Monthly Archives

August 2012

Brooklyn Heights

Pet Adoption: August 16 In Front Of TD Bank On Montague Street

August 14, 2012

In Our Hands Rescue will hold its next pet adoption in front of TD Bank at 205 Montague Street at the corner of Cadman Plaza West (Court Street). The date: Thursday, August 16 (Happy Birthday, Madonna!), from noon to 6 p.m. (as well as Thursday, August 30).

Teamed with the North Shore Animal League, In our Hands will be present in a large van outside the bank, with rescued cats, kittens, pups and small pooches looking for homes. Application, references, ID and donation are required. See available pets at the IOH website and Facebook. Apply online for pre-approval, adopt at lunch and IOH will hold your pet until you get off work. Take your new friend home the same day.

In Our Hands Rescue is a not-for-profit 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45645

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

Fuming 200 Hicks Street Rez Take Hotel Conversion Grievances To NY Daily News

August 14, 2012

The group of concerned residents who reside at 200 Hicks Street and voiced their concerns to BHB last Friday about the Bossert Hotel’s conversion back to a hotel have now shared their grievances with the New York Daily News. Brooklyn Heights rez Elizabeth Bailey and her comrades believe the plan before the Bureau of Standard and Appeals could create serious noise, traffic and safety issues in the area.

The Daily News, with typical bravado, writes: “A bar battle is brewing in Brooklyn Heights where residents are foaming mad over a developer’s plan to open a rooftop suds spot and restaurant at a historic hotel. Locals living near the Bossert Hotel at 98 Montague Street are afraid the bar and event space will lead to noisy crowds partying late into the night.”

Bailey, who has lived at 200 Hicks Street for 27 years, is quoted in the story, saying, “We want to work with the developers to make sure there are enforceable restrictions around noise.” She and the other unhappy residents “are pressing the city’s BSA to reject or greatly restrict the hotel’s application to change its zoning to allow the bar and restaurants, the News says. A hearing is scheduled September 11.

They have also employed the services of attorney Al Butzel, who met last month with representatives of the hotel’s developers, David Bistricer and Joseph Chetrit, to voice the group’s concerns, including traffic jamming the narrow one way street out front: “It’s a tiny little street taken over by Key Food trucks and kids walking with their parents. The developers have referred to the Carlyle as being their prototype but this is not Madison Avenue,” he says.

Kathleen Cudahy, a spokeswoman for the hotel’s new owners, says a “design consultant” is working to make sure “there’s no adverse impact due to any noise. This is not going to be a big destination place for large events such as wedding or a bar mitzvah.”

The developers bought the 14-story hotel for an estimated $90 million although the official price hasn’t been formally listed. They plan to expand the number of rooms from 224 to 302, with a $300 a night room rate, Bistricer said during a recent real estate luncheon. The hotel is slated to open in a year.

Read the Daily News story here. The New York Observer also writes about the Bossert conversion here.



Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45612

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Real Estate

The Latest On 172-174 Montague’s Street Future Residential Highrise

August 14, 2012

So we were apparently a little tardy in our weekend post about the closing of Montague Street’s Hallmark store. Let’s make good by sharing the latest on the building planned for 172-174 Montague, which will replace the two-story structure that once held Eammon’s and Hallmark.

First, the Brooklyn Eagle reveals that new owner “BH 1 CD LLC,” is operated by principals Eli Stoll and Charles Dayan. A little more digging by BHB shows that the company is based at 499 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. As previously reported, the 8,150/sf building (and 5,000/sf lot) sold for $12 million. The current 50-foot wide and 95-feet deep structure—which also has a cellar—was originally constructed in 1925, and does not fall within the Brooklyn Heights Landmark District and thus is not subject to its 50 foot height limit. According to Property Shark, the building was most recently assessed at a value of $1,699,650.

With a C5-2/DB zoning designation, the property is approved for 60,000 buildable square feet and “significant air rights,” with a demolition permit already issued by the Department of Buildings, the Eagle says. Originally, an application was filed to construct a 19-story, 66-unit mixed-use residential building—but was nixed by DOB July 10.

Besen & Associates, which brokered the deal, says the seller Robar, LLC (a private investor) “resisted the temptation to sell his air rights on several occasions after receiving unsolicited offers,” according to David Davidson, who represented the seller with Besen’s Lynda Blumberg. That includes a bid from the developer of the 34-story Archstone luxury rental next door, at 180 Montague Street. It was built in 1999, and sold in 2006 to residential REIT Archstone Smith for $101 million.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45576

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Events, Food

Desilicious Freedom Fling: Saturday, 8/18 At Dekalb Market

August 14, 2012

Sholay Productions, sponsors of the monthly Manhattan Desilicious bash, are bringing the extravaganza to Brooklyn to celebrate India and Pakistan Day. “Desilicious Freedom Fling: An Outdoor Summer Dance Party” will be held Saturday, August 18, from 6 p.m. to midnight, at Dekalb Market, on an open-air dance floor, featuring a blend of Bollywood, Bhanga and House Music by Ashu Rai. Opening act Atif will offer Indian and Pakistani dance beats, while large screen Bollywood visuals will also be projected.

Dekalb Market is in Downtown Brooklyn at 138 Willoughby Street and Flatbush Avenue. Admission to the Desilicious Freedom Fling is $10 before 8 p.m., and $15 after. The local chefs at Dekalb Market will also be on hand to serve up dinner between dancing.

“Explore the market to meet Brooklyn artist-entrepreneurs and sample the diverse dining offerings. Look out for some tasty West Indian dishes by Brooklyn’s Kallabash cuisine,” Sholay Productions says. “Don’t miss an exuberant evening of mingling, nibbling, shopping, dancing and liberated Desilicious revelry.” (Drag queens are a regular fixture at the Manhattan parties.) The space is partially covered, so the festivities will take place rain or shine.

See more at Facebook here; and a New York Times profile of Desilicious here.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45595

From the Web

Open Thread: Best Handyman Serving Brooklyn Heights

August 13, 2012

Last Thursday’s Open Thread on the Best Car Service serving Brooklyn Heights was an 8-cylinder success. We’ll keep this going every week from here on for as long as we—and you—come up with valuable goods & services that folks rely upon in the neighborhood.

Today: your recommendations for the Best Handyman… a guy (or gal) who can help out with those annoying little things that break in the apartment. Too small for a contractor, too big to DIY. Please share name, phone, where you found him and what he accomplished for you (and how much you paid, if you don’t mind).

My suggestion: Ed at 718 924 0265, who was recommended by a friend. Talkative fellow, but efficient and negotiable. I had him install a ceiling fan ($55) and then, on the fly, he realigned my shower door ($10), which had been off the track and driving me nuts for a month.

Coming soon: contractors, painters, locksmiths, dog walkers, veterinarians, dry cleaners… and your suggestions. Please feel free to contribute ideas in this post.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45341

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

NYC Bike Share Program Faces More Delays, Uncertainty About Rollout

August 13, 2012

New York City’s highly touted Bike Share Program, which includes locations in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Bridge Park and nearby Downtown Brooklyn, has already been delayed until summer’s end because of an alleged “software glitch,” as previously reported by BHB. But now it appears the wheels of progress may be facing greater delays.

The New Times reports that as Labor Day looms, thousands of bikes for the program, sponsored by Citigroup and known as Citi Bike, sit in boxes in Building 293 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, along with parts for the docking stations—with no discernible activity taking place.

“There is no official date for the rollout, and supporters fear the warm-weather window to begin the program this year is shrinking,” the Times reports. Enduring delays would push the kickoff further into the upcoming NYC mayoral race in which transportation is likely to be a major issue. Any stumbles could call into question the very wisdom of the Bike Share Program.

Current mayoral candidates have not made explicit promises regarding the Bloomberg bike legacy, and Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives, says he is bracing for an administration less friendly to “alternative transit.” If the bike-share program is embraced by New Yorkers, it would be the most visible and enduring symbol of current Mayor Bloomberg’s policies, suggests the Times. But if it runs into trouble, it could make any new mayoral administration skittish about bringing similarly sweeping changes to city streets, threatening the program’s existence.

Read the full article at The New York Times here.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45543

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Celebrity Residents

HBO’s ‘Girls’ Filming All Over Central Brooklyn Heights Tuesday

August 13, 2012

“Girls,” the HBO comedy starring Brooklyn Heights native and resident Lena Dunham, will be filming in the Emmy-nominated creator’s home ‘hood on Tuesday, August 14, from 3-9 p.m. Cars parked in the shoot area will be towed.

Good luck making sense of the affected streets and corners: both sides of Montague between Clinton and Henry; the west side of Court Street between Pierrepont and Joralemon; the east side of Clinton Street between Pierrepont and Montague; the east side of Henry between Montague and Remsen; both sides of the street at the north and east intersections of Hicks and Montague.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45531

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, History

Brooklyn Heights History Quiz #2

August 13, 2012

So you think the first quiz was easy? Tackle our second quiz now. Note: Now with answers after completion!




Photo: Norman E-mailer


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45522

From the Web

More Morning, and Some Evening, Walk Pix

August 12, 2012

Your correspondent had just walked out the door Saturday morning when he spotted these late summer blossoms in the garden outside his building (corner of Montague and Pierrepont Place). More photos and text after the jump.

Wasp gathering nectar, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Double-crested cormorant drying its wings on a piling, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Hot pink blossoms, Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Spartina grass, salt marsh, south edge of Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Tour boat Half Moon passing close to Pier 1 esplanade; Brooklyn Bridge in background.

Large flower beside pond, northeast corner of Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park.

South Street Seaport Museum’s schooner Pioneer, seen from Brooklyn Heights Promenade; Governors Island in background.

Friday evening: lower Manhattan seen from Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park. Sunset reflected from windows of One Liberty Plaza.

Sunset reflected from Empire State Building, seen through Brooklyn Bridge from Pier 1 esplanade, Brooklyn Bridge Park.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45502

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Food

Brooklyn Heights’ Starbucks Features Fancy ‘Clover’ Brewer

August 12, 2012

Fans of Starbucks in Brooklyn Heights may be interested to know that you’ve got the fanciest java in the borough. According to Gothamist, the store at 134 Montague Street has been employing the ooh la la “Clover” brewing system since May.

The machine is described as an upside-down French press, with coffee brewed one cup at a time. “Depending on the size of the serving, ground coffee is weighed and added to a hollow chamber at the top of the machine where it is met by a stream of steaming hot water. The mixture is manually stirred and scraped by a barista, then strained into a cup by the machine shortly after,” the website says.

Starbucks, which purchased the company that manufactures Clover in 2008, only uses its “exotic and rare” Reserve line of coffees to brew in the machine. The “exquisite” coffee “brings out the best of what these beans have to offer,” according to Starbucks. Each machine costs $13,000.

While there are 23 Clover outposts in Manhattan, the only Brooklyn-equipped Starbucks at Montague Street in the Heights is selling about 50 cups of Clover-brewed coffee per day, at $5 per cup, Gothamist says. Starbucks describes the machine as “a true innovation that comes along only once in a while.”



Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/45495

From the Web