My Life In Brooklyn

According to ATP (Across the Park), the New Brooklyn & Slim will be closing for good.  This is sad news, it really is a pity to see places with such a long tenure closing.  A bit of history about to end.  I took this picture of the place a couple of weeks ago, it has definitely been one of my favorite signs in the neighborhood.

In other news, this evening I walked over to my retail nemesis, Associated, and was deeply sorry I neglected to have the camera with me.  I noted a new business working on their digs, I think it used to be a dollar type store previously, but I forget — unfortunately I don’t think I ever managed to get a picture of it.  Tonight they were installing a ceiling treatment (bright red satiny cloth), and they did have their sign up — QQ Nails and Hair — or it could have been QQ Hair and Nails — located a few doors north of Associated.

Honestly I am always happy to see people working toward their dreams, it isn’t easy, and I wish them well. But pardon me if I don’t cheer.

A couple weeks ago I took some pictures of this building located on the southeast corner of Flatbush and Cortelyou, which pretty clearly indicates it was once a theatre.  It’s been nagging at me for a couple of weeks now, but today when I was looking through my postcards for something else I stumbled upon the vintage Rialto Theatre card.  What was amazing, to me at least, is I had by chance captured almost the exact same camera position.  This generally never happens to me, especially when I am actually trying to do this.

The “before” was published between 1916 - 1930; the “after” was photographed 28 September 2006.

Cinema Treasures has this on it.

Upon moving to Prospect-Lefferts in 2002, one of the first things I did was head to the Dutch Reform Church on the corner of Church and Flatbush Avenues.  We had driven past the church many times in our Brooklyn house hunt, though what intrigued me most was the cemetery.  If you have any historical interest in the area, it is well worth a walk through.  Some of the tombstones are in remarkably good condition, considering the age.  I spent a sunny afternoon creating a photographic inventory of stones, as I often do in cemeteries. Walking among the monuments you will see many familiar Brooklyn names, descendants of the early Dutch settlers.

One interesting stone is that of Richard Alsope [sic] of Middletown, Conn. “He came to Flatbush in August 1815, to visit his sister, the wife of Mr. Riley. He had retired on a certain day to his room in the house now occupied by Mrs. Schoonmaker, and was subsequently found dead sitting in a chair by the window. It is presumed he had been struck with apoplexy. The tomb-stone which marks the place where his remains lie interred, bears the following inscription: — In memory of Richard Alsop, Esq., of Middletown, Conn. Distinguished by genius and poetical talents, respected for integrity, and beloved for his amiable simplicity of character. He died suddenly, when on visit to this place, on the 20th of August, 1815, aged fifty-four years.” [from History of the Town of Flatbush, Thomas M. Strong, D.D., 1842.]

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On Monday I had walked east to Kingston Avenue, weaving back and forth on some of the side streets but focusing upon Maple and Midwood Streets.  I had been very surprised at the amount of construction: newly completed, in process, and vacant lots awaiting treatment of some kind. Despite taking some notes as I grabbed  pics, it was later confusing to sort it all out simply viewing files and notes.  There is that much construction within a couple of blocks.

Yesterday, I headed back with a more direct route in mind and, again, took lots more pics with a clearer sense of location.  I had thought it might be an interesting exercise to create an image map of this area based on newly constructed buildings, vacant lots, and construction in process.  Though when as I began to compile the data I realized my limited time wouldn’t do justice to the project.

I spoke to one long-term resident I encountered in this specific area on Maple who held a laissez-faire attitude about the change.  No, it didn’t bother him that much at all, “out with the old, in with the new,” he told me.  I cannot offer an opinion on what was torn down in order for the new buildings to exist because I never saw them.  But without a doubt, confirmed by Mr. Laissez Faire, there have been tear-downs of old buildings. 

For the sake of argument, lets just say the torn down buildings were in bad shape, really bad, and had nothing worthy of an attempted renovation. I can accept that.  What I have a great struggle with is 1) the design of these new buildings, 2) the lack of any kind of provision for usable outside space adjacent to the sidewalk (no sense of communication between the world and the building, and 3) turning front yards, stoop area, etc. into parking spaces. This is, of course, my opinion — you may feel differently.

Not to overlook my photos, I have placed them in a set on flickr.  If you would like to see something sad, to me anyway, have a look at some of the new or relatively new structures – all exisiting on these four blocks located only a couple of blocks from the Lefferts historic district. Then walk or drive by someday to experience the real impact.

Long post, but I was taken with this place

Today I decided to walk south on Ocean from the corner of Parkside.  I was thinking of having a look around the Tennis Court area.  That is a street name and not related, in this case at least, to the activities offered at the nearby Parade Ground.

I’ve been capturing images whenever possible of some of the grandeur of the pre-war apartment entrances.  There are many notable buildings on Ocean, and I had heard rumors when I still lived on the upper west side, of a fantastic building in the Rugby or Tennis Court area.

I am not certain I found it, but it certainly is a magnificent building judging by the façade, below.  It is named “Chateau Frontenac” after the grand hotel in Québec, and there is a reference in Shelter, by Andrew S. Dolkart to this building citing the architect as W.T. McCarthy. Dolkart mentions many of these grand building were named to offer a certain appeal to prospective tenants and from my walks in the area, I have seen this to be very accurate.

 

As I was gazing at the intricacy of the façade, from inside the courtyard strolled a resident.  He was dressed in army fatigues, camo pants, an army cap and around his neck dangled dog-tags.

“Just taking a picture,” I told him.  It has been clear to me in my urban ramblings that not everyone welcomes a stranger with camera in hand.  In fact I frequently am asked if I represent a real estate company or if whatever building I am photographing is to be sold. So, if the opportunity presents itself, I like to say something defusing.  Should there in fact be a fuse present – they are sometimes difficult to see.  The army man nodded acceptance.

“This is a gorgeous building,” I offered.

“Yes, these old buildings have some amazing details,” he answered.

“So you live here?” I asked.

“I pay rent here,” he told me, “but I live here, in my boots.”  He lifted one foot and showed me his army boot.

“I’m a military brat myself,” I admitted.  We exchanged  small-talk for a few minutes, and all the while I noticed as pedestrians walked past us, the army man acknowledged each one.  By name. I began to think he could well be the unofficial mayor of the building, if not the street.  Ultimately he invited me to have a look at the courtyard in the building, an invite I was happy to accept.

Property Shark has this building dated as 1929.  I have no idea what the apartments look like or what range the rentals are in.  Tennis Ct. is a short street that runs between Ocean Ave and E. 18th St., not really a good shortcut to anywhere, and seems to be pretty peaceful. The building itself and the courtyard look very well maintained to me and given the fact it is such a gorgeous building and essentially a five minute walk from the Church avenue Q & B – I’d say this is an important building to keep an eye on.

Clarkson Ave, between Flatbush and Bedford.  Nice entry to a large building. Built 1931.

On my return walk on Maple Street I happened to notice what turned out to be an empty wood frame house at what I believe to be 263 or 265 Maple, between Rogers and Nostrand on the north side of the street.

A couple of men were working on the house next door and said the owner of this place died (they heard).  But both said the interior is gorgeous and full of details.  It is a huge place, in the image, the roof that appears at the top — seeming behind the house itself, is actually part of it.

So the owner of the house next door said a pipe burst in this place at one point and he called the city about it; interested parties can expect to see some impact of water in the basement.  It will be interesting to see what happens to it, no telling the money needed for restoration, but I would hate to see a Fedders building here.

Looks like a 1905-1910 era building to me, has some original stained glass visible. No number on the building itself, next door is numbered 261.  This is the next block east of the historic district.

So walking around today I ventured around Kingston Avenue, which I can only summarize as Fedders Central in terms of new construction.  They should consider a name change to Fedders Avenue, maybe they could get some kind of corporate sponsorship.

One block on Maple appears to be mostly new buildings, all with the requisite Fedders slots.  I can’t really say what was there earlier, it could be buildings that were in a sad state and needed to come down.  And it could be they were unnecessary tear-downs.  I did have a look at the satellite maps online – no idea when those images were originally acquired but I assume it has to be within a reasonable period of time — and I can say from the aerial view the block looked very different than it presently does. It would take some research to learn details on this.  However, I think I may map out the buildings that are so very clearly new and in the future continue to obtain pics of those that look as though they are facing the fate of tear down. 

Ultimately this is changing the face of the “greater neighborhood” which perhaps holds little meaning now, and to some may represent nothing but improvement.  However it will not be long, if the tear-downs continue at the current rate and wild abandon, when suddenly the neighborhood will not only look very different but also be very different.  I understand a block away can mean the world of difference by New York City standards.  As I continue to observe the changes in neighborhoods, I do think in this case the impact of greater residential density, cars and traffic, and something that really bothers me — most of these new building have no green space at all — are all factors that will ultimately affect bordering neighborhoods at the very least.

I just believe that development should be for people, not contractors, in design and the context should work within the greater neighborhood.

There was a fire less than a hundred feet from us around ten p.m. on Friday evening.  Amazing to see the quantity and quality of the NYFD response.   I will add a short video maybe later today on this.  It looked as though it would be a very serious incident, but it didn’t take long for the FDNY to break through the metal gate in front of the store where the fire was, check the roof, I saw FDNY people walking though the second floor apartment with flashlights as well.

I was worried about the store cat, a big fat cat who lives there and begs like a dog.  But the owner told me this morning it was an electrical fire, he is insured and the cat is fine though still freaked out and in hiding at the moment.

This is another impressive entry that is a favorite. Sometimes, when I am walking along Ocean Avenue, it reminds my of my walks along Central Park West, in the days when we lived on the park block in the eighties.  This one is 591, on the east side of the street between Albemarle and Church.  Though I do admit, there is nothing to admire about the wires.