Life in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York -- Bushwick news and opinion / blog

Jeremy Sapienza

Jeremy was born in New York, but grew up in South Florida, and will probably always consider Miami "home." He's a history buff, a lover of architecture, an urban design dork, an amateur gardener, and a moderate foodie. He tends to use the economic way of thinking to analyze what's going on in the world -- and in Bushwick. He loves the idea of being a Bushwick "townie" and is excited about the prospects for mankind's future.
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Bushwick Gets Third Farmers’ Market


A bustling scene at the newest farmers’ market on Myrtle Avenue at Wyckoff. — Photos courtesy of EcoStation:NY

Bushwick is full of back yard gardens, loft farms, and farm-share programs, and we can’t seem to get enough. After establishing two farmers’ markets in the neighborhod, new community organization EcoStation:NY is starting yet another at a third location under the elevated M tracks at the Myrtle-Wyckoff hub.

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BushwickBK Food Reviewer in Times

In case you weren’t sure she knew her stuff, our Scarlett Lindeman isn’t just well-traveled across Latin America — she even lived in Puebla for a stretch, which makes for a knowledgeable taco reviewer — she is also a professional cook at Roman’s in Fort Greene, part of the Marlow empire. The NY Times Diner’s Journal recently reviewed a small plate at the restaurant, crostini featuring figs from an enormous tree that overhangs Scarlett’s own Bushwick back yard.

Scarlett also has grape vines and an apricot tree, which she likes to think are leftover from “a little old Sicilian grandmother.” A slight damper has been put on her further gardening plans, as the high lead content of her soil means she shouldn’t grow leafy greens directly in the ground.

In addition to her brief pieces about local cuisine here in Bushwick, Scarlett has written about food for The Atlantic.

Central Ave’s Century-Old Sewers to Be Replaced


The city’s water and sewer authority is replacing 500 feet of sewer underneath two blocks of Central Avenue. Above, one block has a trench inside which workers are placing the new cement pipes. — Photo by Jeremy Sapienza

The century-old drainage pipes underneath a section of Central Avenue have partially collapsed, according to the city’s Dept. of Environmental Protection, and the agency is tasked with opening up the roadway between Melrose and Troutman Streets so that 500 feet of new 12-inch cement sewer can be laid.

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Bushwick Apartment Roundup 7/21/10

Roommates and families aren’t the only demographics attracted to three-bedroom apartments — anyone who needs space for books, art studios, or a home office can actually save money doing all of that in one place. Here are a few railroads and boxed three-bedrooms to appeal to everyone. Don’t forget to check out the Bushwick Classifieds for more.

$1500 — 3-4br rr: You never find railroads with this many rooms north of DeKalb, so this is a real find. I wouldn’t recommend a roommate situation in here, it’s pretty tight, and though it’s rather ugly inside aside from a few original moldings and such, it’s nothing your good taste can’t fix. Excellent location near everything great this side of Bushwick. And it has central a/c!
PETS OK | Jefferson St and Wilson | Jefferson or Morgan L/Myrtle JMZ

$1550 — 3br: Large and attractive apartment with tons of light, wood floors, nice fixtures, and in an alright location near recently renovated Irving Square Park and delicious soul food. It is a pretty long walk to any subway.
Jefferson Av and Wilson | Myrtle L/Knickerbocker M

$1230 — 3br rr: This railroad is in an okay spot, also near Irving Square and down the block from 550 Irving, where people are paying three times this rent, and which apparently has a café, though I’m not sure if it’s open to neighbors. Otherwise, you mostly just have your pick of Chinese food. Some original details remain, though it’s hard to see the finished quality of the renovations since the photos show construction. There also seem to be other units available here up to $1300, so it seems the entire building has been redone.
PETS OK | Knickerbocker and Eldert | Halsey L

$2100 — 3br: This is very nice, if a little overdesigned, in an excellent location near everything great in Bushwick, and overlooking Maria Hernandez Park. The price is rather high, though this might be worth it for a large, well-done space. You’ll have to see for yourself.
PETS OK | Starr and Irving | Jefferson L

$1300 — 3br rr: An excellent price in a pretty, tree-lined location, though sadly I don’t know the exact intersection. From the one fuzzy photo it seems like it’s in good repair and has many crisp original details, wood floors, even a claw-foot tub.
St. Nicholas | Myrtle-Wyckoff LM

This is totally insane. NOTHING down here at the end of Bushwick costs $2900, I don’t care how many bedrooms it has. Especially when it’s this ugly.

House of the Week: 1078 Hancock

This block of Hancock Street is nothing to write home about, but it does have its pluses, including trees and modestly well-kept houses. It is just off one of the most impressive stretches of historic Bushwick Avenue and just two blocks to recently renovated Irving Square Park. But it’s the property itself that draws attention — three apartments for the price of a single condo just up the road a bit. Yes, it’s the typical vinyl-sided Bushwick blah, but inside remain many original details and though maybe not to your taste, the interiors have been updated. The basement is even finished.

Amazingly, this place sold for twice the price in late 2006. It’s a good deal and rents might enable you to live free.

1078 Hancock Street | $365,000
2880sqft | 20ft-wide | 3-family | frame
Halsey J

Bushwick Apartment Roundup 7/14/10

This week, everything is from our own Bushwick Classifieds — yes, you could have easily found these yourself, but then, you wouldn’t know what I thought about them. Right? Yeah. Here we go:

$1550 — 2br: A decent location near Bushwick’s Champs-Élysées, Knickerbocker Avenue. Close to all kinds of cheap shopping and food, a forthcoming (how forth? who knows?) pedestrian plaza, the train, and within ten minutes of anything else in the hood. The interior is attractive and well-done and the bedrooms seem a good size.
Himrod and Knickerbocker | DeKalb L/Knickerbocker M

$1600 — 2br: A large, pretty apartment in a great area near everything Bushwick has to offer. Original wood floors are really cool and the unit seems to be on a higher floor. This is offered by BushwickBK advertiser Bushwick Realty Group — remember we can’t operate without the help of our advertisers, so give them a shout.
Irving and Jefferson St. | Jefferson L

$1595 — 2br: A nice, clean apartment with a good landlord who lives in the building. And look, it has all those eco-pluses you always wished you could pay more for but never had the chance! Nah, this is actually a good price for such a well-done space, and near all the art and food and booze you could want.
Jefferson St. and Irving | Jefferson L

$2150 — 3br: Before the Era of the Orange M, this would be an okay location. Now with direct service to the Village, midtown, and beyond, this place is the best of everything, or at least most things: beautiful interior, great Bushwick view, proximate to all transportation and tons of necessities shopping and food options. It’s a bit pricey but with roommates it’s a sweet spot. Plus it has a dishwasher and a soaking tub.
Irving and Myrtle | Myrtle-Wyckoff L/Knickerbocker M

$1600 — 2br/2ba: Huge points for the description here: “Priced low for a quick deal, mostly because I’m bored of spending time waiting for hipsters who never show up for appointments.” Honestly, this place is okay and I don’t think the price is particularly low — it has no charm whatsoever and I think it’s in a pretty aesthetically heinous location but it does seem hassle-free. Don’t stand up the broker.
Hart and Myrtle | Central M

Shortened L Trains Again All Week

Service interruptions continue on the L line: From Tuesday, July 13 to Friday, July 16, late-night (11:30pm-5am) trains will be replaced by shuttles between Myrtle-Wyckoff and Lorimer stops.

MTA is updating its Communication Based Train Control (CTBC) testing and equipment installation along the L line. CTBC is an automated control system which coordinates signals throughout the subways, ensuring safe operation.

Trash Truck Kills Man on Bike, Drives Off

Noah Kazis at StreetsBlog reports a garbage truck struck and killed a 51-year-old man on his bicycle at Varick Avenue and Meserole Street in the East Williamsburg Industrial Park around 8:50pm Wednesday night. Police are still looking for the driver, who crushed the cyclist as he made a right turn onto Meserole.

An NYPD Press officer told BushwickBK that the victim is identified as Eling Rivera, 51, of East New York. A preliminary investigation determined that Rivera was riding north on Varick when the trash truck, also traveling north on Varick, turned right onto Meserole, running over the victim. Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made.

Bushwick Apartment Roundup 7/7/10

A range of stuff this week, below $1200, all across the neighborhood. Don’t forget to see more or post your own stuff to the Bushwick Classifieds, and you can keep up to date on all of it in one spot with the new beta BushwickApts.com.

$1100 — 2br rr: There’s something more spacious about this railroad, more characteristic of this “farther-out” location than the tighter quarters of cityward Bushwick. This is what many would call Ridgewood, on tree-lined blocks near tons of Mexican food and chicken cooked any way you can think to eat it. Anyway, it is a bit scuffed and shabby inside but this might be construction mess, and it has some original details intact. It’s a good deal.
Menahan and Wyckoff | Myrtle-Wyckoff LM

$1200 — 2br: Full two-bedroom for this price is very good, especially in this location close to all. Nice wood floors, exposed brick, kitchen is more an -ette but maybe you don’t cook so much.
PETS OK | Irving and Jefferson St. | Jefferson L/Central M

$1199 — studio: While “beautiful” is of course in the eye of the beholder, “loft” really isn’t — where I come from, an apartment with no bedroom is called a “studio.” That said, there are small and large studios, and this is indisputably a huge one, since it’s really a railroad with all the walls removed. The kitchen is nice enough, though a bit awkwardly laid out. Decent light and okay floors, and the location is pretty good, rather close to most of the popular and fun stuff in Bushwick. And check out the proximity to the new midtown-bound M train, the best transit cut ever.
PETS OK | Suydam and Central | Central M

$1195 — 2br rr: Nice floors in this two-bedroom railroad near the park and lots of conveniences. Large, acceptable kitchen, good sunlight, some exposed brick.
PETS OK | Willoughby and Knickerbocker | Jefferson L/Central M

$1100 — 1br: A bit expensive for this part of town but it seems clean, bright, and since it’s the entire top floor of this two-family house, it’s probably huge. On-site parking is a plus if you have a car. Very close to the train and pretty Irving Square Park, though the area is a bit rough even for Bushwick.
Wilson and Schaefer | Wilson L

Temperatures Top 100; Escape to A/C

Today and tomorrow will not be pleasant for anyone in a top-floor railroad, whether they have air conditioning or not. The forecast calls for 100 degrees both days, with heat indices up to 103.

The City’s Office of Emergency Management advises retreating to cooling centers around the city; in Bushwick, senior centers and libraries have their a/cs blasting and ready to take in heat refugees. Users can search the EOM’s site by address or intersection to find the closest cool spots.

For those who don’t want to pack in with old timers or throngs of kids, try the shade in Maria Hernandez Park. There are plenty of places to camp out under the trees and wait for the heat to pass. And when all else fails, hit the hydrants — they’ll certainly be open and spraying (or gushing) nonstop over the heat wave.

Those with air conditioning may need to take extra steps like keeping curtains drawn, or temporarily lining windows with foil — shiny side out to reflect the sun.