I was just sitting on the couch reading when what sounded like an explosion rocked the area. From my window, I can see firetrucks and cops lining Washington Ave at Lafayette, some smoke near the intersection, and people with flashlights walking around. It was definitely NOT thunder.
Anyone have info?
I've long assumed this bar on Classon Ave was unused. However, it's sporting a new sign!
Has anyone ever been inside? What's behind that purple curtain in the window?
When I first moved to the neighborhood, this brownstone (Clinton bt Fulton and Gates) was not in the best shape. That big bay window in the front was covered up by various doors (anyone remember this??) and the whole place itself looked pretty crumbly.
Now it's condos, though I can't find a single bit of info on this place online.
I walked past Bonita a few Thursdays ago to pick up some take-out pre-debate and I noticed the lights on at 247 DeKalb Ave! As far as I know, this building is owned by the family of the guy who owned Cellars (am I correct? His son maybe?) and has been covered in scaffolding for as long as I can remember. There are a bunch of permits in the window, too! Looks like it'll be a restaurant. Per an internet search, they filed for a liquor license in August.
A few weeks ago, I spotted a man playing a ukulele on the corner of Waverly and Willoughby. I couldn't tell if he was a Hasidic Jew or a hipster (or both!), but a small crowd of children and parents had gathered around and were excitedly singing along with him. When I came by later, he was still there playing (sans audience). Sorry for the crap photo, but my hands were full and I only had my cell phone.
Anyone ever seen this dude??
Received this from a reader:
There's a building just about directly across from 361 Clinton (my bldg), the residents of which I've been curious about. It appears to be some type of dorm for young women. I was thinking maybe it was a St. Joseph's dorm, but the women seem a little bit dowdy to be college students. They're mostly caucasion, maybe in their 20s, and always seem to travel in a group, seemingly accompanied by female chaperons. I'm wondering if it's a nun dorm (whatever you call housing for nuns in training (novitiates?)). I'll take a photo if it would make things easier. Anyway, i'm just wanting to get some type of clarification as to who the building belongs to, and what's the deal with the young ladies.
I remembered coming across some information on this particular house a few years ago, but couldn't remember where. After some intense Googling, I solved the mystery.
The house is owned by Teen Challenge, which I first blogged about more than two years ago. Here is the text from that post:
I’ve been puzzled by this building on Clinton Avenue ever since I moved to the neighborhood in 2004. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone go in or out, yet the property looks open and well-maintained. A family friend who grew up down the block tells me that kids used to spray paint a “D” at the end of “CHALLENGE.” Pretty basic, yet made me chuckle.
So what IS this place?
Per their website:
"Working in the heart of New York City, Teen Challenge provides comprehensive faith-based residential programs for men and women seeking help to overcome drug addiction and other life-controlling problems."
Apparently, the program provides a live-in program for both men and women looking to get clean and stay that way. Ironically enough, they only take people 17 years and older. They also run an after school program for children in grades 2-6. (Why are they calling it Teen Challenge when few teenagers actually qualify for their programs??) Actually, other chapters of the organization, which was started in NYC in the 1950s, do offer live-in services and counseling for teens. The organization claims to have a very high success rate compared to other rehab institutions.
While they don’t list the actual addresses for the men’s and women’s live-in homes, they do have photos. Both look familiar, but I can’t place them off the top of my head. I think they also might be on Clinton Ave.
Since I’ve never heard a thing about them, or direct reports of the individuals causing problems in the neighborhood, it seems they’re doing a good job. They do help those in treatment earn their GED, which I highly laud.
The photos of the houses are no longer on the Teen Challenge site, but the house above in question was definitely one of them! I wonder if they didn't want people to know which house it was?
I've never seen anyone go in and out of 380 Clinton myself.
I suspect the men's home is located at 311 Clinton Avenue, next to the Halloween house.
Pat Mulcahy, owner of Tillie's, emailed me some information on the subjects of the Wallabout Memorial I spotted recently: Robin, I am so glad you posted the pic of the planter honoring the memories of Reg and Arlaine because they were real Bohemians in the best tradition of the neighborhood.
Reg was a respected painter who in his later years tended the lawns and flowers at Pratt. He lived in a loft on Washington near the Yard that he decorated with great flair with pieces from the Salvation Army warehouse at Quincy and Downing Streets. His place featured a large collection of radios from the 30s and 40s. A lover of African music and a fine cook, Reg knew a great deal about the Navy Yard and its history and we often walked the perimeter of the Yard to take in the sights and the changes there. A native of Canada, he was full of stories of meeting Jackson Pollock in the Hamptons in the 50s and of his days in the Village -- or maybe it was the Lower East Side - before he moved to Brooklyn.
Arlaine was his daughter. In the wake of Reg's death a few years back, she moved down from Canada to the loft to look after his affairs. She sold vintage clothing and was trying to set up a business here in that trade. She was a charming and shy woman with a lot of style and flair. She hosted a lovely memorial party for Reg in his place about six months after his death, where many neighbors congregated to tell stories about Reg's salty and occasionally outrageous ways. We were all shocked and truly taken aback when she died suddenly. I believe she was only in her mid-forties. The explanation I heard had something to do with a change in medication for an old injury she'd sustained when she fell from a horse.
I don't know who lives in the loft now but am very glad that there is a memorial of this kind to two very special people.
Thanks again for posting! Pat M.
Thanks, Pat, for solving that mystery!
I was surprised to hear that the polarizing L'epicerie (either you loved it or you hated it) on Vanderbilt near DeKalb closed! A friend and neighbor who knows the owner of the space said he's curious to know what we'd like to see there. (He's thinking a restaurant-type place open from 8am-1am -- maybe a new Grand 275-type joint?) This is a rare opportunity to have a say, so leave your requests here! I'll have my friend direct the owner here for suggestions.
I only went in once to get a sandwich, years ago. I did hear that they started serving delicious dinners, but I never went in to try.
On a long neighborhood walk, I attempted to visit 1001 Affairs -- the florist on Fulton near Cambridge) to pick up a small bouquet for the apartment. When I arrived the gates were down!
Their website says that they close at 3pm on Sunday, and I may have been there after 3. But I can't remember. Anyone know if they're still open?
Been hearing rumors that the mysterious former bodega on Grand and Clifton will be a bookstore! Commenters are already hoping they serve decent coffee, too, so they can avoid the line at Choice.
CHC posted some good snaps and hypotheses a few weeks ago.
Most intriguing, for me, is this children's drawing of a chameleon in the window:
Any significance?
I'm feeling totally in love with city living today. Recently, I came across this on Washington Ave up near the Navy Yard:
A small, subtle memorial that one can quietly come across if they're paying close attention. This little planter is certainly one of my favorite finds in the city.
I hope the loved ones of Reggie and Arlaine know that their small gesture gave me some peace today.
There's a lot of action up on Grand between Myrtle and Park. Most intriguing is the "Retro Loft."
Unlike the other stuff flying up nearby, this building was already here and is being repurposed.
Directly across the street, we have this dorm-like building with a wonky awning and a nice parking lot:
What do these places look like on the inside???
(Brownstoner coverage here!)
I've been immersed in a lot of urban studies reading at work lately, and have recently come across an intriguing phenomenon: the urban prairie. This occurrence is usually found in rust belt cities, like the one where I grew up. An urban prairie occurs when city buildings collapse or have been torn down and nothing rebuilt in its place. As a result, grasses and weeds begin to grow and wildlife may begin to reinhabit it.
Yes, we have our fair share of empty lots that have become overgrown with grass and weeds and trash. But this post is about a different observation: Walking around on both Washington and Lafayette recently, I've noticed that there are an insane amount of grasses and weeds growing up out of the sidewalk areas that are paved with old bricks. The first is at the southeast corner of Underhill park, on Washington:
So sad, seeing that this is a well-used children's park.
The second has cropped up on Lafayette Ave past St. James, in front of the St. James Apartments (Mitchell-Lama housing). This brick space extends for an entire block, and, with the buildings set away from the street, makes the north side of the street here look desolate and dirty. Imagine this space with tables and benches!
So, who is responsible for maintaining these areas of sidewalk? The city? Think about how pretty these planters would look if they were being maintained!
Why wouldn't the residents here get together to fix this?
Who makes the decisions about these spaces, and how can we fix them?
There's a gallery right next door to Frank White on Atlantic (at St. James):
Anyone ever been inside? What's the story?
Brownstoner hypothesized yesterday that Atlantic may gentrify before Fulton Street. Veeeeery interesting. Could it happen? Methinks not without some traffic calming measures and a renovated median (which could be very pretty!).
Boca Soul, on Fulton between Clinton and Vanderbilt, didn't last very long. The food was tasty, but it just didn't take. There appears to be something new opening in that space:
Thanks to reader Brian for tipping me off. I might not have noticed otherwise, as the awning is the same color.
The website, shockingly, doesn't work. But I'll definitely check it out.
Props to the other businesses who've been holding their own on Fulton, despite the never-ending construction (Olivino, 'Cure, Fish and Crustaceans, Autour du Monde, etc).
A blog called Did You Ever Notice has recently posted some photos of what appears to be a brand new mural on Hall Street between Park and Flushing:
Just a day or so after receiving this tip, the answer found its way into my inbox. The mural, newly painted on the side of Hall Street Storage, announces the company's new green renovations and services!
Here's their press release (it's long, but it has a lot of good info and history!):
Brooklyn’s Hall Street Storage is Designated the Country’s First Green Storage Space
The only storage facility in the country to qualify for the Green-e logo*-- the leading symbol for renewable energy excellence--opens self-storage rooms for every New Yorker
NY, NY (May 8, 2008)—Today Hall Street Storage offers New Yorkers the opportunity to store green for the first time. By introducing several ground-breaking green initiatives and opening self-storage rooms in its 1918 warehouse space, the company gives everyday New Yorkers the only green alternative for storage in the city, or the nation. The company is systemically green, with sustainable actions throughout—from renewable energy sources for 100% of its electricity use to biodegradable packing peanuts made of cornstarch.
Hall Street Storage has joined Brooklyn’s burgeoning green business movement with a number of forthright green actions. Its purchase of renewable energy (including wind and solar power) for 100% of its annual electricity needs qualifies it to use the Green-e logo, the leading symbol for renewable energy excellence because of its strict environmental and consumer protection standards. “By investing in clean, renewable energy, Hall Street Storage has given their customers the opportunity to support a company that raises awareness and inspires action by taking significant steps to reduce the negative impacts of a fossil-fuel energy generation,” says Aleka Seville, manager of Green-e Marketplace.
Within the company, green efficiencies and a remodel have resulted in the addition of 80,000 square feet of floor space. This newly available space has allowed the company to add self-storage units for individuals and small businesses. Many materials taken out during the remodel are being repurposed rather than trashed. Just one example is the antique wood taken from the company’s 1918 building, which is sought-after today by furniture makers and carpenters for laying floors, and will be used by area craftspeople.
Hall Street Storage has made an art out of finding every possible reuse for discarded materials, making its on-site center for packing supplies full of green materials such as repurposed shipping cartons and bags of paper from the office’s paper shredder to be used as an alternative to bubble wrap. Even the beams removed during the remodel of the building have become wood shavings to be used for packing. Also available are options like biodegradable packing peanuts made of cornstarch. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of recycled packing materials will be donated to the newly formed Wallabout/Clinton Hill Green Awareness Foundation, an organization founded by Hall Street Storage devoted to fostering sustainable lifestyle practices within the Downtown Brooklyn community.
Everyday actions that make an environmental difference within the company include initiatives like using eco-friendly cleaning products. These are echoed in an employee awareness program to elevate knowledge and use of green practices in employees’ own lives, which include the option of buying such items as natural cleaning products and low-energy light bulbs at cost.
Hall Street Storage even wants to encourage its customers to be green at home. New self-storage customers will receive an eco-tote bag filled with environmental helpers like a CFL bulb, a natural house cleaner, and a book with tips on how to be green. And if being green isn’t incentive enough, the company is offering a free year’s rent on self-storage to a winner drawn from those who register on the company’s web site. Soon the rest of the Northeast will have a chance to store green as well, as Hall Street aims to open fifteen green self-storage sites over the next five years.
"Our commitment to having the lowest impact on the environment is more than one of policy; it's become our primary passion," says Jeffrey E. Sitt, President of Hall Street Storage. He hopes the company’s commitment to the green business movement will inspire other area businesses. “It’s like dropping a pebble into a pond,” he says. “One little ripple will always reverberate into wider circles.”
About Hall Street Storage
Hall Street Storage has been serving the Tri-State area since 1931. It is a multi-building warehouse complex encompassing almost an entire city block in the Wallabout/Clinton Hill area of downtown Brooklyn, located opposite Steiner Studios and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and about a mile from DUMBO. The facility encompasses everything from individual rooms to entire floors. With the recent addition of self-storage units, individuals and small businesses will now have access to a range of services like professional packing, shipping, mailbox rentals, and third-party licensed and insured local and long-distance moving.
12 Hall Street, Brooklyn, NY 718-855-3636 www.hallstreetstorage.com
For more on Green-e and Hall Street Storage, see “Corporate Responsibility News."
The original 1918 Hall Street Storage building at Brooklyn’s Wallabout Market; this picture circa 1927:
Many of you have emailed me in the last two days after trying to make a reservation at Il Torchio, only to be told the ownership had changed. This seems like a bizarre turn of events. Il Torchio, which opened less than a year, definitely had its growing pains. Many of you left comments about the price points, service and quality in the first month or so, but they really seemed to get their game together. In recent months, many people have emailed me and commented on how good the food and atmosphere were. And that makes this changeover all the more curious.
MARP, in response to my email asking what was up, said that they only knew that Il Torchio's owners decided they no longer wanted to own both the building and the restaurant. (And as for Los Pollitos, they brought on a business partner, hence the name and menu change.)
Anyone one dined under the new ownership yet?
I've seen it twice now -- a white car with yellow lights on top bearing a sign that says Clinton-Washington Neighborhood Patrol.
The car is operated by Command Security Corporation, which is the private security company for the Clinton Hill Co-Ops. I'm told they will be patrolling near the co-ops, as well as a few other complexes in the area. They'll be driving around as well as checking up on guards.
I hope the route includes Waverly after dark to fend off car break-ins, and after school hours.
Here are some better photos of Gibb Mansion, renovated by the PACC and used as a group home. I didn't have enough time to snap these before I posted about the photography event, but it's definitely one of the most stunning buildings in the area.
June's storefront has already been given a coat of primer, and the wooden sign has been scratched at. Is something in the works already?
It IS a pretty deep retail space. Possibly book store material, no?
Clinton Hill Blog published from 2006 - 2010. Please enjoy these archives - a love letter to the neighborhood.
