Odessa - Brighton Beach Avenue

Finally, something is happening at the shuttered Odessa restaurant and food shop on Brighton Beach Avenue. Odessa was one closing mystery I never solved, but I never asked around. Last night I spotted a sidewalk shed in front of the two storefronts as well as Pat Singer's community center, the Chinese food place and the corner Cute Nail shop, which means that the entire lot will undergo some sort of change. Strangely, from what I saw Pat Singer's shop is blocked with plywood; only the food and nail place are accessible.

The DOB page states the following:
Alteration Type 1 - Construction equipment fence proposed 3rd and 4th floors vertical enlargement. Convert second and partial of first floor to ambulatory diagnostic and treatment health care facilities use group 4. Change use, egress and occupancy as per plan.

It doesn't specify the number of storefronts to be converted. While I don't necessarily mind the increased height, I'm not in favor of a health facility addition, given that we already have the ugly 4-story Dr. Abboud's office further down the block with unfinished cinder block walls visible when pulling into the Brighton Beach train station on the B or Q.

Corbin Place update

232 Corbin Place, with 230 and 228 in the background.

230 (left) and 228 Corbin Place.

Work continues at 232 Corbin Place and 228 Corbin Place.  228 is a duplicate of 230 Corbin Place. Both have been designed in keeping with the common styles of Manhattan Beach which has been a welcomed surprise. Both houses were put up for sale even before construction is complete.

Change in scale

 This three story building on East 57th Street must have been a hold-out.I can't imagine what the owners thought at the time. The construction of the neighboring buildings must have been extremely suffocating.

mta

Artistic revision.

Sunset Park

Eighth Avenue & 42nd Street, Brooklyn

On a personal note, I have moved from Manhattan Beach to Sunset Park.

Manhattan and Brighton Beach will always be my home and I plan to continue to post about these neighborhoods and the changes I witness.

But I may begin to post about Sunset Park as well. I am still in the process of absorbing what presently defines the area so that my eyes can begin to see what change is occurring. So far, the only intriguing change I have been watching is the renovation/restoration of the Ninth Avenue D train station. They recently relocated the token booth and in the process, temporarily revealed the old MTA logo. It was so much more elegant than what they have today!

One of the reasons why I love my job is the opportunity to be on the rooftops of various buildings and see the city from a new perspective. I forget how cold and snowy it is at times.

232 Corbin Place update

Foundation walls were poured a while back and aluminum stud skeleton frame of the new structure is in place.  I haven't been there in the daytime to snap a picture.  Will do as soon as I can.

US Navy blimp coasting along the Belt Parkway at 11 AM.

Building Collapse

Sheepshead Bites reported a building collapse in Brighton Beach.  The saddest part is the update from 3:35 PM:

"A neighbor said the three have been pulled out. Also (according to witnesses), one worker on the scene fled before the police and FDNY came out. He reportedly “got in his car and left.”

It's likely these are immigrant workers as many construction workers are.  I'm guessing he fled for fear of meeting paramedics and police officers.  Sad when regardless of pain, one would have to flee.


This week I've discovered two separate projects in Brooklyn connected to one or two of the following:
Shaya Boymelgreen
Elena Kalman
Bricolage Designs

The public should be wary of any project involving these entities.

Joseph's Haircutting Salon

google street view of Joseph's Haircutting Salon on 7th Avenue

I just saw that Manhattan Beach resident Joe Volpicelli was given a Proclamation award by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz for the 50th anniversary of his barber shop in Park Slope. Congratulations to Joe. What an honor.

Neptune Avenue

homing pigeon conference @ Coastal

New DOT signs on Brighton Beach Avenue

Finally, DOT put up three traffic signs on Brighton Beach Avenue at the entrance to the Oceana Apartments -- two for east/west bound cards entering the driveway to yield to pedestrians and another stating that cars exiting the driveway can only make right turns.

Accolades to whoever it was who proposed these signs.  I'm not sure that they will work, particularly because the signs that say yield to pedestrians were installed against the angle of the sidewalk, making it difficult for drivers to see them..

But maybe I can stop yelling like a crazy person at drivers pulling in and out of the driveway.  It really befuddles me why on earth the DOT/city and brainless architect thought that putting the entrance on the curve of the street was a brilliant move, on top of the fact that Brighton Beach Avenue is always congested.  The main entrance should have been on Coney Island Avenue.

storm rolling out

Emmons and Sheepshead

The Burger Shop on Brighton Beach

vintage-looking hanging sign

This entry is my first quasi food review on The Urbanographer featuring the new Burger Shop. The food component however is secondary to my review of the shop as a new commercial space in Brighton Beach.

The Burger Shop seemed to have come out of nowhere. It exists as a parallelographically-shaped subdivision of Kebeer, the darkly lit triangular sports bar at the southeast corner of Brighton and Coney Island. (I still dont know what Kebeer means or if it does mean anything.) It's arrival reminds me of how out of place Starbucks seemed when it was new to the town. American barnacles strapped on to the Russian muscle that is Brighton Beach. (I never make it far enough down Brighton to see who actually buys coffee from Starbucks..Is it the local folk or north-Brooklyn/Manhattan seasonal invaders?) Burger Shop has raised various questions in my mind: who was the architect? who is the developer of the space? is this a chain? how do they know young Americans like thin brown paper colored menus? who decided on their vintage meat processor/churning logo? who are they marketing to with their English signs, American menu, and lack of glitz? Simply put: Has a North Brooklyn-American invaded Brighton Beach?

menu cover

I was impressed by the Shop's muted signage. It has to contend with the horrifyingly ugly building at next door with awfully large and disproportionate lettering letting us know that DR. ABBOUD has an office above the Brighton Bazaar.

I was also impressed by the organization of space for the waiting customers, and the tight but seemingly efficient use of space for the cook and cashier.  The nicest feature is that the front glass window has a countertop or ledge running along it.  When the window is fully open, one can communicate with people on the inside, while standing and eating on the outside. I don't know another eatery that uses glass and a countertop effect to extend indoor space in this way near by.

Brightly colored cartoony imagery
and text (in English) on raw plywood
= reminded me of Williamsburg.

This gigantic slider window frees up some more space.

I stopped by on Friday to see what the menu looked like and discovered the truth: the owner is not a North-Brooklyn American. How do I know this, you ask? Because a) there is no vegetarian alternative to the beef burger and 2) there are no turkey burgers (which I was really hoping for).

I ordered the 1st item on their menu -- a burger, fries and drink-- which comes to $5.00. I asked for the burger to have nothing on it, and then went overboard and asked for ketchup since there is no condiment station. It took about 25 minutes before I could walk out food in hand. It seems that my order slip fluttered away from where it was tacked.  That accounted for the first 10 minutes. As the burger was grilled, the cashier double checked and asked if I ordered mayonnaise on it.  I said no, only ketchup.  Eventually, the burger was boxed and handed to me sans fries and drink, so I then had to wait for the fries to be cooked and the soda to be poured.

When I got home, I found mayo and ketchup on the burger and the fries too salty. The cashier did say they only opened the previous Tuesday. 

brighton rainbow sky

global worry

In the same week, I read this disturbing New York Times article about our global tree loss , I watched the documentary Vanishing of the Bees. (I've posted the official trailer above for those interested. The movie can be seen through Netflix.) Everyone should take the time to read and watch both.

We are in trouble if society continues to think that the purpose of our short life on this planet is to consume without guilt or hesitation.

Commuter news

Today, the B express train resumes service.  I can't tell you how exciting this is for me. I remember reading the 2012 completion date listed on the MTA fliers in agony. (Work isn't complete entirely, but I think it's far enough along that the public can use the stations.)

Friday night, the B and Q were running express from Kings Highway to Prospect Park probably to finish last minute touches so that the MTA could keep to its goal.  I was so proud, watching the contractors with flashlights walking the express tracks in the dark as I commuted home to Brighton. Our subway system is its own living organism-- living, and breathing us into and out of Manhattan each day, and requiring regeneration.

No . dot . No . stop

Just saw the new MTA map called The Weekender. It looks wonderful in my opinion but I think they still have a few kinks to work out. 

Berta

The remaining two sections of Berta are currently being subdivided.  This week, they removed the old signage and apparently the terra cotta facing to expose the back-up brick masonry behind. It kind of reminded me of this 1940s Cushman photo that I was shown earlier this week of New York. Note the building on the right. The store signage looks as though it was inserted between two bands along the brick facade.  This is such a refreshing way to advertise  rather than completely obscure the building with an awning. Particularly hideous is this one on Coney Island Avenue.

United Methodist Church - update

Tim Stelloh at the New York Times wrote a follow-up on the church's stablization:

Sheepshead Bay Steeples to Be Stabilized, Not Removed

Erin Durkin of the Daily News did the same:

United Methodist Church of Sheepshead Bay finds temporary fix to save 142-year-old steeples

Hooray for follow-ups!

232 Corbin Place

232 Corbin Place

Demolition started yesterday. The roof has been torn into.

What made the little house significant to me:
1) Wood siding
2) Large glass window panes along the front room extension and wood detailing along the spandrel beam level
3) Matching front and back extensions
4) The simple, dock-like terrace off the back of the building (which seemed to signify how close the ocean water used to be)
5) Blue everywhere
6) It has predated the construction of most of everything else
7) It was a part of the Manhattan Beach Estates
8) Formerly owned by Joseph M. Newmark - the owner of the Riverside Viaduct Realty Company (citation to be provided soon)

1878 print

232 Corbin Place

Sadly, I report that plywood sheathing has been delivered to the site which means that demolition will start soon.

United Methodist Church - update

Steel cables and bracing have been installed to support the load of the steeples. Due to some upcoming personal deadlines I haven't had a chance to speak to the Board of Trustees to discuss the next course of action, which I hope will be a full scale building evaluation and repair program. I will provide an update once I speak to them.

Bobby and Violet

Bobst Library. The hawks are in the second window from the corner.

Nest twigs visible

View of nest from directly below building.

I have been taken with the Bobby and Violet story at my old school, NYU.  If you haven't heard, two red-tailed hawks have nested along the north facade of Bobst Library.  Yesterday, I went to Washington Square Park to see if I could spot the nest from the Park. These are the pictures I was able to capture.

old signage at Jack's Hairstyling

5 cent Barbers

Manicuring

I think within the left circle shape it says 5 cent Barber.  The first word after "Special Attention to" seems to be "children." Might need Frank Jump's help.

I peeked through the security gate.  Looks like they may have transferred over the equipment from the other location. 

small leaves, leaflets, leafilini's in prospect heights

spring time on dean street

United Methodist Church of Sheepshead Bay finds temporary fix to save 142-year-old steeples

Another article about the church by the Daily News!

Jack's Hairstyling on Brighton Beach Avenue

today

by jackszwergold @ flickr

Jack's Hairstyling for Men has left its spot at 1103 Brighton Beach Avenue.  I had seen the dumpster out front yesterday and wrongly assumed that it was for Odessa since that place has been closed for so long. (Although in retrospect that would not have made sense to locate the dumpster so far from the restaurant. Too far a distance to carry debris.)

The sign out front says they have moved to the block where Tiffany Fruit Store used to be.  I hope they took their old signage.*  I loved it.

Interesting discovery underneath: "Special Attention Given To"...who?

That's the second vintage barber shop sign we've lost in the past year I think.  The other was on Avenue Z.

I bet the reason was the building requested an unaffordable rent increase, just like they did to Green Farm, the fruit store that was right next to it.

(*update. After posting this, I noted that they have vinyl sign at the new location.)

United Methodist Church

I'm trying to collect pictures of the interior of the church from as far back as possible.  If anyone knows who has old photos please send them my way. Thank you!

Hudson Street

A construction fence running along Hudson Street was decorated with sunburst/spider spaces coming through voids in the netting.  I wondered how this came to be installed and by who.

The spider legs appeared to be clear plastic tubing which is not the same as Med44's concept of construction site art: that all materials are not typical construction site materials.

Beautiful railing emblem

jeez louise

Doing some research on leaning steeples and found this on wikipedia.

Suurhusen Church, East Frisia, Germany

strays

The number of stray cats has always fluctuated over the years. We used to worry at their alarming reproduction rate and investigated the catch, neuter and release programs, but with the recent construction/demolition of several houses, the numbers have dwindled fast.  The construction has occurred in their favorite spot.

I spotted this sign on Saturday, and I guess the poster is suggesting the cats haven't packed up and moved due to the construction but have been killed. Sad.

wednesday in brooklyn

prospect heights eye sore..

scaffolding + yellow blooms in sheepshead bay

Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach Civic Association

I attended the monthly meeting at Sheepshead Bay/Plumb Beach Civic Association last night in an attempt to introduce myself to the chairpeople and inquire as to whether they received my email from several weeks ago.  Apparently none of them had received it or knew what I was talking about. I will try again to gain their support of a fund raiser for the Church at some other point in time.

more photos from my weekend mapping

Courier Life article

The Bay News has an article on the church's decision to restore the steeples:  Steeples Saved!

I am very happy as you can imagine.But this is not necessarily a victory since the church is still in the same financial position.  They still need our help.

Sheepshead Bay architecture

2235 Emmons Avenue

Beautiful balustrade & porch design

 This is first on the list of buildings I will add to my map.

Home for winged creatures

update

I met with the Board of Trustees at the church and am really excited about what we might be able to accomplish together. I will post more soon. 

There may be a small piece in the Bay News about this campaign, so keep a look out for it!

Thoughts

In the grander scheme of things, United Methodist Church should belong to a league of historic buildings in South Brooklyn.  We all [subconsciously] know which ones they are but only realize we have this knowledge (of which structures deserve preservation) when they are threatened by change or decay.
I am working on a map of South Brooklyn to locate these buildings.


Whether or not they should be landmarked to ensure their future existence is a topic for another time. But in the meantime, if we had a map maybe building owners would be convinced to maintain them in keeping with the intent of the original architect.

Sheepshead Bites article !

Sheepshead Bites posted an entry today, "Campaign To Save Methodist Church Gains Steam" about my efforts to save the steeples. I have received several responses already and am inspired to continue. Thank you to all those who are reading and pushing for my success.

6 AM/6PM

When day broke around 6:30 AM, I saw this on Brighton Beach. Plumes of gas fumes funneling straight into the air, and no one inside the vehicle. These trucks in the photo assist long flat bed trucks that are transporting new boardwalk concrete slab and wood sections to the Ocean Parkway section under construction.  They [the city?] began using Brighton 15th Street last summer since there are few wide entry points to the beach.

6 AM

The problem is the flat bed trucks often get stuck making the turn around the abandoned red building, and so these other caterpillar trucks spend hours smoothing out the sand for the flat beds, OR pushing the flat bed trucks out of sand when they inevitably get stuck in ruts.

It's hard to say if the flat beds going back and forth all day is the most efficient option available. Where are the concrete slabs being loaded from?

6 PM

Anyway, I was horrified by the fumes. Once I came home from work, I prepared three letters to post in each of the three trucks and went onto the beach to tapes these missives onto the inside of the glass for the drivers to find tomorrow.

proof i'm the note bandit

exterior view of my note on the yellow truck

taped note from inside truck

143 new boarwalk pieces

Forest Stewardship Council approved!

.









Poll:
What will the construction crew with the notes?
a) rip them off like angry giants and throw them to the ground with a huff
b) look for people like me spying through windows
c) keep the ignition off til the last possible second
d) write me back














My trip to the beach gave me a chance to inspect the collection of other things they are storing on the beach.  They currently have 4 blocks/crates of 143 Forest Stewardship Certified wood slats ready to go.  That makes me happy.  But idling sort of undoes that environmental consciousness, no?

I also had a chance to take a picture of the rear facade of the blue house aka 232 Corbin Place.