Stroller Survey: Cross "Improved" GAP at Your Own Risk

363-stroller.JPGElizabeth Hays writes in the Daily News: “It’s a jungle out there for frazzled city parents forced to push a stroller along bumpy, treacherous streets, a new (Transportation Alternatives) survey shows.”

Grand Army Plaza was hands down the most notorious Brooklyn spot. The busy traffic circle is near stroller-heavy destinations, such as the Brooklyn Public Library and Prospect Park.”

QUOTES FROM PARENTS who answered the TA survey:

“The corner of Flatbush and Grand Army Plaza in front of the library is a KILLER. Please fix.”

“You feel you are risking your child’s life on a daily basis [at GAP].”

“My son flew out of stroller flat on his face (with a ‘thunk!’) when we hit a bump once.” (This one was actually regarding a treacherous situation in Park Slope proper, not GAP)

Daily News Photo (Bales): Cecilia Varas, of Prospect Heights, uses a pedestrian crossing to wheel 2-month-old son, Aedan, across Grand Army Plaza: “I pray and hold on to my stroller because I’m scared.”

BONUS:Is GAP really that much better?? KAY SARLIN of the Transportation Department claimed that Grand Army Plaza has already been improved, with longer crossing times (huh??), added sidewalk space (you mean the pedestrian island? that’s so far outside of any traffic path that it’s still as pristine as the day it was poured), ramps (about time), and pedestrian barriers (the bollards are a huge improvement, even if the vast majority of them protect that no-mans-land that Sarlin described as a “sidewalk”).

Discuss: Prospect Heights Message Boards

Give Fleece A Chance

That Yarn Guy writes on the Prospect Heights Message Board: “Cold enough fer ya? Warm up at the Knit-In at Freddy’s Bar this weekend. It’s the first Saturday of every month from 5:00 until 8:00 PM or when ever the band kicks us out.”

“This is the second winter for knitting at Freddy’s. The Knit In was featured in Knit.1 Magazine and also on The Jane Pauley Show. It’s not a craft class – it’s a friendly drink-optional depot for stitching, bitching and unwinding.”

“It’s never too late to make a hand-crafted gift for the Holidays like a pot holder or a hat. Or maybe a hat made from holders. So drop off your laundry, pick up some Chinese food, join us this Saturday and finish that scarf! Stick around for the Tom Waits tribute later that evening. Always on hand at the Knit-In are a swift, wool-winder, patterns books and spare needles. Crocheters are welcomed and men are encouraged.”

Get Details: Prospect Heights Message Board

Return of the Vestibule Pushers: Forced Entry Attempt on St. Marks Place?

GMilner writes in the Prospect Heights Message Boards: “Last night, a man tried to force his way into my building by following a neighbor of mine. She managed to get the front door closed just in time…”

“The police took about 15 minutes to show up, and the guy was still in front of the door… for whatever reason the cops the cops let him go. They told us that he was barely coherent and that he had said something about how he worked in this building, so they got his address (or whatever address they gave him) and told him to go home.”

“Obviously, I’m annoyed at how they handled this. People should be careful in case he tries this again. Our building is on St. Marks between Underhill and Washington.”

This wasn’t the only incident: Prospect Heights Message Boards

$1.4 Million for a Playground?

Check out some of the big money being thrown around for jungle gyms these days…

1. The the budget for the teardown/rebuild of Underhill Playground (Underhill Ave. Btw Park and Prospect), underway after months (years?) of delay, is said to have a budget of $700,000. To be fair, that’s about what you’d pay for a floor-and-a-half of unremarkable PH brownstone these days. Yet at the same time, enough to feed an entire Peruvian village for 80 years and still have enough left over to buy half of them associate degrees at CUNY.

2. So now that we have some perspective, let’s take that number and double it, because that’s what the persistent Friends of Dean Playground have pulled down for their renovation project. Thanks, Mr. Boymelgreen. (Learn more about this on Thurs., Dec. 1 from 7:30-9:00 pm at the meeting of the DEAN STREET BLOCK ASSOCIATION, to be held at Iglesia Evangelical Latina, 506 Bergen Street.)

So what’s a Prospect Heights parent to do while waiting for the seeds of playground gentrification to bear fruit? You could check out Mount Prospect Park, a short trek across Eastern Parkway, where on any given weekday afternoon you’ll find a relatively new and fairly elaborate toddler habitrail supervised by a gaggle of Caribbean babysitters (along with some mommies and the occasional stay-at-home dad).

Prospect Heights Message Boards

Caught in the Act


Anagram?

Originally uploaded by urbanstrategist.

This was a really puzzling anagram in the Flatbush Pavilion series and it’s still causing us some consternation. Certainly not as amusing as “Elvis Lives” b/w that thing about the new fan running away grinning… uh… somebody remind us what it said, please?

So is this one of the Mooney’s Crew, or the lone gunman father-of-two from Park Slope?

Thanks to urbanstrategist for adding this to the Prospect Heights Photo Pool.

Mr. Sparkles Must Die


Photo: Mr. Sparkle T-shirt Originally uploaded by Vaguely Artistic.
t-fal writes in the Crown Heights Message Boards: “There’s this guy who lurks about my block… I call him Mister Sparkles due to his rather impressive fronts that would make Flavor Flav green with envy … He is the sole and driving reason behind the deterioration of the once lovely quality of life on my block. “
“… He struts around like one of those grumpy commentators on the Muppets, giving shit to anyone and everyone who happens to pass by … he accused my boyfriend and I of being undercover cops … and now he’s got a cheering section of fourteen year old boys, the bastard.”
“There’s nothing worse than fourteen year old boys. He and his youth crew are outside my bedroom window nearly every night, including right now, serenading me with gunshots, random imitations of dogs barking, absurd proclamations about god.knows.what.”
“He starts incredibly loud fights with random people who happen to be passing by, at 4 am, and then follows them down the block creating a climate of fear and intimidation when once there was none.”
“My block used to be so live and let live! What happened? … It’s obvious: mister sparkles must die. But is he really worth going to prison for? Sadly, no. So therefore I suffer.”

Mister Sparkles Must Die: Crown Heights Message Boards

How Much Development is Going on in Prospect Heights?

danaeo asked: “I am trying to ascertain how many other developments are in the works in Prospect Heights (which might add additional units). I thought I’d turn to the dailyheights experts on neighborhood development…”

Answer: A lot. On the Prospect Heights Message Boards, jml posted this quick list, “based on my experiences as I drive around looking for parking”:

The Washington, 35 Washington ave – 11 units
35 Underhill Ave., 39 units (same building?)
Dean between Washington and Underhill
Something is going on on St. Marks between Underhill and Washington
Park Place between Carlton and Vanderbilt
Richard Meier building on Plaza
Sterling between Classon and Washington
Washington between St. Marks and Bergen
Washington between Bergen and Dean
The new 3-story buildings along Underhill and running down Dean

More on new developments: Prospect Heights Message Boards
Current condo development in Brooklyn: The Real Deal [PDF]
Real Estate Message Boards: Wired New York Forums

Spidey in Crown Heights

Grey took this photo outside his building on Grand Ave. between Bergen and St. Marks: “There’s a toy warehouse across the street, the same building where ‘Grand Space’ is located … hope you enjoy!”

spidey.jpg