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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
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
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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