Brooklyn

1,500 maps showing 450 years of development in Brooklyn now available online

Created by the Olmsted and Vaux firm, this map shows the original plans for Prospect Park, as well as the historic reservoir at Grand Army Plaza (1871)

July 17, 2020

1,500 maps showing 450 years of development in Brooklyn now available online

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The Center for Brooklyn History, a collaboration between the Brooklyn Historical Society and the Brooklyn Public Library, launched a user-friendly online portal that contains the institution's collection of nearly 1,500 maps of Brooklyn dating back to 1562. While researchers will no doubt appreciate the new accessibility to the unique maps, the tool is also a fun way for all residents of the borough to explore the evolution of their neighborhood over the last four centuries. From rare Revolutionary War maps and original plans for Prospect Park to a subway map detailing how to get to Ebbets Field, the maps span more than 450 years and include transit maps, cultural maps, survey charts, and more.
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$5.9M Boerum Hill townhouse has a garden-level apartment and loads of light

Photos Courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

July 16, 2020

$5.9M Boerum Hill townhouse has a garden-level apartment and loads of light

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There's a lot to love about this $5.9 million Boerum Hill townhouse. The four-floor owner's residence has five bedrooms, including a top-floor master suite with an entire ceiling of skylights. It also has a convenient deck off the kitchen. But what makes this such a great investment is the garden-level, income-generating rental apartment. It's a one-bedroom unit, but it opens directly to the lovely backyard.
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Crown Heights residents rally against proposed 182-unit complex at site of 19th-century senior home

Southern facade; Photo credit: Simia Rassouli

July 15, 2020

Crown Heights residents rally against proposed 182-unit complex at site of 19th-century senior home

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The fight continues over a proposed new development on a large stretch of land in the Crown Heights North Historic District II with an online petition opposing the project collecting over 4,000 signatures. A neighborhood group, Friends of 920 Park, hopes to stop the construction of a seven-story, 182-unit apartment building on land at 959 Sterling Place (920 Park Place), originally the site of the Methodist Home for the Aged and currently the home of the Hebron French Speaking Seventh Day Adventist School. The renewed fight against the project comes ahead of a Brooklyn Community Board 8 and Landmarks Preservation Commission public hearing on the plan later this summer.
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Brooklyn Navy Yard is selling PPE online and at West Elm and Wegmans

Photo of Crye Precision face masks, courtesy of the Brooklyn Navy Yard

July 15, 2020

Brooklyn Navy Yard is selling PPE online and at West Elm and Wegmans

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Face shields, ventilators, cloth masks, hand sanitizer--this is just some of the personal protective equipment being produced by manufacturers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. To help their tenants who have shifted from their normal business models to make PPE during the pandemic, the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) announced today a a new initiative called "Made at the Yard." The program includes an online e-commerce portal where tenants can market and sell PPE and related products, as well as PPE vending machines and partnerships with West Elm and Wegmans.
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Smorgasburg returns to Williamsburg next week as takeout-only ‘Smorg To Go’

2018 Smorgasburg; Photo by Scott Lynch

July 14, 2020

Smorgasburg returns to Williamsburg next week as takeout-only ‘Smorg To Go’

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Popular outdoor food market Smorgasburg returns to Williamsburg next week with a new takeout-only model. As Eater New York first reported, "Smorg To Go" will launch on Monday, July 20, with 10 vendors serving fare at 51 North 6th Street at Kent Avenue, a block from the market's typical summer location at Marsha P. Johnson State Park. The new takeout market will operate seven days per week with a rotating list of vendors.
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See the design proposals that would make the Brooklyn Bridge a pedestrian oasis

“Back to the Future,” Bjarke Ingles Group and Arup

July 9, 2020

See the design proposals that would make the Brooklyn Bridge a pedestrian oasis

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The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of public space, especially in a city like New York, where residents lack private backyards and most common spaces are too narrow for proper social distancing. A design contest launched earlier this year looking for ideas on how to improve the overcrowded pedestrian promenade of the Brooklyn Bridge, where thousands of walkers and cyclists fight for space daily. The Van Alen Institute and the New York City Council on Thursday announced the six finalists for the "Reimagining Brooklyn Bridge" design contest, with selected proposals calling for less space for cars and more for people.
See the designs
$1.45M Carroll Gardens condo has Civil War-era details and a sunny patio

Photo credit: Vistabee

July 8, 2020

$1.45M Carroll Gardens condo has Civil War-era details and a sunny patio

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The Mill at 376 President Street in Carroll Gardens is a Civil War-era jute warehouse that's been transformed into a 55-unit condo building, and many of the loft-like units feature architectural details from this time. This two-bedroom apartment, listed for $1,450,000, features many of these elements, including original red oak beams, wood hewn ceilings, and exposed brick. On top of all that charm, it has a sunny outdoor patio.
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Brooklyn locals call for Barclays Center to be renamed for Jackie Robinson

Photo by Ajay Suresh on Flickr

July 7, 2020

Brooklyn locals call for Barclays Center to be renamed for Jackie Robinson

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The Barclays Center has made many headlines recently, as it's served as a hub for the city's Black Lives Matter protests. And some locals hope to keep this momentum going and are pushing for the arena to be renamed for Brooklyn Dodgers player Jackie Robinson, the first African American Major League Baseball player. Arthur Piccolo of Park Slope actually began the effort back in 2006, but recently revived it, telling the Brooklyn Paper, "You’re seeing certain individuals being criticized and their statutes rightly removed, and here’s the opportunity to do something symbolic."
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Brooklyn’s most photographed block opens for outdoor dining

Courtesy of the Dumbo Improvement District

July 6, 2020

Brooklyn’s most photographed block opens for outdoor dining

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Over the weekend, nearly two dozen streets currently closed to cars opened to outdoor dining, including one of New York City's most photographed blocks. In the Brooklyn neighborhood of Dumbo, outdoor dining was expanded onto several streets, like on Washington Street between Water Street and Front Streets, where the Manhattan Bridge is perfectly framed between buildings. As part of the expanded open restaurants program, the Dumbo restaurants can take over the streets on Friday nights and weekends only.
Get the details
$999K Fort Greene co-op is super stylish with room to spare

Photo credit: Melanie Greene

July 6, 2020

$999K Fort Greene co-op is super stylish with room to spare

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From the just-under-a-million pricetag to the lovely historic features to the outdoor space, this Fort Greene co-op has a lot going for it. Located at 143 Lafayette Avenue, the apartment is currently configured as a one-bedroom plus home office, but that bonus space would also make a great nursery or sitting room. An added bonus--the private deck overlooks the pre-war building's English garden, which is complete with whimsical landscaping and seating areas.
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Three acres of new green space open at Brooklyn Bridge Park

Photo by Alexa Hoyer

July 6, 2020

Three acres of new green space open at Brooklyn Bridge Park

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Three acres of new parkland opened at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Monday, putting construction of the waterfront park one step closer to completion. Located east of Pier 2, the Pier 2 Uplands features a 6,300 square foot lawn and a new water play area made up of salvaged pieces of Pier 3. Runoff water from the play area will be caught by an underground retention tank and will be reused for irrigation throughout the site.
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Before Nathan’s there was Feltman’s: The history of the Coney Island hot dog

Feltman’s via Boston Public Library

July 2, 2020

Before Nathan’s there was Feltman’s: The history of the Coney Island hot dog

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The name Nathan's has become synonymous with Coney Island, whether it be for the annual hot dog-eating contest or the childhood nostalgia of the boardwalk. It's also become arguably the biggest name in the hot dog world in general. But, believe it or not, Nathan's was not the first place to serve up franks in the seaside neighborhood. That distinction goes to Feltman's, which was begun in 1867 as a pushcart by German immigrant Charles Feltman, considered the inventor of the hot dog on a bun.
Find out how the Coney Island hot dog got its start
$6.5M Park Slope townhouse has two kitchens, two outdoor spaces, and a full-floor gym

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

July 1, 2020

$6.5M Park Slope townhouse has two kitchens, two outdoor spaces, and a full-floor gym

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Built in 1893, this Romanesque brownstone is quintessential Park Slope. It's been renovated over the years, but since most of the historic details have been restored, these modernizations have only made it better. Most notably, the whole cellar has been converted into a home gym, which is clad in the original stone walls, and the garden level is one giant family room with a second kitchen that leads out to a backyard garden. Plus, the entire third floor is devoted to the master suite, which opens to a top-floor terrace. Located at 178 8th Avenue, it's just hit the market for $6,450,000.
Have a look
Starting tomorrow, you can get Levain Bakery’s famous cookies in Williamsburg

All photos by Kate Previte

June 30, 2020

Starting tomorrow, you can get Levain Bakery’s famous cookies in Williamsburg

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Tomorrow, Levain Bakery is opening a new location in Williamsburg, the first time New Yorkers will be able to get their hands on one of their six-ounce, deliciously gooey cookies in Brooklyn. Located at 164 North 4th Street, just off bustling Bedford Avenue, it will serve all their cookie varieties, along with bread, brioche, and coffee.
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An outdoor deck and bonus basement make this $1.6M Fort Greene co-op a stand-out

Listing photos by Yale Wagner for The Corcoran Group

June 26, 2020

An outdoor deck and bonus basement make this $1.6M Fort Greene co-op a stand-out

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Some people might snub the idea of living in the garden unit of a townhouse, but what that often affords is a private backyard, such is the case at this Fort Greene co-op. Located at 154 Lafayette Avenue and just listed for $1.6 million, the two-bedroom home also has a large lower level that's currently configured as a second living room but could be converted to a third bedroom suite.
Go inside
Crown Heights subway stations to be renamed in honor of Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers

Photo of Franklin Avenue Station © 6sqft

June 25, 2020

Crown Heights subway stations to be renamed in honor of Civil Rights icon Medgar Evers

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Two subway stations in Brooklyn will be renamed after Medgar Evers College and the Civil Rights activist for whom the historic black college is named. Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday announced that Franklin Avenue and President Street stations in Crown Heights will formally be renamed this fall, with MTA maps and signage updated this summer. The new stations--Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College and President Street-Medgar Evers College--aim to honor the contributions of the institution ahead of its 50th anniversary.
More here
Park Slope townhouse where Al Capone grew up lists for $2.9M

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

June 25, 2020

Park Slope townhouse where Al Capone grew up lists for $2.9M

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Before moving to Chicago as a teenager in 1919, Al Capone lived in Park Slope, in three different townhouses along Park Slope. One of them was this townhouse at 21 Garfield Place. Just listed for $2.9 million (h/t Post), the home today is a three-family with an owner's duplex and two one-bedroom apartments above, all of which have private outdoor space.
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$5.2M Cobble Hill home was built in 1859 as a carriage house and stable

Listing photos courtesy of Halstead Real Estate

June 25, 2020

$5.2M Cobble Hill home was built in 1859 as a carriage house and stable

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For the first time since 1977, this one-of-a-kind Cobble Hill home is up for sale. Located at 16 Verandah Place, it's the widest home on the block at 28 feet, and it was constructed in 1859 as a carriage house and stable. Now listed for $5.2 million, the four-bedroom home is full of original details, including the original stable floor, exposed brick, and beamed ceilings. An added fun fact--it was used as a green room for the movie The Intern.
Have a look around
Lottery opens for 13 income-restricted units in Brownsville, from $800/month

Photo of Broadway Junction by Stanley Wood on Flickr

June 24, 2020

Lottery opens for 13 income-restricted units in Brownsville, from $800/month

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A lottery has opened for 13 income-restricted apartments at a new rental located on the border of Crown Heights and Brownsville in Brooklyn. Designed by Samuel Wieder Architects, the seven-story mixed-use building at 2175 Bergen Street contains 38 total residences and boasts amenities like a fitness center, backyard, and bike room. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 80, and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the one- and two-bedroom apartments, priced between $800/month and $2,100/month.
Find out if you qualify
29 affordable senior and supportive housing units available near Prospect Park, from $411/month

Photo by Thomson200 on Wikimedia

June 19, 2020

29 affordable senior and supportive housing units available near Prospect Park, from $411/month

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A lottery opened this week for 29 affordable apartments designated for seniors and formerly homeless women and families at a new rental in Flatbush. The nine-story building at 1921 Cortelyou Road replaced the nearly century-old Baptist Church of the Redeemer in 2018 but incorporates a new sanctuary in its design. To apply for the apartments, New Yorkers must have at least one household member who is 62 years of age or older and earns $73, 680 or less, annually. Eligible applicants will pay 30, 40, or 60 percent of the area median income for units ranging from a $411/month one-bedroom to a $1,148/month two-bedroom.
Do you qualify?
In Bushwick, this 1885 former Brewery can be your personal mansion for $4M

Photo credit: DDReps, courtesy of Compass

June 19, 2020

In Bushwick, this 1885 former Brewery can be your personal mansion for $4M

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Every so often a truly unique listing comes our way, and this is one of those times. This stately building at 31 Belvidere Street in Bushwick was originally the office for the adjacent William Ulmer Brewery when it was built in 1885. Today, it's been converted to an incredible two-family mansion, complete with massive arched windows, giant windows, a cobblestone courtyard, and that beautiful mansard roof.
Look around inside
Plan for mini beach and waterfront esplanade at Bushwick Inlet Park moves forward

Rendering courtesy of Abel Bainnson Butz, LLP.

June 18, 2020

Plan for mini beach and waterfront esplanade at Bushwick Inlet Park moves forward

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The city's plan to bring a waterfront park and small beach to Greenpoint is moving forward. The Parks and Waterfront Committee of Brooklyn's Community Board 1 earlier this month approved a revised design from New York City Parks and architect firm Abel Bainnson Butz for a 1.9-acre passive park at Bushwick Inlet Park. The nearly $10 million project redevelops and remediates a section of land known a the Motiva parcel, which is bounded by Kent Avenue and Quay Street and North 14th Streets.
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In Brooklyn’s first skyscraper, this $1.4M condo has a magazine-ready kitchen and a private terrace

Photo credit: Russ Ross, courtesy The Corcoran Group

June 18, 2020

In Brooklyn’s first skyscraper, this $1.4M condo has a magazine-ready kitchen and a private terrace

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Downtown Brooklyn's Belltel Lofts are housed in a landmarked Art Deco tower at 365 Bridge Street that just happens to be the borough's very first skyscraper. Built in 1929 as the headquarters for the New York Telephone Company, the 27-story building was designed by "architect of the century" Ralph Walker. In 2008, it was converted to condos by Beyer Blinder Belle and now has 217 apartments. This sunny unit, listed for $1,395,000, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a private terrace that overlooks Downtown Brooklyn and sits against the building's gorgeous brickwork.
See the whole place
Nathan’s Famous will hold 2020 hot dog eating contest without fans

Photo by Chun-Hung Eric Cheng on Flickr

June 16, 2020

Nathan’s Famous will hold 2020 hot dog eating contest without fans

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While most of New York City's annual summer activities and celebrations have been canceled or postponed this year because of the coronavirus, one event will still take place. Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest will forge ahead in Coney Island on July 4, but with no fans, fewer eaters, and social distancing measures in place.
More details
For $1.1M, a cottage-like Park Slope co-op with a roof deck

Photo credit: Russ Ross, courtesy The Corcoran Group

June 12, 2020

For $1.1M, a cottage-like Park Slope co-op with a roof deck

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The pitched lapboard ceilings, exposed brick, and cozy nooks make this Park Slope co-op feel like a little cottage in the sky. But when you step onto the rooftop and peer across brownstone Brooklyn, you'll be reminded that you're still in the city. Located at 16 Montgomery Place, the two-bedroom apartment has even more lovely perks, including a wood-burning fireplace, three skylights, and tons of built-ins.
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100-name waitlist opens for middle-income units at artsy rental in Flatbush, with 6 months free rent

Street view of Emsemble; Map data © 2020 Google

June 12, 2020

100-name waitlist opens for middle-income units at artsy rental in Flatbush, with 6 months free rent

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On the border of East Flatbush and Crown Heights, a 100-name waitlist has just opened for middle-income apartments at 824 East New York Avenue. The building, known as the Ensemble, was built in 2018 and is known for its facade adorned with colorful murals. As Bklyner reported, the piece was done by Argentinian artists Ariel Rouco and Augusto Turallas, who worked with the owners to represent the area's different cultures. The units range from $1,800/month studios to $2,600/month two-bedrooms and are available to those earning 130 percent of the area median income. Those selected will receive six months free rent.
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200-name affordable waitlist opens at new rental near Greenpoint waterfront, from $2,100/month

Photo of 197 Freeman Street’s roof deck by Heidi Solander, courtesy of StudiosC

June 12, 2020

200-name affordable waitlist opens at new rental near Greenpoint waterfront, from $2,100/month

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A lottery launched on Friday for placement on a 200-name waitlist for apartments at a new rental building in Greenpoint. Located at 197 Freeman Street, the building features amenities including on-site laundry, fitness center, bike storage, indoor garage, and a landscaped roof deck with sweet views of Manhattan. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income can apply. Apartments range from $2,100/month studios to $3,219/month two-bedrooms. Eligible applicants will be randomly selected and placed on the waitlist for future vacancies.
Find out if you qualify
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