There's this building on the corner of Roebling and North 11th that my neighbors and I always have a good laugh about. Apparently, the shady builder paid off somebody and built this ugly, semi-giant, multi-unit building on top of tanks of toxic oil or some other sort of disgusting, poisonous chemical. He moved a bunch of people in, no doubt paying insane rents, only to have to evict them within a year after the DEP shut him down. After laying vacant for a couple years, there's been some activity recently. Workers moving out washer/dryers, guys cleaning the windows, etc. Now suddenly a sign goes up, billing it as "luxury condos" for under 500k. Never mind that these apartments are super crappy—a contender for the worst architecture in the neighborhood (and that's saying a lot for Williamsburg)—they're also potentially toxic!
I called the Developer's Group and spoke to a perky saleslady who had no idea what I was talking about. I told her it was originally a rental building, but that everyone had been evicted because of the seeping waste. She corrected me (wrongly), saying it had been intended as a rental building, but nobody had ever moved in. Uh, no, you're wrong, I told her. People had lived there for about a year. I live across the street! I know! She backed down and said she knew nothing about the potential toxicity but would look into it and get back to me.
Now I don't know all the details, but I do know that the building took a long time to get built and people did move in and then were forced out in a mass eviction. If people are going to be paying 500k for an ugly apartment on top of a bubbling pool of poisonous gunk, I think they should be informed. I'm calling the DEP next.
Just be careful, Judester...No good deed goes unpunished...
Posted by: Cynical Cylon Ivan | April 13, 2006 at 11:52 AM
judes,
you are a one woman fireball for the north williamsburg/greenpoint area crew!!! not only were their peeps living in there but they had parties all the time and created a ruckus. the "luxury condos" also say they have "parkviews" or something like that. they mean the little square right there of park!! or they mean mccarren park? it's crazy.
not to mention it's a deep dark corner where many a mugging has occurred lately since the streetlights don't work and haven't in a long time. even the butchiest of crazy peeps is afraid to walk around there.
Posted by: rose | April 13, 2006 at 12:01 PM
I am Norma Rae!!!!! I'll watch my back!
Posted by: judes | April 13, 2006 at 12:04 PM
Judes, you nosey Parker! You go on with your activist self!
But if you show up wearing a bandana headscarf and shouting into a bullhorn, there will be an intervention.
And I totally know that building - I always thought it was a storage facility.
Posted by: Jules | April 13, 2006 at 03:34 PM
The upside, is the extra haircuts the barbershop will do, with all the
two-headed babies.
The little crap triangle park in front is actually Pvt. Frank Sonsire Square. hmmm.
It was a Socony Oil gas station til at least 1952. In June it will be 3 years without those 2 streetlights on. Unfuckingbelievable.
Makes ya get that nagging feeling that something bad'll happen fore long.
Posted by: meredith | April 13, 2006 at 10:58 PM
that's one old neighbor i don't miss. yeah, i know that bldg.
so glad to be out of williamsburg, though i miss the Good Old Days.
Posted by: kc | April 15, 2006 at 06:26 PM
Did you ever hear from the DEP?
Posted by: george | July 31, 2006 at 10:55 AM
People jeopardizing the health of others to make a quick buck? No way.
Posted by: osisbs | September 27, 2006 at 01:30 PM
hey thanks for the great info I been hearing lots of terrible stories as well as the documentary that "Vice" released about Williamsburg.
Posted by: Young Hong | April 29, 2007 at 06:38 PM