DUMBO

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Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass

Age ain’t nothing but a number. Not that simple! It represents the passage of time. The forward movement of our conscious existence through space. A progression encompassing transitions, births, growth, deaths, and changes.

Some changes are welcomed. Others, not so much. That I had the privilege to observe changes discussed in this article has been a rewarding experience. Documenting a community’s dramatic transformation over a forty-year time span. Every moment of each day in the neighborhood was a lesson on reflection, empathy, and shared humanity that has rewarded the soul.

When meditating on a neighborhood’s name like DUMBO,1 what sort of images come to mind? Scrappy? Clumsy? Calamitous? Dirty?

Anecdotally told, the acronym was bestowed in the late 1970s as a deterrent to redevelopment and gentrification. It wasn’t a desirable neighborhood by any stretch of the imagination when officially named. This American industrialized revolution’s time had come and gone.

The transformation of the neighborhood wasn’t an isolated happenstance. Zoning laws were changing for most neighborhoods up and down the East River’s waterfront. Not many home buyers are able to resist the allure of unobstructed riverfront views.

↑ Desirability is a subjective trait. Favoring or not, the appeal of a person, place or thing. The name DUMBO as a neighborhood didn’t discourage gentrification for long, its appeal as the place to live kept growing at a fever pitch.

Over the last two decades, these neighborhoods from north to south along the East River, from Queens through Brooklyn, have been dramatically redeveloped from industrial into residential.

• Astoria, Queens

• Long Island City, Queens

• Greenpoint, Brooklyn

• Williamsburg, Brooklyn

• Brooklyn Navy Yard

• Downtown, Brooklyn

• DUMBO, Brooklyn

• Brooklyn Heights (waterfront)

• Columbia Street Waterfront, Brooklyn

• Red Hook, Brooklyn

• Sunset Park, Brooklyn

↑ Compared to other Brooklyn neighborhoods, DUMBO’s quite small, 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km). It packs quite a punch for its size, being one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Ranking second behind its near neighbor, Brooklyn Heights.

↑ The most famous street in the neighborhood, now a pedestrian only walkway. It’s interesting how this iconic view could be the catalyst for the neighborhood’s astronomical rise in popularity with tourists and home buyers. Perhaps, the poster for the movie Once Upon A Time in America had some bearing on it as well.

Have a look at the countless amount of pictures taken from this spot. Selfies, wedding proposals, photo shoots, night time, day time. Mind-boggling.

The Business Improvement District lists more than 70 films that have been filmed in DUMBO. They’ve taken some liberties with neighborhood boundaries in compiling the list. For instance, the neighborhood doesn’t encompass Brooklyn Bridge Park (located on the south side of the Brooklyn Bridge). They’ve included it in the listing anyway.

↑ Before being bestowed with the DUMBO acronym, the area was part of Vinegar Hill.2 Bridge Street is the dividing line between the separated neighborhoods.

↑ Reverse view as seen from Two World Trade Center’s south tower from 1999. The yellow star in the photograph marks the spot on John Street where it was taken. Piers 1, 2 & 3 (partial) to the right of the Brooklyn Bridge, before redevelopment to Brooklyn Bridge Park.

↑ This view is taken from the north side of the Manhattan Bridge, looking a few degrees north of east. The gutted building in the foreground was razed and replaced. One John Street, a condominium building was constructed in the near foreground lot.

↑ One John Street. This is that condominium. The penthouse apartment is listed at USD $9.1 million.

In DUMBO!

Artists in DUMBO replicated in the 70s that which happened to SoHo Manhattan in the 60s. Moving into loft spaces of vacant warehouses on the down-low.

• Decrepit warehouse conditions

• Artists needing loft spaces they can get on the cheap (or free) move in

• Developers cultivate interest in redevelopment of the area

• Redevelopment takes place

• Artist get pushed to the margins due to lease costs

• Galleries move in

• Neighborhood gentrifies

• Tourism flourishes

• Condos and sky-high rental prices create one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Brooklyn

• Artists look for new loft spaces in other neighborhoods

• Cycle repeats

↓ Having thereafter been established as an artist and gallery enclave on Brooklyn’s waterfront in the early 2000s, powerHouse Books produced the inaugural New York Photo Festival in May 2008. If it could take place anywhere in Brooklyn, DUMBO was next on the list to entertain it. Proximity to Manhattan with convenient subway access being a major reason. Just four quick station stops on the F-Train from SoHo.

↑ Along with the development of Brooklyn Bridge Park on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge, Jane’s Carousel opens for business at Fulton Ferry Landing. A restored 1922 carousel. Enclosed in a glass pavilion for year-round operations.

↓ Carousel detail: Originally built for Idora Amusement Park, Youngstown OH.

↑ Though it took two-plus decades, for reasons I can’t answer at this time, I returned to this Bridge Street building for a “then & now” comparison. It’s still there. In the same condition as was in 1987, 2012 and today (Street View). For reference, the camera’s pointed east.

↑ Unless a neighborhood is completely razed in one fell-swoop, the underlying core of the neighborhood will most likely remain at its surface level. The architectural design language doesn’t change if the facade of a warehouse isn’t covered or drastically altered.

Radio Row was demolished to make way for the World Trade Center. Seneca Village was demolished to make way for Central Park. Do you know of either, or both?

As is my usual, this was a lengthy article. In this instance, I didn’t want to cut it short for the sake of making it easier (simpler) to digest.

↑ In just under a month from now, we’ll be honoring the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. The towers of the World Trade Center has always been a beacon and icon of the city. I’ve cataloged it from many locations throughout the city. Here, a few views from DUMBO.

As with a lot of photographs I’ve taken, they’re often great visual references. Confirming timeframes of the myriad of spaces I’ve been. Helping to recall those forgotten places more vividly, and noticing previously unnoticed things.

As I always confess, I don’t claim to being a certified historian or tour guide. Just someone with an interest in watching how life plays out in front of me, and making sense of it over the course of a lifetime.

I hope this journey was eye-opening or insightful. I humbly appreciate the time you took in your day to read.

↓ More on the Brooklyn waterfront ↓

Wishing you love until next time…

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