The Newtown Pentacle

Altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi

mustered up

with 2 comments

Sometimes, they come back.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

One found himself in Maspeth, just yesterday, whereupon discovery of a large industrial site’s demolition occurred. The site used to be a cardboard box factory (Star Corrugated Box Co. originally and then Cascades Containerboard), which had occupied this plot of land for several generations. The crews from Breeze Demolition were hard at work pulverizing the place, and coincidentally were replacing the plywood construction fencing surrounding it as I wandered by. It’s apparently a “big secret” as to who the new occupants of the land here will be.

I know the secret, and as loose lips sink ships…

– photo by Mitch Waxman

54-15, 55-15 and 56-19 Grand Avenue were acquired recently by a California based company called LBA Realty for $72 million. The deal involves a partnership with another realty company, RXR, to build a four story warehouse large enough for heavy trucks to drive up a ramp for loading and unloading. Statements from the developer indicate that this facility would be ideal for the “last mile” logistics of e-commerce companies. Hmmm.

Wonder what e-commerce company that might be?

– photo by Mitch Waxman

This project represents a fairly frightening intensification of the truck traffic issues afflicting both Maspeth and East Williamsburg, I would mention.

I would also like to change the subject and mention the importance of large continental river systems to human civilizations. The Mississippi, Colorado, and Hudson Rivers come to mind here in North America, as does the Yang Tse and the Ganges in Asia. There’s the Nile in Africa, of course, and the Rhine in Europe.

I’m forgetting a big and important river, I think, one that runs through South America or maybe Seattle? What’s that one called again?


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Greenpoint Walking Tour w NYCH20

Explore Greenpoint’s post industrial landscape and waterfront with Newtown Creek Alliance historian Mitch Waxman.

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Written by Mitch Waxman

July 23, 2019 at 11:00 am

2 Responses

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  1. How ’bout the River Styx? Charon = Mitch Waxman?

    georgetheatheist . . . lasciate ogni speranza

    July 23, 2019 at 12:33 pm

  2. I was wondering when you’d notice that! Was half thinking to “send it in” in case you didn’t. Drove n’ walked past Star must be a thousand times over the last decade and a half. It’s adjacent employee parking lot always seemed empty. Oh well. Things change and hopefully whatever takes its place will see some productive use for the community and borough.

    Tommy Efreeti

    July 25, 2019 at 11:33 am


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