer (PDF alert 1.3mb), the former holder station is located on Front Street in the block bounded by Front, York, Bridge and Gold Streets (map above):

Site Description
“The Site was operated as a gas storage and distribution facility from the late 1800s to the 1930s. No gas was manufactured at the Site. Gas was manufactured at other facilities in Brooklyn and delivered to the Front Street Holder Station through a network of underground pipes. The gas was provided to homes, businesses and industries and used in much the same way natural gas is used today.”

Site Characterization
The principal contamination targeted by the site characterization is coal tar, which is the primary by-product associated with manufactured gas sites. Coal tar is a brownish to black liquid with an odor similar to driveway sealer. It contains a variety of environmental contaminants including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX).

Background
In 2007, National Grid (then KeySpan) entered into a consent order with the NYSDEC that requires Natioanl Grid to investigate, and where necessary, remediate former gas manufacturing and storage sites. The former Front St. site is one of the storage sites that are included in the consent order.

In the fall of 2010, National Grid will begin a site characterization to determine whether any contamination related to the former gas storage operation exists in the soil or groundwater beneath the Site. Site characterization activities will include drilling of soil borings, installation of groundwater monitoring wells, and collection of soil and water samples for chemical analysis. All work will be done under the oversight of NYSDEC and the NYSDOH.

The area includes addresses such as 206 Front Street, 218 Front Street (Joy Foot International Inc. Import/Export/Wholesale business warehouse), 181 York Street and 185 York Street (pic).

Additional information on manufactured gas is found at dec.ny.gov/chemical/8430.html.

{181 York Street Rentals On the Market, 11May2010}
{181 York Street Update, 16Feb2009}
{New Residents, How’s 206 Front Street?, 20Jul2007}

What: Vinegar Hill Flea Market & Open Studios
When: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 10am – 5pm
Where: Front Street, Gold Street, Water Street, Hudson Ave and Little Street in Vinegar Hill

Multi-family with lots of furniture,clothing,books, and more!

Download the Vinegar Hill Flea Market flyer (1MB jpg file)

Past:
{Annual Vinegar Hill Flea Market 2007}
{Annual Vinegar Hill Flea Market 2009}

Come see PS 307‘s early childhood programs at PS 307. There was an open house for Pre-K and kindergarten today, but their Chinese/English Dual Language Academy open house will take place on May 25th (Hosted by Principal Roberta Davenport at 8:30am).

If you have any questions about any of their programs, please contact them by phone at 718.834.4748.

PS 307 (PS 307 on nyc.gov)
209 York Street (near the Brooklyn Navy Yard), Brooklyn NY 11201
718.834.4748

After 5+ years, the top addition of 53 Bridge Street is being taken down, according to a Brownstoner post today. The approved DOB application states, “FILING HEREWITH PARTIAL DEMOLITION OF 8 FLOOR AND ENTIRE FLOOR 9 THRU 13.” Several complaints about falling debris or hanging scaffolding have been submitted over the years. The building is owned by Mr. Guttman. We don’t know the fate of this building, but perhaps work can be done within zoning compliance.

Previously:
{53 Bridge Street Building, 11Sept2007}
{Img: 53 Bridge Street, 13Sept2006}