Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Live From Manhattan Avenue
Some of you may recall that not terribly long ago I authored a post admonishing motorists not to park in this space. Long story made very short, the bus stop which used to grace the corner of India Street Street and Manhattan Avenue, due to construction, had to be moved ~15 feet north. Therefore— in order to accommodate bus traffic— the parking space which straddles 983 and 983 Manhattan Avenue has been removed. Not that someone who is using the white line on pavement as a guideline would be aware of this, mind you. Although a sign has been erected the powers-that-be have not seen fit to change this. I suppose it goes without saying our meter maids have been enjoying this curious development tremendously.
Now jump forward to today, April 25th. The time is 4:57 p.m. What do I see? Well, the following photographs say it all…
It would appear:
- Even the Department of Transportation is not aware thsi parking space is, in fact, illegal. Or:
- They do not care.
I wonder if this person will get a ticket? (Just kidding.)
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Of Blood & Cat Litter On Green Street
A fellow I will call “M” writes (to our City Councilman and a 94th Precinct Community Affairs Officer as well as yours truly) writes:
Hi Scott (I think he means Steve— Ed Note),
I’m a fellow neighbor in Greenpoint and saw the aftermath of a disturbing incident on Franklin at Green St. (in front of T.B.D.) yesterday morning around 7:00am. A young male was face down in a pool of blood and the 3 people on the scene were standing over the body as if there was no hope for the man. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it and haven’t been able to find out if the victim is okay. I’m writing to see if you have any insight to the incident as it happened blocks from my home. Appreciate any info you can share.
All the best…
This afternoon I took a stroll to the corner of Green Street and Franklin Street. Sure enough, there was blood.
And a lot of cat litter.
Over the years (and NYS will be eight years old soon— I have ceased to keep track anymore) I have received a number of inquiries of the variety “M” has tendered. All are troubling. However, “M” did the right thing: he/she not only took up the matter withthe 94th Precinct’s Community Affairs Office (concerns such as this is why they’re there!) but also our City Councilman*. This is how you do it, north Broklynites!
To be continued…?
*Who also happens to have a tumblr page. Check it out!
Spotted On India Street: Wanted
It is shaping up to be a lively day in the Garden Spot. Anyone know if this is for real or some attempt at viral advertising? In any case here it is. Consider yourselves warned…
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: One Day Later…
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF
April 9, 2014, 5:00 pm
April 10, 2014, 11:00 am
As you can see, someone has seen fit to divest 977 Manhattan Avenue of its sign. Steve, the owner of Goldscholle and Garfinkel (and therefore, if one wants to be a stickler, said sign is as well), was surprised by this. Not that he was the one who discovered this has come to pass: he was not. He opted to take today off from cleaning out the space. He heard about it from a Greenpoint citizen. Speaking for myself, I am not the least bit surprised. Let’s face facts: $3,000,000 $3,900,000* (or even a 6% commission thereof) is a pretty strong motivator to have such an item removed. Just sayin’.
Here’s what has been learned: per the fine folks at the Fresh Stop (which is located next door) two men arrived between 8:00 and 8:30 am with a ladder and commenced to take the sign down. These two men, per the folks from Fresh Step, were not familiar faces from the neighborhood (and trust me: if anyone is in a position to know, it is someone who operates a produce stand). In any case, I serious doubt these fellows wanted this item— at least in its “new” state— to grace their home. It is was really, seriously, UGLY. It was intended to be as such.
It’ll be interesting to see if their “handiwork” damaged the Bronx cable which provides power to the gate. I suppose we’ll find out tomorrow…
UPDATE, 7:31 pm: it was intact when the Mister left for work this morning at 8:10 am.
*Per the listing at Miron Properties:
The building will be delivered vacant. Trust me. The “new” owner has done everything imaginable to make that happen.
Ms. Segal was the lady who not only asked Mr. Goldscholle to ask me to refrain from my “artistry”, but she later admitted to him (as he turned the keys over) that she had the sign removed. What’s a little petty larceny when there’s big bucks to be made, right?
For Sale In Greenpoint: Mayberry
New York Shitty Analysis:
- I never thought I would see the words “McGuinness” and “Mayberry” employed together. Now I have.
- The rather stringent email requirements this person has established is going to require a great deal of creativity on the potential buyer’s part. I am particularly perplexed by the “no work email policy”. If one say, has a job, he/she may be in a better position to have $2,100,000 to buy a house. Just sayin’.
- No looky loos.
Image Credits: Advertisement comes courtesy of Craigslist and image of Barney, Opie and Andy enjoying a little fishing on Newtown Creek hails from here.
For Rent On Clay Street: Six Bedroom/Two Bath
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF
Don’t take my word for it: click here and see this modestly-priced $8,500/month pad for yourself. Wow. Just wow.
UPDATE, March 31st, 2014:
This appears to be the pad in question. They were busy yesterday (Sunday) making it look “presentable” to potential tenants.
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: On The (C) Town
Filed under: 11222, BAD ASS, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF
(Or: Friday Night On Manhattan Avenue, Bitches!)
Taken March 7, 2014
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: 211 Freeman Street
Looks like someone exiting the Pulaski Bridge did not quite make that right turn onto Freeman. Sweet Jesus…
The Great Outdoors…
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Newtown Creek, Wow, WTF
Yesterday yours truly received a most amusing piece of mail. Yes: MAIL —of the “snail” variety. Without further ado, here it is:
This comes from my comrade over at Queens Crap. I have to say it gave me a good laugh. For those of you who are not in the know, the following should explain why.
A fellow by the name of Jens Rasmussen was recently featured in both the New York Times and CBS Local. He conducts wilderness survival courses on the premises of the North Brooklyn Boat Club. This is where our “new and improved” Greenpoint Boathouse (whose plans have yet to be made public) is to be located. Follows are a couple screengrabs of solicitations this chap has seen fit to post online.
As you see the latter clearly states these come to pass on the premises of the North Brooklyn Boat Club. Something to consider: as a general rule, for profit endeavors are not permissible on the premises on non-profit organizations. I mention this because word on the street is Mr. Rasmussen has stated that the North Brooklyn Boat Club has filed paperwork so as to become a 501(3) c . I feel compelled to note a recent search of the New York State Attorney General’s charities database turned up nothing:
Hmm— but I digress. This afternoon, the weather being downright lovely, I felt the need to explore the wilderness of Long Island City. I decided to grab a few shots of the North Brooklyn Boat Club’s premises (51 Ash Street) en route. Seeing is truly believing.
Um, what is that smoke-stack looking thing? Anyone?
Nowadays Mr. Rasmussen is asking $150.00 a head for his wilderness survival course.
I trust another $50.00 will be forthcoming, Crappy? in any case, follows is my favorite excerpt:
…Head to Greenpoint and meet Jens for an intro and explanation to bushcraft tripping skills, including the most vital things to know and what you can do in a variety of disaster scenarios. Learn valuable tactics like making a signal whistle from an aluminum can…
My advice: save yourself $144.00, purchase a six pack of Budweiser and figure this out on your own. Preferably somewhere that is NOT a Superfund site.
P.S.: I have every intention of creating a “boat club” snow globe. However, in light of recent events methinks this has made it to the top of my list. Cheers!
UPDATE, 8:30 p.m.: I appear to be lacking a suitable character for Ms. Nealis. One will have to be ordered, I am guessing. Nonetheless, I played around with my tentatively titled “Stray Cat Strut” snow globe’s contents and one dedicated to the absurdity that is 51 Ash Street/the North Brooklyn Boat Club. The latter I have entitled “Rockin’ the Pulaski!”
The Mister eventually wandered in and inquired as to what I was doing. Usually this disrupts my “creative process” Not this time. He first inquired:
Are those hobos?
Me: No, those are people learning valuable wilderness survival skills!
He looked closer and noted:
Oh, there’s the Commodore! Where’s Spaulding? SPAULDING GET YOUR FOOT OFF THE BOAT!
Here is Spaulding— and as you can see he has his foot on the boat!
Thanks Pookie Mister Heather!
UPDATE, 9:00 p.m.: Crappy notes:
More to the point of the shenanigans at the boat club, it’s a conflict of interest violation for a board member to be personally profiting from the tax exempt status of the organization. Therefore, if Jens is running his business on their property or using his connection with them to draw people to his classes, then that’s a big no no.
Quicklink: Good Times At 95 Clay Street
Filed under: 11222, Fuck This Shit, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF
When I saw this item on Gothamist my jaw hit my desk. I can assure you, gentle readers, this was not due to shock. Hardly. Rather your truly’s first apartment in Greenpoint was at 95 Clay Street. That was over a decade ago— and I can assure you it was a total and utter nightmare.* If this latest episode is to believed, things have not changed much. Those of you who are so inclined can read a little more about 95 Clay “back in the day” by clicking here, here and here. As for 156 India, I offer this and this for your perusal. In closing I would like to remind everyone that while Ms. Nealis’s alleged conduct is thoroughly reprehensible, she would not have felt free to behave in such a manner if our enforcement agencies (and elected officials) had nipped this in the proverbial bud. Years ago.
*Including, but not limited to:
- Frequent hot water outages. Apparently there was not only a residential (think: for a house) hot water heater pressed into service to service an eight unit building. The thermostat was broken so when it would get “hot” the “Super” would simply turn it off.
- An electrical outage on the apartments on the top floor lasting days. This was probably caused by…
- Rainwater leaking through the roof.
- Broken mailboxes. Mail theft was pervasive.
- An illegal apartment in the basement.
- Trips to housing court.
- Harassment— including having my locks filled with glue, verbal harassment and having my mailbox ripped open.
This is the short list. Any and all who have the misfortune of living in this building may want to check and see if a rent-freeze/rent reduction is still in place regarding the mailboxes.
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