My Life In Brooklyn

There are some patterns I see in my continuing walks around Prospect-Lefferts Gardens and the “extended” neighborhood.  Some observations:

• Much like the idea of a timberline (The northern or southern latitude beyond which trees do not grow), there appears to be a Beauty Salon line.  By this I mean a point where beauty/hair salons are less evident in ground-floor storefronts (though are occasionally found on second floors).  These appear to begin to show up less frequently around Parkside Avenue and Flatbush (southerly) and is in full effect (very intermittent) by Church Avenue.  The exception is some salons are in evidence around the corner on some side streets.  They do, however, pict up again a few blocks south.  But as far as my explorations have taken me, to date the greatest concentration of beauty-related businesses are found on Flatbush between Lincoln Road and Parkside Avenue.
• Nostrand Ave between (approximately) Lefferts Avenue and Rutland Road seems to have quite a few real estate establishments (though none of the big competitors such as Corcoran).
• Albemarle Road, between Nostrand and Rogers especially, is a veritable development site.  Seriously, I was quite surprised at the number of newly completed residential buildings (some of which are empty); sites in various building stages from foundations on; and sites that appear to be in the process of being readied for demolition and/or building.  And for all this I have to say it is a very ugly and unappealing and litter-laden segment of this street with cars parking on sidewalks and other annoyances.

Below: Newly Constructed on Albemarle Road.

So today on the Daily Walk, I went north on Flatbush, veering onto Washington and stopped when I realized I had never actually had a close look at the Mural painted on the northwest corner of of Washington and Lincoln.  I believe the theme is simply famous sports figures and it is nicely done, though unfortunately marred by grafitti (evident in the image below).

Below is the image of one person I had never heard of, Sisero [sic] Murphy, a billiards champ.  Murphy, who I am only able to find references to under the name “Cisero Murphy” was evidently born in Brooklyn in 1937 — not sure what part of Brooklyn, I guess that goes on the “to-do” list when the 1940 Federal Census is released.

From AZBillards.com: (I highly recommend checking out the entire article at the link.)

“Cisero Murphy was undoubtedly the most courageous pool player in history. He had played better than anybody for years, and was denied entry into the World 14.1 Championships because of his race. Many would have been intimidated by the situation and sat down quietly, avoiding confrontation. Not Murphy. Cisero continued to play his best despite this set of circumstances, winning the Eastern States 14.1 Championship several years in a row amidst the toughest straight pool competition in the world. In 1965, Cisero was finally granted an opportunity to play in the World Championships. Cisero blasted through the field, posting victories over such names as “Cowboy” Jimmy Moore, Joe Balsis, and eventually Luther “Wimpy” Lassiter in the finals. Not bad for the tournament rookie. Cisero had sent a message out to the pool world. Good shooting mattered not on the color of your skin. Murphy earned the respect of his competition and maintained his intense playing style for the next few years.”

You have to embrace the unexpected good things here, those serendipitous sweet moments.  And that goes for Manhattan as well, it isn’t just this neighborhood.  In fact, if anything, it is evident significantly more often here in PLG than in the city.

Walking up Lincoln from Flatbush I stopped to take a photo of a building entry.  It has been modified and updated I believe; the original doors were replaced from what I can tell.  But there was some nice stonework and a manicured front lawn, so I thought I would “document” the place.  That is how I think of it anyway.

It was alternate side parking time, and the early birds were staking out claim to their newly acquired spaces.  A fellow leaning against his car eyed my camera and I wished him good morning, telling him I thought the building was attractive, well cared for and by the way … do you live here?

A simple effort, but indeed the man lived in the building.  We had a very nice fifteen minute chat discussing the building (well cared for, no problems, super on the premises); the neighborhood (changing, something we both agreed on, he telling me lots of Caucasians are moving into his building). 

“Are they friendly?” I asked him.  Recently I have noticed not many of the new residents say hello to me on my street, while in my experience people with a long-term tenure in the neighborhood do.

“They have to get used to it,” he responded, “Some are uncomfortable here.”

We chatted a while longer about a number of things. Then, we exchanged first names, shook hands, and parted ways.  But not before he initiated a friendly hug.

There are some seriously nice folks in this neighborhood, sometimes it just takes a hello and a moment of your time to figure out who they are.

According to propertyshark, the building date is 1929, 71 units — 137-153 Lincoln Rd.

Lenox Road, I forgot to note the street address, but between Flatbush and Rogers, north side of the street.  Sign on the house says “Houses and Land Bought and Sold.”  That with the elaborate boards around the property makes me think this one is coming down.  I could be wrong, but really this place doesn’t appear to be all that bad.

I went on a lengthy walk today and returned on Hawthorne, heading west toward Flatbush.  Almost around the corner from Rogers, on the north side of the street I saw this dilaptated beauty at 195 Hawthorne.  I honestly don’t understand how a house can be allowed to disintegrate to this state.

As I took the photo, a couple of local women were stoop-chatting nearby and we engaged in a conversation.  The house is evidently owned by someone who lives elsewhere on the block (or is a relative of said person).  First, they said the bank is now involved in it, but they did say taxes, mortgages and basic costs have been paid.  So no idea really if this is a foreclosure or the real status of the property.  The women, home owners on the street, are not happy with the sense of neglect this place adds to their street.

According to Propertyshark, it was built in 1931, has a 40 foot wide lot — looks like it may have been a Tax Lien sale in 2004.  I would hope it could be restored, but no idea about the condition of course.  It would have to go for a very low price to compensate for the money required for a decent restoration.  What a wasteful, sad eyesore.

Postscript: Llewy thinks the x in the box on the front may mean it is slated for demolition.

On the North side of Winthrop Street, between Flatbush and Bedford Avenues is an interesting pre-war six-story building.  It has a very modern look to it at the same time and I was a little surprised to see it was built in 1931, I would have guessed sometime closer to 1940s.  There are 77 residential units in it, according to Propertyshark.  To me the building is mostly unremarkable, until I happened to look up and noticed on the façade a sundial.  I would love to get a closer look at it, will have to carry along a more substantial camera with a telephoto lens one day.  It did make me wonder if a sundial works when affixed in a vertical rather than flat position, I’ll have to research it.*

* According to Wikipedia, wall sundials are quite common, and simply based on the predicability of shadows.  I guess I just never noticed.

I was walking down Clarkson Avenue and spotted this gorgeous building entry.  Another I wish I was able to see in the original configuration.  I am guessing there might have been some kind of statuary or urns in the recessed areas on either side.  It still appears to be in pretty decent shape, though the paint job is really sloppy (see the large splotches on both sides).  Must have been an impressive beauty in its day.  Propertyshark data states this six story building was erected in 1927 — it also cites 83 residential units. Seeing architecture like this is one reason I love walking around the neighborhood.

Larger version available on Flickr.

114 Fenimore St.  I really love some of the old architectural features on the local apartment buildings.  This one is a favorite, though I cannot help but wonder what the original was like in terms of paint and color (assuming it was painted).  Year built (NYC Departments of Buildings) is 1931.

On my walk today I couldn’t help but notice two beautification efforts.  The first, pictured below is on the southeast corner of Fenimore and Flatbush.  While I recognize and credit the effort of the business owner to contribute to improvement, I have difficulty in appreciating the result.  Old tires painted and planted are right up there with Madonnas in half-buried bathtubs, both of which can be seen with minimal searching in some parts of suburbia.  While my neighbor Tom said he didn’t mind the improvement effort, it is just reeks kitsch to me, but not the interesting kind.  I mean this kind of thing can work on the grounds of old motels on historic Route 66, but — for me, at least — it doesn’t work here.  At the moment it seems tolerable — in the sense of being neat and fresh – lets see how long the installation is maintained.

Also, while on Flatbush (East side, somewhere near Parkside) I encountered these trees pictured below.  Presumably painted by the merchant.  I don’t think this is particularly healthy for the trees and again pretty tacky.  Whoever painted the blue tree was sloppy.

Perhaps I shouldn’t complain, but I have my standards.