Behind the brownstone veneer

This partially demolished wall at the General Theological Seminary in Chelsea is an excellent illustration of how brownstone structures were made. 

Brownstone is essentially sandstone, a form of sedimentary rock composed of layers of sand. The rich brown color of much of the material seen in buildings around town comes from the presence of iron ore. Widely used in 19^th century New York (it was cheaper than other stones and readily available in New Jersey and Connecticut) brownstone was primarily used as a veneer over brick walls. My first photo illustrates this, with a layer of brownstone blocks about 4 inches thick cemented to brick. The close-up shot of a broken brownstone block shows how the sandstone is composed of layers.

The Mighty New York Sparrow

The ubiquitous House Sparrow (passer domesticus) does not share in the contempt which New Yorkers have towards city birds, especially starlings and pigeons. Maybe it’s because they’re small and attractive, but we tend to look fondly upon these tiny creatures. They seem so frail and vulnerable. Ecology and history tell us otherwise. 

Like the much-despised pigeon and starling, the urban sparrow is a European transplant, brought to the New World in the 19^th century as a means of controlling insects. And since sparrow chicks consume an enormous amount of insect larvae, they did help. But the Big Apple was such a hospitable environment that their number exploded. Passer domesticus, it appears, is ideally suited to urban life. Besides insects it also consumes seeds, both of which are in abundant supply, and it will build its nests just about anywhere. As for its small size and tendency to shy away from humans, don’t let that fool you; the house sparrow is aggressive and will often take on other birds when competing for nesting space. 

SUV drivers and their phoney "patriotism"

You’ve seen ‘em – the huge, gas-gulping SUVs and Hummers roaring down the streets of NYC. Just why a person would need such a truck (I don’t think of them as cars) in a town such as ours is beyond the scope of this post. What gets me is when their owners decide to display their alleged patriotism with American flags or bumper stickers stating “support our troops!”

What’s going on in the heads of these people? Each time these guys fill their tanks they are sending a check to Crown Prince Abdullah and his cronies in Saudi Arabia, a nation which has, to be charitable, a …’mixed’ record on terrorism. And isn’t it the world’s dependence on oil that is behind so much of the tension in much of this world?

If such individuals really wanted to help their nation, and prevent more Americans from dying due to IEDs, they would be pedaling bicycles or, at least, driving compact cars.

The Bronx's Answer to Sunnyside Gardens: Hillside Homes

Most people don't think of the Bronx when it comes to historic preservation.  But one block off of Boston Road in Williamsbridge lies Hillside Homes, a model housing complex that has made a remarkable comeback following years of decline. 

Around New York, architect Clarence Stein is best known for the Sunnyside Gardens and the Phipps Houses developments in Queens. A leader in the movement to create low-density, quality housing for people of modest means, Stein specialized in developing communities with plenty of open space. Like the Phipps Houses, Hillside featured mostly four-storey buildings, great brickwork, landscaped gardens and many walkways. Stein also added a community center, playgrounds and sunken interior courts.  

Like many areas, Hillside Homes was hard hit by economic hardship and the drug epidemic. But new management and some tough-minded residents have really turned this community around, and nowadays Hillside is a huge success.  When I visited there with some friends a while back I found the entire six-block area to be clean, well-maintained and cheerful. Kids played and older people relaxed outside. The residents we met were proud of their homes, which were graffiti-free. Compared to the projects, it was a virtual paradise. 

Hillside Homes is located one block west of Boston Road at Eastchester Road. It's a little bit out-of-the-way, but if you're interested in local history or historic preservation, it's worth the trip. 

Vintage trolleys in San Francisco

Public transit fans have long loved San Francisco, with its cable cars.  Less well-known, but almost as much fun to ride, is the city's "F" line - a collection of vintage trolleys from several countries, all lovingly restored.  Their route runs along Market Street from the Castro district to the waterfront, where it turns and continues to Fishermen's Wharf.  It's a fun way to get around SF. 

Tweeding Revisited

Some opponents of big developments in this town seem to be singling out poor immigrants as the problem, instead of big developers.  They see the problem as "Tweeding," a reference to the infamous political boss of the 19th Century, "Boss" William Tweed.  Tweeding politicians, they argue, are anxious to pack their districts with loads of immigrants whom they can lavish with services, such as low-income housing, in return for votes. One guy I know keeps referring to "immigrant barracks" popping up. If there are any big low-income housing developments going up around town, I would like to see them. But, that notwithstanding, here are a few points to consider:

• Most poor immigrants are not citizens. Therefore they cannot vote.
• There is just about no money out there for low income housing. The NYC Housing Authority is running in the red big time. 
• Constituents for the most part don't want low income housing in their communities. Putting in such housing would not make a politico very popular. 
• Developers are almost universally building "luxury" buildings. 
• The "affordable" housing that is often talked about is actually for people in the middle income bracket. It most certainly is not "affordable" for a dishwasher making minimum wage. 
• New York City is pretty solidly democratic to begin with, and the state is most definitely "Blue."   Politicians don't need any more voters.

Let's quit bashing poor immigrants. 

Bye-Bye Queensboro Garage

I'm no fan of big developments.  But today's Daily News
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2008/05/27/2008-05-27_vacant_long_island_city_garage_might_go_.html
 reports that a developer may be tearing down one of the ugliest buildings
in Queens: the now-vacant parking garage at Queensboro Plaza. In its place
will be an office building. (Oh, well, at least it won't be another luxury
coop).

You can get a good view of the garage if you look to your right just as
Flushing-bound 7 train leaves the Plaza. Tall weeds now grow on its roof,
while at street level the storefronts have been vacant for years. The
concrete monstrosity, which the News likens to a bunker, is straight out of
the Cold and Sterile school of modern architecture. Like so much of
Queensboro Plaza, it just reeks of urban blight. And why? At a time when
any place convenient to Manhattan is booming, QB is still a seedy
collection of largely empty office buildings, downscale eateries and
"gentlemen's" clubs. At night prostitutes strut their stuff. Yes, there are
those luxury apartment houses and hotels sprouting up like weeds on the
north side, but they do nothing for the community.

Hopefully the demolition of the municipal garage will help spur a
revitalization to this unfortunately ugly gateway to Queens.