PLG Halloween Trick or Treat Route

Happy Halloween, PLGers! The 71st Precinct Community Council is again sponsoring a trick-or-treat walk for those so inclined. While I am skeptical that a "safe route" is warranted, if people think it is, it probably is - if for no other reason than it will mean more kids are allowed to go out.

The trick-or-treating caravaners will start at 5PM at Rutland and Flatbush and weave their way to the precinct house at Empire and New York. The full route is:

Start at Rutland & Flatbush.
Walk Rutland Rd. to Rogers Ave.
Left on Rogers, Walk to Midwood St.
Left on Midwood, Walk to Bedford Ave.
Right on Bedford, Walk to Maple St.
Right on Maple, Walk to New York Ave.
Left on New York, Walk to Empire Blvd.
End at New York & Empire @ the 71st Precinct.

The precinct will have more candy and games until 9PM.

Additionally, many of the businesses on Flatbush (and I assume on the other avenues) have candy for kids and I know that some of the houses on Hawthorne last year did as well, despite being off of the official route.

This year we will not be giving out candy as we will be among the revelers. Look for a two-and-a-half foot otter and say hi.

Dreams deferred

Looks like we spoke too soon. The Associated is no longer stocking Ciao Bella sorbets. On the bright side, Ben & Jerry's is on sale...

205 Parkside available for free?

  Spotted at 205 Parkside Avenue:

FREE BUILDING
14 residential, 3 commercial units
Pre-War, 4 story, abandoned rathole
Squatters included at no charge

Moses and Bernice Fried
(718) 377-4444

There is also a sister advertisement on Craiglist with more detail.

If 205 Parkside sounds familiar, that's the neglected building that Moses Fried tried to turn into an hourly "hotel" three years ago. For those who take the train at Parkside, the place is pretty hard to miss — it's next door to the Pioneer grocer on a busy, high-traffic commercial strip.

We haven't heard anything out of 205 Parkside since 2007, when Fried's lawyer said that the owner was  "reviewing his options" of what to do with the place. Apparently, Fried has been reviewing his options for some time. According to city records, the building has been "vacant and untenanted" since 1979. The building has been condemned and has no Certificate of Occupancy. Lights are often on at night, though, and clearly people are living there.

We're pretty sure this real estate isn't actually free (in any sense), but hope Fried is getting lots of calls. Property owners who let buildings fester for decades don't deserve to keep them. Fried clearly has no concern whatsoever for how his properties affect local the local community. But who knows. Perhaps a sly kick in the pants will get him to do the right thing and clean this s***hole up — or sell it to someone who will.

UPDATE: Fried response to "free building" prank

Breaking: Ocean on the Park Historic District Approved

Earlier today, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing on the designation of 189 - 211 Ocean Avenue, between Parkside and Flatbush, as the Ocean on the Park Historic District. A reporter on the scene with a blackberrry announced that, over the objection of the owner of 189 Ocean, the district designation passed, encompassing all houses in the row.

UPDATE: The New York Times City Room blog has more about the history of the HD and the hearing. In response to the objection of the owner at 189 that she would be handcuffed by the HD rules to respond to development on the lot at 185, the Commission scheduled a hearing extending the district to cover the lot at 185, which would preclude the border lot from erecting a building that would be out of context with its neighbors. Expect to see people out there pouring a foundation ASAP if they are allowed to do so...

Thanks, Barbara, Heidi and Bob!

Image via Brownstoner

Meanwhile, in gang news

According to local news site YourNabe.com, police are keeping tabs on two clusters of gangs responsible for a wave of crime in East Flatbush. East Flatbush runs to the south and east of PLG, but one of the gang clusters isn't all that far away; it's at Nostrand and Cortelyou. Apparently, a bunch of Crips and Bloods have been spotted around there, but that's about all we can glean from this article. So we'll have to save our lesson in how to spot a Crip or Blood (and stay the hell away from them) for a later date.

Restaurant Update

We heard a rumor that the Gino's Pizza at 548 Flatbush (near Lincoln) was going to expand into the open space at 546; that rumor is true.

I happened by when Gino was there and he told me that they are doing a major remodeling. They are going to take down the wall between the spaces and move the kitchen/ovens to the back. They are going to move the pizza to the expansion and turn the current space into a sit-down Italian restaurant. He also said that they might get a brick oven to make pizza in. All good to hear.

Gino gave me a timeline of one to two months, but that seems optimistic. It seems particularly optimistic because there is still a "For Rent" sign on the space next door, so I don't know if contract negotiations are even finished, much less preparations for the renovation.

In other restaurant news, the Crown Heights blog Nostrand Park has noticed the opening of a new restaurant on our the CH side of Empire. Essential Organic and International Cuisine, at 762 Nostrand on the corner of Sterling Street Place, is offering a polyglot menu. Nostrand Park explains:

[The owner explained] that the restaurant has three main chefs - one versed in Caribbean cuisine, one versed in Italian cuisine and one versed in organic cuisine.  Taking a closer gander at the menu, indeed the selection is much more diverse than we first recognized.   The offerings include portabello burgers, salmon swiss melt, hummus platter, veggie lasagna, fried chicken and stuffed red snapper (plus many more items).  Perhaps due to his background as small business lender at Chase, the owner was able pick up on the fact that people are "hungry" for a broader food choice on Nostrand.

Either this restaurant is open all day or, I strongly suspect, that the menu has a typo, since it says breakfast is served from 2-11AM. When we check it out, we'll give a more complete report.

PLG Among the Worst Recylers in Brooklyn

The Department of Sanitation has published a list of the best and worst neighborhoods for recycling throughout the city and PLG falls near the bottom of the list. This is especially unimpressive, since Brooklyn is fourth among the boroughs.

Bay Ridge is the greenest Brooklyn neighborhood while Brownsville is throwing away the most of its recyclables. PLG is among a cluster of central Brooklyn neighborhoods. Laurel was right to call out the unnamed "neighborhood leaders" mentioned in the article who blame the "lack of facilities" in the area for their constituents' poor showing on Nostrand Park, a Crown Heights blog. What facilities do you need? The Department of Sanitation comes to you!

Image via Nostrand Park

Memorial for Brian Scott Held Last Night

Last night, a memorial was held for Brian "Cosmik" Scott, the young man who was murdered in the Parkside Avenue Donut Shop. That link includes video of the NY1 story about the memorial, which was held by his fellow rollerbladers in a Lower East Side skate park. They were also collecting donations to help defray funeral expenses for the family. If anyone knows who to contact regarding donations, let us know and we'll post the information here.

Mr. Scott was not, according to police, the intended target. I haven't read anywhere whether one of the other injured patrons was the intended target or if they were connected to Mr. Scott in any way. Police are still searching for the shooter.

As we've written before, Cosmik was getting a reputation in the rollerblading scene. Below the fold are a tribute photo montage and a three videos of Cosmik shredding around town.

Senator Eric Adams responds to recent shootings: Come to community meetings this week

Thanks to Senator Eric Adams for sending this note in response to a previous comment on the blog. He's holding two community meetings to discuss the recent shootings. The first meeting is in Crown Heights tonight and the second will be at his office here in PLG on Tuesday. Details below.

Several days ago our community suffered another homicide. It occurred on Prospect Place near Classon Avenue. One community resident voiced frustration by asking what Eric Adams intended to do about the increase in crime. Consider that question for a moment, and while you are reflecting, let me share a significant detail with you. The shooting took place only doors from my own home. I live on Prospect Place. In fact, I have resided there for about twenty years. When I first moved onto the block, few dared walk down it, and living there was a perilous option. However, a few of us resolved that we would not turn over our street to thugs. We organized, and we fought to take our community back. One clear lesson was learned: if we wanted to live on a safe block, we had to build a safe city.

Our communities do not have either real or imaginary demarcation lines, and criminals do not confine themselves to one geographic area. Thugs don’t care whom they harm or where they commit their crimes. I know this well because 22 years of my life were spent wearing a bulletproof vest, standing on street corners to protect our city from those who wanted to harm the decent people who make up its neighborhoods. I did this both as a cop and as a private citizen. Many are aware of the numerous volunteer hours that I have given and will continue to give to anti-violence measures.

If we want safe communities, we will have to build them, not blog them. No neighborhood can be safe if the only proffered solution is to look for a politician or the police to do it for us. Just as there are prerequisites for being a responsible elected official, there are also requirements for being a conscientious citizen. It takes teamwork to make a community safe. I know first hand, because I was a member of such a team in this neighborhood.

 If you are interested in uniting with me in an effort to make our streets and homes safe, I ask you to attend an emergency meeting (see below for venue and time). There is no courage in staying at home and blogging about our complaints. Bravery involves facing down the thuggery that can destroy our community. I anticipate your partnership in making our district safe for raising children and families.

Best, Eric NYS Senator

Monday, October 19
7pm - 8:30pm
Hope City Empowerment Center
650 Washington Avenue (between Bergen & Dean Street)

Tuesday, October 20
7pm - 8:30pm District Office
(572 Flatbush Avenue near Midwood Street)

Gentrification Watch: Ciao Bella

Following on the heels of its new organic section, the Associated on Flatbush has started stocking Ciao Bella sorbet and gelato. Currently going for over $5 a pint, it is not a cheap dessert.

I confess, however, that it is awesome. The Dark Chocolate Jalapeno and Chocolate Hazelnut gelatos are particular favorites as is the Coconut sorbet (which is apparently no sugar added, though that's hard to believe).

Got a tip for Gentrification Watch? Please send it along. (NB: "the Hawthorne Street blog" doesn't count.)