Studio Site Interview 4/27

Interviews

#1 Woman, 58 years old (had keys right next to my site)

• "Something o bring new and old residents together" - "A library. I find myself making so many trips to strand" (laughs).
• Approved the idea of a library / green house.

#2 Group of 14 years old

• After a concise decision would like to see a recreational park for hanging out and their parents not thinking they're up to no good
• Liked my idea, but I had the impression they would not be using it.

#3 Luciano, Italian resident of the area

• Wants ice cream / yogurt places / "A cafe shop where you could get a variety of pastries and desserts and just hang out with family".
• Did not think the area necessarily needed a greenhouse space. He suggested to me a museum or cinema instead.

#4 Pat, 85 years old, works in the Union, lived in Brooklyn his whole life

• Chatter box, had a lot to say about gentrifiers, initial response when I asked him what would be one thing you'd change or add to the neighborhood, "Get the yuppies out."
• Then answered reasonably, "Get people better educated, with speaking, politics and respect. This would benefit the area a lot more. I don't want to live to see what they're going to really make out of this place"
• Pat was the most bitter person about gentrification, but had quite the argument to defend his reasoning.
• Like my idea of a two-story library and greenhouse for young and old residents to leisurely enjoy themselves in their neighborhood.

#5 Couple with an Infant

• Would like to see a park or recreation area for kids to have fun and emphasized the need for it to be safe.
• Approved my idea.

#6 Middle - Aged Man

• Did not directly answer whether or not he would change / add anything to the neighborhood but stated that there were plenty, maybe too many bars in the neighborhood so I interpret this as staying away from anything that will attract a younger, drinking crowd more than Brooklyn already does.
• Walked away before he could tell me whether he liked my idea, but because of his answer I would claim he would.

#7 Latino Young Women

• Asked for a grocery market that had similar food offered in Manhattan stores, like Trader Joe's. Typically around Skillman Avenue, there are deli markets and cheaper grocery stores
• Smiled and nodded at the idea of a greenhouse library space.

#8 Child , about 10 years old

• I asked her if she would like to see a frozen yogurt or ice cream shop hangout in her neighborhood and she said "Yes! That would be the greatest idea ever! We don't have many but i love ice cream". I asked her favorite flavor, she replied with "Chocolate with chocolate sprinkles".

#9 Child's Mother

• She said the ice cream shop would be great idea, if it was safe and a spot large enough to hang out for more than 10 minutes, where her kids could run around and play for awhile.
• Approved my idea, and said she could she herself there a lot.

#10 Homeless Man

• I was hesitant to ask him because he did not technically live on Skillman Avenue and he doesn't pay to live there, but Brooklyn is his home so I continued to ask what he would change about the area..
• Should have expected him to say, "A place where I can sleep comfortably and it be affordable, i have no money but I need somewhere"
• Seemed indifferent about my idea because it wasn't going to help him have a place to sleep at night.

#11 Mildred, 56 year olds, lived there her whole life and has rent control on her apartment

• "Not a single thing, I think it's great how it is. Plenty of nostalgia here."

#12 Average Cute Hipster Guy

• Would like to see a club like in Manhattan near the area. Not necessarily in the neighborhood but something the people near Bedford or here could get to.
• When I suggested my idea, he was embarrassed of his answer and agreed that my proposal for a site was probably a better solution to the tension between young and old residents and even class demographics. I told him I could resemble it after a night club if he wanted, he laughed.

#13 Girl, 20 years old

• Work out center that could offer workout classes for a small fee. But the place couldn't be gross and super cheap.
• Liked my idea of a library/ greenhouse between the residential houses.

#14 Girl, about 22 years old

• Flea market shops, boutique, basically anything fashion friendly and girly
• Agreed my idea would do well, but questioned how it would blend it. And I answered that i technically didn't want it to, and want people to notice it enough to make them intrigued.

#15 Old Man, resident of 30 years

• Annoyed by the young kids trying to take over the Brooklyn area, and would like to see, "Them not coming in here and thinking they have authority. It's disrespectful. Design a place to keep them occupied and we'll take back our neighborhood, though it already is too far along with their destruction".
• Approved of my idea.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Seminar Research Questions 4/26

While I have been doing research for my final paper on the negative effects of gentrification, I have come across an idea that came into my mind of "accidental gentrification". I believe it's possible for these new residents to notice and dislike that their new condos and lofts are taking over a well-known area like Brooklyn. They moved to Brooklyn to live in the charming atmosphere, not seeking to renovate that charm. This really makes gentrification a sticky process of finding out how to control gentrification and who it exactly at fault because it seems inevitable in all cities that face urbanization and growth.

Research Progress: Week of 4/10/2014

   So far in the process for the final project I have outlined my research paper into a simple, structured format: my introduction claim, four topics I will discuss within the paper, why it is necessary to comment on these topics, and what evidence (databases, journals, articles) I will be using to prove argument.

   As well, I have read through and annotated six journal articles based on gentrification. These different articles highlight points, quotes, facts, and information I can reference in the paper that support my claims of negative aspects that develop from the uncontrolled amount of gentrification. Or suggest ways to analyze and control gentrification that I can elaborate more on for the sake of Williamsburg, Brooklyn in New York City.

Question: When can we start developing concrete bullet points / paragraphs using these articles to discuss our topic, next week? To help further the process of editing our resources and argument.

Powerpoint I developed to keep organize while conducting this research paper.

Articles I have annotated to reference in the research paper.

Brooklyn Historical Society / Research Progress

   Our class visit to the BHS a new experience for many of us from the great neighborhood to what the museum had to offer us. Elizabeth Call, The head of Reference and User Services compiled a concise and short presentation that offered us websites to reference while doing research for our project in Studio. I used the Department of Buildings website that Elizabeth walked us through to find my lot number and block number for 44 Skillman Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

   The websites shown in the presentation have been extremely helpful with clarifying and researching my lot. I had been ahead on researching pictures for Studio, as well as articles for Seminar, so instead I used the websites to give me descriptive details about what is going on at the site and the property profile overview. On the website I found other side information that would be interesting to incorporate in my research and book; violations, closing date, occupancy. It really started to put together a timeline for this space, that will allow me to approach the pop-up book with a story for the block of Skillman Avenue.

Mary Ellen Carroll Questions

Questions to be answered by Mary Ellen Carroll:

• Though you studied Fine Arts, you seem to be particularly interested in a range of fields. Out of the following what do you feel the most in your element, expressive, or most uncomfortable?
• Which publication of hers does she feel she was able to most successfully convey to the public with her intentions of the context and media?
• Do you think it is necessary to have the public, (community or neighborhoods) opinion on all of your projects? 
• Would you consider art, architecture, urban design and policy the fundamental blocks in solving cultural problems? A few of your projects like the most recent project in New Orleans, reflect taking buildings, parks or spaces in the ordinary neighborhood and fixing them / adding systems at that site so that it can be seen in the eyes of the public as a more beneficial place after your renovation. In what ways does this place becomes more useful after? Is it just aesthetics or interactions?

Living As Form: Social Practice Database

Maria Margarita Jimenez, "Adios Pues!" 2002

• Jimenez's project was based of the donation of her wardrobe to an art gallery, that gave her closure to exhibiting art: saying goodbye to all her precious, collected clothing as well as being her final participation in an art exhibition. Her selfless act, allowed underprivileged people to create and design pieces using a provided sewing machine as well as any materials they would need. I like this project most because I envision what I would make if I had the ability to design (for myself or people in need) using someone else's precious wardrobe that symbolizes a person's own archive, that defined her identity. Knowing that a woman donated all delicately chosen clothing she gathered throughout her life, makes the clothing pieces as valuable as irreplaceable herself.
  

Broken City Lab, "Cross-Border Communication", 2009

• Broken City Lab, designed a visual display of "direct and sincere" quotes as performative, public art piece. These images were displaced between Windsor and Detroit, two cities divided by a river. However, these messages were able to be seen across the water all the way from Detroit. This project in particular was interesting to me because it suggests the idea of balancing a relationship that maybe be considered long distance. Like these messages, communication does not mean you must be relatively close to a friend, neighbor or community to share thoughts and ideas. The groups focus is on dialogue and language.
  

The Canadian Centre for Architecture, "Actions: What Can You Do With the City", 2008 - 2009

• This large project is compiled of 99 action-based, smaller projects to persuade people to get active and involved with these unique activities, in order to develop a sense of communal participation. The activities were all proposals composed by artists, architects and designers, that took the typical idea of walking, jogging, biking, gardening, etc. and turned them into an innovative sort of engagement activity based off the original action. The suggested activities would all be implemented in a designated area, like an abandoned lot or unused parking lot space and turning it into a park or some sort to suggest engagement.  This relates a lot to what we are working on now in class, by finding a vacant area and designing a public space the community could benefit from. I like that all the activities were quirky and fun both with color and idea and support of physical activity. I could definitely see something like this happening in Manhattan for a short period of time.
  

Seminar: Research: What I'm Up to With Skillman Avenue..

For the Interpretation Bridge Assignment in class, I am designing my site to be located on Skillman Avenue, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. To get there from Manhattan, you would take the L subway line to Lormier Street. My site is located in a residential area, nestled between a street filled with markets and small miscellaneous shops and the other side a loud, busier intersection with a highway residing above it. However my exact location falls closer to the shops, making it a lot less quiet. The street is filled with apartments and houses and scattered trees and dead garden beds. The street is dull looking; it lacks color and greenery. What I intend to do with my site is create a greenhouse space, open to the community to come sit and read books, share time with neighbors and help support the greenhouse plants.
My research paper topic will primarily discuss gentrification, and how to resolve conflict between new and old residents in Williamsburg while it undergoes a social and physical transformation in the neighborhood. I will also touch upon benefits of a greenhouse and how the community will benefit from greenhouse health affects as well as how this is a good social aspect to have in a residential neighborhood. 

Up Close and Personal with Skillman Avenue, New York

Address: 44 Skillman Avenue, Brooklyn, New York,  NY 11211

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oHvIUwGqb8&feature=youtu.be

All the Words:
Centro Italiano
Stop
All way
No parking
Chroma
Vine wine
Tow away zone
Newport
Mobil
Lormier Street

What is on the block of Skillman Avenue?

• Residential buildings : Apartments and Houses mostly 2-4 stories. 3 on average
• Many parked cars
• Lots of traffic signs: one way signs and parking instructions
• Small Porches
• Lurking cats!
• Some graffiti at empty spaces on the fences
• Dead plants/ flowerbeds everywhere
• 13 buildings on one side. 7 on the other 
• 2 empty lots that don't allow parking but people are using the space for parking anyways
• This site is in between a street with a highway and shops / cafes / restaurants on the other side. It is a perfect cut through for people to cross town

Time Stamp:
5:09 pm - 7 people
6:02 pm - 2 people

Archival Investigations with Jenny

When Jenny the archivist for Parson's came to our Seminar class, she discussed firstly what archives were and how to identify primary sources.  Primary sources consist of the following:

• digital/ PDFs
• albums/ photos
• sketches/ garments
• notes

These can be found through a database or a collection at different places both tangible or in online form. There are many places that have archives in these forms, this includes:

• Business'/corporate
• Universities
• City of New York
• Federal Government
• Brooklyn Public Library- Brooklyn Collection
• Brooklyn College
• Interdependent Community Archives - interference archive
• Brooklyn Historical Museum

Jenny was helpful in giving us places to look at that worked with our final project in studio and seminar.  My group looked at a photo album that carried photos of visual displays on 5th Avenue for a department store. We noted the dates that took course over a year, and did enough investigation to find that the curator changed the displays every two weeks on a Tuesday. We also interpreted that these photos came from around the "Mad Men" era, and displayed only women which we suspected was the store's intention to attract females to buy the latest trends. I was surprised to find that archives were as interesting as they were! It allows you to act as a mini detective and interpret the stories of people and their cultures until you have enough pieces to answer your intended question. If I were able to choose a topic of interest in archives, I would choose a topic of mystery and murder. Perhaps, of how many dead bodies have been unidentified and found in NYC apartment buildings when new tenants move in. It sounds creepy, as well as intriguing!

The South Bronx of America

Mel Rosenthal suggests that the Bronx is affordable as well as the ideal space for growth of a business; is this even true? The passage accounted different newspaper articles that discussed the amount of deaths in the Hunts Point section, more that occurred from drugs and homicides, not the environment and atmosphere. With racism filling the streets, a person in the article claims there are not many neighborhoods they would feel safe in, besides the South Bronx because she knows everyone. What struck me most was Roger Starr's comment in the New York Times on November 14,1976, "These people come by, and stop, and take pictures. We are not animals. We are suffering. There is nothing to look at here. This is serious, this is people's business." With burnt down buildings, no
housing was provided for these people. They didn't want it either in the South Bronx. Instead they designed what they wanted for their neighborhood; casitas.
"Casitas can create an are of relaxation and quiet against the strains of the city. At the same time, they are a public display of the cultural and political loyalty to the island." (Rosenthal 292) These Casitas Projects, seem like a well-designed public yet private spaces for the people of the community, interpreted by artists, architects, and designers that use their memories and feeling of a "sympathetic space". But in fact, I don't find them that way at all. They tend to look worn out and messy from the pictures, which I don't find as appealing as their description. It seems these people of the Bronx don't want to feel like an eye sore or draw attraction because they look in need, however these casitas only offer reassurance to themselves, not New York.

Studio: History of a Building

This reading is about the history of a building in Harlem, that shows the financial process of selling, receiving and maintaing a building until it can reach a point for a livable condition. It shows a timeline of how long it takes for mortgages to be paid off by specific dates (ex: February 17,1951). It then goes through more dates of struggles with the city, then a dated transformation of interior demolition to build condominiums. One after another they were sold in 1989. William Lester initially bought those lots (3 of them) for approximately $12,000. Almost a hundred years later, issues with the city, fires and money were solved and finally, a single condominium was sold at $146,000. It is interesting to see a timeline with photos rather than a story of the building's transformation that increases its value.

44 Skillman Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11211