Affordable Housing Lottery for One Flatbush Ave now open

Neighborhood

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May 16, 2018

Do you dream of living in Downtown Brooklyn, but lack the income to afford the multitude of new luxury apartments? Here’s another chance to try your luck at an affordable housing lottery!

NYC Housing Connect has recently opened the lottery for the upcoming One Flatbush Ave, which appears to be nearing the end of it’s construction. The building is at the intersection of Flatbush and Fulton, right next to the Nevins stop on the 2, 3, 4, and 5 trains.

There are a total of 37 units available, in studio to two-bedroom units. If you’re planning on applying alone, your max annual income can be up to $43,860, while a family of four can only make up to $62,580. Monthly rent ranges from $867 to $1,123 depending on household income and the unit granted.

To apply, you need to visit the Housing Connect website, at http://www.nyc.gov/housingconnect. You’ll have to fill out a detailed application, including the annual incomes of each of the household members applying. But once that application is filled out once, you’ll be able to apply to different lotteries with the click of a button. The lottery for One Flatbush Ave ends July 11th at midnight.

Good luck!

Local Businesses Take the Bait in Underage Alcohol Sting

News

By

David Weinkrantz

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May 12, 2018

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The New York State Liquor Authority recently sent underage decoys to retail establishments holding liquor licenses to ferret out those that illegally sell to underage persons. The underage decoys went to 756 businesses where they attempted to buy alcoholic beverages.

Of the 756 businesses State-wide, 200 sold alcoholic beverages to the underage decoys, including a few in Downtown Brooklyn. The Downtown Brooklyn offenders included a 7 Eleven at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension, the Brooklyn Deli at 115 Willoughby Street, and Khim’s Millennium Market at 111 Lawrence Street.

Ali Mohammed, the Manager of Brooklyn Deli, stated that the business would need to be more careful. The 7 Eleven and Khim’s Millennium Market did not provide a representative for comment.

The remaining 556 businesses refused to sell to the underage decoys. Locally that included G & Wine & Spirits Inc. at 48 Willoughby Street.

CB 2 Votes to Reject the Contentious 80 Flatbush Skyscraper

News

By

Vanessa Londono

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May 11, 2018

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80 Flatbush, rendering by Alloy Development

With a vote of 32-1 on Wednesday night, the Community Board 2 rejected the 80 Flatbush project. This vote by the full board follows the vote by the CB2’s Land-Use Committee which also voted against the project.
These votes are part of the ULURP rezoning process for the development for 80 Flatbush which includes residential, office and retail space in a 74-story building and a 38-story tower. It doesn’t bode well for the multi-use project that boasts bringing an additional 700 market-rate apartments and 200 affordable apartments.
What’s next? Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams needs to issue his recommendation on the project. (Adams held a public hearing late last month. Then the NYC Planning Commission will review the project and and the process ends with a vote by the New York City Council.

Fancy Soap Shop Rain to Open in City Point for Your Self-Care Needs

By

Vanessa Londono

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May 7, 2018

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Rain, a sustainable South African soap and skincare shop comes to City Point Brooklyn.

Soon you’ll be able to get all the artisanal soaps your heart desires at City Point. Rain, an au naturale soap, skincare, and fragrance company is opening up their first Brooklyn storefront in July.

The bougie self-care brand is known for incorporating sustainably harvested African botanicals into their luxury bath bombs and body scrubs. Makes sense since Rain originally began in South Africa and is recognized for their Fair Trade practices in Africa and Europe. They currently have one other NYC location in Rockefeller Center.

Free walking tours all weekend to honor public advocate Jane Jacobs

Events

By

Andrea Preziotti

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May 4, 2018

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Now in its 8th year, Jane’s Walk NYC, hosted by the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS), is a weekend-long celebration featuring 200+ free “walking conversation” tours throughout the five boroughs, led by urban enthusiasts and local neighborhood experts.

“There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans.” – Jane Jacobs

Everything you know and love about contemporary urban life can be attributed to Jane Jacobs’ activism efforts to preserve New York City’s neighborhoods during the 1950s and 1960s. Jacobs, one of the early pioneers of collective efficacy, fostered the idea of community by galvanizing residents to actively participate in — and familiarize themselves with — the needs of their neighborhood.

She famously stood up to “master builder” Robert Moses, fighting back against the development of highways through bustling urban centers. Moses may not have been stopped completely, but his plans were largely impacted by Jane Jacobs and her work.

Jane Jacobs spent the greater part of her life living in Greenwich Village, advocating for the preservation of neighborhood urbanism. A sampling of tour offerings in Downtown Brooklyn and its surrounding areas this weekend, include:

For a full list of available tours throughout the city, click here.

If you want to know more about Jane Jacobs and her battle against Robert Moses, check out the IFC film Citizen Jane: Battle for the City.

TD’s Five Boro Bike Tour is coming our way

Events

By

Helen He

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May 4, 2018

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Image via Bike New York

The 41st annual TD Five Boro Bike Tour is back this Sunday, May 6th. Around 32,000 cyclists will gear up this year and ride through New York City on car-free streets and highways for 40-miles.

Organized by Bike New York, the tour is a fun way for people to enjoy the city and raise money for the nonprofit organization’s bike education programs. The event will start off with an expo on Friday & Saturday at Pier 12, Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook with exhibitors, food and beer. And on Sunday, the bike tour begins at 7:30 am, in four waves at lower Manhattan, and moves its way through Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and finally ends in Staten Island with a Finish Festival (registered participants only) featuring local food vendors and live music.

Image via Bike New York

It’s probably a good idea not to drive on Sunday, but if you must, here is a full list of all the street closures. The ones near Downtown Brooklyn are:

Navy Street (btw Flushing Avenue & York Street)
York Street (btw Navy Street & Gold Street)
Gold Street (btw York Street & Front Street)
Front Street (btw Gold Street & Old Fulton Street)
Old Fulton (btw Furman Street & Prospect Street)
Cadman Plaza West (btw Prospect Street & Tillary Street)
Tillary Street (btw Cadman Plaza West & Adams Street)
Brooklyn Bridge Promenade (btw Tillary Street & Centre Street)
Furman Street (btw Old Fulton Street & Atlantic Avenue)
Joralemon Street (btw Furman Street & Atlantic Avenue)
Atlantic Avenue (btw Furman Street & Columbia Street)
Columbia Street (btw Atlantic Avenue & BQE West Entrance Columbia Street)

Good luck on Sunday, and ride safe!

Lined with Gold: Street Name Change to Honor Founding Black Female Civil Rights Activist

Neighborhood

By

Greg Stadler

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May 3, 2018

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Gold Street, between Myrtle Avenue and Willoughby Street in Downtown Brooklyn, may soon be renamed to honor Ida B. Wells, an African-American investigative journalist, teacher, feminist, and an early leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Wells spent several years on Gold Street in the early 1890s (living near today’s existing Chase Bank), after her Memphis journalism offices were destroyed by white mob violence.

Born into slavery in 1862 Mississippi, Wells became freed a year later after the Civil War and resulting emancipation. Relocating to Memphis later as an adult, she would become one of the founders of the NAACP, and is most remembered for her investigative journalism, dispelling stereotypical myths around the lynchings of black men. Wells’ writing exposed her findings that the lynchings were the result of white social control and subjugation, and not the common claims of attack or sexual violence against white women.

Jacob Morris, the head of the Harlem Historical Society, conceived the idea for Gold Street to bear Wells’ name as a part of his citywide effort to honor prominent black New Yorkers by renaming streets after them. Councilman Stephen Levin introduced the application to rename the street to Community Board 2’s Transportation Committee which granted approval in April. The Executive Committee will vote to make a final decision later this year.

Free Dance and Yoga Classes at Albee Square in May

By

Vanessa Londono

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May 2, 2018

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: Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

City Point and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership have teamed up to offer free workouts to the neighborhood. For the first three Saturday mornings in May, take your pick of yoga and dance classes including hip-hop, jazz funk and Broadway dance, or do all three if you’re feeling ambitious. Music will be provided by DJ Mike-Doelo.

Bring your own mat. Water will be supplied.

Schedule

9AM Yinsa Flow Yoga with Daniele Gates
Combination of slow-flow vinyasa and Yin yoga.
10AM At Your Beat
May 5: FitBEAT Dance & Tone
May 12: BoxBEAT – Hip Hop Boxing
May 19 BashmentBEAT Dance
11AM Dance with the Dodge YMCA
May 5: Jazz Funk with Victoria
May 12: Retro Dance Party with James
May 19: Broadway Dance with James

Discounts at Dekalb Market Hall for National Small Business Week

Events

By

Dann Berg

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May 2, 2018

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We’re smack dab in the middle of National Small Business Week, which spans April 29th through May 5th this year. To celebrate, our favorite local food court, Dekalb Market Hall, has several vendors offering discounts.

Vendors with sales include Cuzin’s Duzin and Paella Shack, with many others also participating in the ten-percent discount promotion. There’s no doubt you’ll be able to find something to fit your tastes and mood down there.

Dekalb Market Hall opened last year, and has quickly become a destination for all of Brooklyn. With over 40 vendors to choose from, there’s certainly something for everyone. And if nothing strikes your fancy, you can always grab some groceries at Trader Joe’s.

New York City’s Small Business Services helped several of the food vendors in Dekalb Market Hall open earlier than planned, by helping with the regulatory paperwork and scouting of locations. This is the vendors’ way of giving back to the community.

If you want the discount, you’ll have to mention National Small Business Week to the cashier at checkout. Bon appétit!

Borough President’s Hearing for 80 Flatbush Towers

News

By

Vanessa Londono

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May 1, 2018

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Despite the rain yesterday evening, a couple hundred folks lined up in Brooklyn Borough Hall to voice their opinions on the controversial 80 Flatbush Towers. It’s been a heated subject among residents of Boerum Hill, Fort Greene, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill.

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