Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
New York Shitty Photo Du Jour: Catherine Street
Filed under: 11211, Bloomblight, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Taken October 8, 2012.
New York Shitty Photo Du Jour, Part II: Broken Windows
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
From 68 Clay Street.
The Word On The Street, Part II: Special Bloomblight Edition
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, The Word On The Street
This rather colorful missive is one of the many curiosities to be found on the premises of 164-264 West Street.
Or at least what used to be 164-264 West Street.
New York Shitty analysis: those who wish to enjoy our waterfront might want to walk on the other side of the street.
New York Shitty Street Seating Du Jour: Special Waterfront/Non-Materialistic Lounge Suite* Edition
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Furniture
As many of my fellow north ‘Pointers can attest, we have a dearth of public space on our waterfront. For this reason our very own Open Space Alliance teamed up with a developer and brought us the Java Street Pop-up Park. This morning I decided to swing by and see how it was faring. If the above photograph (of what appears to be no less than a La-Z-Boy sofa) is any indication, someone has made himself (?) quite comfortable. Follows are a few more shots from my sojourn. Enjoy!
*Because this is my blog and I can…
New York Shitty Day Starter: Whoops
I was unable to ascertain the address of this lot. But given it is located at the corner of North 12 Street and Driggs Avenue it was easy enough to ascertain given the landmark in the background.
It is 210 North 12 Street.
The ostensible owner has defaulted on one fine.
But that did not stop the Department of Buildings from partially lifting said Stop Work Order for reasons only Kafka— or Orwell— would truly appreciate. E.g.;
- There are not permits to drive piles.
- Thus, these really big pieces of wood simply planted themselves there.
- Repeat: there are not permits to drive piles.
- Especially after they have been driven.
- These piles do not exist because the proper permit was not made to place them.
Did I mention this was a HAZMAT site? It is. Regardless, the walk to church will be more provocative than usual today for those who tread North 12 Street.
New York Shitty Day Ender: Framed
Filed under: 11211, Bloomblight, Urban Artifact, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
From North 1 Street.
New York Shitty Street Seating Du Jour: West Street
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Furniture, The Word On The Street
Taken April 23, 2012.
New & Noteworthy: NYCStalled.com
Filed under: 11205, 11206, 11207, 11211, 11222, 11237, Bed-Stuy, Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, Bloomblight, Bronx, Brooklyn, Bushwick, Bushwick Brooklyn, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Manhattan, New York City, Queens, Staten Island, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
At long last, a site documenting the other side of the New York City real estate boom! As you can see in the above screencap, north Brooklynites, our area is quite red. The mad genius behind this endeavor writes (in an email entitled “Weekly updates of stalled construction sites in NYC”):
You may be interested in this website…
To wit I replied:
Ha! This is awesome!!! Who do I send updates/images to???
Check out this roster of Bloomblight for yourself, north Brooklynites—and perhaps bring it to the attention of your elected officials?
LAST GASP: Space Piracy On Greenpoint Avenue?
The proprietor of Red Star Bar writes (in an email entitled “Circus on Greenpoint Avenue” dated April 12, 2012):
Heather,
The situation with the lot across the street from Red Star has turned into an absolute free for all circus! I’m sure I’ve complained to you about this countless times in the past, as I have to anyone else who will listen.
Just to give you the background info, in case you forgot. These guys store large, 30 yard dumpsters, stacked 15-20 feet high, in the lot along with massive dump trucks and the occasional 18 wheeler. On occasion, I can see them from my office window, digging holes with heavy equipment and burying god knows what. Of course whatever debris and garbage is “left over” from these dumpsters constantly blows all over the streets and sidewalks. There is no shortage of flies, rats, raccoons and stray cats wandering in and out of the lot on a nightly basis.
I’ve had words with these “gentleman” in the past. Like the time they were rearranging the dumpsters in the lot and decided it would be ok to put some on the street and sidewalk in front of Red Star. The smell from the brown liquid oozing out of the dumpsters was just wonderful. My customers were quite pleased with the stench as they attempted to have lunch. My staff really enjoyed hosing off the sidewalks as well. In general, it’s almost a full time job collecting the garbage and debris that blows out of the lot and inevitably ends up all over my sidewalk. It’s been a beautiful few weeks and on most days we can’t open our windows because of the flying dust, debris and flies!
In addition to the trash and stench issues, over the past few years 3 cars have been smashed by these guys. 2 by way of hit and run with their trucks and 1 by debris flying out of the lot on a windy winter night.
Today was an absolute CIRCUS! I guess since my complaints to various city agencies have been ignored, these guys have decided to become more blatant and brazen. I guess operating an illegal waste transfer station isn’t paying the bills? They’ve now decided to open an illegal scrap yard as well! They spent the ENTIRE DAY removing scrap and junk vehicles from the lot with a fork lift and tow truck, dragging them into the STREET and dismantling them. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF GREENPOINT AVENUE!
The parking situation around here is a nightmare to begin with. These guys took up half the street and about 15 parking spaces to run their illegal auto salvage operation today. Not to mention the fact that it’s just unsafe! Cars and trucks were forced to squeeze past these guys ALL DAY. There was almost several collisions as drivers tried to navigate in between chopped up vehicles, parked 18 wheelers, roll-backs, tow trucks and fork lifts. Ridiculous!
At one point there was no less than 5 vehicles being chopped and dismantled, outside the lot, in the street. They were using sledge hammers, blow torches and gas powered saws to hack away all day. Of course I went outside to take pictures, since it’s almost unbelievable! While I was catching all the action on film, one of the guys came over and said “NO PICTURES! PUT THE CAMERA AWAY!” Obviously that didn’t deter me.
They finished up work at the illegal dumping ground around 7pm. Now there’s broken glass, metal bits, chunks of plastic, spilled oil and gasoline all over the street where they were working.
…what can be done about this? Nobody seems to give two shits. I’ve researched the lot on ACRIS and the Department of Building web sites. It’s listed as a STALLED CONSTRUCTION SITE. This lot is hardly stalled or inactive. This bullshit goes on at all hours of the day and night. The owners have a violation for the fence they put up around the lot, with no permit. If they didn’t bother to get a permit for a fence, do you think they have a permit to operate a waste transfer station, store vehicles, operate a salvage yard or a scrap metal operation??? Of course not!
This lot is anything BUT stalled or inactive. Today there were no less than 10 guys working in that lot. Trucks and excavation equipment operate in that lot at any given hour of the day and night. There are dumpsters, vehicles and equipment stacked 15-20 feet high and are constantly being removed, repositioned or disassembled. And it’s been going on for YEARS! Does the DOB inspector, that files periodic reports, not see the same things I do? This equipment isn’t even construction equipment! Either someone is being paid off or they just don’t give a fuck!
DOB
The dumpsters belong to a company called Xolle
The vehicles being scrapped belong to the same company that’s storing the dump trucks and 18 wheelers on the lot, Pilot Trucking of Astoria.
I don’t know what else I can do. I’m at the end of my rope with these clowns. In a city where you need a permit to wipe your ass, these clown operate with blatent disregard for ANYONE and do so with impunity! My neighbors are fed up. My customers are disgusted.
People love to eat at a restaurant across from an illegal garbage dump and scrap yard. It’s very inviting!
Below are the pictures I took of today’s events…
Which I have taken the liberty of uploading as a slide show for easy perusal. Enjoy gentle readers!
I have to wonder what 80 West Street’s other neighbors, Paulie Gee’s for example, think of this activity?
To be continued…
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