We received these amazing old panoramic photos in our inbox yesterday (courtesy Forgotten-NY), taken by Patrick Cullinan in the '60s. The spot? Patrick writes: "In June of 1962, I went to the Williamsburg Bank Building and asked 'the guy' if I could go upstairs and take some pictures. He said OK. I think he escorted me. The whole thing was conducted in a relaxed atmosphere"... as opposed to today, when you have to sneak in. Enjoy the nearly half century journey back in time! more ›

The Brooklyn Flea scored some prime real estate for the winter season; NYMag reports that starting January 9th the market is moving into some nice warm digs at One Hanson Place, aka the Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower (last year they were in DUMBO). They note that the Fort Greene space is perfect for the Flea, and co-founder Eric Demby says, "It's a really amazing space that hasn't been open to the public for a really long time. I think it's one of the most beautiful and historic interior spaces in Brooklyn." They'll be operating there through March, with 100 vendors, including food vendors whose goods Demby hopes guests will be able to enjoy inside the vault. more ›

What once housed the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, a slew of dentist offices, and now luxury condos, will take on yet another purpose: wedding hall. The Brooklyn Paper reports that "the landmark ground floor of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank building will open in September as a sumptuous catering hall for weddings." Mmm sumptuous. They'll also host your bar mitzvahs, corporate Christmas party, or any other high-end special events. Prices start at $15,000 to book the beautiful space in Fort Greene, which will be called the Clocktower at One Hanson (despite being many floors below the clocktower); the booker called that figure "Brooklyn-sensitive pricing." more ›

Photographer Nathan Kensinger got inside the nooks of the landmark Williamsburgh Savings Bank recently. Brooklyn's Tallest (also known as One Hanson Place) is now home to luxury condos, of course, but Kensinger notes that "few have seen the interior of the bank since it was closed in 2005. Over the last four years, the building has been renovated into a luxury residential complex. Work is still not finished and many residential spaces remain empty, including Penthouse A, with its two private observation decks. Soon, though, the building will be completely filled and permanently closed to the public." more ›

Just after Apple turned sour on New York (and vice versa) over the city's green apple logo, Microsoft is primed to plug into the retail racket with their very own outlet. more ›

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A rendering of Brooklyn's proposed City Tech Tower, designed by Renzo Piano, at Tillary and and Jay Street sent some into speculation mode, especially since its height seemed to be up to 1,000 feet tall. Which would make just about twice the height of the 512-foot tall Williamsburgh Savings Bank, currently the tallest building the Brooklyn. However, the rendering of the building is apparently old. A representative at Forest City Ratner, the development company which... more ›

At long last, after more than a year suffering behind black netting, the four-faced clock and gilded dome of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank building are back in (almost) full view. But don't rely on it to tell time. The hands don't move yet! more ›

Central Park at night, by deenas at flickr more ›

Sin Sin's Body Work, by mdpNY. more ›

We're really digging Dalton Rooney's "Hello My Name Is.." project-- he's making these stickers of various Brooklyn landmarks, and then photographing them right in front of the landmarks. So deliciously meta! more ›

The City Planning Commission has spoken and says the Atlantic Yards Project should be reduced by 8%. This is only a "recommendation," but since the project's developer the Forest City Ratner had been considering a 6-8% downsizing, given all the public outcry, this seems like something the group may well do. Especially since the City Planning Commission "raved," the Post puts it, about the tallest skyscraper in the group, Frank Gehry's "Miss Brooklyn" structure that would be taller than the Williamsburgh Savings Bank in the Brooklyn skyline. Instead, the CPC asked that another tower's height be reduced so views the bank could still be seen. The CPC also asked that other buildings' heights be reduced, plus for another acre of open space to go to 8 acres total. more ›

-- And in an unfortunate segue: Happy Jewish new year! Shana tovah, everybody! more ›

The NY Times is reporting that Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner will cut the size of the project by 6-8%. How? By reducing the amount of market-rate housing. And also from the Times:

"[Ratner's company] Forest City is also considering reducing the height of the project’s tallest tower, which is known as Miss Brooklyn, to get it under the height of the borough’s tallest building, the nearby Williamsburgh Savings Bank tower, according to real estate executives."

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The Atlantic Yards Project's public meeting last night was packed with Brooklyn residents wanting to have their say. WNBC reported that hundreds of people were waiting outside the New York City College of Technology, since the auditorium was full, and inside, "the crowd became unruly, cheering wildly for their cause until security was called in to remove a few of the audience members." That sounds about right - and they had lots of signs for and against the project! About 300 people had signed up to speak, and since 3 minutes is allowed for each person, that would mean a public meeting that would go on for more than half a day. more ›

Yesterday at One Hanson Place - better known as the Williamsburgh Savings Bank - was a study in contrasts. more ›

- And speaking of commencement speaking celebrities, Mike Bloomberg yesterday told UChicago grads that "There is nothing — absolutely nothing — wrong with criticizing our government, on any topic, and challenging it to live up to the democratic ideals." Interesting. Unrelated, we hear that Hizzoner invited himself to speak yesterday and that UChicago administrators simply didn't know how to say no. more ›

Love the Williamsburgh Savings Bank but don't think you can afford the condos (thanks, conversion!)? Well, you're in luck, because for the next eight days, someone on eBay is auctioning a cool "Williamsburg Brooklyn Ceramic Savings Bank "!

his item up for bid is a 7" high ceramic piggy bank depicting the bank, a really fantastic item. Slot for coins, twist-off reservoir, brass attachment for chained pen (not included). This bank is circa 1960's, and in addition to the "Williamsburgh Savings Bank" writing, "Tower of Strength" and "Central Office Tower" appear on different sides of the base.

If you missed Sunday's tour of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank in Fort Greene, you are shit out of luck. The building is being converted to condos, and it's going to be off-limits for awhile. The best we can do is offer these photo sets by Triborough and JayKayEss. The interiors are the real visual treat, but the view from the roof is also worth checking out-- particularly the shots showing the blocks being knocked down for the Atlantic Yards redevelopment. [Related: a couple of previous Gothamist posts with lots of WSB links.] more ›

Another dispatch from the center of the world's most overblown real estate bubble: apartments in the soon-to-be-converted Williamsburgh Savings Bank building are going for up to THREE MILLION DOLLARS. What do you get for that price? A fairly long elevator ride and a great view of the north wall of Bruce Ratner's new Nets Stadium project. Hot! As if that news wasn't upsetting enough, the New York Post is reporting that beautiful lobby of the bank is going to be converted into a BORDERS BOOK STORE. If you want to see the building before it falls to the rampaging forces of redevelopment, Amy says you can take a tour on May 7th for $25. more ›

- New Yorkers for Parks continue to give away free daffodils tomorrow. more ›

The Skyscraper Museum asked one hundred architects, brokers, builders, critics, developers, engineers, historians, lawyers, officials, owners, planners and scholars what their ten favorite NYC skyscrapers were from a list of buildings (which did not include the World Trade Center). The NY Times looks at the results, which are a great shorthand of the must-sees in the city. The top ten are Chrysler Building (with the most votes), Seagram, Flatiron, Woolworth, Empire State, Lever House, RCA, McGraw-Hill, U.N. Secretariat, and CBS. Reporter David Dunlap notes the Chrysler Building's "ebullient eccentricity" as being the best at "expressing New York's cloud-piercing ambitions" and calls the runner-up, the Seagram Building, the Chrysler's "anthithesis" as the Seagram is "cool, tranquil, rectangular and restrained." more ›

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What cause could bring together such diverse names as Sidney "Sonny" Hertzberg and World B. Free, not to mention make Marty Markowitz talk about crying? Bringing the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn, of course. more ›