TOMORROW: McCarren Park Meeting

Those of you who are interested in what’s happening with McCarren Park listen up. There is going to be a meeting tomorrow you should not miss. Dewey Thompson (of GWAPP) writes:

Hey McCarren Park user! You use the park. You want it to be better. You’re not alone… The best way to get the parks we deserve is through persistent community attention to each park. GWAPP (Greenpoint Waterfront Association for Parks & Planning) wants to help kickstart a big (and sustained) Push for Parks all across our North Brooklyn neighborhoods by helping to create (where one doesn’t exist) support (where one does exist) and unite (where, as with McCarren Park, several active groups co-exist) park-specific Friends Groups.The purpose of these groups will be to gather information about the way the community uses the park, the issues and needs of each park and, most importantly, establish a community representative (or two or six or twenty) of that park, acting as a watchdog and persistently (key word) pushing for improvements – whether from the city, the Open Space Alliance (www.openspacealliancenb.org), neighbors, local businesses, grants…

I am volunteering to help set up an initial meeting of what, for now, might be called the United Friends of McCarren Park. We have an opportunity, with this particular Mayor and the promises made regarding the McCarren Park Pool, Ice Skating Rink and Skate Park, to push for real improvements in McCarren Park. We need to make sure we have a unified and coherent voice in the way the park is maintained and plans made for future developments. With the Pool reconstruction underway (design-wise at least) it seems the various user-groups of this potentially wonderful park have a shared purpose. Let’s use it to make the park better.

Here’s a proposed (and very preliminary) agenda:

• Request a comprehensive survey & study of Park usage & potential
• McCarren Park Pool – reconstruction status update
• Pool-adjacent “Comfort Stations” – can these be built first?
• Fieldhouse “Comfort Stations” – the most disgusting bathrooms in Brooklyn? (No, they aren’t — Miss H)
• Wading/Spray Pool – what can be done to have this running by summer?
• Benches & Paths
• Natural turf conditions
• Gardens & Trees
• Dog Run(s)
• Plan to artificially turf paved field next to tennis courts
• Plan to study de-mapping Driggs and/or Union Ave. through the park (which will entail disrupting the route of the B61 Bus— Miss H)
• Concerts, Films & other programming
• Other issues & needs?

What: United Friends of McCarren Park
Where: Automotive High School Library
50 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, 11222 New York
When: Monday March 3 2008, 7:00 p.m.

Be there or be squat —over some horribly maintained crapper drenched in piss and bereft of toilet paper*.

Miss Heather

*I am referencing McGolrick Park ‘s “comfort stations” which no one seems to care about.

Greenpoint Photo du Jour: (To The Left)

From Calyer Street, Greenpoint, U.S.A.

Miss Heather

Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Santa and Sombrero

Taken at Save-Rite Discount Wine on Manhattan Avenue yesterday, February 29, 2008.

Miss Heather

The Big Greenpoint Fire of 1900

When I was knocking around the Brooklyn Daily Eagle online archives last night I happened upon a piece of Greenpoint treasure.

Your eyes are not deceiving you. The title of the above photograph reads The Post & McCord Fireproof Building, Destroyed In The Big Greenpoint Fire, April 9. Yes, it would appear Josh Guttman’s convenient conflagration two years ago was only the latest in a long tradition of Garden Spot firebuggery. Come to think of it, maybe the moniker “Garden Spot of the Universe” should be dropped in favor of something reflecting our fair ‘nabe’s appetite for destruction. “You Build It, We Burn It” immediately comes to mind, but I am certain a number of you, dear readers, can come up with something better.

In any case I was intrigued by the destruction of this supposedly fire proof building so I did a little searching and found this article from the April 22, 1900 issue of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Enjoy!

The result of this fire proves to me that if it is desired to prevent the destruction of a building of the sort by fire, the whole exterior should be walled about with fire brick.

This Mr. Gullfoyle was sharp as a tack. Too bad he is no longer with us, he’d probably be a much better Buildings Commissioner than our current one.

Miss Heather

P.S.: Curious as to where this big Greenpoint fire took place? If so, click here for the reveal!

Brace Your Balconies, Greenpoint!

The fine folks behind the architectural splendor that is Belvedere gave us Garden Spotters a very special Valentine’s Day present recently: demolition permits for 607 – 609 Manhattan Avenue! No word on what Belvedere VII will look like (no plans are posted on Belvedere Partners web site), but I can only hope it looks like its cousins over on Powers Street: Belvederes III and V.

I don’t know about you, but how can eight units of paltry rental property possibly compare to having your very own phat balcony overlooking Manhattan Avenue and quaffing automotive exhaust from passing B61 and B43 buses?

I mean just look at the challenging piece of fine art that graces the front door of Belvedere III. I simply must get me some of that. This folks is what I call LUXURY!

Miss Heather

Go Green Greenpoint!

Given that our fair burgh is teeming with fabulously creative people I thought I’d you, dear readers, a head’s up about the upcoming Earth Day Festival at McCarren Park. Those of you who are interested in participating (or simply want more information) should contact Caroline at:

caroline_nasson (at) hotmail (dot) com

or via the telephone number listed on the above flier.

I don’t know about you, but I find the promised “creative writing contest” of particular interest.

Miss Heather

Crosstown Local Cavalcade Volume IX: High Society

A stroll around the Nassau Avenue Stop of the G has yet to disappoint yours truly. My latest sojourn there was no exception. In fact, if you happen to be a Frank Sinatra fan, I have very good news.

There’s a rather sizable cache of his films to be had on the Smith-9th bound platform. Maybe this person finally converted his (or her collection) over to DVD? I cannot profess of being a big fan of good ol’ Blue Eyes. But that’s okay, there is still ample entertainment to be had for your $2.00 fare.

You can sell your soul.

While I’m on the subject of bloodsuckers, if you are so inclined please drink responsibly.

For only $3.00 more you can get a super-sized side order of cancer to go.

Above all, while you’re patronizing the Crosstown Local be sure to observe proper subway safety.  Accidents can or will happen if you don’t.

Please keep your barn door closed gents.

Miss Heather

48 Box Street Keeps On Trucking

Despite a Stop Work Order* and expired permits 48 Box Street is coming along quite nicely.

February 2008

January 2008

October 2007

Yeah, the Department of Buildings is totally on top of this situation.

October 2007

That Stop Work Order really did the trick. Seriously.

August 2007

Unfortunately the folks at 48 Box Street do not take the Department of Buildings. Seriously.

Way to go Ms. Lancaster! I hope you will see fit to feature this shit heap of intransigence (yours and theirs) on your curricula vitae.

Hugs,

Miss Heather

P.S.: Check out the open ECB violations for this site, they’re a hoot!

*Issued April 7, 2007.