NEWS: December Doings from the DUMBO Neighborhood Association
DUMBO BECOMING AN HISTORIC DISTRICT
This past summer was a fruitful one in our long campaign to landmark DUMBO. Our presentations, appeals to local elected officials and our letter and postcard campaigns have been noticed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and we are finally moving forward. On September 14th, 2006 DNA Executive-Steering Committee members Karen Johnson, Doreen Gallo & Amanda Barrow along with Community Board #2 District Manager Rob Perris met with Robert Tierney, Chairperson of the Landmarks Preservation Commission as well as other LPC members Mary Beth Betts, Kate Daly, Ronda Wist and Diane Jackier.
At the beginning of 2007, LPC will sponsor a community meeting along with Councilperson David Yassky and Community Board#2. After this we will be calendared for historic district designation. Hearings will be held and members of the community are encouraged to come forward and testify to demonstrate the neighborhood’s support of the designation. After this the boundaries will be discussed and a date will be set to vote on our application. If all goes well, this will occur by next summer.
Although the movement forward is positive, we should continue our letter writing in earnest. We are not out of the woods yet! While the DUMBO neighborhood has a place on the National Register of Historic Places, it does not yet have any of the protection landmarking would ensure. Currently we are battling the demolition of a 19th century building that is irreplaceable, and while it may not be the most impressive building in DUMBO, it is a beautiful brick structure and a very important piece in the rich tapestry of industrial architecture that defines the context of DUMBO and makes it an historic neighborhood of note. We advocate re-use, rather than demolition.(See next news item below) Some developers are trying to demolish before we are designated so it is important to keep the momentum going.
This last spring DNA began sending out landmarking packages to residents in our community. In it people received a brief history of the neighborhood (copied from a booklet complied by the Brooklyn Historical Society), frequently asked questions (faq’s) about becoming an historic district and what that means for property owners and business owners alike, a stamped postcard to send to the LPC, and a form letter addressed to Chairman Tierney of The Landmarks Preservation Commission supporting the designation of DUMBO as an historic district. If you haven’t received a package and would like to receive one please e-mail [email protected].
If you sent in a form letter, please take the time now to write a personal letter of urgency for being calendared and supporting designation We will make postcards available around DUMBO – please take a minute to mail another and pass a few on to friends, neighbors and co-workers to mail as well. If you want to help out with our postcard campaign, we can use your help by taking a packet of ten (or more) stamped postcards in to your building lobby or mail room, your office or place of business, or even to a holiday gathering!
A personal letter registering your support should be send to:
Honorable Robert Tierney
Landmarks Preservation Commission
1 Center Street, 9th floor
NY, NY 10007
So that we may be able to know the strength of community support in our continued efforts, please cc DNA on your letter – thank you:
DNA
45 Washington St., #123
Brooklyn, NY 11201
FIGHTING THE DEMOLITION OF 205 WATER/188 PLYMOUTH STREET
Developers are aware that Landmark designation is coming soon, and many of them are working to quickly destroy buildings so that they may develop the lot from scratch at a later date, thus avoiding any limitations that may come from having to repair or re-use a landmark protected building. This wanton demolition is happening on a large scale in DUMBO East of the Manhattan Bridge anchorage. One such example is 192 Plymouth Street – it had been a fine example of an early 19th century waterfront warehouse with massive pine beams, decorative brickwork and stunning high ceilings – it has recently been completely demolished. Building permits for demolition are being given out by the DOB before building plans are submitted. This is wasteful and should not be permitted to occur in a neighborhood that has been a state and national registered historical district since 2000. Frequently developers try to get around the fact that the variance for these lots are still zoned manufacturing. Once the historic building so suited for commercial use (or loft conversion) is destroyed, it can be easier to get the lot’s variance changed to one for residential use – and then a big, cheap building can be hastily constructed. This building trend can be seen in the two massive towers that have risen on either side of the Manhattan Bridge along York Street. It is interesting to note, however, that these modern apartment buildings, as well as other newly constructed residential buildings in the area, are having some difficulty selling out their units. This is in contrast to the quick sell out of historic buildings that have been converted into residential or mixed-use spaces.
The DNA landmarking committee is currently working with some neighborhood residents in trying to save 205Water/188 Plymouth Street, a beautiful 19th Century foundry built by EW Bliss, whose company helped build the Brooklyn Bridge and later, built torpedoes for the Navy in World War I. Its’ brick façade is currently covered over with stucco. In the National Register of Historic Places it is listed as: 190-200 Plymouth Street (205-213 Water Street). c.1900. Contributing one-and three-story brick foundry erected for the E.W. Bliss Company extending through block from Plymouth Street to Water Street. Street elevation with modest openings; high clerestory on side elevations with steel sash; monitor roof; raised skylight on roof of one-story eastern section. Large metal water tower with name Brillo visible. Alterations: Street elevation stuccoed.
Our Councilperson David Yassky is advocating preservation of this building. DNA thanks the councilman for his help. We also want to thank Simeon Bankoff, Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council and historian Andrew Dolkart for their help and support. Special thanks to Marian Wood (working for Mr.Yassky) for her continued attention and dedication to helping us maintain the integrity of our historic neighborhood.
Again, please take the time to write Chairperson Tierney at LPC to calendar DUMBO ASAP.
BELGIAN BLOCK PRESERVATION
The Belgian block streets in DUMBO provide a unique sense of place and a link with the neighborhood’s rich past as a working waterfront. This summer has seen increased infrastructure work to support development, and this work is threatening our cobblestones. DNA has always been concerned with retaining as much block as we can but our efforts have been impeded both by negligible fines and the slow reaction time of city agencies.
With the help of the Arts Commission our concerns were finally heard and responded to. The Arts Commission was instrumental in getting DOT to preserve the Belgian block, even if it was covered over in asphalt. We were successful in having the Keyspan workers digging along Front Street between Pearl and Adams replace the block they cut into instead of discarding it. Our goal is to preserve the block (including that under the black top paving) so that future restoration will be possible. Washington Street has already been identified by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and will be worked on in the next two years, making it’s view of the Manhattan Bridge even more spectacular (and the ride more smooth!). We are currently working with Councilperson Yassky to
find funds to restore other view corridors. Our next proposed capital project will be the complete restoration of Pearl Street, including the re-opening of the Water St. anchorage passage and the area currently occupied by DOT under the Manhattan Bridge by the Pearl Street entrance to the park. We hope to restore Pearl Street to its former grandeur providing a wide pedestrian thoroughfare as the grand entrance to the north end of the Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Future capital projects will be the restoration of Water Street and Plymouth Street.
NEW LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY COUNCILMAN YASSKY – NO MORE 421-a
David Yassky, Annabel Palma and Letitia James represent Brooklyn and the Bronx in the City Council. They have introduced a bill to eliminate the automatic tax break for developers. They are proposing that developers no longer get tax abatements unless 30% of each new project provides affordable housing, or that they build other affordable housing elsewhere.
Here is an excerpt from their written release: Under a quirk of the city tax code, newly constructed apartment buildings pay no property taxes for up to 15 years, and then reduced taxes for up to 10 more years. This rule is called “421-a” after the section of law where it is written, and it applies everywhere in New York City except the very priciest parts of Manhattan (between 14th and 96th Sts.). In that area, new buildings get the tax break only if they include low-income housing or if the developer pays for low-income housing elsewhere. But outside of that area, the tax break is automatic – applying to high-end, moderate-income and low-income housing alike. That’s why you can see ads every week for exorbitant apartments that boast: “No taxes!”
The 421-a rule has become very expensive. The accumulated tax breaks will reduce city tax collections by more than $400 million this year – and of course other taxpayers have to make up the difference.
The mayor’s commission seems to think that outside Manhattan, the tax break helps to generate affordable housing. That’s wrong, for two reasons.
First, developers will build regardless of the tax break. By keeping the 421-a rule, we just allow a small number of residents to escape taxes, meaning that other taxpayers have to pay more.
Second, many of the apartments being built in Brooklyn and Queens, and even in parts of the Bronx, are not “affordable housing” by anyone’s definition. According to the Pratt Center for Community Development, prices of $600,000 and up are commonplace, and very few new apartments sell for under $300,000.
They also wrote End Tax Break for Owners of Pricey Condos, a recent op-ed column in the Daily News.
None of the new developments in the DUMBO area have any allocation of apartments put aside for middle or low-income families. None of the new housing set to be built has any affordable housing planned either. This puts the allowing of the proposed and, in part, approved luxury housing planned for our Brooklyn Bridge Park into question. How can these waterfront luxury condos provide continued revenue for the park and neighborhood if they are given a tax exemption? And how can one argue that they provide much needed housing if they do not have any apartments allocated for middle or low-income families? Also, as mentioned earlier in this letter, the neighborhood currently has a glut of unsold luxury housing available, and we do not have the necessary infrastructure – sewers, electric lines, parking, transportation and schools – to support all the high rise condos that are being planned.
Of course, the DNA’s official stance is that we would like to see a waterfront park free of any residential development. We would like the Empire State Development Corporation to respect and adhere to the 13 Guiding Principals for planning and development used in the formation of the BBP, signed July18, 1992, and presented by the BBP Coalition to the community.
Two of these 13 principles include:
There shall be no residential housing within park boundaries.
The overall Plan shall be agreed to before permanent use or construction is authorized.
So far, the ESDC has not complied with either of these two conditions. We ask that concerned residents send a letter that supports Councilman Yassky’s new bill to Mayor Bloomberg.
For more information, please read Fact Sheet On 421-a Reform issued by the Office of Councilman Yassky.
ELDA+ LIGHTING PROJECT
Early this summer the DNA was approached by the European Lighting Design Association (a member of which is a DUMBO resident) with an interesting proposal to conduct a workshop in DUMBO. This workshop would consist of six teams of students lead by professional designers that choose a local structure, design and create a temporary light installation for it. It is a dramatic and beautiful highlighting unique architecture and redefining of spaces in a creative and evocative way. This process takes about 18 months and would coincide with the 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge. We would welcome the chance to celebrate DUMBO’s rich architectural history with such a public art event. It would definitely show our neighborhood off in a good light! This project is still in the planning stages as money needs to be raised and a “home team” assembled. If you are interested in helping please contact us.
NEIGHBORHOOD TREES
A member of our Steering Committee recently completed the Trees NY Citizen Tree Pruning Course. It was very informative. Many people may think trees are off limits, and are taken care of by “city professionals”. However, this is not the case. Surprisingly, once the Parks Department plants a tree, they entrust the tree’s survival to the care of the community in which it grows. The Parks Dept. actually relies on concerned citizens to WATER trees so that they will survive.
The Citizen Tree Pruner Course does teach some pruning & planting, but it mainly addresses the immediate care for the survival of street trees – they need water, air and mulch – and that is pretty much it. They need more water in its relatively small tree pit than just rain usually provides. They need air to reach the soil and nourish the roots (so no paving stones) and they need mulch (only) to provide organic nutrients and to prevent soil compaction. (Compacted soil starves the roots of the much needed air and water!) Trees also need to be protected from vandalism and pollutants (mainly salt and dog waste).
But apparently no one knows this. Contractors (the lowest bid) are hired to plant trees (usually poorly) and then they leave, never to return. So trees need care – and no one does it unless citizens step up. That is why so many trees die.
Also, lots of well meaning doormen or these contractors who initially plant the trees, actually harm trees by piling on too much mulch – in a volcano shape up against the trunk – called “vulcanoeing”. This causes the tree roots to get little or no oxygen. The tree then sends roots up instead of down near the trunk and these roots girdle the trunk and eventually kill it. It also causes rot and insect infestation. If one starts to pay attention, one may notice many neighborhood trees suffer from this condition. It is OK to “unvolcanoe” a tree – simply clear the mulch so that an area of exposed soil about 6-10” wide is visible at the base of the trunk. And if you get a strange reaction from passers-by or protective doormen, you can explain that you are saving the tree’s life!
However, by far, the most important step we can all take is to keep our trees watered. Trees need between 15-20 gallons of water a week.
One great way to keep the trees healthy is to have your building maintenance staff water the trees on your block as part of their regular duties. But some trees are located in small parks or on less populated or industrial blocks.
Trees NY suggest many ways to keep our trees sufficiently watered. A slow steady watering of the tree is preferable. Releasing 15- 20 gallons at once will inevitable mean some of the much need water will run off without saturating the soil, reaching the trees roots. One idea is to plant annual flowers in the tree pits – as the flowers are watered to stay looking fresh, the tree’s roots get a boost. Another suggestion is “getting together a youth group” and walking large plastic garbage cans on wheels filled with water around the neighborhood to water trees the 15-20 gallons at a go, once a week, through a “slow drip from a can” method. Trees NY have also put “gator” bags on many trees in our neighborhood (like those in our Clumber Corner Park, on Washington and Prospect). These are giant bags placed around the tree trunk, and someone is supposed to fill this bag with water so the tree gets its requisite 20+ gallons every week or so. Of course, hardly anyone knows what they are, and most people think they shouldn’t meddle with the trees. Well, now you know this isn’t so – the trees need water, air and nutrients and they need your help!
In terms of more advanced tree maintenance, citizen tree pruners are licensed to make certain pruning cuts, alterations to tree pits and tree guards and the like. If you have a tree that needs more help you can find a citizen *pruner on the Trees NY website or you can email [email protected] . You may also contact Trees NY to find out how to get a tree or trees planted on your block.
See http://www.dumbo-dna.org/ for more details.