Good morning! Do you have a roommate or a friend or a shady business associate who might like learning about the local goings-on? Let ‘em know about this publication — and maybe send them this July 30, 2019 edition of East & Creek, the Greenpoint newsletter.
What’s up in Greenpoint?
An environmental remediation project under the state’s superfund program will commence in mid-August at last for two to three months at 460 Kingsland Ave, according to the state Dept. of Environmental Conservation. In a fact sheet released earlier this month, the DEC explains, “The primary contaminants of concern at the site are PCBs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).” They add that the PCBs, toxic chemicals now banned by the EPA, are not believed to be impacting the area’s groundwater. This “expedited cleanup of contamination” will involve excavation, backfilling, and compaction; in other words, the DEC is going to dig out all of the bad dirt and put in some of that good dirt.
460 Kingsland Ave, highlighted in yellow. (e&c)
A full demolition was approved earlier this month for 142 and 146 Huron St, according to the Dept. of Buildings. The owner did not respond to e&c’s request for comment regarding future plans for the site.
A public scoping meeting is on the books for late August, in the matter of a proposed commercial/retail/manufacturing space on the site of the current Acme Smoked Fish facility, at Gem St and Meserole Ave. The building is being developed in partnership with Acme, and is expectedd to be completed by 2024. (Greenpointers)
It’s inspection season for some local restaurants. According to the Dept. of Health, Tommy’s Tavern was ordered closed after a failed inspection last Thursday. Other Greenpoint spots that did poorly last week (but did not fail) include Good Move, The Springs, Hop Lee Kitchen and Krolewskie Jadlo.
One last thing: This picture of work under-way at the site of the expanding Newtown Creek Nature Walk:
Meanwhile in New York City…
G train riders rejoice! After years of work on the Culver Viaduct in Gowanus, the MTA has determined that the epic elevated structure is still marred by ““unsatisfactory drainage, leaking expansion joints and premature deterioration of structural braces.” The transit authority does not expect further renovations to necessitate station closures. (The City’s Jose Martinez)
Speaking of the MTA: Gov. Cuomo has railed against transit contractors and consultants, calling them the “transportation industrial complex.” What he leaves out is the steady relationship between MTA contractors… and Cuomo’s political coffers. (New York Times’ Emma Fitzsimmons, J. David Goodman and Agustin Armendariz)
A group of Gowanus residents is demanding that the city combine an expected rezoning in the neighborhood with the creation of an “Environmental Special District,” meant to address infrastructural deficiencies like the area’s combined sewer system. (Curbed’s Zoe Rosenberg)
Two separate incidents on Monday, one of the them deadly, underlined one crucial fact for bicyclists: Motorists opening their car doors into oncoming traffic of any kind is as dangerous as it is illegal. (Streetsblog’s Dave Colon)
Also, Councilmember Stephen Levin (who represents Greenpoint at City Hall) responded Friday to the death last week of a bicyclist at McGuinness Blvd and Norman Ave: “We need to examine Franklin St, Manhattan Ave, and McGuinness Blvd to determine where bike lanes can be created or augmented and made more safe. If that means we lose parking spots and remove truck routes, so be it.” Levin added that the DOT ought to re-evaluate Greenpoint’s trucking routes, and that the NYPD should step up its enforcement of errant motorists.
And last but not least: Scabby the Rat is in the crosshairs of the National Labor Relations Board’s Trump-appointed general counsel. Scabby, the wry, inflatable symbol of labor discontent and solidarity, is a familiar sight in New York City. (Gothamist’s Jim O’Grady)
Thus concludes this July 30, 2019 edition of East & Creek, the twice-weekly newsletter about Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Read the full archives here.
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See ya around the neighb,
Jon Hanrahan
Author, e&c