facsimile- noun- an exact copy
“The statue of liberty…. where it stood squat and compressed as I drove past, a facsimile in incremental scale.” (David L. Ulin, Walk with Me)
In this part of the article david L. Ulin was talking about how the statue of liberty is an exact copy of itself no matter where he views it from as he drives past.
Gloaming- noun – twilight, dust
“In the gloaming, the three boiler towers rise from a field of mirrors….” (David L. Ulin, Walk with Me)
I had no idea what the word meant at all. But thanks to the definition i know that these three boiler towers were seen at twilight, perhaps between night and morning or day and night.
The fact that more and more people move to Brooklyn every day. with that comes over populated Brooklyn is well known for being overpopulated . Now with that being said with the overpopulation their is a housing shortage less people have housing or can afford to stay in their neighborhoods. their is always construction going up replacing the old with new so where do we place the old that was once their and why cant it stay and we just modify it to look as much like the newer ones. Every construction that I have seen taking place has always been some form of condo type building, or either coop style why cant we take the buildings that’s in our neighborhood and turn those into adorable housing like the ones that are on 287 Ashland place two construction going on at the same time one is of a condo building and the other is of an affordable housing which these two overlap in the same space two new things one representing something else and the other representing another. The fact that less affordable housing is available and more non affordable is not fair to those who live in those communities.
As I walk through different neighborhoods theirs always some form of construction going on due to the fact that NY is one of the most fascinating places to live in and the city does not have enough housing for those who cannot afford it .Is gentrification of a neighborhood beneficial I would say in a way it s not important I figure if we must improve our neighborhood we should not take out the old and replace it with new, not all the time it is better for us because once you decide to replace the things that is in the neighborhood with new apartments everything else around you going to want to change also just because of the fact that they want to attract the same people as the other place are. So with new developments of condos in the neighborhood comes different races of people , with that comes higher rent for those who decide that they want to pay for all the amenities that this new building has to offer rather than staying in a building that was their before with less amenities or lower rent . What about those who can not afford this what do they do where do they go. do we just replace them with the new people and forget about them what about the mom and pop shops that was already their do we replace that with something better . What do we do when their is so much housing shortages in NY.
Do we leave NY period a city were their is constant gentrification. Up rooting you and removing you from your neighborhood and replacing you with new. Brooklyn is an awesome place to live but it is so overly populated their is so much to do here but so less affordable housing for people to choose from .so many different people many things being replaced according to Colson White head “one day the city we built will be gone and when it goes we go.”
The housing shortage in NY is such a big problem that maybe their will be no more affordable and that affordable housing will be replaced by all new buildings. The new removing the old the “according to white head “its hard to imagine that something will take their place but at this very moment the people with the right credentials are considering how to fill the carters. when I compare the two buildings at 287 Ashland place both construction being done simultaneously with both they are brand new one is attracting a different group of people while the other is attracting another group of people ,even though the neighborhood consists of so many types of people from various backgrounds can everyone really afford the rent of these new buildings our neighborhoods. New buildings new shops higher rent replacing old shops and old homes the cost of living goes up . The neighborhoods are always changing could change be a good thing or could change be a good thing or a bad thing .I think all things have their pros and cons to it gentrification can have its good sides and bas sides. But with gentrification do we remove everything that is old and replace everything with new or is some things worth keeping . I think the neighborhood at 287 Ashland place is going through a lot of gentrification that the affordable housing will be overshadowed by the new condo being done its right across the street from the Brooklyn Academy of music so many people would love to be in walking distance of their school to be a shopping district in the heart of downtown Brooklyn close to all of the trains yes this would be a great place to stay but would we be able to afford to stay in an area like this can we afford this is this due to gentrifying of an area .
is this still your neighborhood or is it something that once was too you can you still remember what was once their. “White head said that naturally we will cast a wary eye towards the new kids on the block, but lets be patient and not judge too quickly . We once was new also so don’t be surprised when their is construction going up in your neighborhood how would you feel if they don’t even try to include you. Do we even care about the housing shortage in NY Is their something we can do to fix this problem in this wonderful city.
works cited Colson White head .” City Limits”
I came from a country that has no trains. Therefore, I always wondered what it’s like to see a train for the first time; as a teenager going over The Manhattan Bridge. Would the train be blue or green? Would I ride the train just starring through the window admiring the view? Or would I just be looking at the train as it pulled into the train station.
The first time I fell in love with trains is when I visited The Manhattan Bridge. The view was amazing and the trains passing by was even better. I was in Dumbo for the first time located at Washington Street and Water Street. However, I noticed the overlapping immediately. People were in the street taking pictures, admiring the location, families passing by with laughter. Two wedded couples waiting for the train to complete the bridge to take pictures that they may reflect on in the next 30 years. Nevertheless, in front of me the street was busy, it was a Friday night around 7:00pm. Cars are busy rushing to get by on its narrow street. Some people are also in a hurry to get to their destination. A few minutes afterwards, a screeching sound is approaching as I get totally excited. I immediately turned around to see the train on The Manhattan Bridge. As this shiny long snake like silver train pass by. Just as that occurred a quote from Charles McGrath in the passage, “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport,” came into existence. It states, “…it would take him through parts of the city that most people never noticed while driving in a car: an experience that Mr. Self…believes has imposed a “windscreen- based virtuality” …” I could relate to this because as I stood admiring the peaceful atmosphere, while the people in the cars limited their opportunities to capture the beautiful experience because they could not focus on it. They had to focus on the traffic ahead.
Then the experience changed as I rode the shiny long snake like silver train; well that’s what I thought. I took the C train to West 4th and caught the B train. In the process of waiting to be enlightened, I sat down and began to observe. It was a long day after work and school. People are on the train sleeping, listening to music, some are standing, reading the paper or a magazine; and some people are starring at each other and having a conversation. As I began to wonder if I boarded the correct train. Instantly, the train went over the bridge it was the most splendid thing I’ve ever seen. I began smiling so wide my cheeks hurt and I became Joker’s sister. I saw the most fascinating graffiti in shades of black, green, white, blue, and yellow. The most appealing buildings, in red, brown, and blue but the most beautiful one was the glass building. As the sun reflected on it. Down below were the most stunning lights. The view was like viewing New York City in an airplane when it’s about to land. I saw the magnificent blue waters with its rippling effect as the train go across The Manhattan Bridge. The boats cruised across the water as the clouds looked violet. The sun began to set as the sun was about to take a big splash as it stopped to wave good-bye as the train kept moving forward. As I was rudely interrupted by the cyclist speeding across the bridge. I said to myself, I would not be able to walk across the bridge because my knees will be buckled to one spot. The train kept moving quickly and my eyes quickly try to locate things. Cars waiting in traffic with beaming scarlet red lights, as they moved like snails. The train began to slow down, as I looked through the other window the Q train was directly across. I felt at peace, although I wish the ride was longer, so my eyes could capture more moments. As I heard, “this is DeKalb Ave transfer for the Q, R, D, and N train.” Still in the moment I heard a whisper in my ear from McGrath saying, “The city is flowing out to embrace us…” A connection was made because a train ride connected me with my surroundings and a capturing moment I’ll never forget.
Some similarities of being on the bridge and in Dumbo are: the peaceful atmosphere, the busy streets, and busy people. The atmosphere was peaceful which clears your mind and gives you a scene of peace. The busy streets showing determination, and the busy people showing independence. Some differences are the water, and the sunset. The water represents cleanliness, life and freedom because of its open space and its constant movement. Finally, the sunset which means we have come to the end of our day where we can take a break of life’s beauty and mystery.
Therefore, encountering the trains for the first time as a teenager was such a beautiful experience. From the viewing of the shiny long snake like silver train, to the day’s graceful sunset. Acknowledging that the world or even the city you may live has great activities and discoveries waiting for you to explore them. Despite of its overlapping, these activities and discoveries are waiting for you to enjoy it and the happiness it may bring to you.
Work Site:
In class on Wednesday, we talked about the various ways we let ourselves go off-course when we walk to or from City Tech from the various modes of transportation that get us nearby. We also talked about thinking of how technology can alter the experience.
To generate ideas about digital tools that can be helpful to alter, improve, or shape the walking experience, look for a walking app or mapping app and consider some tools it provides that we might want in our imagined tool.
In a comment on this post, include the name of the app, a link to what you read about it, and a brief description of some element of it or tool it provides that would be beneficial to our imagined tool. How would you imagine using that tool?
For example, I found an app that uses a smartphone’s camera to help identify tree species. Leafsnap lets users take photos of leaves and uses facial recognition software to identify the tree based on leaf-shape characteristics. The nature enthusiast in me wants to take a walk in a park and figure out what trees line the path of my walk.
In the time of developing what each individual considers to be their New York, you realize changes are happening everyday in everyone’s communities and that it won’t be the same as it once was. This is because you lose those places that were once in the community which no longer remains. You realize that in some cases memories of that area begin to fade as well. New York continuously improves communities to fit the ideal society, by changing the way things were such as stores which turn into something newer or maybe a more popular store. The downside to making this change is that while building one thing to replace another they’re destroying history for the people who lived during that time and hold memories. For example, Downtown Brooklyn on Dekalb Avenue there used to be The Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn that was opened from 1958 to 2002. Which had an ancient sculpted look, is currently under construction to become apartments. The Dime Saving Bank turning into apartments is a juxtaposition in the sense that something that was once a public area will now shift to a private one.
The Dime Savings Bank is a good example to show the changes to Dekalb Avenue that was an attraction to the people that lived during the time frame which it was opened for because it was once a place where anyone could enter but now will change to individuals home. It will no longer be the Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn but just another apartment near Fulton Mall, which is around the corner from the bank holds a sense of sadness. The people who lived during the time period and entered the Dime Savings Bank will not be able to recognize the area due to the construction it will undergo to become apartments which are separated instead of being a whole piece as a bank. Although the changes have yet to occur, the setting with the bank was an individual’s New York and throughout the changes, they’ll see pieces of it. To know that you can not share that experience with others because they didn’t have the opportunity to see the setting the way you did will leave many individuals feeling nostalgic because they’ll miss the feeling they had at that very place. According to Colson Whitehead’s “City Limits”, “ if you didn’t witness it, it is not a part of your New York and might as well be Jersey”. This quote connects to the thought that it’s only your New York if you were given the opportunity to live through and experience it yourself. In addition, he stated, “ The New York City you live in is not my New York City”. To acknowledge the moment you step foot anywhere you create and form your own judgment based on what you see so everyone’s view of New York is different.
The Dime Savings Bank is something interesting because there are construction signs around it but the ancient look on the outside holds the sense of history. Looking through the door you can see the beautiful (although looking old) tiled floor. Right next door to the building is “Junior’s Cheesecake” because Junior’s Cheesecake is known as one of the best cheesecake restaurants, it seemed that they would change the bank into something more modern than to have an ancient sculptured building right next to the restaurant. Research came up to find it was turning into apartments, the feeling of history going to fade away because many didn’t get to have an experience of the Dime Savings Bank. Now it will be another piece of history that will have overlapped.
Overlapping in general causes a problem for both, the people who experienced it beforehand and those who see it after. It’s a lose-lose situation although you may like the new changes there’s the sense that a lot of the meanings starts to diminish. In addition to overlapping you see the juxtaposition of where each area or store is transitioning from history to modern day life. The Dime Savings Bank being under construction will mean the whole broken down strip on Dekalb ave will soon be under construction as well to blend in. Overlapping will never stop occurring, every day there is something new and different than what was there the day before. This means that soon enough, days, months, etc, there will be something else in the place that holds a memory for you. While living during a time of change and witnessing it, people who did not have that privilege will realize that juxtapositions are hard to find and soon realize that there is so much more to it than just being the neighborhood. It’s your neighborhood, it’s where you made memories and then it will affect you because you’ll realize that things are constantly changing but you will still see what you saw in the beginning. You will still see your home and your park even though it turned into a store. Many of the changes that occur in a neighborhood, benefit the people of the neighborhood but it doesn’t stop or cover the feeling of missing what was there before now. New York has this image and sense of always updating certain places. Thus hiding what was there before and changing up an area for each and every person who goes around that area. Overlapping is just about everywhere but to find it would be hard because there usually isn’t any recognition of what was there before, it could’ve just been a corner store but that was someone’s favorite spot.
Work cited
Colson Whitehead. “ City Limits.” Macaulay.cuny.edu, www.macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/miller14/files/2014/09/Whitehead-Colossus-of-NY.pdf
Evan Bindelglass. “ Landmark Approves Changes To Dime Savings Bank, Paving Way For Brooklyn’s Tallest Tower At 340 Flatbush Avenue Extension.” Newyorkimby.com, www.newyorkyimby.com/2016/04/landmarks-approves-changes-to-dime-savings-bank-paving-way-for-brooklyns-tallest-tower-at-340-flatbush-avenue-extension.html
In class, we’ll reflect on Project #3 by 1-each reviewing your work using the ENG 1101/1121 Grading Rubric, and then 2- by writing a cover letter for the work you posted on our site.
In your cover letter, please reflect on your process and write about the following (in any order you wish):
My comments to you will again come in the form of a letter in response to your cover letter, so it is helpful to me to read about how you work and what you think of your work.
New York is known for being the city that never sleeps. There are multiple tall building where these buildings are beautiful, and even have bright lights surrounding them.It’s hard to bare the fact that you are actually in New York. Most people see New York for it being similar to Time Square but it’s not. In New York there’s diversity. What usually happens is that people with higher power have the power to build building to an extend where overlapping and gentrification occurs. Certain areas are made to look nicer or even to show the wealth that has been put. In all cases it starts with the little businesses and once it has outgrow, that place will be turned into an expensive property in which the prices will increase. With the property that was bought many properties will be brought around the area.Juxtaposition can be a positive or a negative impact based on the location. In most cases overlapping can be a negative side just for the fact that it can lead to gentrification and having other building being built for other people’s needs.
The walk near by the school wasn’t very far. Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs that wealthy people are actually moving in. So what is happening is that there’s overlapping in the neighborhoods that are in poverty. Where these wealthy people are making it look better then it was before. If somebody doesn’t really know what overlapping is, it’s when there’s and extend over so as to cover partly. The hotel of Hampton Inn is a good example of overlapping. That area was a project that was in mind for a while and the people who decided to built it took a while to actually built the hotel. If people where to see the area and the walk you will see that there are still old buildings that are still surrounding the neighborhood. The hotel was finally built in 2014.It was a long process for this hotel. The fact that there were hotels and other important building before the Hampton Inn shows that the process to getting the hotel took a while.
The juxtaposition of the hotel is that the architecture it different compared to the building connected to it on the left side .Based on the architecture the material of the hotel is actual pricey compared to the building that is connected to it which is built from brick. As well it’s an overlap, the fact that it’s actually pushing the brick building that it’s connected to away which makes it an overlap. Probably later on that building that it is connected to it will be apart of the hotel. Reason why is because the building doesn’t look like it’s taken care of. So since the hotel isn’t as big as most hotels the people who own the hotel may think to buy the building that is connecting to the hotel just to create more space and get more people in the hotel. In which the building connecting the hotel was actually removed and build to be apart of the hotel. So from the start the owners of the hotel planned, to take that space all along no matter what. Which can lead to gentrification because if the building next to it was a building of a company of where families stood then the other part of that building was cut off and built into a hotel. So the hotel owner decided that it will be best to fit that hotel and make whomever was staying there move out. Either way the building next to it wasn’t doing great business anyways.
Hotels such as the Hampton Inn in Downtown Brooklyn are usually overlapping others. Based on an article “How Gentrification Powers New York City’s Tourism Industry” a good point that stands out to the fact hotels being a project where a lot of expenses are put in which states” Since then, the hotel has seen its clientele switch over from international visitors to domestic as currency values have made it more expensive to visit New York”. What this gives is that with Manhattan being the craziest borough it’s also where a lot of action occurs. As well of New York being the city that never sleeps, owners want to be able to build hotels so that outsiders can enjoy the experience and also spend money. With that can connect back to how in all areas there has been overlapping. Which can conclude to Manhattan looking the way it looks because of overlapping. Another piece of information from the same article is that “I think there’s people who think of New York City as a separate entity from the U.S., because it’s very different here than the rest of the country,” which is a true fact for many reasons. A reason as to why it’s a big deal is that people are being pushed out of there homes for theses hotels to be built. With the hotel next to City Tech the building that was connected to it was something before the hotel was built. Now that the hotel is built what ever was there before doesn’t matter so in most cases everything in New York has been overlapped either for the good or bad.
In conclusion overlapping in New York can be a positive or a negative cause. With the hotel nearby the school the overlap on the hotel was half and half on being positive and half on being negative. With juxtaposition it isn’t all there do to the cause and effect it can create in neighborhoods. Many of neighborhoods have been sacrificed to make a better neighborhood where in all situations it’s for other people. Furthermore juxtaposition can also have a good cause into making neighborhoods better for people who live there and want a better environment.
Work Cited
Hylton, Ondel. “First Look at 22-Story Expansion of Downtown Brooklyn’s Hampton Inn Hotel.”6sqft, 6 Aug. 2015, www.6sqft.com/first-look-at-22-story-expansion-of-downtown-brooklyns-hampton-inn-hotel/.
Shievachman, Andrew. “How Gentrification Powers New York City’s Tourism Industry.” Travel News, Airline Industry News, & Hotel Industry News by Skift, skift.com/new-york-city-tourism-and-gentrification/.
Even though the address hasn’t changed and the facade is the same, occupation in the forged warehouse present day in DUMBO that was once a job and a storage building is now turned into a co-op, in Brooklyn Heights. Shares a progressive quality with the evolution of down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass. The first time I encountered this overlap was when I took a walk around the area in between a classes.
First I walked to Tillary Street and walked up to Cadman Plaza E walking past the US post office and the U.S Bankruptcy Court-East District of NY. Walt Whitman Park and the nice green turf where the Brooklyn war memorial is located along the path. You will then see the Brooklyn Bridge and continue walking to up Washington Street and make a left onto Front Street. Then you can continue to walk up straight about 3 blocks until you get to Old Fulton street. The Eagle Warehouse and Storage Company is across the street from Julian’s pizza and Grimaldi’s pizza. It’s on 28 Old Fulton Street where the location was originally home to the newspaper The Brooklyn Daily Eagle edited by Walt Whitman, a journalist and poet.
Its similar too many warehouse’s built in late 1800s, they were transformed by new technology in 1900s and are still historic buildings of NYC. From 1841 to 1955 was the year the Brooklyn Daily Eagle was open. It was after a few years it was designated as an official landmark by New York City’s Landmark Preservation Commission. That’s according to $1.5M Brooklyn Heights Triplex in Landmarked Eagle Warehouse Gets a Modern Update by Stephanie Hoina from City Realty. The industrial architecture that overlooks the designated location on old Fulton Street, which stayed preserved over its existing years deserved to evolve into a huge place to live and rent space just like the other landmarks in Dumbo or the Brooklyn heights area.
The Eagle Warehouse & Storage Company later purchased it and in 1980 it was converted to unit co-ops. Similar to where they transformed many old buildings into expensive condominiums remaking and taking from the art and persevering of old Dumbo. The interface is now that the printing machines, the offices and the enormous storage space or its employees that come and go to work everyday no longer occupy the building. Its no longer there its now big residences that people live in .Those living there see their home and interior decorations, while its still a big storage warehouse just its now the new eagle building with homeowners walking in and out of the building to go to work or go for a walk. According to the reading by Colon Whitehead in “City Limits” from The Colossus of New York on page 2 in the fourth paragraph his example inserts the idea of a new connotation for the warehouse, which creates an interface. “The man who just paid for a trip to Jamaica sees none of that, sees his romantic getaway, his family vacation, what this little shop on this little street has granted him”(Whitehead). I choose that as the example because Whitehead introduces his reasoning on what people used to see when they were in their old neighborhood, what once remained there versus what they see now has disappeared but its structure is still there.
I picked this landmark as my juxtaposition because of its effect that it has on Old Fulton Street. The tourist or someone strolling by the warehouse can look at the building and stop to read the plaque of Walt Whitman on the side where it says Eagle on the arch of the entrance and the plaque of The Eagle Warehouse is alongside it. I believe those plaques seem to represent the essence of the landmark and without them you wouldn’t recognize the warehouse as The Brooklyn Eagle newspaper or a huge building for private homes. Imagine if you were driving by it, it wouldn’t make you take a second look because your eyes seen a warehouse and you read the words Eagle Warehouse & Storage CO. According to Charles McGrath in the reading a Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport Will Self believes while driving in a car can limit the experience of travel in the City streets. “What recommended it was that it would take him through parts of the city that most people never notice while driving in a car: and experience that Mr. Self, a student of psycho-geography, believes has imposed a “widescreen-based virtuality ” on travel, cutting us off from experiencing our own topography.” Where in some situations it can because we usually are in the passenger seat or the backseat on the phone or with our head facing another direction for a second and missed a street or a store. Even while an individual is driving their attention is focused on the road and not off road as much. In some cases when looking for directions the map app gives the option of transit, walking, or drive. It includes the fastest route and the route with the tolls or avoiding highways all together. Of course walking usually has the lengthiest time and may not be the safest way to get to the destination but the scenery that you encounter taking that walk can be amazing. Many overlaps have been created in Dumbo and they fit in this area creating their own city within a little city.
McGrath, Charles. “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport.” The New York Times, December 6, 2006.
Whitehead, Colson. “City Limits.” The Colossus of New York: A City in Thirteen Parts. New York: Random House, 2004. 1-12. Shared Google Doc.
Hoina, Stephanie. “$1.5M Brooklyn Heights Triplex in Landmarked Eagle Warehouse Gets a Modern Update.” 6sqft, 16 Sept. 2014, www.6sqft.com/1-5m-brooklyn-heights-triplex-in-landmarked-eagle-warehouse-gets-a-modern-update/.
The OpenLab is an open-source, digital platform designed to support teaching and learning at City Tech (New York City College of Technology), and to promote student and faculty engagement in the intellectual and social life of the college community.
