Learning Places Spring 2017

SITE REPORT

SVETLANA BELOPUKHOVA

3.1.2017

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INTRODUCTION

Our goal was to visit Farragut Houses & DUMBO/VH and investigate questions

and hypnotizes that emerged from your first site visit.

PRE-VISIT REFLECTION

I looked forward to understanding such a difference between Dumbo and

Farragut Housing VH. I wanted to know what can help to bring some changes

into the community and improve public housing project. Also, I wanted to

explore what was done in the past to prove the living at FH

.SITE DOCUMENTATION I: MAP OF AREA OF INVESTIGATION

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SITE DOCUMENTATION II:

1. This image from the corner of York St and Gold St showed significant

light up open spaces and wide streets. Bus stops, parking and

separated bike lines available right next to public houses.

2. The sketch of the Commodore Barry Park shows the significant

emptiness of the playground.

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3. The photographs show the empty playgrounds and parks and Dead

gardens in the neighborhood of FH.

SITE OBSERVATIONS:

1. A lot of children community centers, schools and kids clubs at FH

neighborhood.

2. Good transportation (buses walking distance and subway 1 block away)

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3. Open door Church on the Nassau St next to FH community

4. Beautiful mural on Navy St and York St brings more life to the neighborhood

5. The active community garden on York St and Gold St.

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6. Dumbo is a busy area with industrial loft, commercial building, and new

residential buildings. (Photo was taken on the corner of Front St and Jay St).

QUANTITATIVE DATA:

Subject Data

Bus stops around FH 9

City Bike station around

FH 3

Public park with

playground next to FH 2

QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESIS:

QUESTIONS:

1. What changes done to improve the community life?

2. What else can be done to bring the community together?

3. Why parks and playground are empty in FH neighborhood?

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HYPOTHESIS:

1. Public gardens and parks playgrounds, children centers. Security

cameras for the Farragut Houses.

2. Remove the railing around all buildings and Make the private space

around every FH building as Public Park and bring there some activity

(excluding park with concrete playground). The bordered space around of

each building represents the Visibility of beauty but people can’t access

some space easily. All they can do is just to walk from the building to the

main streets. It guides you to move away from the building not to stop and

seat next to it.

Also, promotion of VH (like a Dumbo area) by opening new commercial

spaces can help to mix up the community with different interest and bring

some new ideas and tourists.

3. A) Poor design of parks. The concrete ground is the waist of space. It

doesn’t allow people do much and enjoy the landscape and

environment. 3. B) People have different interests.

SUMMARY / POST VISIT REFLECTION / NEXT STEP?

There is a Disparity between residents of Farragut Houses and Dumbo’s lofty

condominiums. I would like to find more information on the history of vinegar hill.

How the boarder effected the neighborhood and what projects was done to

improve the living.

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PRELIMINARY REFERENCES TO EXPLORE HYPOTHESES:

1. Alexandra Leon . “York St. Turnstiles, Farragut Houses Security

Cameras Vying for City Funds”. DNAinfo. March 23, 2016 2:36pm. Web.

https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160323/fort-greene/york-st-turnstiles-

farragut-houses-security-cameras-vying-for-city-funds

2. SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM. “Life of poverty and fear in Brooklyn housing

project for those in in shadow of wealth”. DAILY NEWS. Sunday, February 27,

2011, 4:00 AM. Web.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/life-poverty-fear-brooklyn-housing-

project-shadow-wealth-article-1.136773

3. KATE TAYLOR. 2 Brooklyn Schools in Gentrifying Area Will Get New

Zones”. JAN. 6, 2016.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/06/nyregion/2-brooklyn-schools-will-get-

new-zones.html?_r=0

4. Yasmeen Khan. “Longtime residents witness Brooklyn waterfront’s

changing fortune”. WNYC. Nov 3, 2015. Web

http://www.wnyc.org/story/community-s-watched-change-unfold-along-

brooklyn-waterfront/

5. NYC Oasis. Zoning information.

http://www.oasisnyc.net/map.aspx

6. KEITH WILLIAMS. Promised a Supermarket Five Years Ago, a

Housing Project Is Still Waiting. New York Times. APRIL 17, 2015

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/nyregion/promised-a-

supermarket-five-years-ago-a-housing-project-is-still-waiting.html

7. Brownstones daily. 68 Jay St, Brooklyn, NY 11201

http://www.brownstoner.com

8. Forgotten New York. “FLUSHING AVENUE, 2014”. Web

http://forgotten-ny.com/2014/02/flushing-avenue-2014/