Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Interesting
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Newtown Creek, Wow, WTF
I have been wondering what is up with the Greenpoint Boathouse Project of late. As some of you might recall this project (whose description can been seen at the City Parks Foundation’s web site) was brought to a vote and chosen to receive public funds. “Newtown Creek money”, if you will. Well today a most interesting item was brought to my attention via a tipster. This:
A new building has been proposed for 51 Ash Street.
Not much of interest here. Be patient, gentle readers!
I see we are not only are we going to get a “community facility” in the way of a private club for a non for profit (think about that one for a minute) but we’re getting a transient hotel. Fascinating!
And none other than the folks behind Broadway Stages are responsible for this, um, novel endeavor! For those of you who are not in the know as to where 51 Ash Street is located, the following screengrabs from Google Maps should clear matters up a bit.
This is 51 Ash Street.
And this is the Pulaski Bridge. Please tell me I am not the only person who finds the use of public funds ($3,000,000 if Wikipedia is to be believed) for what appears to be a private endeavor a mite bit troubling.
P.S.: Oh yeah, as initially proposed this boat house was supposed to be at 1155 Manhattan Avenue.
Hmm…
UPDATE, January 29, 1:09 p.m.: Continental Auto Parts (the business which graces 49/51 Ash Street) was the location of an armed robbery just under a year ago. Just felt like throwing that odd piece of trivia out there.
…And The Results Are In!
Filed under: 11101, 11211, 11222, 11378, Blissville, Blissville Queens, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Maspeth, Maspeth Queens, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Remember that vote about how the ~$7,000,000 of funds the DEC recently allocated against nearly 40 years of being non-complaint with DEP regulations should be spent? Well, here are the results.
One thing I found of particular interest was individuals under the age of 21 we classified as “youth votes”. It rather bothered me, truth be told. If 18 years of age is good enough for city, state and national elections (and registering for the draft which would theoretically— if not in reality— result in some of these youths being sent to fight for their country) why are these individuals not classified as adults? So I emailed David Rivel (of the City Parks Foundation, which conducted this process) to ask why.
And here’s his answer.
So there have you.
Miss Heather
P.S.: Only 699 responses?!? God that’s pathetic.
THIS WEEK: Help Shape Your Neighborhood
So last month I shared the good news about our fair neighborhood (and others) receiving several million dollars of “mitigation” funds and implored you to take the Newtown Creek Survey so as to give your two cents on how you want this money to be spent. Well, now we are on step #2: this upcoming Wendesday, July 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the Visitor’s Center of our very own Shit Tits the City Parks Foundation will be hosting a brainstorming session (replete with refreshments!). Here’s the 411 per their e-vite:
The primary purpose of the meeting is to develop a list of possible projects that can be funded by the $7 million that has been allocated to City Parks Foundation, together with an initial sense of the important criteria to be used when judging projects.
After this meeting on July 28th, City Parks Foundation staff will develop cost estimates for the projects that have been suggested and will identify any relevant feasibility issues or barriers to completion. We will then reconvene in the Fall, so that everyone can express specific preferences from among the list of projects; this information will be vital to the Department of Environmental Conservation as they make a final decision on which projects should be funded.
At the meeting on July 28th, you will hear about four specific projects that have already been suggested to the Department of Environmental Conservation by the groups that successfully advocated for this $7 million of funding. You will also hear about a recent brainstorming session held among Brooklyn groups about community preferences for open space projects. In addition, you will hear about the results of the surveying that City Parks Foundation is now conducting in Brooklyn and in Queens.
Most of the meeting will be spent in small groups, with facilitators from City Parks Foundation, allowing everyone to suggest projects and express opinions on project ideas. Each group will report its findings to the entire group. We expect the entire meeting may take 2 – 3 hours. We will have food and beverages available.
I have to confess I am more than a little confused here. Why did they put forth a survey if four projects* have already been brought to the table? In what way (if any) were these surveys used to inform the “brainstorming sessions” that were conducted by the aforementioned “Brooklyn groups” regarding open space projects? Truth be told it leaves a rather bad taste in my mouth— but I suppose I’ll have to go to the meeting and find out.
Mitigation Funds “Brainstorming Session”
July 28, 2010 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Center Visitor’s Center
329 Greenpoint Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
NOTE: You must RSVP in order to attend this event. This can be done via telephone at (212) 360 – 1310 or email at newtowncreek (at) cityparksfoundation (dot) org.
Miss Heather
*which I have been told are:
- Expansion of Barge Park
- Creation of park space at MTA lot
- Rehabilitation of Monsignor McGolrick Park
- Acquisition of waterfront property for extension of the nature walk
Greenburg Photo Du Jour: Red Gate Garden
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
A pair of mockingbirds have decided to call Red Gate Garden (which is still waiting to have its Green Thumb paperwork renewed) their home. What’s more, I’m pleased to report they’ve started a family!
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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