Update: More Information On Old Red Hook/Yellow Hook Map

1837 U.S. Coast Survey Map



old map I posted on November 17th

I can always count on Carroll Gardens friend Rick to point me in the right direction when I have a question about the neighborhood's history.
Rick sent me the comment below and a link to the 1837 U.S. Coast Survey Map from the University Of Alabama's map archive, in response to the old map I had posted on PMFA yesterday. Rick sheds some interesting light on what the purpose and the age of the old map could have been.
Thanks, Rick!

Read on:

Your map looks like a stylized version of a U.S. Coast Survey map drawn in 1837. The Coast Surveys were the first major federal effort to precisely measure/document waterways and topographic features. You can actually download these in high resolution from the University of Alabama’s amazing maps website, http://alabamamaps.ua.edu. The
1837 one seems to be the closest, except that it doesn’t show “Yellow Hook.” That may have come from another source/adaptation -- probably just a few years later (yet before the Gowanus Canal was constructed).

As I mentioned, you can get the very high resolution ones, as well as other years, via the University of Alabama Geography Department website. For those, you’d also need to download a browser plug-in called ExpressView, but once you have it there’s a wealth of stuff out there!

Reader Batman also sent in some great information about the name Yellow Hook, which is indicated on the map. He writes:

It's actually Bay Ridge that was called Yellow Hook, I think for the yellow clay ground. The name was changed in the 1800's because of fears that people would associate the area with Yellow Fever.

There is still a bar in Bay Ridge called Yellow Hook.

I don't know about you, but I love these historical facts. Keep them coming.

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All Quiet At 100 Luquer Street After A Stop Work Order, Then Another And A Fine

As seen from Luquer Street

As seen from Nelson Street

It was time to check in on 100 Luquer Street, the 11-story finger building designed by architect Karl Fischer. No visible progress seems to have been made since I last took photos back in July. For a while now, the construction site has been locked up and no one has been working.
When I came home, I checked the Department of Buildings web site and was not surprised to find out that the project has been slapped with a partial stop-work order on July 7 for not having "a licensed rigger on site." Then, on August 28th, another one was issued for failure to comply to the first stop work order.
There is also an outstanding $5,000 fine which is now due.

In the meantime, this monstrosity is looming over the neighborhood, with half its glass façade missing.

Any comments, dear reader?


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Comment Of The Day: Getting Away With Illegal Construction?

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "New Building At 26 4th Street Nearly Complete":

The new zoning will not allow for stoop-style (brownstone) construction. Stoops accommodate a first floor above and a garden floor below street level so windows are above and below eye level. That's better architecture.

With height limits, developers are forced into a box / forced to build floor at street level and setback at forty feet.

Of course, this building has illegally constructed in the rear yard and far exceeds the floor area allowed by old and new zoning.

DOB has decided not to act because the building is only 5 stories and no one has complained. The developer is getting away with the illegal construction!

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Before There Were Brownstones: A Look At A Very, Very Old Map Of Carroll Gardens And Red Hook

First, did you know, dear Reader, that there was a Yellow Hook? I sure did not have an idea that Sunset Park was once called by that name. But there, on a very, very old map, it is indicated,to the south of Red Hook.

And where today rows of brownstones stand in Carroll Gardens, there was nothing but marshland. And there, indicated by a thin blue line, there was the Gowanus Canal.

Isn't this an amazing document? I have no idea of its date. Would anyone like to venture a guess?




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New Building At 26 4th Street Nearly Complete

A look down 4th Street towards Hoyt.

As some of the larger construction sites in Carroll Gardens have been stalled or caught in the neighborhood down-zoning, which was passed on October 28th of this year, the 5 story apartment building at # 26 4th Street, between Smith and Hoyt has steadily progressed.
It looks as though it is nearly complete.
I have not yet been able to find any further information on the construction, such as the number of units or if the apartments will be rental or condos.
I am not crazy about the new building, but I suppose it could have been worse. What do you think, dear Reader?



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Good News! Crossing Guard Coming To Busy Intersection Of Smith And 2nd Street

Ellen Whelan-Wuest, Brooklyn Office Director for State Senator Daniel Squadron, just sent out the email below regarding a crossing guard for the busy intersection of Smith and 2nd Streets.
It seems that many complaints have been called in to the State Senator's office since the closing of the 2nd Place subway station has forced local schoolchildren to cross Smith Street to the subway entrance on 2nd Street.
Ellen informs us that a crossing guard will soon be stationed there.
Read on:

Great news! On behalf of Senator Squadron, I am happy to announce that kids crossing Smith Street at 2nd street will again have a crossing guard!

Since the closing of the 2nd place Carroll Street F train station, all subway riders (including hundreds of schoolchildren) have been forced to enter and exit the station across Smith Street, at the 2nd Street entrance. Our office has received many complaints since the start of the school-year and has been working with the City Department of Transportation and the 76th precinct to implement safety measures at this intersection.

I am happy to inform you that our office has just received word that the 76^th Precinct is in the process of hiring and assigning a crossing guard to the 2^nd Street and Smith Street location. This guard will be on hand during regular crossing guard hours to help safely guide children across the street as they travel to and from PS 58, the Hannah Senesh Day school and the Brooklyn New School every day. Many thanks to Detective Paul Grudzinski, Traffic Officer Hample and the entire 76th precinct for their work on this matter.

Additionally, Senator Squadron is working with the CIty DOT to examine and implement traffic calming measures which will increase the safety of this intersection. I will report to you as soon as we have more details on this front. If you have any questions regarding either of these developments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best,

Ellen

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