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New York Shitty Day Ender: 211 Huron Street
On August 10, 2009 I wrote:
…Anyone care to bet on how many stories will be completed before the Department of Buildings issues a Stop Work Order?
They’re well on their way to floor #3. They’re even built a stairwell to it!
Miss Heather
P.S.: They still have no valid permits.
New York Shitty Day Ender: Holy Shit
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Anonymous writes:
Miss Heather,
Well, Greenpoint drivers continue their reign of terror.
I’m writing to report a traffic crash at McGuinness Blvd and Huron Street at around 6:15PM. A driver, evidently speeding at what must have been way over the speed limit (50 mph?), hit a lightpole (knocking it clean off the sidewalk) and a parked car on the southwest corner. The driver appeared unharmed but shaken. Of course he was not ticketed or arrested. Witnesses report that the driver almost hit several people on the sidewalk and in the crosswalk. One witness said that the driver was swerving to avoid another car, which fled the scene.
FDNY blocked off the intersection, but NYPD did not direct traffic. This encouraged stupid drivers to drive over the sidewalk to get down Huron. One driver got confrontational and threatened to assault pedestrians when they were “in their way” on the sidewalk.
Photos attached.
Looks like Lofts 305 got an unexpected visitor.
Apparently this is the motorist that was threatening pedestrians.
An officer heads over to talk to the driver.
Damn.
Miss Heather
A Huron Street PSA
If any of you, dear readers, happen to be knocking around Huron Street on this stifling afternoon kindly keep the noise down. Some of us are trying to get a little shut-eye.
Thank you.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: A Vintage Siding Slice*
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Vinyl Siding
Today I had a moment.
I announced to Mr. Heather when he arrived home from work yesterday.
To wit he replied:
Good or bad?
Good… I think. Although it could be proof I have lived in Greenpoint WAY too long— or my aluminum siding fixation has turned me into an idiot savant of siding.
I replied. Curiosity piqued, the Mister wanted to know more. And I told him.
Well today I found a photo album at the junk shop. Naturally I went through it. (You would not believe the “Kodak moments” I have found at the junk shop dating from the pre-digital age whose subject matter is of such an intimate nature I honestly can’t imagine entrusting it to your local 24 hour photo to develop. But clearly quite a few people did just this. Over the last several years I have amassed quite a collection. Probably enough to start a blog whose sole purpose is to showcase them. Seriously. But back to the subject of this post: my moment. — Ed. Note.)Â I quickly deduced the contents were taken in New York City.
This one hit pretty close to home: Queensboro Plaza circa 1982. I dug around some more and found this.
I showed the above image to Mister Heather:
I knew where this was instantly. It’s in Greenpoint. I identified it by the siding.
Huron Street, Greenpoint, circa 1982 meet Greenpoint 2009.
Very little has changed.
There are sunflowers. Which I adore.
And Bloomblight, which I deplore. This photograph was taken at West Street around India Street. Very little of what you see in the above photograph remains nowadays— including the people. It’s a bunch of derelict development sites.
But we have a mural!
It’s particularly fetching when the DOS truck sweeps it up.
The beach (soccer? volley?) ball caught in concertina wire makes this locale ever more inviting. That’s probably why no one— save the beneficiaries of this project– wants to hang out there. It’s good P.R. for politicos, bad policy for citizens.
The above photograph, taken in the 1980,’s is prima facie evidence that Greenpointers had waterfront access— as humble as it was— before the 2005 re-zone. Now we have barbed wire fences. And self-elected intermediaries.
Miss Heather
*This is dedicated to Kevin Walsh of Forgotten New York. Whose “slices”, writings, rants, and person have enriched my life— and inspired me to start this “blog”. This lovable curmudgeon happens to have a birthday this month. Why not send him your regards?
P.S.: The India Street park is being built atop the existing asphalt so as to avoid DEP soil tests. I wonder if Dean Palin, when he razes this mural to build his 40 story testament to folly will test this site for pcbs, etc.?
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: 211 Huron Street
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
It would appear that despite torrential rain, stifling heat and lack of valid permits— a place so special that Joey Arak over at Curbed called it:
…the strangest construction project in Greenpoint…
keeps on keeping on! What’s more, who can’t get teary eyed at the sight of the stars and stripes flying proudly atop of this shitheap. Anyone care to bet on how many stories will be completed before the Department of Buildings issues a Stop Work Order?
Miss Heather
Williamspoint Photos Du Jour: Summer In The Shitty
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Huron Street
Manhattan Avenue
North 7 Street
Driggs Avenue
Bedford Avenue
Calyer Street
Java Street
Miss Heather
Construction Site Du Jour: 211 Huron Street
You know how the saying goes:
All’s well that ends well.
Well, I would like to update this adage with a distinctly Greenpointian twist:
Anything that starts out this badly will probably end up being even worse.
Which brings me to this.
I have seen a lot of shoddy construction work in my day. So much so that I have become somewhat oblivious to it. That is until I beheld 211 Huron Street. This site is in a class all its own.
This is without argument one of the most fascinating construction fences I have ever seen.*
The use of a residential door gives it a “cozy” feel lacking in this day and age of mega-development and glass boxes. If you lived here, you’d be homeless by now!
Signs, signs, everywhere a sign— but these missives pass muster as such only in the most academic sense of the word. It should be noted, however, that although they do not score points for relaying information they do create an interesting montage!
As you can see no expense has been spared on cement. In fact, they even went to the trouble of repaving part of the street. I have no doubt this will work wonders for our already beleaguered sewage system.
Need a place to store your stuff? That’s what your next door neighbor’s property is for!
The more eagle-eyed among you probably noticed there are no permits whatsoever to be found at 211 Huron Street. This is because they have no valid permits (those expired in April**). Not that this formality appears to have deterred them from working anyway.
Whoops.
Miss Heather
*Note the absence of a sidewalk shed. It would appear they really need one.
**What is slated to be built here is as follows:
Don’t believe me? Click here and see for yourself!
4th Of July Wrap Up
As you can see the lack of fireworks on the East River did nothing whatsoever to dampen the festivities here in North Brooklyn. If anything, things were much more lively than usual. During my brief sojourn to points Green and beyond I spied a number of block parties, a fist fight on Bedford Avenue and a rather large fire on Kent Avenue (Anyone out there know what that was about? There were fire trucks FOR BLOCKS*). But the highlight or nadir (this is contingent on one’s musical tastes) of the evening was to be found on my journey home: a spontaneous Michael Jackson dance-a-thon was in effect on Franklin Street.
Speaking as someone who was not and is not a fan of the King of Pop even I have to confess: it was pretty impressive.
Miss Heather
*Mystery solved! See the comments for the 411. Otherwise I fixed the dead link regarding the fist fight on Bedford Avenue. Was in a hurry to get out of the house this morning!
Williamspoint Photos Du Jour: Summer Doldrums
Huron Street
Lorimer Street
Franklin Street
McCarren Park
It would appear those new trees Mayor Bloomberg planted are not the only wood to be found in McCarren Park nowadays.
Perhaps the folks at the Parks Department should offer the naming rights to the McCarren Park Pool to Larry Flynt? I am certain he, just like this gentleman, would rise to the occasion.
Miss Heather
Williamspoint Photos Du Jour: A Selection of Street Seating
North 6 Street
Meadow Street
Metropolitan Avenue
Jackson Street
Milton Street
Huron Street
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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