Archive for reference

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Greenpoint Nature Walk

When I've been on the mix of high design, landscape planning and industrial wonderland that is Greenpoint Nature Walk in the evening, the DEP employees have checked to make sure they were not locking me in, but apparently that is not what happened to one of our readers this week:

I was at the Greenpoint Nature Walk yesterday. I was hanging out with my friend, we were close to the entrance/exit at 5:40pm when we started to hear the gates closing. we walked to the exit where the guy was about to lock us in and he said "Just in time!" (He had a DEP truck)
I said, wait, were you going to look inside to see if there were other people in there?
And he said "no!"

I am not sure how this thing usually works, but it was still light out. I think we were lucky as there really isn't any other way to escape that place. Are they supposed to take a look first?

My guess is "yes" they are supposed to make sure they are not locking people in with the Newtown Creek at night.

Addendum
I spoke with Laura Hofman and Christine Holawacz of the Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee (Christine is also a NAG board member). NCMC was responsible for getting the park created. They are reporting this to the DEP and making sure they are more vigilant. --Mikki

Addendum to the Addendum
This from Christine: "There is supposed to be a guard walking the Nature Walk prior to it being closed by the plant worker. I just went and spoke to the superintendent and he assured me that this will not be repeated."

Thanks to the person who alerted us to this!--Mikki

East River State Park to Reopen March 1st

As you might know, East River State Park closed for January 1-April 1, because the State Parks Department wanted to save some $40,000 and couldn't find a more creative way than closing the new park.

Anyways, because of some great work by Assemblyman Lentol and the Friends of the East River State Park, the park will open March 1st. It was up in the air until this Daily News article hit the stands yesterday.

Friends of the East River State Park Succeeds
in Getting Park Open Again.

EAST RIVER STATE PARK WILL RE-OPEN SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST!

With spring right around the corner and weather getting warmer, we’re happy to report that the East River State Park on Kent Avenue between North 7th and 9th Streets in Williamsburg, Brooklyn will be open in time to enjoy nice days ahead.

The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (aka State Parks) plan was to close the East River State Park until the beginning of the next fiscal year (April 1st). The Friends of the East River State Park with help from Assemblyman Joe Lentol has been working to get the park open. After a letter from the Friends Group to the State Parks Commissioner—signed by thirty-two elected officials and statewide and local open space advocates—meetings and numerous phone calls, State Parks finally relented.

With the support of the Friends Group doing clean ups at the park, the East River State Park is now able to be open again starting this Sunday, March 1st at 9:00 am.

Come join us Sunday, March 1st at East River State Park. We need Volunteers so email us at friendsoftheeastriverstatepark@gmail.com or call us at 914-799-1832.

More News!

Miss Heather kindly posted my plea for help with the Automotive High musical. I'll be posting info about the fundraiser in coming weeks. In the meantime, if you know anyone with costume connections, or have an old zoot suit you'd lend for their production of Guy and Dolls, please get in touch!

There was a fire on Noble Street.

Studio B is back again.

Report from the North Brooklyn Public Art Coalition meeting

There was a fantastic turnout last night for this meeting--thank you to everyone who forwarded emails, linked to blog entries, and helped spread the word. Speakers from the Percent for Art program, the Art in the Parks program, OSA, and other groups all spoke about the many opportunities for artists to get their work out into the public sphere, including everything from installations in parks and other spaces to murals on construction projects, performance, projections, etc.

Here are some relevant links and info

Parks Department Temporary Public Art guidelines

For this you have to submit a proposal (they like things to be site specific). The contact is Clare Weiss (clare.weiss@parks.nyc.gov but don't bother her until you've at least read the website)

Percent for Art
The city mandates that 1% of the budget for all city construction must be spent on art. These projects are pretty huge (think of the Tom Otterness stuff in the 8th ave subway) and usually go to established artists. However, they also maintain a registry of artists to serve on the panels that choose the art for this projects--info is on that page as well.

The Department of Transportation Urban Art Program
This was the most exciting one to me. There are three program areas: Site to Site, Arterventions, and pARTners. I'll quote from the site:

The Urban Art Program is an initiative to invigorate the City's streetscapes with engaging temporary art installations. A component of DOT's 'World Class Streets' program to transform ordinary public spaces into pedestrian-friendly hubs, art will be installed in public places and add to New York's vibrant street activity.

DOT will partner with community-based organizations to install temporary murals, sculpture, and other installations in plazas, and on medians, triangles, sidewalks, jersey barriers and construction fences. DOT will also work with organizations/artists on temporary art projections and lighting projects in plazas and on appropriate bridges (masonry on sides of bridges), viaducts, and archways, as well as performance art and musical and theatrical performances in plazas.

For any of these types of projects, I know that OSA's Stephanie Thayer is available to advise and advocate for you--hit the OSA site for more.

Other announcements included the Choice Festival at 303 Grand and Joe Franquinha of Crest Hardware announcing a call for entries for the annual Crest Hardware Art Show, which is always amazing and this year will extend to Macri Park.

I'm sure I left some stuff out, so chime in in the comments if you have more art info to share!


The photo above is from the Art in the Parks program collaboration with Treehuggers
Wiktor Szostalo and Agnieszka Gradzik, Tree Huggers Project
September 1, 2008 to August 1, 2009
Person Square (Myrtle and Carlton avenues), Brooklyn

News Roundup

A great recap of last week's MTA hearing, from a member of the NAG transportation committee.

Curbed says the Rocket Factory on S.4th and Bedford is going into foreclosure.

East Coast Aliens, which had been putting on a great Sunday night film series in Greenpoint, is no more. They cite endless construction noise as a problem.

How the recession affects low-income housing. (Maybe we should stop tying it to luxury development.)

Some people don't like living near a slaughterhouse.

Not-Depressing Depression Party at the City Reliquary

The City Reliquary has long been an ally in the struggle to bring a sense of history and good cheer to North Brooklyn. Originally a series of installations in some windows on Havemeyer St., last year they moved to a small storefront space around the corner on Metropolitan right by Black Betty. They've done benefits for Domino Sugar, they do the annual Bike Fetish event--they are good people. Dave Herman, a founder, who is also a New York City firefighter, is responsible for painting all the old-school fireboxes in the neighborhood with the names of those lost on 9/11.

This Friday they are holding a Depression-themed party to help pay their rent. Events will include a "Pie the Landlord" booth, a fortune teller, hobo photos, and DIY fingerless gloves. There will also be beer and appropriately-themed movies and music.All the entertainment is under $5 and goes to help keep this local non-profit afloat.

Friday February 27th 7-11pm
The City Reliquary Museum,
messages@cityreliquary.org
www.cityreliquary.org,
718. R.U.CIVIC (718.782.4842)
Getting there:
Ride Yer Bike! or
L train to Lorimer St.; G train to Metropolitan Ave.; J, M, Z train to Marcy Ave.

Reminder: Community Meeting on Meeker Ave. Contaminants is Thursday

The DEC and Department of Health are holding a community meeting Thursday night about the toxic contamination problems in Greenpoint/East Williamsburg from chlorinated solvents.

When:
Thursday, February 26th, 7:00pm

Where:
St. Cecilia's Church
1 Monitor St. (between Richardson and Herbert), Brooklyn, NY

Why:
Representatives from the NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation and
NY State Dept. of Health will be on hand to answer questions about the Meeker Ave. Plumes.

Summary of the Problems

The NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has identified several plumes of chlorinated solvents (TCE & PCE) in the soils and groundwater beneath Greenpoint and East Williamsburg. These plumes are collectively referred to by DEC as the "Meeker Ave. Plume." The plumes are the result of decades of dumping and irresponsible manufacturing practices by historic and contemporary drycleaning and metalworking businesses. Testing conducted by DEC has confirmed that hazardous vapors from the Meeker Ave. contaminant plumes are intruding into residential properties in the area.

Home owners and businesses in the vicinity of the plumes are encouraged to contact DEC to have their property tested for vapor intrusion free of charge. To set up an appointment to have your home or business tested please contact Dawn Hettrick at the NYS Dept. of Health (DOH), (800) 458-1158 x27860. If a vapor intrusion problem is identified, DOH will install a mitigation system at no cost to the property owner.

Hazardous vapor intusion from the Meeker Ave. plumes is a substantial threat to human health. Fortunately, a properly installed and maintained mitigation system can eliminate the threat of hazardous vapor intrusion, protecting residents and employees from the impacts of future exposures.

Adding an affordable ownership option to inclusionary housing

I was recently at a meeting of artists, teachers, and residents. Topic: displacement. We had a powerful discussion about ownership. (Of 35 people in the room, 4 owned their homes.) It's a fact that community groups, long term renters, and those who work to improve their neighborhood end up raising property values, benefitting landlords and inevitably, it seems, driving themselves out.

This really struck me because, as a renter, and one who works to make this neighborhood better, I am very close to being priced out of my apartment. My neighbors, who have lived in Williamsburg for three generations, are also renters and facing the same problem.

I've never thought I could or would ever own my home. I'm a writer, after all. But it's shocking to me how disenfranchised those who do not own homes really are. It is those who own buildings who can sell to developers, or rent to bars, and other things that have a material effect on the day-to-day life of everyone else in the neighborhood. It's perfectly easy for me to see how the housing crisis happened and all those bad loans were made. People who feel they have no voice or power are going to grasp at it, even if it is offered by a huckster. Or a bank. (I know, home ownership doesn't mean your life becomes butterflies and roses, and we are lucky to have many owners who are fighting irresponsible development and other woes, but let's face it: renters are the ones who get displaced.)

One solution to this is to work to make responsible property acquisition more possible to those already in the community. Which is why I was very interested to read about an update to the city's community housing program that will add an ownership option to the inclusionary housing program. It gives developers a floor area increase in exchange for creating a permanently affordable home ownership program for some of their units. Currently in this program the affordable housing units that are created are al rental units. There's a presentation of the plan here.

I'm sure there are all sorts of devils in the details. Is it worth letting developers build bigger monsters in order to promote ownership among lower-income groups? Will the units created (which can include rehabbing existing offsite units) be shoddily constructed, or so far offsite that they don't solve the displacement problem. But still I am interested to see that the city, way off there on the other side of the river, is talking about the same kinds of things that we are talking about over here. I think the group I was meeting with is going to come up with some creative ways to help residents fight displacement as well. It's something that should concern all of us--and I mean displacement of manufacturing and other businesses as well as residents.

I read about this on the excellent Campaign for Community-Based Planning blog


Photo by azure, via a Creative Commons license

News roundup

Headlines:

The Times says that illegally divided apartments are on the rise as rent pressures increase.

The Daily News covers ACORN's anti-foreclosure activity.

Also in the News, the L train is now completely computerized. In theory this means they can run closer together and more frequently. In theory.

Miss Heather has video of more drama at the Production Lounge. It's the new Studio B!

Reminders:

Public Art meeting on Wednesday.
Meeker Ave. Plume meeting is on Thursday.

It's Not Your Imagination, There's More People on the L Train

According to a recent New York Times article, the number of rides in 2008 on New York City Transit increased 3.1% from 2007. 2.37 billion rides on city buses and subways were recorded in 2008, a record high since 1965.

The L subway line experienced the highest weekday ridership increase of 8.5% since 2007, more than double the citywide increase. Since 2003, the number of rides on the L line have risen 29% and a whopping 79% since 1998.

Our growing neighborhoods continue to depend on public transit; we need more service, not less. Read our letter to the MTA here, and join our fight for better transit in North Brooklyn by emailing transportation -at- nag-brooklyn -dot- org.

update: The L train will be a robo-train starting Tuesday, but not during the rush hour, so it won't solve the problem in the near term.

Photo by Ken Stein, via creative commons license

How will the proposed MTA cuts affect you?

The NYC Comptroller's office has a widget where you can type in your zipcode or transit line and see what cuts you'll face. (It doesn't mention potential East River tolls, which would also really impact this community.)

They also have a link to a Keep New York Moving petition to stop the cuts, and the comptroller's alternate proposal.

Photo by me and no, technically not from CB1 (Broadway Junction) but it is still the L and I like it.

Precinct meeting about the shooting on Franklin St. and some thoughts

Last night, at the monthly 94th precinct community council meeting, most of the discussion was about the recent shooting on Franklin St.

Miss Heather has video of the meeting.

She also summarized the main concerns voices, and I will steal her summary:

* The proliferation of bars on Franklin Street.
* The increase in noise and disorderly activity which has come as a result of the previous.
* Dissatisfaction with the 94th Precinct’s response to complaints.
* Allegations that 311 is fudging the number of complaints.

Local activist Phil DePaolo circulated this email on the subject:

Now we see how bars have transformed our community. Small businesses that served local residents have been forced out of their storefronts unable to meet high commercial rents that landlords know bars can afford. And since new bars often attract their clientele from outside the neighborhood, there is no local market cap on their number or viability. New bars attract nonlocal patrons, those patrons attract more outsiders and more new bars pop up to meet the boundless demand as the entire neighborhood becomes a scene, a lively scene, but also noisy, congested and sometimes dangerous to our community.

Neighborhoods thrive on responsible development and bars are a useful part of that development. But the bar scene has gotten out of hand. It is forcing on us an unbalanced, nonlocal and precarious economic base that compromises the quality of life for residents and depreciates the business value of current bars. Our neighborhood residents and businesses and bar owners alike needs a cap on the number of bars per block. I proposed this during the rezoning.

Notice that the State Liquor Authority is now loosening its interpretation of how many bars are allowed by right within a 500 foot radius. It used to be that opening a bar within 500 feet of any 3 full liquor licenses required a special hearing at the SLA, consultation with the local community board and evidence of public benefit. The new interpretation will allow many more bars to slip in without that special hearing, consultation or evidence.

The new interpretation of the SLA's 500 foot rule is that there must be 3 or more licenses of the same class. However, community boards do not have information regarding the classes of existing licenses to be able to make informed decisions.

The State Liquor Authority awards liquor licenses to bars in New York City without regard for local economic diversity or residential quality of life. These local concerns should lie within the purview of local governance, not an unaccountable state authority. To return local concerns to local governance, The New York Community Council will ask every City Council candidate to take a clear stand in writing, on developing new City Council zoning laws to restrict the proliferation of bars in our community, promote economic diversity and preserve the quality of residential life.

The bar problem may not seem as deep an issue as affordable housing or quality education, but it is an issue that affects residents personally and immediately, the kind of issue that brings residents to the voting booth.

Our neighborhood, long prized for its diversity of peoples, cultures and arts, has many challenges: rampant poverty, homelessness, violence and drugs, rampant gentrification, displacement of long term residents and businesses and now a bar scene that is out of control. Isn't it time we took in hand the future of our neighborhood? We must ask City Council candidates, where do you stand on zoning limits for new bars?

I think this is something we, as a community can work on. As Phil noted, asking City Council candidates where they stand is key. Also, speaking up at CB1 meetings and complaining to the state liquor board about these issues. You can use the links on the right to contact local officials. I also think we need to find a way to involve building owners in this. How can we make it more attractive to them to nurture small/local businesses that serve the community, rather than pushing those businesses out in favor of bars, cellphone stores, and the like?

Image by Ukdenners, via a Creative Commons license. Some rights reserved.

Next Meeker Ave. Plume meeting: Feb 26

The New York State of Environmental Conservation will be holding its next public meeting to discuss the findings of their recent studies on the Meeker Plume (an area of Greenpoint that is severely contaminated from industrial use). The State Department of Health will also be there.

Thurs, Feb 26
7:00 pm
St Cecilia's Auditorium
24 North Henry St

For more on the Meeker site, visit the Newtown Creek Alliance's excellent site.

Shootout at Production Lounge Friday Night

New York Sh*tty and Greepointers report on a shootout at the new Production Lounge bar on Franklin Street.

Next Precinct Meeting is Tuesday the 17th

94th Precinct monthly meeting

Capital One Bank basement
807 Manhattan Ave
Go around to Calyer where the ATMS are to enter
To confirm meeting 718-383-5298

News roundup

Domino Death Star still looms.

The L train was particularly bad this weekend.

Great commentary on the Catholic school/charter school initiative from Brooklyn 11211

No sales at The Edge since September. (Though, as I noted in the comments, it is just as ugly empty as it would be if it were full.)

Berry and N 12th set to be developed--since the foundation was done before the rezoning, they aren't subject to some of the height limitations and other restrictions that would otherwise apply.



Image by Doug Letterman, via a Creative Commons License

Greenpoint getting more superfund $

Belatedly sharing this NY Daily News Story from last week. Thanks Laura Hofman for the tip.

North Brooklyn Public Art Coalition Kickoff Meeting

OSA (Open Space Alliance) and Council Member David Yassky will be holding a meeting about public art in North Brooklyn on Wednesday, Feb 25.

There will be presentations from public art groups and discussions of public art opportunities for local artists, including a mural space (donated by a developer) on India Street. (Let's hope we can get past murals and onto even more interesting things soon!)

6:30 pm
Brooklyn Brewery, 79 N.11th St. (between Wythe Ave. and Berry St.) in Williamsburg at 6:30pm.
For more information or to RSVP: Rami Metal at (718) 875-5200x14 or rmetal@council.nyc.gov.

Puccini in Williamsburg!

Opera Oggi will be putting on Puccini's Suor Angelica at the restored McCaddin Theater later this month.

Shows are February 26, 27, 28 at 8 pm
March 1 at 6 pm

288 Berry St.

(No info on price that I could see on either site.)

Funeral for the G Train

The Straphangers Campaign and State Assembly Members Joseph Lentol and Hakeem Jeffries will hold a "mock funeral" for the G train on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Without new state aid, the MTA is proposing to eliminate the line at all times from the Court Square subway station to Forest Hills-71st Avenue, while also raising transit fares.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009
10:30 a.m.
Court Square Subway Station (G)
Inside paid area
Street entrance at Jackson Avenue and Court Square
CONTACT: Gene Russianoff at (917) 575-9434

NYPD called on to "commit to a Vision Zero policy for traffic fatalities"

A letter from local business owner Steve Hindy appeared in Transportation Alternative's magazine about changing the NYPD's approach to investigating bike accidents. The whole letter is worth a read, but a key excerpt is below:

Early on August 6, 2008, [Greenpoint resident] Rasha Shamoon was riding east on Delancey Street when she was struck and killed by an SUV traveling northbound on Bowery. Police interviewed the 21-year-old driver and his two young passengers who blamed the unconscious and dying woman. No other witnesses were interviewed, even though several people reported the crash to 911. No skid marks were measured. Remarkably, although the SUV driver had six prior motor vehicle convictions, he was allowed to leave the scene after giving a statement. Shamoon, 31, a lecturer at Hunter and City colleges, was the daughter of a physician who fled tyranny in Iraq in the late 1970s. She was by all accounts a wonderful person and responsible bicyclist. Her bike had front and back running lights and was swathed in reflector tape.

Photo from mlendo

Detail about the McCarren Park Pool Presentation to CB1

At the CB1 meeting last night, the architects, along with Julius Spiegel (Brooklyn Parks Commissioner) came to give a presentation on the pool. All of the fundng ($50 million) is still in place, and they said it will be open in two years.

It still looks the same as it did in the renderings from last year, basically--with the peninsula reaching into the pool and the water in a squared horse shoe shape. It will hold about 2,500 people. The main buildings will hold a gym and a rec center/community center. They will build cabanas off the main buildings onto the pool deck to use as changing rooms. These are essentially concrete awnings that make an enclosure with benches and lockers inside. They looked cool and modern to me.

Since the building is landmarked, not much of the exterior is being changed, which is good. A lot of the work they have to do is rebuilding--replacing almost all of the exterior brick and resurfacing the entire pool and deck. They are using the old baskets from way back in the day as an architectural accent on the ceilings on some of the rooms, which is nice. Because they are redoing the exterior brick, it is now possible that they will be able to add a comfort station--parkspeak for restroom--on the end near the playground (I think) that would be available to all park users. That is only if the whole thing stays in scope and there are no cost overruns.

They are making it all expandable--there are spaces for a future elevator and staircase up to the roof for a rooftop cafe if that comes into play with an outside vendor.

The diving pool can't be done at this time so they are going to fill it in with dirt, then put sand on top of the dirt and make it into a volleyball court. This doesn't prevent it from becoming a diving pool at a later date, though. They are putting the pipes in for this. The peninsula is usable for a wintertime ice rink, which would be done with an outside vendor like Bryant Park.

My concern was shade. The public isn't allowed to ask questions, so it didn't get asked, but as we all know, it is hot and bright in that pool, and will be more so with the sun reflecting off the water. I'm guessing Parks won't let people bring umbrellas, so will they provide umbrellas?

Another concern is that there is no lighting for the pool to be open past sunset. All NY pools close at dusk but it would be great to have the pool accessible at night. A lot of people work during the day and would like to swim at night and as we know, it is hot at night too! Also it would be possible to do small performances at night on the peninsula, wth people seated around the pool. But maybe OSA will consider this stuff later.

Phyllis Yampolsky spoke briefly and made some good points about the symmetry of the pool and preserving some of the smaller arches, which, happily, the architect assured her had been done.

-post by Mikki

Community Board 1 Meeting Update

We were provided with an update on what transpired at the Community Board 1 meeting last night by Kevin Vincent:

Chairman Vinnie Abate respectfully reinstated Teresa Toro as chair of the transportation committee. That committee has a meeting February 23rd at the CB1 office.

Parks presented the (90% complete) McCarren pool plans, a $50 million historical preservation rehabilitation of the structure. No diving pool at the moment but there will be community rooms and a recreation center. The plans were approved by the board. Swimming commences in a few years, construction begins this spring.

There's still time to submit comments on the 2010 budget needs statement submitted to the city. Due in writing to the CB1 office by February 20th. The committee responsible will meet March 4th.

Moses Gates officially submitted a proposal to hold an "adopt-a-bike lane" event for the Pulaski Bridge to advocate for a separated bike lane that would improve pedestrian and biker safety on the bridge. The proposal will be discussed at the February 23rd transportation meeting.

Help reopen East River State Park by volunteering for litter cleanup with Assemblyman Lentol and the Friends of the East River State Park. Email friendsoftheeastriverstatepark@gmail.com to volunteer.

David Yassky's office announced a new public arts project. A meeting is tentatively scheduled for Feb 23 at the Brooklyn Brewery. Contact our Rami Metal, rmetal@council.nyc.gov, for more info.

Town Square and the offices of Councilmembers Yassky and Reyna are having a "schoolfest" on March 1 for interested parents out there. Contact Lauren George at Reyna's office, lgeorge@council.nyc.gov.

NAG Transportation Group Meeting Thursday, Feb. 12

NAG's Transportation working group is starting a road safety campaign for bikers and drivers and fighting the proposed cuts in local subway and bus services. Join us!

7:00 pm
NAG Office, 101 Kent Avenue at North 8th Street across from the State Park.

UPDATED & CORRECTED: Meeting is THURSDAY, Feb 12.

Tuesday February 10: Day of Action for the Kent Ave Bike Lane

Transportation Alternatives is planing a “Kent Avenue Bike Lane Day of Action” on Tuesday, February 10th, 2:00PM, to visit the district offices of your local elected officials. If you can’t take the whole afternoon off, join the group after 5:00PM for letter-writing at the Levee Bar!

More info here.

Reclaim Open Spaces With NAG Monday, February 9th

The NAG Open Space Community Committee Meeting has been rescheduled for Monday, February 9th at 7pm. The meeting will be at 179 Green Street between McGuinness and Manhattan in Greenpoint


Meeting agenda to include location and planning for future open spaces in South and East Williamsburg, seeding and gardening initiatives throughout North Brooklyn, further development of the open space website uniting park, park groups, programs, amenity lists and more!

Photo by mercurialn via flickr (creative commons license)

More Firehouse

A look back at the first closing of Engine 212 in 1977 (WNET/13)

NAG in the news!

The Brooklyn Paper has a story about the community center we are organizing to create.

McCarren Pool Meeting Moved to Tues, Feb 10

The McCarren Pool meeting previously scheduled for tonight will now happen next week. Note the location has also changed:

February 10th at 6:30 pm at the Swinging 60's Senior Citizens Center (211 Ainslie St., corner of Manhattan Ave.)

Update to the Pool Update!

We're being told that the meeting scheduled for Wednesday may not happen. Check back here or the OSA site for news when it's available.

Pool Update Wednesday!

From the Open Space Alliance:

The Parks Dept. and architects Rogers & Marvel will provide a public update on McCarren Park Pool renovations to the Community Board’s Parks Committee on February 4th, 6:30pm at Our Lady of Snow (410 Graham Ave. between Withers/Jackson Sts.). The Pool is being renovated to provide swimming in the summer, year round recreation in the former bathhouse, and the design accommodates the potential for skating in the winter and off-season performances. Funding for the renovation remains secure, and we will continue construction this year as planned.

Image by Zach K, via a Creative Commons License

Tenant's Rights Funds Restored!

We are happy to announce that the city has restored funding for tenant anti-displacement programs. NAG, which is one of seven groups in an affordable housing collaborative serving Greenpoint and Williamsburg, will now be able to retain Ryan Kuonen, our tenant's rights organizer and a valuable member of our staff. Ryan works on behalf of NAG to help members of our community stay in their homes and fight harassment.

Join us February 3rd to build the Northside Town Hall Community and Cultural Center

On Thanksgiving Day 1975, the City told the firefighters of Engine 212 in Williamsburg it was going to close because of the city's dire fiscal crisis. Within hours, a crowd of 300 local residents gathered in front of the firehouse to prevent the city from removing the equipment from the firehouse to close it down. People stayed there around the clock for the next 16 months until the City agreed to keep it open. The firehouse was ultimately closed in 2003, but NAG and the People's Firehouse have been awarded the building to develop it into a community center.

We need your help to raise the funds to renovate the building and make the Northside Town Hall Community and Cultural Center a reality. When completed, the facilty will provide affordable office and meeting space for community organizations, create a street-level exhibition space for local cultural and arts organizations, and commemorate FDNY Company #212 and other local history.

Join us Tuesday February 3rd at 6pm to get started fundraising from the community on this project. We need to harness the full creativity and civic spirit of the neighborhood to make this a reality.
We will meet at Union Pool-- 484 Union Ave at Meeker Ave

Other Upcoming Events

Our Open Space working group is dedicated to fighting for more parks and access to the waterfront in Greenpoint and Williamsburg.
Join us February 9th at 7pm at Green Oaks Club, 179 Green Street between McGuinness and Manhattan in Greenpoint.

Our Transportation working group is starting a road safety campaign for bikers and drivers and fighting the proposed cuts in local subway and bus services.
Join us February 12th at 7pm at the NAG Office, 101 Kent Avenue at North 8th Street across from the State Park.