Dumbo NYC

In a move towards gentrification (i.e. redevelopment for commerce, new businesses, and housing), meters are being installed on the West side of Washington Street and Front Street between Main and Adams Streets in Dumbo.

HGTV, the home and garden television network, will be filming in Dumbo Brooklyn on Friday, 3/12 from 5am to 11pm on Washington street, Front Street, Water Street. Remember to move your parked cars by 5pm tonight.

The NYC Department of Design + Construction sent us the following March/April 2010 update on the reconstruction of Water Street between Adams Street to Old Fulton Street and Washington Street from York Street to Plymouth Street. Per the newsletter (PDF download 746kb):

Work In Progress: March – April, 2010

• Excavation and installation of 36″ trunk main from Doughty Street and Furman Street across Old Fulton Street and into Water Street proceeding in an eastward direction.
• Installation of new 12″ distribution water main on Water Street between Main Street and Washington Street.

Removal of:

• Cobble stones within the project limits. (Note: These stones are being safely stored for re-installment in the future.)

Looking Ahead For 2010:

• Continue installation of the 18″ combined sewer along Water Street to Main Street
• Continue excavation and installation of the 36″ trunk water main from Doughty Street and Furman Street to Water Street and Main Street.

There are many slated improvements to help preserve the character of the neighborhood

• Resetting the old trolley tracks on Water Street at Adam Street
• Installation of new granite curbs
• Installation of new pigmented sidewalks
• Installation of some new street lights
• Restoration of cobble stone roadways
• Planting of 25 new trees within project limits

Community Construction Liaison (CCL): The DDC has assigned Paul Kidder of HAKS as the Community Construction Liaison. Please contact Mr. Kidder for all project
related inquiries/concerns or to be added to the e-mail distribution list at:
Phone: (718) 643-2536
E-mail: waterstreetccl@gmail.com
Field Office Address: 10 Jay Street, Suite 714 Brooklyn NY 11201

Previously:
{Water/Washington St Reconstruction Project Update, 03Dec2009}
{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}

There was an apparent robbery at the Dumbo branch of Sovereign Bank at 40 Washington Street at approximately 12:45pm today. Initial reports emailed to us and speaking with people in the area say that they were robbed of $35,000. Police have surveillance photos and are reviewing them and fingerprinting the bank for clues. If anyone has any info that may lead to clues, please call 311.

[UPDATE 2: The robber got away with $400.00, not $35,000 as first reported. And he has been arrested thanks to the doorman at 84 Front St.]

[Update: Some people have pointed out that there have been other Sovereign Bank heists lately, according to a story by the Brooklyn Eagle. "According to police sources, the two robbers typically enter the banks, pass a note to the teller demanding money, then flee on foot once bank clerks hand them the money."]

Previously:
{Bank Branches in Dumbo, 26Sept2006}

The following three condo units just came on the market last week in Dumbo Brooklyn.

• 1 Main Street, #3C, 1 bed, 1.5 bath, 1,191sqft (floorplan), $609/mo cc, $1,385,000 ($1,162/sqft)
• 100 Jay Street #4F, 2 beds, 2 baths, 1,421sqft (floorplan), $902/mo cc, $1,395,000 ($902/sqft)
• 70 Washington Street #11I, 2 beds, 2 baths, 1,417sqft (floorplan), $585/mo cc, $1,495,000 ($1,055/sqft)

While all have their pros and cons, which one is your favorite? All are full service doorman loft buildings. Views of the bridge, check. High ceilings, check. And of course there are intangibles. And not that this should factor into your purchase, but all three have resident celebrities (the most recent being Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker just moving into one of these buildings). So which one is it going to be?

This 70 Washington Street penthouse just came on the market yesterday (Sotheby’s listing #0135065). The Sotheby’s listing is titled The Ultimate DUMBO Penthouse, and it may come close to it (though some other 1 Main and 30 Main loft penthouses aren’t too shabby as well). The space is pretty breathtaking and the interior is completely redone in a clean, modern style that suits Dumbo. NYC public records indicate that this unit was partially combined with the next door unit (PHK) to total 2,130 square feet of interior space and 642 sqft of outdoor terrace space. This Penthouse unit (PHL) was originally purchased at $2,200,000 and PHK was $1,650,000. If you like the interior design, it was concieved by the talented owner, Athena Calderone, who designs spaces professionally.

So what does this large 2 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 1 office room, and private terrace go for? $4,200,000 ($1,971/sqft, excl terrace, common charges: $1,038, taxes: $191), which would make this the third most expensive unit currently on the market in Dumbo Brooklyn. What do people think, will this sell, even though Dumbo has defied the real estate downturn? (Before anyone says it, we don’t know the owners and aren’t connected to Sotheby’s in any way. We just wish we were rich enough to buy this place.)

{Sotheby’s listing #0135065}

(ñ Soho, photo by Konstantin Sergeyev)

Ñ, the tapas restaurant in Soho has opened a Dumbo location, according to Grub Street. They are holding an opening celebration tomorrow, Thursday, from 7 to 11pm and will have a live salsa band, free tapas, and sangria. Sadly, they replace one of our favorite bars, Speak Low, underneath Rice.

The official name for the new tapas restaurant is ñ/BK and will open 7 days a week, 5pm until midnight from Sunday through Thursday, and until 2am Friday and Saturday.

Per Grub Street:

“David Selig, who is an owner of both ñ and Rice, tells us the move brings him full-circle in a way — after enjoying pitchers of sangria at ñ back in 1999, developer Jed Walentas left a scribbled note on a napkin asking Selig if he’d be interested in opening a similar restaurant in Dumbo…Selig says the menu will initially be the same as the Soho location’s; this summer some “culinary nerds” from the Basque country (where Selig has spent time surfing) will help him retool it.”

ñ/BK
81 Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201

The Dumbo Improvement District (BID) has emailed a thorough update on the street reconstruction project on Water Street from Adams Street to Old Fulton Street and Washington Street from York Street to Plymouth Street. We took the above photos to document the process.

While the street work is being done, the Belgian blocks are being taken away and being stored in a secure location until they are reinstalled in the roadbed. The BID has been very involved with monitoring and ensuring the work is being done according to plans.

After the jump, read the New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC) and Dumbo Improvement District’s report on the work in progress, work completed, and what’s coming ahead in 2010. The project commenced in the Summer of 2009 and is scheduled to be completed in the Summer of 2011.

Information about the project can be found on the NYC.gov DDC site: (PDF download)

{Belgian Block Reconstruction to Begin, 04May2009}
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From Brooklyn Independent Television (BIT), “Brooklyn’s world-wide marketplace: where do thousands of artisans and craftspeople from around the globe sell their handmade wares? Through the online company Etsy.com, which is based in Dumbo Brooklyn.” According to the BIT segment, there are 4.7 million items for sale on Etsy ($160million of items sold this year). Etsy is a great place to search for unique handmade gifts that you can’t find in any mainstream store. They moved to their current location in September.

Also every Mondays at 5pm at the Etsy Labs in Dumbo, and online, they hold a Craft Night. They host a live how-to that you can craft along with, or bring your own project to work on. The The free live demo in the Virtual Labs starts at 5 p.m. etsy.com/virtual_labs.php. If you’re in the NYC area, come by their Dumbo Brooklyn offices, the Etsy Labs, from 4 – 8 p.m.

Etsy, Inc.
55 Washington Street, Suite 512, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Video from From Sector B, Episode 32 (11/20/2009) on Brooklyn Independent Television (TimeWarner 56, RCN 84, Cablevision 70, Verizon 44).

Previously:
{Craft Night at Etsy with AMH Design, 09Nov2009}
{Brooklyn-based Etsy Raises $27 Million in Fourth Round, 31Jan2008}

It’s been known that the Two Trees’ building at 25 Washington Street is being converted to condos, which has/will displace the 100+ small businesses that are leasing space there. Lease holders were notified in October that their leases are expiring on November 30 and Two Trees will commence demolition December 1st and convert the building into residential apartments. According to a Curbed post, there is an application on file “for a two-story extension to the building (with “accessory cabana spaces” on the roof) in 2007. It was approved back then, but the DOB issued a permit for the job only this past February. The architect on the application is Jared Della Valle of the firm Della Valle + Bernheimer.”

Many of the businesses have moved out of the building, including a large tenant, Securitas, who moved to downtown Brooklyn, or to other office space in the neighborhood. Two Trees have offered offices at 55 Washington Street, but according to a few who have emailed us, they are looking for specific requirements (please contact TT for details no longer have any vacancies (according to a few who emailed us).) A few are still scrambling to find office space and need help from the community to find adequate space. There are offices located in 68 Jay Street, 10 Jay Street, 20 Jay Street, 155 Water Street (“Greendesk”), but some need enclosed spaces (not open cubicles). If you are a landlord or know of a location for small businesses, please help them by emailing us a contact asap or post a comment below. We hate to see good businesses leaving the area.

After the jump, we’ve also posted an ad from Craigslist for an office share at 68 Jay Street if anyone is looking.

{Luxury conversion has DUMBO upset at the Walentases, 29Sept2009, Brooklyn Paper}
{25 Washington Conversion Confirmed, 30Sept2009, Brownstoner}
{Is Dumbo’s 25 Washington Going Residential?, 26Aug2009, Brownstoner}
{Dumbo’s Next Blockbuster Conversion, 25Aug2009, Curbed}
{BIS record for 25 Washington St}

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