NY Observer > Flatbush

Developers, You're On! City Wants To Spruce Up Brooklyn's Kings Theater

Lysandra Ohrstrom — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:10:07 -0400

The city is looking for developers to renovate and operate the landmarked, long-derelict Loew’s Kings Theater—“the Kings” as locals called it back in the day—on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. Designed in 1929 by Rapp and Rapp Architects, the 3,769-seat movie palace modeled after the Paris Opera House is the only one of the five “Wonder Theaters” Loew’s built in the city that has not been renovated or converted into a church.

Rehabilitating the majestic, rotting Art Deco building will not be cheap. It has remained shuttered since 1978—the city took it over in 1983—and the city's Economic Development Corporation estimated that the project would cost a minimum of $70 million in the request for proposals it issued this week. read more »

Spitzer’s Money Person Cashes In for Women

Azi Paybarah — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:00:00 -0400

Cynthia Darrison, the woman who spent eight years building Eliot Spitzer’s mighty fund-raising read more »

The Round-Up: Thursday

Observer Staff — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 04:41:20 -0400

Residents fret Park Slope one-way traffic conversions.

[NY Sun]

Bistricer-owned Flatbush Gardens seeks change.

[NY Sun]

Milstein plans apartment tower near Union Square.

[NY Sun]

"Hotel mania" grips Manhattan!

[NY Sun]

New York dodges mortgage problems--for now.

[NY Sun]

Subprime mortgage debacle snags state teachers' fund.

[NY Post]

Hotels going up across Queens.

[Daily News]

Possible Sunnyside Gardens historic district moves.

[Daily News]

Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment stalls.

[Daily News]

Did we miss any New York City real estate news this morning? Please send along tips and links.

Analyzing Eugene's Win

Observer Staff — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 04:30:00 -0500

An informed reader emailed over a rough breakdown of the results of Tuesday's special Council election in Brooklyn.

It turns out that Mathieu Eugene's union-backed victory was just as thorough as the overall numbers indicated. He was the top vote-getter in nearly all of the Assembly districts that lie at least partly within the Council district.

The only one he lost was the 44th Assembly District in Park Slope.

A more detailed analysis should be ready by Friday when the city's Board of Elections finalize the results. But here, according to my source, is how the order of finish broke down:

42nd Assembly District - Flatbush, Midwood Mathieu Eugene (almost 50 percent) Jennifer James Wellington Sharpe Richie Leithland 43rd Assembly District - Crown Heights/Flatbush Mathieu Eugene Jennifer James Wellington Sharpe Jesse Hamilton 44th Assembly District - Park Slope Harry Schiffman Moe Ravzi Joel Toney Mathieu Eugene 57th and 58th Assembly Districts - Clinton Hill, Brownsville Mathieu Eugene Wellington Sharpe Jennifer James/Jesse Hamilton (close 3/4th) -- Azi Paybarah

Jennifer James and the News

Observer Staff — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 04:30:00 -0500

The much sought-after Daily News endorsement in the City Council in Brooklyn went to Yvette Clarke's former fund-raiser Jennifer James.

Here's what the News said:

"A local political activist, lifelong Flatbush resident and daughter of Caribbean immigrants, she has broad support in a diverse district. Also welcome is a promise to donate any "lulu" pay beyond her salary to charity."

Last year, the News endorsed Yvette Clarke for Congress, while the New York Times backed David Yassky.

In the Council race this year, the Times is backing Jesse Hamilton, an attorney and Democratic district leader. Clarke is backing another candidate, Mathieu Eugene. -- Azi Paybarah

The Afternoon Wrap: Friday

Observer Staff — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 10:59:24 -0500

For the first time ever, the American Institute of Architects has given its firm-of-the-year award to a lady-owned practice. The honors go to Boston's Leers Weinzapfel Associates, which Chris Hitchens and Graydon Carter would probably find unfunny. [Architectural Record]
Newly unveiled plans show that Atlantic Yards may boast two "150-foot-tall illuminated billboards" at the corner of Flatbush and Atlantic avenues. Nothing makes 19th-century brownstones look better than "the light from 15-story beer ads." [Brooklyn Papers]
The bad news is that temperatures are rising one degree every year (though it doesn't feel like it this afternoon). The good news is that the average homeowner (and/or landscape designer) can save the world Al Gore-like by "strengthening canopy cover, using water efficiently and introducing environmentally-friendly plants." [Multi-Housing News]
Bruce Schaller's red-scale map of Manhattan gridlock is pretty frightening--especially if you're a high-end broker who wants to show a Park Avenue apartment during the congestion-heavy evenings. [Streetsblog]

- Max Abelson

New Brooklyn Boss: Hits, Not Homers

Observer Staff — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 11:41:34 -0500

Brooklyn coulda been a contender

Downtown Brooklyn's lament has been the inability to attract mega-tenants to four different sites that were painstakingly drawn and measured in a city-led massive rezoning two years ago. read more »

Joe Chan, the president of the new Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, indicated in an interview last week that he was headed in a different direction: go for singles rather than home runs. Small parcels here and there might work better for the "creative industries" that he says could make Brooklyn home.

What Project?

Observer Staff — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 08:42:10 -0400

"It looks like we just got done playing Backgammon." -Bill Batson

Bill de Blasio has endorsed Bill Batson for the 57th Assembly District, despite the fact that they differ in their views on the Atlantic Yards project. De Blasio's district does not overlap with the 57th, but is just north and east of Flatbush Avenue from his Park Slope district.

"The important thing is that Bill and I disagree on the Yards, but we can work together in seeking a community brokered development model," Batson said in a just-completed phone interview. "That's what I think the people in Brooklyn want right now. We want development, we want affordable housing, we just want to be onboard the planning process."

De Blasio was out of town and unavailable for comment, but at least some opponents of the project consider him to be "conditionally" supportive. —Nicole Brydson

In the District

Observer Staff — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 10:20:30 -0400

With so many people from outside the 11th Congressional district weighing in on what ought to happen there, we figured it was about time to take a stroll down to the area surrounding the proposed Atlantic Yards Plan to speak to actual residents about the issues that will affect their choice in that race.

At least within the area that will be directly affected by the development, there still seemed to be some confusion about who was actually running, and the Atlantic Yards project, unsurprisingly was the big issue.

Here's what three residents said.

Kiane Zawadi, 73, said in a brief interview on 5th Avenue off of Flatbush, "I'm trying to think of who the candidates are, Yvette Clarke, and who else?"

When provided with the names of the other candidates, Zawadi, of Prospect Heights, only reacted to Chris Owens, a familiar surname name for longtime residents of the district. "I think he needs to go further than his father."

Zawadi is opposed to the Atlantic Yards Plan, and said that his opposition would weigh heavily on the candidate he chooses this fall.

"I think Brooklyn should be kept the way it is, you know, all these high rises going up. Plus I don't like the idea of eminent domain."

Down the street, Tracy Santos, 24, also of Prospect Heights, said she had received campaign literature in the mail, but couldn't name any of the featured candidates. Santos is also opposed to the Atlantic Yards proposal--a common position within the footprint of the plan--saying, "I don't really want an arena two blocks over, you know, I've seen the area around Yankee stadium and it's not pretty."

On 4th Avenue with his girlfriend, Emilio D., 37, who lives near the Atlantic Terminal, said he has received emails from Chris Owens through friends, but is still undecided on the best candidate to support.

"I haven't seen anything that makes one different from another," he said. "It would be nice to keep it a majority-minority district because, given the representation in Congress, I think it would be good. But I don't want it to be just soley based on the individual's race because they do have to make good on the issues, in addition to their race."

And about that picture: it's Yassky's office at about 9:45 this morning. Since we were in the neighborhood. —Nicole Brydson UPDATE: In the wake of his cancelled press conference yesterday, Carl Andrews has officially rescheduled his event for Sunday, on the steps of City Hall. Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson, Bill Thompson and David Dinkins will all be there to endorse.

Tom and Yvette

Observer Staff — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 10:09:33 -0400

In an intriguing pre-buttal to Eliot Spitzer's planned endorsement of Carl Andrews this Sunday, the following, from Tom Suozzi's public schedule for tomorrow:

3:00 PM Campaigns with Yvette Clarke Flatbush Avenue Vendors' Market (Between Caton Avenue and Lenox Road) Brooklyn, New York