October – 2012 – Brooklyn Bugle

Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Landmark Preservation

WSJ: The Long & Storied History Of Gage & Tollner At 374 Fulton Street

October 23, 2012

The storied locale that housed Gage & Tollner restaurant from 1892 through the beginning of the millennium is both an endearing and bittersweet tale of Downtown Brooklyn’s history. New York City landmarked the eatery’s exterior in 1974 and a year later, its interior. It was the first landmarked dining room and the city’s third interior landmark of any kind. The first two were the New York Public Library and Grant’s Tomb.

In a lengthy piece in the Wall Street Journal, writer Barry Newman discusses the 120-year-old heritage of 374 Fulton Street, from the seafood restaurant owner’s purchase of the building in 1919 to its eventual demise. WSJ offers: In 1976, Fulton Street became a pedestrian mall, with no automobile traffic. The streets were scary, and the old crowd began eating elsewhere.” In 1985 then-owner Ed Dewey decided to sell the famous destination. In 1995, it filed for bankruptcy, before closing around 2004.

Since, it has held T.G.I. Friday’s, which lasted until 2007. Arby’s came next, in January 2010. It endured for just eight months. And in the summer of 2011, a discount costume jewelry store opened in the spot. WJS says, “The Landmarks commission says the landlord asked for a permit to make alterations after they were made. It denied the application for lack of detail and, this month, issued a violation. The commission, still lacking a satisfactory response, has issued another violation that can lead to a fine of $5,000 a day.”

Meanwhile, many of the original lighting fixtures from Gage & Tollner were stolen. Some mirrors and arches are said to survive behind bright pink panels. And what of the famous eatery that is no longer? Its last owners, Peter Aschkenasy and Joe Chirico still own the name. The latter says he’d like to reopen the restaurant “in a place where you can get to the front door.” And its Landmarked decor? In New York, he says, a crew can “replicate that in no time.” (Photo: Chuck Taylor/July 2010)

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49602

From the Web

News

D.I. Mark DiPaolo Leaving 84th Precinct Command for New Assignment

October 23, 2012

Deputy Inspector Mark DiPaolo, who has served as Commanding Officer of the 84th Precinct for the past four years, is being reassigned by the NYPD to command the 90th Precinct, in Williamsburg. His successor at the 84th will be Captain Maximo Tolentino.

D.I. DiPaolo offered these parting words:

Though I am excited about the challenges and tasks of [my new] assignment , I would be remiss in not admitting that I will miss the Precinct and community that I have called home for the last four years. I would like to thank all the members of the community for their past cooperation and help in reducing crime. I will miss the bonds and relationships that were formed. I truly appreciated the partnership created that is needed to be successful in running a Police Precinct. I would sincerely like to thank members of the community for the their sympathy and support during the tragic event that took the life of P.O. Alain Schaberger.
In closing, I am comforted by the fact that the 84th Precinct is getting a great choice in Captain Maximo Tolentino as its new Commanding Officer. I have no doubt that with the assistance of Precinct personnel and this wonderful community there will be continued success in our goal to always make this community a safer place to work and live.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49622

From the Web

Arts and Entertainment, Events, Music

Moonalice, Fronted by Tech Investment Guru Roger McNamee, Showcase Their Awesome Stanley Mouse Original Gig Posters Sunday (10/28) at Brooklyn Bowl

October 22, 2012

The musicians and artists of San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury scene of the late 1960s were made iconic thanks to the music of bands like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin. Arguably, the Dead themselves were made immortal by the concert posters created for them by Stanley Mouse. Continue Reading…

From the Web

Real Estate

Boerum Hill Townhouse Sells In One Day

October 22, 2012

A classic Boerum Hill townhouse at 179 Bergen Street was on the market for only one day before entering contract, after being listed by Corcoran on September 8 for $2,950,000. By October 5, Brownstoner reports it was in the midst of changing hands after a September 9 sale. It last sold in 2009 for $2,150,000.

The listing describes it as a “lovely two family townhouse. Owner’s upper triplex and garden level floor-through. Restored details throughout include original molding and plaster medallions, pocket doors and wood burning fireplaces with marble mantles. Located on a quaint, tree-lined street. The configuration makes for an easy conversion to a one family home. The building has mechanical and structural upgrades from top to bottom.” (Photo: Corcoran)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7962

From the Web

Landmark Preservation, Real Estate

Renewed Hope For 364 Henry Street?

October 22, 2012

John Quadrozzi, owner of the long-decaying Cobble Hill townhouse at 364 Henry Street & Congress Street, has scheduled a meeting with the Landmarks Preservation Commission for a major building upgrade. According to public records cited by Brownstoner, he’s been promising to repair the structure since 2010.

Proposed changes on the LPC agenda for both 364 Henry and 129 Congress Street—the adjoining building around the corner—call to alter the facades, construct new rooftop and rear yard additions, install a stoop, bay windows, light fixtures, roof deck, a metal fence, alter window openings on the stable and modify and add curb cuts.

The LPC filed a lawsuit for failure to maintain the historic structures two years ago. On the DOB end, the buildings have a long history of stop work orders, most recently this past July. (Photo: Brownstoner)

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7954

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

Is Filming In Brooklyn Heights ‘Out Of Control’?

October 22, 2012

Ask the Mayor’s Office about the inundation of shoots for movies, TV shows and commercials and you’ll get this response: “The industry provides high-quality jobs in an era when low-paying service jobs have become the norm.” According to the Boston Consulting Group, NYC’s film sector is the strongest in history, generating $7.1 billion in 2011, while employing 130,000.

But some residents of brownstone Brooklyn have a different take, saying that they’re paying the price for the boom. According to a story in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, with “the streets of historic Brooklyn Heights clogged with film trucks on a regular basis, local businesses and residents are fuming.”

Judy Stanton, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, says she’s losing count of the multitude of shoots in the neighborhood. For one, filming of flick “Delivery Man” is taking place at Plymouth Church, the Promenade, Brooklyn Historical Society, Henry Street, Montague Terrace, Remsen Street and Pierrepont: “How many blocks? No answer. I think it’s excessive. More consideration needs to be given to little neighborhoods like this one. Last week, ‘Law and Order’ and a Lottery commercial were shooting at the same time. The Lottery trucks blocked Montague from Court to Henry street. That really did affect merchants.”

Andrea Demetropoulos, who owns Rocco and Jezebel pet shop at 89 Pineapple Walk, has launched a cease-fire petition, and tells the Eagle, “Filming is out of control. Three customers and the UPS guy this morning told me they couldn’t park anywhere. They’re killing the people who live here. This entire neighborhood is only 5 by 13 blocks. There needs to be a moratorium.”

The Brooklyn Eagle counts more than a dozen major films and TV shows being shot locally over the last two weeks: “Delivery Man,” “Smash,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “The Angriest Man in Brooklyn,” “Noah,” “Golden Boy,” “Zero Hour,” “Orange,” “666 Park Avenue,” “Carrie Diaries,” “Person of Interest,” “How to Be a Man,” “Infamous” and “Made in Jersey”—along with a number of commercials, like the New York Lottery spot being filmed on Montague Street. Much more in the Eagle piece here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49580

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

Is Filming In Brooklyn Heights ‘ Out Of Control’?

October 22, 2012

Ask Mayor Bloomberg’s Office of Film, Theater and Broadcasting about the inundation of shoots for movies, TV shows and commercials and you’ll get this response: “The industry provides high-quality jobs in an era when low-paying service jobs have become the norm.” The Boston Consulting Group, meanwhile, released a study in May reporting that NYC’s film sector is the strongest in history, generating $7.1 billion in 2011, while employing 130,000.

Andrea Demetropoulos, who owns Rocco and Jezebel pet shop at 89 Pineapple Walk, has launched a cease-fire petition, and tells the Eagle, “Filming is out of control. Please tell people to call the Mayor’s Office and tell them, ‘If you knew how difficult it is to do our job with all this filming.’ Three customers and the UPS guy this morning told me they couldn’t park anywhere. They’re killing the people who live here. It does interfere with local businesses and residents.”

She adds that some production companies are blocking off parking spaces they don’t even use during shoots: “They’re all over the place… Columbia Heights, Clark Street, Hicks, Henry, and they take over the streets a day or two prior to shooting. This entire neighborhood is only 5 by 13 blocks. There needs to be a moratorium.”

Judy Stanton, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Heights Association, notes that she’s beginning to lose count of the multitude of shoots around the neighborhood, saying that filming for “Delivery Man” is taking place at Plymouth Church, on the Promenade, at the Historical Society, at Heights Kids and on Henry Street: “How many blocks? No answer. I think it’s excessive. More consideration needs to be given to little neighborhoods like this one. Multiple shots at one time is unfair. Last week ‘Law and Order’ and a Lottery commercial were shooting at the same time. The Lottery trucks blocked Montague from Court to Henry street. That really did affect merchants.”

The Brooklyn Eagle counts more than a dozen major films and TV shows being shot in the area over the last two weeks: “Delivery Man,” “Smash,” “Law and Order: SVU,” “The Angriest Man in Brooklyn,” “Noah,” “Golden Boy,” “Zero Hour,” “Orange,” “666 Park Avenue,” “Carrie Diaries,” “Person of Interest,” “How to Be a Man,” “Infamous” and “Made in Jersey”—along with a number of commercials, like the New York Lottery spot being filmed on Montague Street. Much more in the Eagle piece here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49580

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

Vehicles Must Be Moved Monday 10/22 For Film Shoot: Montague Terrace, Remsen & Pierrepont

October 22, 2012

Filming for feature flick “Delivery Man” will take place near and along the Promenade on Tuesday, October 23. The NYPD Tow Unit will begin removing all vehicles at 10 p.m. tonight, Monday, October 22. The specifics: both sides of Montague Terrace between Remsen Street and Montague Street; and both sides of Pierrepont Place between Pierrepont Street and Montague Street.

The movie: “533 Kids Productions will be shooting a feature film during Fall & Winter 2012, centering on a middle-aged man whose life is turned upside down when he learns he has fathered 533 children through sperm donation. When a few hundred of the children express an irrepressible need to meet their father, he must decide whether to step up and reveal his identity.”

For questions or concerns regarding the shoot, call 533′s Location Department at 646-513-2360.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/49557

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

BBP’s Pier 5 Goes Green As It Readies For Fall Completion

October 22, 2012

As Brooklyn Bridge Park pushes for late Fall 2012 completion of Pier 5, there couldn’t be any greener a sign of progress than the artificial turf that was put in place over the past week. According to signage that lines the Promenade: “The 5-acre section, designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, will feature three synthetic turf playing fields, a waterfront promenade, a picnic peninsula with barbecues, a playground for younger children and fishing stations. Benches and picnic tables constructed of salvaged wood will be placed throughout the pier. A portion of the park’s greenway will also be completed and connect to the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.”

Meanwhile, the Squibb Park Bridge spanning Furman Street—which provides a connection at Pier 1—is also slated for completion before year’s end, according to the Brooklyn Bridge Park website. More pics below the jump. (Photos: Chuck Taylor)