3 posts tagged “infrastructure”
Tonight, I watched Marc Singer's 2000 documentary Dark Days. It's a fascinating portrayal of some of the 150 people who lived in the largely unused train tunnels underneath and along Riverside Park until they were "evicted" in the early '90s. Many had built elaborate homes out of found materials, and it was amazing how much of a normal life they could lead underground, living in homes with working kitchens, electricity -- even showers. Apparently, the tunnel is still accessible.
Watching the film made me track down my copy of Jennifer Toth's book The Mole People, which details "life in the tunnels beneath New York City." I know I haven't posted a review of The Gangs of New York yet, so we haven't wrapped up July's book club yet -- and I know it's now almost the end of August -- but I think The Mole People would make a good choice for the next book for New Yorkests.
And it might be fodder for a weekend outing!
Nani points out one way the street finds its own use for things. Leave a pothole unattended for too long? Instant garbage can.
Yesterday morning, after grabbing a cup of joe at Cup of Joe's, I walked through McGolrick Park to find a bench to sit and read my many newspapers.
Along the way, I came across an area of the walkway roughly sealed off with police tape. The reason? A pothole in the asphalt. And stuck into the pothole, point down, was an orange utility cone.
I'll try to take a snapshot soon!
McCarren Park Pool
is one of north Brooklyn's bright spots. Opened in the mid-'30s, it's
one of but a handful of surviving pools in the New York area built by
the Works Progress Administration. Closed since the early '80s, the
pool has been the subject of several redevelopment proposals,
some of which have involved tearing down part or all of the edifice.
Despite its abandonment, the pool is an impressive structure and quite
beautiful in terms of decrepit urban infrastructure. And it's worth
saving.
Recently, the pool has become the epicenter of a cultural
renaissance of sorts. First, Noemie Lafrance staged her location-based
dance performance Agora. And this summer, the pool is hosting a number of parties featuring bands such as Les Savy Fav, Pretty Girls Make Graves, and the Walkmen.
To further that end, Pool Aid is organizing a video shoot at 6 p.m., Monday, July 31, to show the neighborhood and arts community's support for the pool. Members of Nada Surf, Wrens, the Redcoats Are Coming, Rana, Loser’s Lounge, Lovedown, Career Cub, Giraffes, Vibration, Boy Genius, Breakup Breakdown, Maplewood, Koester, Naked Highway, and other musical groups will help commemorate the 70th anniversary of the pool’s opening -- as well as call for community control of the pool.
I'm not sure using the pool's remains for rock concerts is the best sole use of the
complex, but I think the arts events could help foster some solid
mixed-use thinking. Regardless of whether it's economically feasible to
redo the pool as a pool, in part, a mix of arts -- music, theater,
mural art, urban sculpture -- and activities -- perhaps a skatepark,
expanded exercise and fitness trail, rock climbing wall -- could be
interesting and of benefit to all area residents.
A local cause to get involved in!
