For years we've been discussing the fate of the Brooklyn Navy Yard's beloved 19th-century houses that make up Admiral's Row. Our own Jake Dobkin even risked life and limb to get inside and document the houses in their beautiful decay, as the city talked of plans for leveling them. Despite protests to salvage the Row, it looks like its destiny is destruction, and this Monday nine of the eleven structures will be cleared, with two—the Timber Shed and Quarters B—being restored "for daily use," according to the NY Times. These have now been "transferred by the federal government to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, which manages the old 300-acre yard, now an industrial park of 275 businesses." more ›

About a month after Coney Island buffs called attention to the significance of this 19th century building, the city began demolishing it this week. The small structure sits on property that used to be Astroland Park, but long before that it was the kitchen for Charles Feltman's popular restaurant. Feltman (1841-1910), a German butcher who's credited with the idea of selling pork sausages on a warm bun, popularized the hot dog, and one of his employees was none other than Nathan Handwerker, who slept on the kitchen floor before going onto start Nathan's Famous! But all we are is crumbs in the wind, and the city is tearing it down as part of a major redo of the amusement district. Also lost to the wrecking ball is this mural, painted on one wall by artist Rita Ackermann in 2004. [Via Curbed/Coney Island Message Board] more ›

In the battle between the West and East Coast cities, Los Angeles may just beat New York... at least on film. Remember when they blew up the Brooklyn Bridge? New Yorkers did not like that. more ›

Seems like just yesterday that Billy Joel was planning the ultimate farewell to Shea Stadium, and now, less than two months before baseball season starts up again, Shea is gone. Get some Kleenex Mets fans (you should be used to carrying them around) and take one last look at your team's old home as it gets reduced to rubble, like so many Pennant dreams. Time of death (as recorded by the NY Times): Wednesday, February 18th, 11:21 a.m. more ›

The bloggers over at the Hotel Chelsea have been keeping an eye on the new management of their ever-changing home, and most recently noted some falsified DOB construction permits obtained "in a move designed to sidestep requirement for certificate of non-harassment." more ›

It didn't even take one month for the public to put an end to the wooden girl in Greenpoint. To recap: a street artist put up the piece as a birthday present for his girlfriend, who had moved to Connecticut and was pining for her old neighborhood. Friends and strangers alike were encouraged to pose with the painted lady; the photo project can be found here. more ›

The series of residential structures lining Flushing Ave. in Brooklyn are historic treasures, but they are a little the worse for wear and some legislators can't wait to tear them down. Officers' Row, or Admirals' Row, is a feature at the Brooklyn Navy Yard that has admittedly fallen into sad disrepair, but nonetheless has a rich history linking New York harbor to the naval industry that was a cornerstone of building the United States as an international power. more ›