Dramatic Fire on DeKalb?

I happened to catch the words "Clinton Hill" spoken on the nightly news just now, so I checked all of the local news websites to see what had happened. Looks like it was a pretty serious fire at 470 DeKalb Ave. around 8am Sunday morning. Only ABC and CBS had info on their websites about it.

From ABC news:

BRONX (WABC) -- A family of four were trapped and hurt during a fire Sunday morning.

The fire broke out around 8 a.m. at 470 Dekalb Avenue in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn.

The fire started in an 11th-floor apartment, trapping the family in a rear bedroom.

Authorities say the family had to lean out of a window to breathe.

Police say the mother, in her 40's, was taken to Brooklyn Hospital in serious condition. Her husband, baby and teen daughter are all reportedly listed in stable condition. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

CBS's story:

Firefighters Save 7 From Brooklyn Fire NEW YORK (CBS) ― Several children, including a baby, were forced to hang onto a window ledge, in order to escape a fast moving fire in Brooklyn. Firefighters had little time to bring them to safety, but made a dramatic rescue, saving all seven people.

Frantic children were hanging out of an 11th story window trying to get air as the smoke thickened inside their apartment. Firefighters worked to rescue the family, going to the window above and lowered down oxygen masks to the kids so they could breathe.

"I just ran out of the building. I just wanted to see who it was," said Denise Rodriguez. "It's so hurtful because you see all these people everyday."

"The girl was hanging out the window with her babies, all the babies hanging out of the window and me and my neighbor called for the ambulance, for the fire department to come," added Denise Davis.

Seven people were inside the apartment when the fire broke out - a mother, father and several children, including a baby. The fire chief said one of the children rescued is autistic.

"We know the members of this job are trained and do this everyday and were able to get everyone out safely," FDNY Fire Chief Joe Woznica told CBS 2 HD.

A puppy was also saved from the fire. Andre Nash says he ran into help initially but could only get to the father and one of the children.

"I was crawling along the wall to get the mother, baby and boyfriend but once I got to the door because it slammed with so much pressure and heat, I wasn't able to," said Nash.

After being saved, the mother of the children was rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest. Doctors say she is expected to be okay.

According to the fire chief the fire started in one of the bedrooms, the cause has not been determined.

This happened 15 hours ago, and neither site has accurate information available? Was it four people, or seven? WTF?

I almost didn't notice the ABC story, since it was labeled "Bronx." CBS's story sounds much more accurate, but doesn't mention the neighborhood at all.

And by the way, this is Bed-Stuy. Just saying.

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Is it too much to ask for info on a major event that occurred hours ago? Regardless, great news that everyone was saved. Bravo to NY's Bravest.

Hold Up at Mario's

The Brooklyn Paper is reporting that Mario's Pizza on Waverly near Greene was robbed on January 30 around 5pm. Seems to be a rash of crime around this time in the 'hood lately, and I'm none too happy about it.  Especially since I often hit up Mario's for a quick slice.

(FYI, the BK Paper is a great resource for news tidbits and police blotter info!)

Brooklyn Was Mine

In case you haven't heard, there's a new book of personal essays about our borough, called Brooklyn Was Mine. Lots of different areas are covered, but of note is an essay by Susan Choi about Clinton Hill's own Underwood Park (at the corner of Lafayette and Waverly), detailing both the park's history as well as Choi's discovery of it. bkmine.jpg

Choi is one of many renowned artists living in Clinton Hill.

Saffolding Accident on Clinton!

This just in from a reader: NY1 just reported that there was a scaffolding collapse on Clinton Ave resulting in a death. Looking out my window, i see lots of police cars at around Clinton and Fulton where there's a tall building under construction (they said it was a 13 story fall).

Is this that tall building going up on Clinton near Atlantic?

Here's the info from the NY1 website.

The 'Hood on B'Stoner

Our pal Brownstoner has posted some good neighborhood scoops recently -- check them out:

  • Elly's Grocery on DeKalb is "Going Korean" [Brownstoner] -- This place always looked nice from the outside (I believe they won an award for the renovation), but I never seemed to find what I needed inside!
  • Slow Sales at the Azure on Classon [Brownstoner] -- I still think this place looks office-y.  Is Myrtle North ready for these buildings?
  • 163 Washington Still TBD [Brownstoner] -- A good example of neighbors getting involved to protest shady developers.  Hopefully, this one will be blocked.

Midnight Steam Whistles

Each year, Pratt engineer Conrad Milster puts on an amazing steam whistle show on campus on New Year's Eve at midnight. For some reason, I've never heard them sound! I've seen the smoke from my window during test runs, but have yet to venture over for the official show. whistles.jpg

The steam whistles were installed in 1900 to power the campus. They remained in use until a few years ago (they were still operating two campus elevators!).

Milster has maintained the steam plant since 1965, and has been conducting the midnight show for years. The NYT listed it here, back in 1980 (last listing on page). Also check out this YouTube video of last year's presentation.

The steam plant at Pratt is still in its original condition, and was declared a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1977.

Check it out tonight!

Christmas Eve Shooting

I wanted to do a post or two from Buffalo, but my Dad's Internet was down (!!!!!!). I was less than pleased. I am sad to say that the first news I received when returning home was about a horrible Christmas Eve shooting outside of 121 Lefferts Place. Here are a few links to the info:

ny sun

wcbs

ny daily news

fox

The reader who notified me walked past the scene after it happened, describing it as "gruesome."

Isn't this near where the prostitution hotel was shut down? As I recall, this isn't the safest corner in the area.

Sincere condolences to the families of these boys.

White Castle Robbed!

From the NYT: Brooklyn: Pair Sought in Two Robberies By MICHAEL WILSON Published: October 8, 2007

Two robbers armed with a handgun held up a storage facility in Prospect Heights and a fast-food restaurant in Clinton Hill yesterday, the police said. The first robbery occurred shortly after 12:30 p.m., when two men, dressed in dark clothes and caps, entered Storage Deluxe at 945 Atlantic Avenue and stole cash, the police said. The amount stolen was not disclosed yesterday. About 15 minutes later, a pair believed to be the same two men robbed a White Castle at 531 Myrtle Avenue of an undisclosed amount of cash, the police said.

Clinton Hill Gentrification in 1987

I came across this article in the Times from 1987 completely accidentally, while I was researching something else.  It details the rise of gentrification in the Hill, starting around 1981, and talks of the process of converting the Clinton Hill Apartments into Co-ops.  It's an interesting read to see how much has changed and how much had stayed the same all at the same time.  Diverse middle class?  Check.  Neighborly vibe?  Yup.  A one-bedroom rental for $550 a month?  HA! I can't believe my luck in finding this 20-year-old article!

Il Torchio Slated to Open Aug. 18!

Il Torchio (from NY Magazine):458 Myrtle Ave., nr. Washington Ave., Clinton Hill, Brooklyn; 718-422-1122 Cousins Peter and Frank Costabile are Brooklyn landlords and real-estate developers, and they put their own construction experience to good use at Il Torchio, the rustic Italian wine-and-tapas bar they plan to open the instant the liquor license arrives. The cousins built the brick-arched, tin-ceilinged room themselves, turning salvaged ceiling beams into the bar top and wine racks. There is a 70-seat brick patio out back, a vintage wine press that gives the place its name, and a small-plate menu executed by chef Charles Giangarra, a veteran of Brooklyn’s equally rustic Convivium Osteria. There are salads (braised duck with shaved fennel and currants), risotti (shrimp with grilled radicchio and chives), and panini named for various parts of Calabria, the original birthplace of the Costabile clan. But the highlight of the menu is the tapas section, small plates of pan-seared sea scallops with spicy chickpea purée and fried polenta, or porcini-dusted tilapia with white-bean vinaigrette. “We wanted people to say, ‘Wow!’ ” says Peter’s daughter Pamela, who will be working the floor.

(Thanks to commentor Sara for the link!)

Holy crap this sounds good!

Smoke Joint: Not Quite an Expansion

dscf1475.jpg Forgive me if this is old news, as I really didn't have time to read three weeks' worth of blogs while I was away. Looks like while the owners of Smoke Joint have indeed taken over the former Blimpie/Pan-m y Mas space, it won't be an expansion of the restaurant. Instead, it will be a separate market, called Little Piggy (Market). Per TimeOut:

Craig Samuel and Ben Grossman of Brooklyn’s Smoke Joint are back with this Southern country market and café next door to their Fort Greene ’cue house. Pop in for artisanal hams, Anson Mill grits and Greenmarket produce.

A Google search shows some coverage by the Brooklyn Paper as well. The new market will offer both desserts and air conditioning, both lacking at SJ.

Overall, I'm pleased with this. Smoke Joint offers really friendly service and mucho tasty food. Though the SJ is pretty cramped, and it might have been nice to offer more seating.

I peeked inside this morning, and it doesn't seem to be open yet. Also, no sign.

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Brooklyn Industries HQ in Clinton Hill?

Thanks to Bed-Stuy Blog for finding this article in the NY Times about cool small chain store Brooklyn Industries moving their manufacturing to Wallabout across from the Navy Yard.  I recently tracked them down and paid them a visit. BKI's new headquarters are at 43 Hall Street.  I've definitely been inside before, for last year's SONYA stroll.

hq to brooklyn industries

The still largely raw space inside hosts almost all of the company's functions - all clothing design, shipping, marketing.  The employees I spoke with love being in the area, surrounded by so many local artists and cool happenings. dscf0455.jpg

kitchen BKI's owners, contemporary artists who met upstate, started the company by making heavy-duty messenger bags using recycled materials.  They've expanded to produce a full line of men's and women's clothing, and have begun hosting art installments and parties in their South Williamsburg storefront.

BKI's latest mission is contribution to the community, helping support Brooklyn artists and using sustainable materials in new stores.  They're also employing Pratt students to help construct stores and build out the new Wallabout office space.  They'll also be distributing a new free quarterly publication, Brooklyn Industries Journal, focused on Brooklynites.  The first issue features photo shoots done in Wallabout and Coney Island, as well as profiles of real Brooklyn families.  The magazines will be distributed in stores, at special events and at neighborhood salons.

dscf0460.jpg I caught a glimpse of the fall 07 collection, which is being touted as "more mature." I loved it.

fabrics As for the rumored Myrtle Ave. store, the answer is "not yet."  The owners don't feel there's quite enough foot traffic on Myrtle yet to support a shop.  But they hope to in a year or so, and are considering a "lifestyle store" for our neighborhood.