With this week's rain behind us, the weekend ahead promises pretty weather and two big ways to celebrate the city in bloom again.
May 1-9 is NYC Wildflower Week. There are tons of events in every borough to expose residents to the native species in our area, as well as explorations of New York City's open space, including many locations typically closed to the public. It may be hard to believe but New York City's biodiversity is surprisingly strong, yet many species are fragile. Wildflower Week will kick off with a giveaway from 8am-3pm at the Union Square Greenmarket, where you can pick up native plant seedlings (while supplies last) and other swag. There are walks, kids events, lectures and more. Most events are free but some require an RSVP. Check for a full schedule here.
www.nycwildflowerweek.org
Cherry blossoms may be past peak in most areas, but the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's 2010 Sakura Matsuri celebration will take place this weekend, May 1 &2. There are more than 60 events scheduled in this celebration of Japanese culture, ranging from music and food to manga and poetry, so this weekend the Botanic Garden promises more than cherry blossoms to help welcome spring.
www.bbg.org/sakura2010/
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
not at HOME with Atlantic Yards
In the demolition footprint of the Barclay's Center, future home to the Nets, and next to Freddy's bar, at 38 6th Avenue is this small former industrial building. As their own sweet protest the building's residents painted this mural in mid-April. According to this piece from AtlanticYardsReport the couple are among the last residential holdouts.
photo by Preservator, 4/28/10
Here's the video of them painting the mural.
Untitled from katherinekrause on Vimeo.
photo by Preservator, 4/28/10
Here's the video of them painting the mural.
Untitled from katherinekrause on Vimeo.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Prospect Park in Postcards
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
The Palen sisters were my great grandmother's neighbors in Nyack, NY. By sheer luck I ended up with their collection of fantastic historic postcards. Here is a selection of historic postcards of Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, sent between 1904-1919 to and from the Palens.
Fredrick Law Olmsted & Calvert Vaux designed Prospect Park after Central Park. Since it was built in 1860 the park's widely varied landscape has changed much, but still includes Olmsted & Vaux's meadows, woodlands, and ponds. The park's majestic entrances were designed by McKim, Meade and White.
This marks the first of an occasional series of Palen Postcard posts.
Happy Birthday Frederick Law Olmsted
Today is Frederick Law Olmsted's birthday.To celebrate I'll be posting images of Prospect Park, one of Olmsted's master works, and the one I personally enjoy most.
Part of Plate 36, G.W. Bromley & Co. Atlas of the Borough of Brooklyn. 1907
Friday, April 23, 2010
Week in Review: Revised 34th Street / Catskill Watershed Protection / Battle of the Wilderness / Preservationists as Enviros
This week the Preservator is all about the environment.
In New York City, the big news was another innovative DOT project: Traffic patterns for New York City's 34th Street are getting a river-to-river makeover. Dedicated bus lanes will enable riders a quicker commute time, and a no-car zone between Avenue of the Americas and Fifth Avenue will allow pedestrians to move more freely where thy already are. The Bus Rapid Transit is a big improvement in terms of connectivity between rail/subway stations. Kudos to New York City Department of Transportation again for its willingness to question the primacy of the car and to reorganize street space based on actual numbers of users. On that note check out this usage chart posted at Streetsblog.
via NYTimes here
via Streetsblog here.
At the State level, there is a new reason to be thankful that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sometimes uses its backbone. The DEC imposed much stricter hurdles for natural gas exploration in the Catskill and Skaneatelas watershesds, both of which are unflitered. Now drilling will require a case-by-case review. Bravo for protecting water quality in these communities, for metro NYC and greater Syracuse.
via NYTimes here.
DEC press release here.
Preservation magazine is revisiting the issue of the proposed Wal-Mart at the site of the Civil War's Battle of the Wilderness in northern Virginia, widely seen as the 1864 turning-point from which Grant nipped at Lee's heels. (The Preservator was a big-time Civil War buff as a child.) This is a sticky one, and despite the presence of strip malls and golden arches in the viewshed, most of it is unblemished. With a lawsuit pending, it remains to be seen what the fate of this battlefield will be.
And thinking more broadly, our friend Patrice Frey, Director of Sustainability Research at the National Trust, writes again at PreservationNation in her final installment of "Old Homes in a Sustainable World" about redefining the Preservationist's job description to include expertise in retrofitting existing buildings to reduce their environmental impact in ways that are true to preservation values. Amen. Preservation professionals need to actively advocate for reforming the ways in which municipalities address the emissions from existing buildings and how preservation regulations need to change with the times.
In New York City, the big news was another innovative DOT project: Traffic patterns for New York City's 34th Street are getting a river-to-river makeover. Dedicated bus lanes will enable riders a quicker commute time, and a no-car zone between Avenue of the Americas and Fifth Avenue will allow pedestrians to move more freely where thy already are. The Bus Rapid Transit is a big improvement in terms of connectivity between rail/subway stations. Kudos to New York City Department of Transportation again for its willingness to question the primacy of the car and to reorganize street space based on actual numbers of users. On that note check out this usage chart posted at Streetsblog.
via NYTimes here
via Streetsblog here.
At the State level, there is a new reason to be thankful that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sometimes uses its backbone. The DEC imposed much stricter hurdles for natural gas exploration in the Catskill and Skaneatelas watershesds, both of which are unflitered. Now drilling will require a case-by-case review. Bravo for protecting water quality in these communities, for metro NYC and greater Syracuse.
via NYTimes here.
DEC press release here.
Preservation magazine is revisiting the issue of the proposed Wal-Mart at the site of the Civil War's Battle of the Wilderness in northern Virginia, widely seen as the 1864 turning-point from which Grant nipped at Lee's heels. (The Preservator was a big-time Civil War buff as a child.) This is a sticky one, and despite the presence of strip malls and golden arches in the viewshed, most of it is unblemished. With a lawsuit pending, it remains to be seen what the fate of this battlefield will be.
And thinking more broadly, our friend Patrice Frey, Director of Sustainability Research at the National Trust, writes again at PreservationNation in her final installment of "Old Homes in a Sustainable World" about redefining the Preservationist's job description to include expertise in retrofitting existing buildings to reduce their environmental impact in ways that are true to preservation values. Amen. Preservation professionals need to actively advocate for reforming the ways in which municipalities address the emissions from existing buildings and how preservation regulations need to change with the times.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Earth Day Edition: NYS Proposed Cuts to Environmental Protection Fund
It's Earth Day and I've got a bone to pick with the Empire State today.
I know times are hard, but this proposed austerity budget has me really cranky about the deep, substantive cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). This is one of the most significant sources of funding for land conservation, historic preservation, and responsible waste management in the state and Governor Paterson has it on the chopping block.
EPF grants are critical to so many great projects in the state, including many which - in the interest of full disclosure - I work on. Without this source of funding countless acres would not be preserved as parkland, community gardens would not exist, farmland would not be protected from development, and historic buildings would have fallen deeper into disrepair.
You may wonder what on earth the EPF does and where it comes from. In short, the EPF was created in 1993 (during a recession, by the way) to provide a dedicated funding stream for projects with an environmental impact. Its major funding source is a percentage of New York's Real Estate Transfer Tax. That is, every time a piece of real estate changes hands, a small tax is levied by the state which goes into its general fund. A dedicated percentage goes specifically to the EPF. Additionally, 80% of unclaimed bottle deposits from beverage companies are returned to the state to fund the EPF. This would seem to me to be responsible fiscal policy on the part of the state: a pay-as-you-go fund for capital projects that improve the quality of New York's environment.
We're talking about pollution controls, restoration projects, farmland protection, parkland acquisition and more. This is critical work for the state's water quality, food security, common heritage and community well being.
The state is not so fiscally responsible throughout its budget, so to plug gaps the legislature has permitted "sweeps" of budget surpluses from entities other than the general fund. Sweeps are supposed to be paid back but there's no formal agreement as to how that is supposed to work.
Last year the EPF had a budget of approximately $210 million. This year, the proposed budget has it pegged at $143 million, a sum which leaves $0 for land acquisition and reduces the funding for farmland protection and water quality programs. When land is cheap, conservation is cheap; so the state is surely missing out on valuable real estate deals in these tough times by zeroing out acquisition funds and decimating easement funding. To add insult to injury, EPF is also supposed to absorb payment of salaries and some expenses for the state's park and environmental agencies.
This is New York. Home of Love Canal, but also Adirondack Park. Which legacy do you want to place your money on? But then again, what's the alternative? Don't recycle?
If you want to do something good for the environment today, write the governor and state legislators (see below) to tell them you value the EPF and don't want to see it cut so deeply. Tell New York to trim its budget by eliminating programs that don't work and the shocking amount of pork that still manages to find its way into the budget.
I know times are hard, but this proposed austerity budget has me really cranky about the deep, substantive cuts to the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). This is one of the most significant sources of funding for land conservation, historic preservation, and responsible waste management in the state and Governor Paterson has it on the chopping block.
EPF grants are critical to so many great projects in the state, including many which - in the interest of full disclosure - I work on. Without this source of funding countless acres would not be preserved as parkland, community gardens would not exist, farmland would not be protected from development, and historic buildings would have fallen deeper into disrepair.
You may wonder what on earth the EPF does and where it comes from. In short, the EPF was created in 1993 (during a recession, by the way) to provide a dedicated funding stream for projects with an environmental impact. Its major funding source is a percentage of New York's Real Estate Transfer Tax. That is, every time a piece of real estate changes hands, a small tax is levied by the state which goes into its general fund. A dedicated percentage goes specifically to the EPF. Additionally, 80% of unclaimed bottle deposits from beverage companies are returned to the state to fund the EPF. This would seem to me to be responsible fiscal policy on the part of the state: a pay-as-you-go fund for capital projects that improve the quality of New York's environment.
We're talking about pollution controls, restoration projects, farmland protection, parkland acquisition and more. This is critical work for the state's water quality, food security, common heritage and community well being.
The state is not so fiscally responsible throughout its budget, so to plug gaps the legislature has permitted "sweeps" of budget surpluses from entities other than the general fund. Sweeps are supposed to be paid back but there's no formal agreement as to how that is supposed to work.
Last year the EPF had a budget of approximately $210 million. This year, the proposed budget has it pegged at $143 million, a sum which leaves $0 for land acquisition and reduces the funding for farmland protection and water quality programs. When land is cheap, conservation is cheap; so the state is surely missing out on valuable real estate deals in these tough times by zeroing out acquisition funds and decimating easement funding. To add insult to injury, EPF is also supposed to absorb payment of salaries and some expenses for the state's park and environmental agencies.
This is New York. Home of Love Canal, but also Adirondack Park. Which legacy do you want to place your money on? But then again, what's the alternative? Don't recycle?
If you want to do something good for the environment today, write the governor and state legislators (see below) to tell them you value the EPF and don't want to see it cut so deeply. Tell New York to trim its budget by eliminating programs that don't work and the shocking amount of pork that still manages to find its way into the budget.
Assemblyman Herman (Denny) Farrell Senator Antoine Thompson | Senator Carl Kruger Assemblyman Robert Sweeney |
Friday, April 16, 2010
Week in Review: Governor's Island / Toy Center / Trees / Flowers / Earth Day
Now that New York City owns Governor's Island, these plans capture the imagination of New Yorkers. (via Curbed) The New York Times invited readers to submit their wild ideas as well. Peep that slideshow here.The Grey Group's relocation to and makeover of the 1909 landmark building at 200 Fifth Ave - a one time toy center - in the Flatiron District is profiled in "Mix It Up"in April's Metropolis Magazine.
The New York Times ran this piece about Bolinas, CA where a town moratorium on issuing water meters has effectively capped development. I think this is genius. Water is really limited, so it's a legal restriction; this should be used in many more Western towns who struggle with growth.
This week, Patrice Frey's PreservationNation piece in her series "Old Homes in a Sustainable World" Takes the Long View on Renewable Energy.
Brooklynology offers this adorable piece about Brooklyn's flower, the forcythia. The borough even had a Forcythia Queen!
Put Down Roots! Million Tree giveaway continues this weekend - locations include Bowne House, Flushing, Queens; Putnam Triangle, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn; Snug Harbor, Staten Island; Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx.
At the Brooklyn Botanic Garden it is Hanami, the month-long cherry blossom celebration. Check here for events, culminating the first weekend in May with Sakura Matsuri, for what's abloom and what's doin'.
In Fort Greene, Habana Outpost will be opening its gate for the season come Saturday with its annual Earth Day Expo!
Photo used under Creative Commons license, by WallyG
Friday, April 9, 2010
Week in Review
Christopher Gray's Streetscapes column this weekend focuses on Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn. Of Captains, Caulkers and Hoop Skirt Makers Be sure to check out the slideshow as well. (via NY Times)
Our pal Patrice Frey, Director of Sustainability Research for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, takes on a series of questions about energy efficiency and historic buildings in a series of blog posts. (via PreservationNation)
Old Homes in a Sustainable World
How Efficient is Efficient Enough?
Save Ellis Island, a nonprofit group dedicated to restoration, preservation of Ellis Island's South Side is on the brink of collapse; seeking donations. (How about a collections box for all of the tourists as they hop on and off the ferry in Battery Park?) (via NY Times)
Funds Sought to Continue Restoration at Ellis Island
Our pal Patrice Frey, Director of Sustainability Research for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, takes on a series of questions about energy efficiency and historic buildings in a series of blog posts. (via PreservationNation)
Old Homes in a Sustainable World
How Efficient is Efficient Enough?
Save Ellis Island, a nonprofit group dedicated to restoration, preservation of Ellis Island's South Side is on the brink of collapse; seeking donations. (How about a collections box for all of the tourists as they hop on and off the ferry in Battery Park?) (via NY Times)
Funds Sought to Continue Restoration at Ellis Island
Photo Friday
View from Brooklyn Heights Promenade this morning,looking northward at Bridge, Empire State Building, overlooking park construction
Thursday, April 8, 2010
State to Public: Stay Home This Summer, We're Closing The Parks
It’s no secret that New York State is facing a very tight budget year, worse than usual. One proposed cut is to close 14 historic sites and 41 parks, and reduce hours at 23 parks and one historic site. When the state says "close" they mean, turn off the heat, haul out the artifacts, lock the door, lock the gate and walk away leaving historic sites to rot. For parks, its allowing facilities to corrode and become unmanageably overgrown. It seems like the state legislature is trying to grant a reprieve to these sites on the chopping block, but the Assembly and Senate differ and the budget is still being negotiated. But in this state, nothing is certain.While some people are concerned that closing these sites will lead to their physical disappearance, this is only part of the problem. It's not only that historic resources are being lost but so are are jobs and real public amenities.
The state is talking about closing public pools and swimming areas, shuttering educational sites, picnic spots, and parklands. Yet, in leaner times, people are staying closer to home and often discovering treasures that are in their proverbial back yard. If preservationists are interested in only buildings it is to miss the message that these places can mean more. Heritage and local tourism are growing and New York will be missing the boat.
And about those jobs, back during the Great Depression park sites were places of job creation not job loss. These historic and park sites are places where New Yorkers were put to work through WPA programs like the the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Historic American Building Survey (the lone New Deal program still active which has documented more than 500,000 historic buildings). Maybe its time to think of these places not just as historic objects or pretty parks but as contributors to local economies and places of employment.
So who's going to propose WPA 2.0? Anyone?
Ironwork at Schuyler Mansion, Albany, NY
Historic American Buildings Survey, Thos. T. Waterman, Photographer.
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