Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
Spotted At The American Playground: A Good Friday Miracle!
Yes folks, it would appear the owner of 49 Noble Street— or perhaps the Department of Buildings— has finally commenced re-mediating their property so we can once again have our playground back! For those of you who have been keeping count it took no less than four months and three days for this auspicious event to come to pass. Hallelujah!
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: The American Playground
Kicking off this sunny— if brisk— weekend I present to you this bit of leisure time captured at the American Playground yesterday.
For those of you who are wondering, the area adjacent to 49 Noble Street is still cordoned off due to falling debris. For those of you keeping track this makes over three months and counting.
It would appear, however, that some kind of detritus catcher has been put in place. What can we expect in the way of action to follow this most auspicious development?
If this (from the Department of Buildings web site) is any indication, I’d say not much.
Miss Heather
Quicklink: Ignoble Street
Greenpoint residents have a message for the shadowy owner of a waterfront lot — tear down this fence! The chain-link fence bars traffic or pedestrians from the western end of Noble Street, which offers wonderful views of Manhattan and access to the waterfront. It is owned by firebrand developer Joshua Guttman, who owns the former Greenpoint Terminal Market building and several other sites nearby. The warehouse building was the site of a massive fire four years ago, and some believe that lax security led to the arson…
My buddy over at Queens Crap writes in regards to the above passage from this story by the Brooklyn Paper:
He’s kidding, right?
Who’s to say? What I want to know is if our “community leaders” and/or “open space advocates” have asked Mr. Guttman when he plans to conduct repairs on 49 Noble Street. As some of you might recall this building’s losing battle against the elements; lack of proper maintenance; and/or gravity resulted in the closure of part of the American Playground last December.
For those of you who are keeping track this barricade has been in place for one month now.
Miss Heather
American Playground Watch: Before & After
On December 30, 2010 our Parks person wrote:
…We are doing all possible with the resources at hand. Right now, Mother Nature giving a few sunny, non-freezing days would be the most helpful thing possible.
On January 1, 2011 Miss Heather writes (on the Community Board 1 Yahoo Group):
Today I saw a tractor cleaning up the sidewalk in front of Jerzy Popieluszko Square and a group of sullen Parks employees with a truck equipped with a plow at McGolrick Park. One employee was complaining on her cell phone that it was cold. Perhaps when our Parks advocate(s) are done pontificating/congratulating themselves and/or making excuses they could see fit to send these people/equipment my direction?
It would appear that Mother Nature not only gave us a few days of mercifully temperate weather but also a snow plow. Thank you, Mother Nature!
Miss Heather
Spotted At Father Jerzy Popieluszko Square: Snow Removal
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
I know, it seems incredible but I’ll swear on a stack of Bibles/Talmuds/Korans/Telephone Phone Books— whatever you want— it’s true! Better yet, why not watch for yourself. Seeing is believing!
Perhaps when our Parks Person is done lavishing a little love on Bedford Avenue she could send this guy over to the American Playground? It’s a mess.
But this is not to suggest there isn’t humor to be found here: there most assuredly is! Many of you might recall a portion of this playground has been vacated by the Department of Buildings due to falling debris from an adjacent building. To this end (and in the interest of public safety) a barricade has been put in place. For those of you who are wondering: as of today it is still there.*
The owner of 49 Noble Street (the property in question) may be taking his sweet time to address his decaying building…
but at least he has seen fit to clean his sidewalk! This begs the question as to why our Parks Department has not done the same. No worries, dear readers, I will let our Parks Person herself tender an explanation.
So there have you.
Miss Heather
*Anyone care to place bets how long it will be in place?
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: American Playground, Revisited
Yes folks, it would appear that the area adjacent to 49 Noble Street has been cordoned off by our Parks Department. Exactly how long this barricade will remain in place is anyone’s guess.
Why I find this laudable, I would like to offer one piece of constructive criticism.
Signs in Polish and Spanish need to be put in place. It has been my observation quite a few patrons of this park are not fluent English speakers— much less English readers.
Just a thought.
Miss Heather
American Playground Update: Call Me Cassandra
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Plagiarism
Most of you remember this post. I wrote it December 13th about the American Playground being open despite conditions the Department of Buildings deemed to be imminently perilous to human life. Well, I always know when I am on a good “scoop” when a reporter comes calling. CASE IN POINT: an email I received yesterday.
Will call tomorrow. American Playground. What’s the building that’s causing its closure?…
Methinks I made that pretty clear in my post. Nonetheless, I will do so again:
Here is the “Partial Vacate Order”:
And here is the complaint regarding the adjacent property:
If falling debris is the problem, why isn’t the American Playground being cordoned off properly by the Parks Department? Perhaps our Parks person (and Open Space Advocate), Stephanie Thayer, would care to step up to the plate? This is inexcusable.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: What’s Up At The American Playground?
A lady named Michelle writes the evening of December 12, 2010:
Hi Miss Heather,
Was walking my dog a few nights ago and we happened upon a curious notice posted at the American Playground on Franklin – right across from Word. Seems the place has been condemned and is “imminently perilous to life.” I’ve seen these outside gnarly looking buildings that seem like they may cave in on the squatters living in them, but any idea why American Playground has earned the notice?
Would send a picture, but I’m never out there with my phone.
Just curious.
As you can imagine I found this more than a little disturbing so this morning I headed over without delay.
Sure enough, there was a Vacate Order on the premises— but why?
When I checked the Department of Buildings database I could find no indication whatsoever such an order was issued. On a lark I then checked the Department of Buildings database regarding the adjacent property, 60 West Street*. What I found was quite interesting.
Was this the reason such an order was served? There is no way to tell conclusively (this complaint is from last year) but I would not rule it outside the realm of possibility. Especially since I have it on excellent intelligence that falling debris from this property has been an issue in the past. But I suppose for the time being we’ll have to be content to walk away from this mystery with more questions than answers. On that note, I would like to leave you with this final question.
If the American Playground has a Vacate Order in place due to “conditions imminently perilous to life”, why is it open today? Thoughts anyone?
Miss Heather
*Which, as some of you may recall, is a live poultry storage facility.
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