Seven Different Proposals To Build Huge Hotel and Residential Complex In Brooklyn Bridge Park

Seven developers have submitted proposals to build a hotel and residential complex next to Pier 1 in Brooklyn Bridge Park, according to the Brooklyn Eagle, Wall Street Journal and others.

The seven proposals came from Dermot, Extell, RAL, SDS, Starwood Capital Group, Toll Brothers and Two Trees.

Above is an overhead view of Dermot's proposal. (Click to see it larger.) Below is the same project, as seen from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

While we like aspects of several of the proposals, they all seem shockingly massive compared to the park itself. For example, the proposal by SDS, below, looks like a terminal building from JFK airport.

Below is the proposal from Two Trees. The grass growing up the wall seems like a nice touch.

The deadline for public comment is December 22. Construction completion is estimated to be 2015.

You can see all of the proposals here.

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Lighted Boat Parade Sails Past Brooklyn Bridge Park This Saturday Night

Brooklyn Bridge Park (represented by the lower red line in the maritime map above) offers prime viewing for the annual New York Harbor Lighted Boat Parade this Saturday setting out at 7 p.m. from the Battery.

And just like the Macy’s Day Parade, you can spot old Saint Nick on the last “float” of the parade. (Mr. Claus will be sailing on the Eastern Star yacht.)

New York Harbor tour boats, work boats, private boaters and charter yachts gather to participate in this harbor-town tradition. This year Schooner Adirondack will lead the parade. (There were a few seats left on the Adirondack as of last night if you want to ride in the parade.) Each vessel will be decorated with twinkling lights and holiday décor.

Vessels will be gathering at Pier A, and will travel to Brooklyn Bridge Park, traveling north along the Brooklyn Waterfront, passing under the Brooklyn Bridge and doing a tight pass along Manhattan's waterfront at South Street Seaport.

More information at Sail NYC.


Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Putting Out Fires On Cadman Plaza East

A series of small fires were set on Cadman Plaza East near the Office of Emergency Management in Downtown Brooklyn last night, but it wasn't arson. NYC CERT volunteers were being trained by the FDNY to put out minor fires.

According to OEM, CERT members undergo "an intensive 10-week training program that raises awareness about emergencies and disasters and provides basic response skills needed for fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and traffic control."  

Photo by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

'The Longest Week' Filming in Brooklyn Heights: Olivia Wilde, Jason Bateman, Billy Crudup

Olivia Wilde ("House," "Cowboys and Aliens"), Jason Bateman ("Horrible Bosses," "Arrested Development"), and Billy Crudup "Watchmen," "Big Fish") are on location in Brooklyn Heights filming "The Longest Week." Above: the scene on Orange Street last night, where Bateman was filmed running down the sidewalk after talking to someone at the corner.

Above, Olivia Wilde, second from left, and Jason Bateman, right.

According to IMDb, 'The Longest Week," directed by Peter Glanz, is about:
 "Affluent and aimless, Conrad Valmont lives a life of leisure in his parent's prestigious Manhattan Hotel. In the span of one week, he finds himself evicted, disinherited, and... in love."

Kudos to the production company for being polite to locals and keeping the scene relaxed.


More action caught on video by Karl Junkersfeld at the Brooklyn Heights Blog.

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Oscar Short List: 'Battle for Brooklyn' -- and More Brooklyn Briefs

- Atlantic Yards documentary "Battle for Brooklyn" is in the running for an Oscar. Brownstoner and American Superstar

- Occupy Brooklyn activists discus movement's future. Brooklyn Eagle

- New York's 'best' pizza joint Di Fara shut for 67 health violations. NY Daily News

- Christie's patty restaurant on Flatbush closing after 45 years. Brooklyn Paper

- Four creeps indicted for allegedly pimping out 12 and 13-year-old girls in Brooklyn. Brooklyn Eagle

- NYPD’s "unconvincing terror suspect" tried to circumcise himself.  Gawker
 
- Amazon is selling fancy smartphones for a penny. No joke. Brokelyn

- Here's a beautiful and terrifying photo of a white shark. Gizmodo

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Tall, Beautiful Danes Flood Brooklyn Heights for Annual Danish Seamen's Church Christmas Fair

If you were feeling a bit short and squat this weekend it's probably because you were in Brooklyn Heights, where hundreds of willowy Danes gathered at The Danish Seamen's Church (Den Danske Sømandskirke) for their annual Christmas Fair.

Treats were in store at the backyard cafe (above), including Danish hotdogs, dough fritters and the delicious hot alcoholic drink, gløgg.

The overflow crowd walked from Willow Street to nearby Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims on Orange Street for more delicious fare, like these open-face sandwiches, famous in Denmark as "smørrebrød."

Danish people from all over the city -- and locals who look forward to this event every year -- came to buy Christmas ornaments, ceramic plates, hand-made clothing, dolls and more. Entertainment was provided by Johnny Reimar, said to have been a "fixture on the Danish scene for the last 50 years with songs like 'Little Freckled Louise,' 'What a Party,' 'You Ought to Buy Yourself a Tyrolerhat' and more."

- Danish Seamen's Church Christmas Fair Starts the Holidays Rolling - 2010

Photos by MK Metz

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

City Tries to Slow Down Prospect Park Cyclists; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- After tragic bike-pedestrian collisions in Prospect Park, including two that left women with severe brain injuries, the city is trying to slow down cyclists. NY Times

- More than 350 people made history in Prospect Park Sunday by taking part in the first-ever Brooklyn-only marathon. NY1

- Married father of three shot inside Bushwick tire shop Sunday. NY Daily News

- New York police arrested Jose Pimentel, 27, on suspicion of building a pipe bomb to blow up Post Officers and US soldiers. Reuters  Odd: The FBI declined to take this case several times, a commenter tells Gawker.

- Not super: The 12-member congressional budget "super committee" has failed to reach a deal. Expect economic chaos. Reuters

- Nearly all new mobile malware is targeted at Android phones. Popular: Trojans that collect personal information, steal money and record phone conversations and forwards them to the attacker. TechCrunch

- Egypt justifies its brutal crackdown on protesters by saying they are just following America's example. Gawker

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

IKEA Heights: The Melodrama

Hilarious concept: Ikea Heights is a melodrama shot entirely in the Burbank California Ikea Store without the store knowing. Once in a while they get caught filming, which is even funnier.

Here's the IKEA Heights YouTube channel if you want to watch more episodes. (There are seven all together.)

Thanks to Reddit for the link. According to one of the principals, "Everything was shot on DSLR and a couple point-and-shoots under the guise of 'taking pictures of the furniture to see if it'll look good in our place.'

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn Eagle's HQ in Brooklyn Heights Sold to Developers

The Brooklyn Eagle newspaper reports on a breaking real estate story: the sale of their own headquarters to a developer who wants to knock it down and put up a new a six-story, 65-foot-tall residential building on the site, at 30 Henry St., corner of Middagh Street in the North Heights -- across the street from the Peaks Mason Mints Candy Factory buildings.

The new owners and their architect have yet to obtain the necessary approvals to do this from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. 

According to the Eagle’s publisher, Dozier Hasty, the building was sold to the Fortis Group, which has notified him that the newspaper must vacate the building by the end of January. Read the full details at the Eagle.

Photo courtesy Massey Knakal

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.

Brooklyn Crab; Lot Parks Cars On the Street; and More Brooklyn Briefs

- A parking lot at JFK called "U-Save" is parking customers' cars on the street, where they are racking up hundreds in tickets. Queens Crap

- Brooklyn Crab is coming to Red Hook. Brownstoner

- Ratner unveils his design for prefab modular tower at Atlantic Yards. NY Times 

- Watch the Occupy Alliance fight the Galactic Empire. NY Magazine

- The  LRAD sound cannon the police used to blast loud, painful sound at Occupy Wall Street protesters yesterday can cause permanent hearing loss. Gizmodo

- Get paid to shop this holiday season -- no, really. Brokelyn

Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.