Public Hearing on the Disposal of Admirals Row

On Tuesday there will be a chance to have a say and listen to proposals for the future of the threatened Navy Yard Admirals Row buildings. Hosted by Lt. Col. Mike Milord of the Air National Guard, the public hearing will take place ar P.S. 307 (202 York Street @ Gold Street in DUMBO). Tuesday Dec 11, 7PM - For information call 1-703-607-2780 or view the announcement here. Scott Witter, founder and curator of Brooklyn's Other Museum of Brooklyn, is fighting to have the historically and architecturally significant buildings landmarked. Maybe you saw his publicity drive at the weekend?

Hot Bird Hanging On: Atlantic Yards Destruction Update

There's a new construction update on the 'Yards over at No Land Grab. We swung past on Saturday to find the Hot Bird building on Vanderbilt has survived so far. * Demolition is complete at 465 Dean Street (block 1127, lot 54). Clean up and back fill will be completed within this 2-week period. * Demolition is complete at 814 Pacific Street (block 1129, lot 45). Clean up and back fill will be completed within this 2-week period. * Demolition is complete at 538 Vanderbilt Avenue (block 1129, lot 46). Clean up and back fill will be completed within this 2-week period. * Demolition is underway at 546 Vanderbilt Avenue (block 1129, lot 54) and will continue for the next two–three months.

Desktop Day: Christmas Yards

Mac and PC versions of the holiday spirit down on the Atlantic Yards footprint.

Halloween Bungalow

Spotted in Coney Island this sunny afternoon.

Out of Town: 7049

An abandoned bungalow in the Catskills.

Writers! Get Out of Your Crack Den and Move to Fort Greene!

Because you're poor? From www.intothebox.tv/

Bergen Street Evictions: More Coverage

With message boards and internet chatter on the Bergen St. story growing by the hour, where better to go for an in-depth and rational investigation than Atlantic Yards Report. (Image, from left to right, Sillather Bullock, councilwoman Letitia James and a cop)

Bergen St: Stop the Evictions Rally

Evelyn Suarez (left) a tenant of 533 Bergen Street and her friend. On Sunday, the tenants of 533 Bergen Street organised a block party and rally to protest impending evictions. The New York Independent Media Center summarizes the case: “Owners Andre Wiesmayr and Deanne Cheuk, both well-recognized designers and artists (Cheuk was recently named one of “20 under 30” to watch by Print magazine) want to take over five rent-stabilized units and convert the apartments into a triplex for themselves and co-owners Felicity Loughrey, a celebrity journalist for Vogue Australia, and husband Dan Bailey. Eviction proceedings have already begun.”

Wow. Ditmas Park.

Treasure on Our Doorstep

This tantalizing invitation (and look at that monospace print!) was left on our stoop earlier today.

Brownstoned

Sitt and Thinkwell: The Future of Coney Island Presentation

Joe Sitt (Thor Equities) teamed up with Thinkwell Design to share their Coney Island vision with residents. The United Community Baptist Church was full beyond capacity and so not everyone had their questions answered. It did help, though, if Mr Sitt or the chap with the mic already knew your name. Crowd pleasers: Videos of theme park rides, promises of jobs and careers, and free rides for kids with grade improvements. In-depth coverage here.

Desktop Day: Willets Point

This week a view of Willets Point, or the Iron Triangle, where hundreds of mechanics recycle the city's cast-off autos. If you click on the image you can open the large version, which is sized for your computer desktop wallpaper. Instructions Left-click on the image first to open up the large version. Windows PC: Right-click on the large image and select 'set as desktop background'. You can also right-click and 'save as', then use your desktop properties settings to add the file you just saved and format it how you prefer. There's more info on customising your PC desktop here.

Mac: Macintosh instructions can be found here.

Iron Triangle: $3 Billion Makeover

$3 billion: that's the cost of turning the 60-acre Willets Point site, and the 250 or so businesses operating there, into a retail destination. This according to the President of New York City's Economic Development Corp., Robert Lieber, who's quoted in the NY Daily News today. Lieber also estimated public costs (or our taxes used to prep the site for the private developers) to be $100 to $200 million. The city does not want to use eminent domain, Lieber said, but added, "[As] the mayor said on May 1, he's not going to let one person be the holdout for the good that's associated with so many other people." No Land Grab had this to say on eminent domain and Willets Point: "Eminent domain is either on or off the table — to say it will only be used if the city can't make a deal with the property owners is coercive."

Muffler Men: Endangered in the Iron Triangle

The Muffler Men are creations of the welders of Willets Point, Queens. This wedge of land next-door to the Shea baseball stadium is a few blocks of intense automotive activity.

Scarred with pot holes and huge puddles, this is a recycling zone for the corpses of dead cars and trucks. Among vast displays of shining chrome wheels and replacement mufflers, workers whistle or shout to grab the attention of drivers as they cruise (or bounce) past. Of course, an area that sustains many livelihoods but yields low tax revenues cannot go unnoticed by developers. The vultures of Forest City Ratner are circling.