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From The New Shitty Inbox: Fatality on McGuinness Boulevard
When I received word about this (which comes courtesy of Gothamist’s news map) last night my heart sank. If my memory serves me correctly this makes two fatalities at this intersection this year. Obviously I do not know if the following was a factor (the details are scant) but it has been my observation that the cross walks at this intersection (and a number of others along McGuinness Boulevard) simply do not allow enough time for people to cross —especially in light of how fast motorists drive along this thoroughfare. Thoughts, anyone?
Miss Heather
UPDATE, 12:26 p.m.: I have just gotten word that pedestrian bicyclist (see comments) who was struck was a friend of a New York Shitty reader. Eryana writes:
…you may already know this by now, but yesterday’s fatality on Nassau and McGuinness was a Brooklyn soul DJ who was actually in a friend of mine’s band.
Greenpoint Degentrification Watch: Lofts 305 Still Sucks
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Remember this edifice? It is located at 305 McGuinness Boulevard. I have written about this testament to the failure of the “gentrification” of Greenpoint on far more occasions than I care recount. Look ’em up on my site. That said, I really enjoy comparing this to this. That’s some damned good Photoshop work! But I digress.
My friends at Curbed scooped me on the infamous lock-out back in April. Today, I will recount to you a few problems a current resident is experiencing at 305 Lofts. While you read the following I want you to bear in mind this person, whose identity I will keep anonymous, is paying $2,800 a month in rent for this “experience”. Here’s the back-story:
- The reason this person lives at 305 Lofts is because he/she originally signed a lease (and tendered a security deposit of $3,000) for an apartment 110 Green Street: another nondo known as The Viridian.
- The organization behind this atrocity went bankrupt and his/her agent (under the hire of Cityspaces) showed him/her 149 Huron Street (the now failed Geo Condominiums— see a pattern developing here?). After noting the buckling wood floors (and less square footage) he/she refused.
Then the agent took him/her to 305 McGuinness Boulevard. AKA: 305 Lofts. He/she signed a 2 year lease and now regrets it. BIG TIME. Among other things:
- His/her apartment is still unfinished— as is a great deal of the building.
- The tap water is white or brown— this varies by apartment.
- The tiling in his/her bathroom is cracking and laden with mold. This has to be doused with bleach every day.
- His/her oven does not work properly due to lack of sufficient insulation/cabinetry.
- The landlord— or someone purporting to represent the landlord, one never knows with this place— has made it known that anyone involved in forming a “tenants’ group” will be evicted.
Nice, eh?
By the way, landlords retaliating against tenants for organizing is illegal. Then again, given all the problems with this property it is all too clear they don’t care— and why should they? The people behind 305 McGuinness have been hit with several violations for endangering public safety. The fines assessed (and paid) range from $480 to $2,000. This is what public safety (READ: a human life) is worth per the Department of Buildings.
Miss Heather
Williamspoint Slide Show Du Jour: Old School
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
This weekend yours truly has been getting caught up on a few things I have been meaning to do, but have never gotten around to doing. One of these tasks has been organizing, scanning and uploading my collection of photographs from Williamspoint of yesteryear (such as the rather awesome one which graces the beginning of this post). I am proud to announce that I have begun this arduous process. Follows is a slide show featuring what I have processed so far. Enjoy!
As the previous sentence indicates, I am far from done with this project. You can anticipate more great old pictures in the (hopefully) near future! Tomorrow I will be featuring another slide show of some of my photographs taken in Williamspoint from 2001-2004 B.C. (before the real estate crash). Boy, how things have changed!
Miss Heather
Reader Question/Contribution Du Jour: A Wreck On Dupont?
Margot writes (in an email entitled “very scary looking smashup on Dupont”):
right now between manh. and mcguin. lots of uniforms, firetrucks, and one absolutely demolished looking car. i dont know how fast youd have to be going to end up looking like that. no idea what happened or whom it happened to. sorry, no photos.
Well, as it would happen my buddy Laura (who took all photographs gracing this post) was on the scene and has the scoop.
And what a scoop it is.
She writes:
…I’m sorry that these are not the clearest pictures. I’m still getting used to the camera settings. I also didn’t reset the time on the photo. These photos were taken more like 4:35Â and on. At 4:30 there were a few large crashes that rumbled the building so much that I felt it on the fifth floor. I heard that the vehicle got stuck in reverse from the second parking spot on the block, onto the sidewalk and past a few buildings. Thank God, few people were out front and were able to get out of the way. There’s usually loads of people hanging out there. Apparently, the vehicle first banged that grey car which banged the yellow car… As you can see the vehicle ended up on the stoop a few doors down. It took police over a half hour to respond. They wouldn’t even bother looking under the vehicle to see if there was anyone under it. A neighbor from the building got a flashlight and looked. Folks were worried and making sure everyone was accounted for. The vehicle took out the wrought iron recycling fence in front of my building. After many, many phone calls from many people, the fire department also arrived at 5:18.
They’re still working downstairs.
Jesus Christ.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: More About The Pulaski Bridge
Filed under: 11101, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Long Island City, Newtown Creek, Queens
Blair (who took the above photograph) writes:
Hi, I love your photos of the Pulaski you took yesterday. I am not sure if this is a permanent installation or “street art” or what.. but my friend described it as looking like tree poop. The photo was taken at 10:30am Tuesday morning.. and that wood was bolted into the ground.
I noticed this piece of public seating (or “tree poop”— take your pick) last night. I even took several photographs of it, but none of them came out. I for one like it— but have no idea who (or what) is behind it. Anyone out there have the 411? If so, please share via comments.
Thanks!
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Ender: Pulaski Bridge
Filed under: 11101, 11222, Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Long Island City, Newtown Creek
Taken November 17, 2009.
Miss Heather
Follow-up to The Greenpoint “Hate Sticker” Post
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
I wrote a post on Sunday about an anti-Semitic sticker I found affixed to a Greenpoint pay phone (which can be seen at left). Well, it has been brought to my attention by three commenters that a number of such items (dis)grace the Garden Spot. To cite an example, bob writes:
hi, miss heather. i checked your blog this morning and saw this entry. later, i was walking up manhattan from driggs to the produce store. on the way, i saw a sticker from the same folks (or, “volk” i suppose), only this one substituted “fags” for “jews” as a gay jew living in greenpoint, my morning sure got off to a great start. it was on the window of the laundromat directly across the street from dunkin’ (the one with the red awning). before getting shooed away, i managed to rip the “fags” part off. the rest is still there, or it was when i left anyway. alas, the camera was at home.
This morning I went for a walk and documented all the stickers my commenters noted. In so doing I (unfortunately) found a hitherto undiscovered one. I made sure to note the address and/or intersection where each sticker was located. When I got home I printed out my findings, annotated them and took them tonight’s 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting. In said meeting I brought them to D.I. Fulton’s attention. My grievance was taken seriously— if not by some attendees present (a few of whom sighed, groaned and rolled their eyes). Here’s the deal:
I have been advised that moving forward I am to bring these stickers (when I find them) to the police department’s attention, be it by calling them or forwarding images (with location) to an officer who will henceforth be my “point person”. This same gentleman guaranteed there will be an investigation. In addition, D.I. Fulton told me that ripping these stickers down is perfectly legal. So there have you. All I asked in return was that he have these stickers removed stat. Mister Fulton assured me this will happen.
In other words if you, dear readers, find such stickers/hate speech on your block the NYPD has your ear. Call ’em.
Miss Heather
UPDATE, November 17, 2009: This has been referred to the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force.
Spotted On McGuinness Boulevard: Hay
LOTS OF HAY.
I have no idea what this is about. Is this an attempt at an eco-friendly crash barrier or a feeding station for Roy and Trigger? I suppose only it’s creator knows for certain. I saw we toss in a few pumpkins and a scarecrow or two. McGuinness Boulevard could use some holiday cheer!
Miss Heather
P.S.: While I’m on the subject of parks and open space does anyone know what is going on at Sgt. Dougherty Playground?
If I had to hazard a guess I’d say these are planters.
Given this park’s rather lackluster location (READ: a trucker bomb’s toss from the BQE and the Kosciuszko Bridge) I suppose this is a positive development. Then again, taking into account that the only time I have seen a person at this playground it was a gentlemen named Jemal composing music on a saxophone (because he didn’t want to bother anyone) it makes me wonder how meaningful this addition will be. If a rose grows in Sgt. Dougherty Playground and no is around to smell it is it any less fragrant?
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Moving Day?
Jay (of Dog Habitat, who forwarded me these photographs) writes:
Found these – a pair of prosthetic legs – on the curb along Mcguinness and Broome St. Not one, but two legs. Maybe they were worn out after the marathon?
…A close up – you can see Millie inspecting the legs. I was walking her for a client when she discovered the limbs. Maybe she’s a cadaver sniffing dog?
Some of you might recall that this makes the second set of prosthetic legs that have been found on north Brooklyn’s streets this week. What gives?
Miss Heather
P.S.: On a related note, meet Dog Habitat’s latest rescue: Domino!
You can view this flier in larger format by clicking here.
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