Community responds to Giant Possible Arson Fire in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, Thursday, May 11, 10am, at Oak and Franklin Street intersection – no rain

The North Brooklyn Alliance announces a press conference for Thursday, May 11, at 10 am, to respond to the devastating nearby waterfront fire that looked suspiciously like a deliberate and callous strategy to hasten luxury housing construction.

The North Brooklyn Alliance is a broad coalition of 35 Greenpoint and Williamsburg-based community organizations, businesses and partners from other neighborhoods throughout the City who are also the victims of over development and poor public policy. The mission of the Alliance is to ensure that big, important benefits, promised to the community, by the City, during the rezoning process are fulfilled. Unresolved zoning issues and community needs are also the Alliance’s concern, plus advocating for the creation of an action plan for timely and effective progress before any more catastrophic damage is done.

May 11th marks the one year anniversary of the City Council approval of the Mayor’s rezoning plan and it has become clear to the community leaders that corrective actions are needed now!

As controversy swirls over the possible criminal source of the fire, the North Brooklyn Alliance is calling this public gathering to proclaim the community’s outrage over the endangered lives, and lost history at the burned 100 –year-old warehouse landmark, and to demonstrate the unity that exists to work to protect the neighborhood from avaricious developers. Rather than succeeding to demoralize residents, the huge fire has catalyzed community attention and resolve to fight for community benefits, not destruction, and to protect the neighborhood from harm by avaricious developers.

Photography show and walking tours -Williamsburg/Greenpoint: The Disappeared And The Endangered

at ART 101 Gallery
 
WILLIAMSBURG/GREENPOINT 
The Disappeared and The Endangered
 
An Exhibition of Photography curated by Nancy Wechter
 
Works by Meredith Allen, Einat Bar, Vince Cianni, Joyce George, Peter Gillespie,
Anders Goldfarb, Regina Monfort, Mary Quinn, Claudia Sohrens,
Nancy Wechter, Bernie Yenelouis
 
A long-time resident of Williamsburg, photographer Nancy Wechter has felt the impact of the typhoon of alterations rained upon a once stable and peaceful neighborhood.  It is just one year since the rezoning plan was passed, but the changes began with the first whispers of city-sponsored  development along the waterfront and the old manufacturing district.
 
The loss of much that was familiar and comfortable; the endangered physical and human landscape, prompted Wechter to seek out documentation by her peers; to call attention to what is rapidly vanishing, while there is (is there?) still time.  The photographs exhibited at ART 101 are by professional photographers, who live in the area and are deeply involved in the daily lives of the neighborhoods that have nourished them, both visually and personally
 
 “As a born and bred New Yorker, I’m used to the constant changes that come with living in this city. However, Williamsburg and Greenpoint …are experiencing change on the scale of the Robert Moses era …and something special is being lost.  By viewing what has existed in this neighborhood and what is now extremely vulnerable, we can define what we care about and what we want to work to keep…” (N.W.)
 
WILLIAMSBURG/GREENPOINT
The Disappeared and The Endangered
May 12 – June 4
ART 101
101 Grand Street between Berry & Wythe
Friday through Monday 1 – 6 pm
Or by appointment 718-302-2242
Reception May 19,  6 –9 pm
 
There will be two walking tours during the course of the exhibit: 
1. Saturday, May 13, 10 am to 12 noon  “Endangered Landmarks” led by Ward Dennis of The Waterfront Preservation Association,
2. Sunday, May 21, 10 am to 12 noon, “Urban Removal” led by Stephanie Thayer
Meet at ART 101 at 9:45 am
 
 photo: Women Sunbathing on the Williamsburg Waterfront by Joyce George