It Must Be Spring: Miriam, the Empanada Queen, Is Back

(photo credit: Rich Murphy)

Yay! Here is a sure sign that spring has finally arrived in the neighborhood.  I just received this great photo from reader Rich, who reports that "Miriam the Empanada Queen is back for another year of serving delicious Spanish cuisine at reasonable prices."

Miriam has been serving her perfectly spiced, fried empanadas at the corner of Smith Street at Sackett Street for many years now and her return after a long winter will make many in the neighborhood very happy.
Thanks for the great news, Rich.

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TD Bank Will Be Tenant Of Alchemy's 'Sackett Union' Project In Carroll Gardens

Alchemy's Sackett Union Development as seen from Court Street 

View from Union Street

Corner of Court Street and Sackett Street

The project as seen from Sackett Street

Future garage entrance

The town homes on Sackett Street

A peek into the model unit on the Carroll Street side

Here is a community update from Ken Horn of Alchemy Properties, the development, marketing and consulting firm  which is currently constructing one of the largest projects in Carroll Gardens in quite a few decades.
The Sackett Union project, formerly known as 340 Court Street, consist of a 7 story, 32 unit condominium building consisting of two, three and four family units along Court Street and of 11 one and two family  townhouses on Union and Sackett Streets. There is also a penthouse and an outdoor lounge on the main building "breathtaking views of Manhattan and Brooklyn".

Though prices start at $1,105,00 for a two-bedroom unit, 15 of the units have already been sold.  So has one of the townhouses.  A model unit can now be visited by appointment, but there will not be an open house until February, when the main entrance on Union Street has been completed.
Work on the façade of this Rogers Marvel-designed building starting in about two weeks.  The color of the treatment has been described as "brownstone red".
The entire development should be completed by July or August 2013.
An official web site is going up in the next week.

Alchemy Properties took over the long-stalled project at 340 Court Street after the previous developer, The Clarett Group, pulled out.

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A Fond Farewell To Neighborhood Feline 'Clump'

Spied on a stoop on Sackett Street by friend and reader Mary.  A little memorial for Clump, a neighborhood cat that obviously was well loved.

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New Bike Racks Installed At One Of Smith Street's Most Dangerous Corners

Lets face it. Now that we have designated bike lanes all over Brooklyn, we need more bike racks. This morning, NY DOT crews were busy installing 16 racks at the corner of Smith and Sackett Streets in front of the Smith Street Deli.

That's cool, but why would the city choose to install new racks in a current No Standing Zone, right near one of the most accident prone corners of Smith Street?

For a long time now, neighbors have been complaining about that corner and about the lack of visibility for cars turning onto Smith Street from Sackett Street. Quite a few accidents have happened there recently, like the one involving an overturned SUV in June 2010.

That turn is problematic for bigger vehicles and especially fire trucks. The No Standing zone was supposed to help alleviate the problem.

Apparently, the idea was first proposed by the Sackett Block Association. Community Board 6 Transportation Committee gave the idea its full recommendation back in July 2011.

What do you think? Is it a good idea to add the racks to the No Standing zone of this already problematic corner?

June 2010 accident at that corner.

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Overturned SUV At Corner Of Smith And Sackett Streets Stops Rush Hour Traffic

At around 4:30 Pm, an accident involving an overturned SUV brought Smith Street to a virtual stop. Fire trucks , 76th Precinct police cruisers as well as an ambulance rushed to the scene.

From what I could gather, a car service driver sideswiped the SUV in the intersection of Smith Street and Sackett Street, causing the SUV to flip over.

I was told that the SUV driver was shaken up but all right.

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Three Locations On Sackett Street Evacuated By NYC Office Of Emergency Management This Morning

This was sent to me by my friend Gerry.



Apparently, the N.Y.C. Office Of Emergency Management evacuated three locations on Sackett Street at Court Street early this morning because of High Carbon Monoxide levels.

Can any readers out there give us more information?



Below is the response report:

From: "NYC OEM" <wc-1@OEM.NYC.GOV>

Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 06:18:10 -0500

Subject: Evacuations due to High Carbon Monoxide at Sackett St and Court St (BK)

Mon Mar 01 06:10:38 2010

STATUS: Open - Active

PROGNOSIS: Response

HazMat-High Carbon Monoxide

Brooklyn 326 Sackett St



FDNY has evacuated approximately 30 people due to elevated carbon monoxide (CO) readings of over 500 ppm. The following three locations have been impacted: 326, 330, and 338 Sackett Street in Brooklyn. No injuries have been reported. An MTA has been requested to provide temporary sheltering. OEM is en route. RESPONDING UNITS: OEM 623

INCIDENT NO: Inc-060303-906-030110

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Carroll Gardens' "Flashiest" Brownstone Addition

Now, this is an over-the-top addition, don't you think?

A while back, a two-story addition was built on top of this row house on Sackett Street, between Hoyt and Bond Streets. The slanted glass façade of the 'mansard greenhouse" addition looms over the neighboring houses and seems rather inappropriate for a historical neighborhood.
To add injury, the sides have been brightly painted with murals. One of the motives is a cherub with blue and white stripes radiating outward.
The unusual paint job can be seen from far down the block. And it is a startling sight.
I am all for expressing one's individuality, but this is a wee bit extreme.

This kind of bastardization certainly illustrates why Carroll Gardens needs to be landmarked.




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'Trashy Subject' In Carroll Gardens

Wednesday 3/18 at 1:30 PM

Hey, what's going on with garbage pick up here in Carroll Gardens? On some blocks, it is not unusual to see full garbage cans standing by the curb in the middle of the afternoon.
I am not the only one who notices the delay in 'morning pick-up.' Below is an email sent to me by local resident Justin:

Hi Katia
I live on Sackett St and have noticed that in the past 6 months the garbage pickup schedule has become extremely irregular. What used to be early Saturday AM pickup can now be as late as Saturday night and similarly for the Wednesday morning pickup .... Thus our streets are filled with trash cans and garbage for two whole days and nights a week rather than just two nights. Have you experienced this?
I imagine that budget cuts are responsible, but it would be great to know if there is a new schedule.

So, what's going on? Does anyone have an explanation? Is there a change we should know about?


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Corner Of Smith And Sackett Streets Back In The Days

Do you remember, dear reader, yesterday's incredible 1920's photo of the corner of Smith and Sackett Streets? There, at the corner, was number 285 Smith Street when it was the home of James Butler's grocery store. Jeff, the current owner of the building, told me that he had a photo of #285 from the 1940's. He sent it along for me to post. You can see it above. It looks as though Butler's was gone by then. I tried enlarging the photo, but couldn't make it out. Does anyone remember? When I moved into the neighborhood, a lovely lady operated a flower store there. She also sold beautiful greeting cards and some lovely old things. I still have a nice vintage bowl I purchased from her.


Related Posts:

Corner Of Smith And Sackett Streets Back In The Days

A Look Back In History: Before Smith Street Was Restaurant Row

Before Smith Street Was Restaurant Row: Part 2

View Of Smith Street Circa 1938

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Before Smith Street Was Restaurant Row: Part 2

A look back to 1929, to a quieter time at the corner of Sackett and Smith Street. It is remarkable how many things remain unchanged. The row of brownstones has survived mostly intact, but majestic trees have gown and formed a beautiful canopy over Sackett. And of course those parked cars change everything.
Check out Butler's, the grocery store at the corner. Can you believe the prices?
Once again, I have to thank Carroll Gardens resident Alexandrea for sharing her treasure trove of old photos with us.


More Carroll Gardens history:

A Look Back In History: Before Smith Street Was Restaurant Row

Before Smith Street Was Restaurant Row: Part 2

View Of Smith Street Circa 1938

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