Archive for March 2012
graceful valleys
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A structure which may be discerned in the distance, within the shot above, at Sunnyside Yards is the 35th street or Honeywell Bridge. The location of the camera which captured it was astride the 39th street or Harold Avenue bridge at Steinway Street, where ongoing construction has rendered a hidden breach in the fencing which normally frustrates its purpose by obfuscating the view.
For a discussion of another of the bridges which cross these titan rail yards, click here for the posting “incaculable profusion”, examining the Thomson Avenue Viaduct to the west.
from forgotten-ny.com
When the Yards were built, Long Island City, to the north of the Yards, was effectively cut off from Sunnyside and Maspeth, to the south. Viaducts were built at Queens Boulevard (which was itself under construction in 1910), Honeywell Street, Harold Avenue, and Thomson Avenue. Laurel Hill Avenue (43rd Street) Gosman Avenue (48th Street) and Woodside Avenue were carried under the railroad.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A paucity of such apertures in the fence lines around the yards exists, which is appropriate in this age of heightened vigilance, and the discovery of something large enough to accept the lens of a dslr is tantamount to observing a unicorn to one such as myself. Of course in the midst of all this faux security and theater, I can show you a dozen different places where you could work mischief if you chose to. Such is always the case with large installations like this one, however, and illegal trespass is not the Newtown Pentacle way.
The real estate happy characters in Manhattan are desirous to rob me of this vista, as evidenced in the document linked to below, describing the feasibility and benefits of decking over these yards and expanding the population of western Queens by tens of thousands. It seems to be a plan of some vintage, however, crafted before the financial crisis and concurrent economic crisis experienced by the region and country at large since 2008 (when do we get to start calling this a depression?).
from nyc.gov
Sunnyside Yards, one and three-quarters of a mile long and 1,600 feet across at its widest point, is the largest site in this inventory. The total deckable airspace of its 14 parcels – over 167 acres – is more than double the size of the next largest airspace site, the 74-acre NYCT Coney Island Maintenance Shop and Yards (K5000). This one corridor contains around one-sixth of the entire deckable airspace in this inventory.
The potential for large scale land uses above these yards is extraordinary. With the possible exception of Staten Island’s west shore, no other large tracts of “vacant” land remain in the City. Moreover, Sunnyside Yards is defined by a surrounding context of relatively dense development and plentiful transit access.
At the behest of former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel Doctoroff, DCP’s Housing, Economic and Infrastructure Planning (HEIP) unit conducted a preliminary analysis concerning the viability of decking over and developing Sunnyside Yards. The HEIP unit determined that the most desirable sites within the yards were two roughly rectangular areas running from the southwest to the northeast; the northern third of both sites is located northeast of Queens Boulevard.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
These trusses which fly over the Sunnyside Yards are actually rather new. The Honeywell and Harold Bridges (39th and 35th streets), for instance, were totally rebuilt recently. The Honeywell Bridge reopened in 2003 after having laid fallow and closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic for better than 20 years. The night shot above, by the way, is betrayed by its format and shape as being from my trusty old Canon G10, which is still in service at this- your Newtown Pentacle.
from nytimes.com
In 1979, inspectors from the city’s Department of Transportation judged the 1,600-foot four-lane bridge, which was built in 1909, to be on the verge of falling down. The inspection occurred near the end of an era in which the city, nearly broke and as exhausted as a disco dancer at dawn, partly balanced its budget by deferring maintenance on bridges. Tom Cocola, a department spokesman, said once costs had been cut by removing the bridge from the city’s regular inspection schedule, ”we probably just forgot about it.”
chill currents
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Gaze in terror at the ice breaking tug Morro Bay, stalwart arm of the United States Coast Guard, as it maneuvers about the Hudson River. In terror that is, if you mean harm to the mariners or coastlines of the United States. It is maritime Sunday at the Newtown Pentacle once more, and this time around it’s a Coast Guard vessel in the spotlight.
from uscg.mil
USCGC MORRO BAY (WTGB-106)
Abstract
The USCGC MORRO BAY was commissioned 28 March 1981 at the Reserve Training Center in Yorktown, VA and served here until 1998. The MORRO BAY was the sixth of her kind in the Coast Guard. While stationed at Training Center, the MORRO BAY was involved in training and operations on the Chesapeake Bay. The MORRO BAY is currently home ported in New London, CT.
Ship’s History
The 140-foot Bay-class Cutters are state of the art icebreakers used primarily for domestic ice breaking duties. They are named after American Bays and are stationed mainly in Northeast U.S. and Great Lakes. Although specifically desinged for ice breaking duties, they also perform law enforcement, environmental protection, search & rescue operations and support for aids to navigation activities.
WTGBs use a low-pressure-air hull lubrication or bubbler system that forces air and water between the hull and ice. This system improves icebreaking capabilities by reducing resistance against the hull, reducing horsepower requirements.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While researching this post, an interesting factoid about the Coast Guard emerged: the hull colors of Coast Guard vessels indicate their missions. Black hull- aids to navigation, White hull- maritime law enforcement and other safety-at-sea missions, Red hull- icebreaking.
Who knew?
Of course, the “Response Boat Medium” and “Response Boat Small”– both “SafeBoats“- are orange hulled, but the color scheme indications I found at the Coast Guard website do not discuss this hue.
from uscg.mil
The 140-foot Bay-class Cutters are state of the art icebreakers used primarily for domestic ice breaking duties. They are named after American Bays and are stationed mainly in Northeast U.S. and Great Lakes.
140-foot WTGBs in Service:
- BISCAYNE BAY (WTGB 104) St. Ignace, MI
- BRISTOL BAY* (WTGB 102) Detroit, MI
- KATMAI BAY (WTGB 101) Sault Ste. Marie, MI
- MOBILE BAY* (WTGB 103) Sturgeon Bay, WI
- NEAH BAY (WTGB 105) Cleveland, OH
- MORRO BAY (WTGB 106) New London, CT
- PENOBSCOT BAY (WTGB 107) Bayonne, NJ
- STURGEON BAY (WTGB 109) Bayonne, NJ
- THUNDER BAY (WTGB 108) Rockland, ME
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Morro Bay, like all members of its class, looks smart and sound. An attractive boat, it nevertheless looks pretty fast and capable. These shots were taken at the Metropolitan Water Alliance’s “Heroes of the Harbor” gala last fall, where Morro Bay was performing the sort of political or parade duty which occupies its time during warm weather. During the cold months, it’s tasked with weightier matters, as a front line warrior battling the winter, and as a life line for stranded mariners.
Greetings to the crew, a hearty thanks is offered for their service, sacrifice, and skill. Stay safe, and hopefully we’ll see you in the City again when it warms up.
from wikipedia
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the US military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission (with jurisdiction in both domestic and international waters) and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It operates under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the President at any time, or by Congress during time of war.
Founded by Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Cutter Service on 4 August 1790, it is the United States’ oldest continuous seagoing service. As of August 2009 the Coast Guard had approximately 42,000 men and women on active duty, 7,500 reservists, 30,000 auxiliarists, and 7,700 full-time civilian employees.
Project Firebox 35
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A lost and disfunctional creature, this scarlet centurion is found on the corner of 58th and Laurel Hill Blvd. Above it rises that loquacious viaduct which carries the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The BQE, and Laurel Hill Blvd. below it, indicate that one is in the nether zone between Woodside and Maspeth- an angle between neighborhoods. Enormous cemetery walls are its nearest neighbors, as Laurel Hill bisects the gargantuan acreages of New Calvary Cemetery. All but forgotten, this noble guardian is mute, and knows terror thinking of the day that an emergency may come for which it cannot raise an alarm.
unseen material
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A recent walk took me up Vernon Avenue… why is it that walking towards Hells Gate always feels like “up” and towards Long Island City “down”? There is an actual change in grade, as Astoria is actually built on ground physically higher in altitude than the eluvial plain that LIC stands on- yes- but that’s not it.
Anyway, Vernon at Broadway, where once the 96th street and 86th street ferries from Manhattan met the Broadway trolleys at Hallets Cove. Right by Costco and Socrates Sculpture Garden, if you require modern landmarks.
Here’s a post from February of 2010 that described the area in some detail.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There is a large amount of construction going on here, and fairly large scale buildings are hurtling up and out of the mud. It’s been a few months since my path has brought me in this direction, and it was startling to see how fast these structures are forming up.
Not too long ago, there was a massive fire at the little factory that used to exist at the bottom left of the shot above, the round sign that says “Alpine” is all that’s left.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The cool thing about the very large building which is going up on the corner of 12th street, other than the enormous footprint of a structure which will feature 199 apartments…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
…is that the whole thing is being built by just one guy.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As you may have heard, American worker productivity is at an all time high, and no where more so than in Queens.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It seems hard to believe, but this fellow holds every possible license and certification that the building code demands of its employees, rumor has it that he’s also the principal financier.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It can’t be easy building things by yourself, there no one to take a coffee break with, and car pooling is out of the question entirely.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I look forward to the day when the 199 new families unpack, and join with the rest of us. Enjoying our comfortable and never crowded mass transportation, learning that they can rely on the presence of modern and top notch hospitals, and that their children can look forward to a rewarding and full scholastic life in local schools.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Always a selling point for Queens, multicultural experiences will abound. The nearby Queensboro, Ravenswood, and Astoria projects will satisfy anyone’s desires to learn about new and interesting cultures that have their roots in exotic foreign lands.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Welcome to Queens.
remarkable law
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A freelancer, your humble narrator is always looking for work. Recently spied in Long Island City, there seems to be a company that specializes in a trade I’m interested in.
Is this what “service economy” means?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Just ask anyone who has ever lent me anything of value how good I am at this. Pretty much anything I touch ends up at least partially ruined, and when one puts his mind to the task… whoa, nelly.
I can’t have anything nice.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I too offer “Destruction Services”, although my understanding is that large players in the destruction trade, like the United States Marines for instance, play this game at “big league” levels. My destruction business isn’t limited to old files like these guys though, I’ll mess up new stuff too.
Freelance rates will apply.
The Newtown Pentacle 