Dumbo, Brooklyn Explained

Dumbo
Other Name:Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass
Settlement Type:Neighborhood
Coordinates:40.703°N -73.99°W
Pushpin Map:USA New York City#USA New York#USA
Pushpin Map Caption:Location
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2:New York City
Subdivision Type3:Borough
Subdivision Name3:Brooklyn
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Sq Mi:0.050
Population As Of:2010
Population Total:1,139
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:ZIP Codes
Postal Code:11201
Area Code:718, 347, 929, and 917
Footnotes:
DUMBO Industrial District
Embed:yes
Nrhp Type:hd
Nocat:yes
Location:Roughly bounded by Main and Washington Sts, East River, John St., Bridge and Jay Sts., and Front and York Sts., Brooklyn, New York
Coordinates:40.7031°N -73.9881°W
Built:1883
Architect:multiple
Architecture:Greek Revival, Italianate, et al.
Added:September 22, 2000
Refnum:00001151

Dumbo (or DUMBO,[1] [2] an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It encompasses two sections: one situated between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, which connect Brooklyn to Manhattan across the East River, and another extending eastward from the Manhattan Bridge to the Vinegar Hill area. The neighborhood is bounded by Brooklyn Bridge Park to the north, the Brooklyn Bridge to the west, Brooklyn Heights to the south, and Vinegar Hill to the east. Dumbo is part of Brooklyn Community Board 2.

Dumbo has historically been known by several names, including Gairville,[3] Rapailie, Olympia, and Walentasville. The area was originally a ferry landing, characterized by 19th- and early 20th-century industrial and warehouse buildings, Belgian block streets, and its location on the East River by the imposing anchorage of the Manhattan Bridge. A large number of the buildings in Dumbo were bought by developer David Walentas and his company Two Trees Management in the late 20th century, and remade into an upscale residential and commercial community—first becoming a haven for art galleries, and currently a center for technology startups.

Dumbo earned the nickname "the center of the Brooklyn Tech Triangle"[4] thanks to its thriving community of tech startups. This designation coincided with its rise to become Brooklyn's most affluent neighborhood and the fourth-wealthiest community in New York City; this is owing in part to its large concentration of technology startups, its close proximity to Manhattan, and its large number of former industrial buildings that have been converted into spacious luxury residential lofts.[5] The neighborhood contains the corporate headquarters for e-commerce retailer Etsy and home furnishing stores company West Elm.

History

The name is an acronym of "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass". The area has been known variously as Rapailie, Olympia, and Walentasville;[6] the developer who began its current gentrification is Two Trees Management, led at the time by David Walentas. The "Olympia" name came from Comfort and Joshua Sands, who bought the land in 1787[7] and were planning to develop the land as a summer place for New Yorkers.[8] Through the 18th and 19th centuries, the area now known as Dumbo was considered part of Vinegar Hill.[9]

In the 1890s, the western portion of the neighborhood was known as Fulton Landing, after the ferry stop that connected it to Manhattan before the Brooklyn Bridge opened. At that time, it was primarily a manufacturing district, with warehouses and factories that made machinery, paper boxes, spices and Brillo soap pads. The cardboard box was invented in the Robert Gair building on Washington Street by Robert Gair, a Scottish emigrant; because of Gair's fame, the area was known as Gairsville for a long time.[6] The Gair building is now home to Etsy.

The Jay Street Connecting Railroad ran through Dumbo's waterfront from circa 1904–1906 through 1957. It ran from rail yards beneath the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges to buildings near the waterfront in Dumbo and Vinegar Hill. At the height of operations, it had spurs into several buildings, a car float bridge on Bridge Street, and a yard with capacity of 120 cars.[10] [11] The tracks were abandoned in 1959,[12] though the railroad's tracks are still visible on streets in Dumbo.[11] In 1968, there was a proposal to relocate the Fort Greene Meat Market to Dumbo,[13] though the market was ultimately moved to Sunset Park instead.[14]

With the deindustrialization of New York City, Dumbo began to become primarily residential; artists and other young homesteaders seeking relatively large and inexpensive loft apartment spaces for studios and homes began moving there in the late 1970s.[2] The acronym "Dumbo" arose in 1978, when new residents coined it in the belief such an unattractive name would help deter developers.[2]

Near the end of the 20th century, as property became more and more expensive in Manhattan, Dumbo became increasingly gentrified. Even so, the acronym "Dumbo" was largely unknown as late as 1997, and the area itself was very inclusive, serving mainly as an enclave for artists located along the East River and under the Manhattan Bridge. At this stage there were still many air conditioner repair shops, auto shops, and "seedy back alleys and wharves"; and, because the neighborhood was still gentrifying from its industrial past, it lacked even a bookstore, coffee shop, or laundromat.[15] The efforts of Joy Glidden, the Founding Director of the Dumbo Arts Center (DAC) and co-founder of the Dumbo Art Under the Bridge Festival, achieved successful development in Dumbo, which is now a model for similar waterfront developments around the world.[16] Glidden stated of Dumbo's gentrification, "It may be one of the last of what could be considered a true arts community in New York."[15]

The DUMBO Historic District, a historic industrial complex and national historic district in Dumbo, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. It consists of 95 contributing buildings; the manufacturing concerns located in this district included Benjamin Moore & Co. (paint), Arbuckle Brothers (coffee and sugar), J.W. Masury & Son (paint), Robert Gair (paper boxes), E.W. Bliss (machinery), and Brillo (soap pads). The district includes the earliest large-scale reinforced concrete factory buildings in America.[17] On December 18, 2007, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to designate Dumbo as the city's 90th historic district. The Dumbo historic district consists of properties bounded by John Street to the north, York Street to the south, Main Street to the west, and Bridge Street to the east.[18]

Land use

Art, business, and leisure

The area has emerged as one of New York City's premier arts districts, with a cluster of for-profit art galleries such as the Klompching Gallery, and such not-for-profit institutions as the St. Ann's Warehouse the A.I.R. Gallery and the first post-COVID-19 performance venue to open in the area The Rat NYC (May 2024).

Chef Jacques Torres opened a chocolate factory in Dumbo in December 2000.[19] Other culinary businesses in the area include Grimaldi's,[20] Ample Hills Creamery,[21] Almondine Bakery,[22] and the River Café,[23] all clustered in Fulton Landing, also home to Bargemusic, a floating venue for classical music.[24] John Fluevog, a Canadian shoe designer, opened a store on Main Street in November 2017.[25]

The first public space in the neighborhood was Fulton Ferry,[26] followed by Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park.[27] [28] The first six acres of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a joint state/city venture under development, were opened in March 2010.[29] The Cliffs at DUMBO is a 7,800 square foot outdoor climbing gym located in the Main Street section of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and is the largest outdoor bouldering gym in North America.[30] [31]

The building at 200 Water Street, which the Brillo Manufacturing Co. once occupied, is being renovated as a high-end condo building.[32]

The DUMBO Archway is a popular location for film shoots, art exhibitions, live music, large-scale events, and watch parties for events like the World Cup.[33] [34] The trailer for Joker, the 2019 film by Todd Phillips, features actor Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker running through the archway.[35] The Archway also hosts the Brooklyn Flea every Sunday from April to October.[36] The outdoor market features 80 vendors, and the products range from secondhand goods to custom-made jewelry.

Gleason's Gym, located on Water Street, is the oldest boxing gym in New York. Many champions have trained there, including Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.[37] [38] The gym has been located in DUMBO since the 1980s. It moved from 77 Front Street to its current location at 130 Water Street in 2016.[39] The legendary boxing coach Hector Roca still teaches at the Water Street location. In addition to boxing champions, Roca has trained many actors, including Wesley Snipes, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Lopez, and John Leguizamo.[40]

The renovation of Empire Stores on Water Street was completed in 2017. Previously, it had been a Civil War era coffee warehouse.[41] It was converted to mixed-use retail and office space, and it includes West Elm's global flagship store.[42] Other retailers in Empire Stores include Detroit-based watchmaker Shinola and the café and accessories store, FEED Projects. In May 2017, the Brooklyn Historical Society (BHS) opened a new branch in Empire Stores (its main location is in Brooklyn Heights). BHS features exhibits and artifacts relating to DUMBO's industrial past.[43] In May 2019, Time Out Market opened in Empire Stores. The food hall features 21 local vendors, including the Breads Bakery[44] and DUMBO's renowned pizzeria, Juliana's.[45] [46]

Tech hub

See also: New York Digital District. Dumbo has New York City's highest concentration of technology firms by neighborhood.[47] Dumbo is home to 25 percent of New York City-based tech firms. Within a 10-block radius are 500 tech and creative firms that employ over 10,000 people.[47] It also contains the corporate headquarters for e-commerce retailer Etsy[48] and home furnishing stores company West Elm.[49]

The City of New York, in conjunction with New York University, installed an incubator in Dumbo to support development of tech start-ups.[47] Dumbo's average office rent of US$25 per square foot ($269/m2) made it (as of 2013) more attractive to start-ups than Manhattan, where rents averaged $40 per square foot ($431/m2) in 2013.[47]

Housing

The neighborhood contains the Farragut Houses, a group of ten towers managed by the New York City Housing Authority.[50]

Transportation

New York City Subway stations are located at York Street on the IND Sixth Avenue Line, and High Street on the IND Eighth Avenue Line. New York City Bus service is provided by the .

Ramps and staircases connect the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge walkways to Dumbo.

In June 2011, NY Waterway started service to points along the East River.[51] On May 1, 2017, that route became part of the NYC Ferry's East River route, which runs between Pier 11/Wall Street in Manhattan's Financial District and the East 34th Street Ferry Landing in Murray Hill, Manhattan, with five intermediate stops in Brooklyn and Queens.[52] [53] One of the East River Ferry's stops is at Fulton Ferry in Dumbo.[54]

Education

Public library

The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)'s Adams Street branch is located at 9 Adams Street, between John and Plymouth Streets.[55] The 6000ft2 Adams Street branch, designed by WORKac, occupies a former factory.[56] The branch started construction in 2020 and cost $7 million to build.[57] It opened in October 2021 and was the first BPL branch to open in Brooklyn since 1983.

In popular culture

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dolkart . Andrew S. . DUMBO Historic District Designation Report . . December 18, 2007 . September 6, 2015 . etal . February 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170201162603/http://home2.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/reports/DUMBO_Designation_Report.pdf . dead .
  2. News: Dumbo Journal: District Trying to Forge a New Identity . Anne . Barnard . . December 25, 2007 . September 6, 2015.
  3. News: David W. . Dunlap. SoHo, TriBeCa And Now Dumbo? . The New York Times . October 25, 1998 . April 19, 2017.
  4. Web site: Brooklyn Tech Triangle Map . May 10, 2024 . map.brooklyntechtriangle.com.
  5. Web site: Nonko . Emily . The 8 Most Expensive Neighborhoods in New York City . New York.com . January 27, 2015 . November 7, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151029075613/http://www.newyork.com/articles/real-estate/the-most-expensive-neighborhoods-in-new-york-city-75971/ . October 29, 2015 .
  6. Web site: About Dumbo. Dumbo NYC, Brooklyn. DumboNYC.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20121213183341/http://dumbonyc.com/about/. December 13, 2012. live. December 10, 2012.
  7. Book: The Olympia Settlement in Early Brooklyn. 1929. New York.
  8. Book: Johnson, Allen. Dictionary of American Biography. Charles Scribner's Sons. 1964. New York. 341–342.
  9. 1966. Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal. 1. 3. 204–211. 20780654. Historical Districts.
  10. Web site: Jay Street Terminal / Jay Street Connecting Railroad . TrainWeb.org . November 30, 2017 . November 28, 2018.
  11. Web site: The Jay Street Connecting Railroad. William. Bryk. April 22, 2003. NY Press.
  12. Web site: RAIL LINE TO END ITS BROOKLYN RUN; Jay Street Connecting Road Allowed to Discontinue Operations in Harbor . The New York Times . April 16, 1959 . November 28, 2018.
  13. News: Bennett. Charles G.. October 24, 1968. Ft. Greene Market to Be Moved To the Waterfront in Brooklyn. January 22, 2024. The New York Times. en-US. 0362-4331.
  14. News: August 19, 1969. City Picks Site in Sunset Park For Fort Greene Meat Market; Brooklyn Area's Residents Protest as Decision Is Revealed at Hearing. January 22, 2024. The New York Times. en-US. 0362-4331.
  15. News: Marks. Peter. October 10, 1997. As It Turns Artistic, A Noirish Enclave Steps Into the Light. February 3, 2024. The New York Times. en-US. 0362-4331.
  16. Web site: Dumbo . Soul of Brooklyn . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140214045443/http://soulofbrooklyn.com/neighborhoods/dumbo/ . February 14, 2014 . The DUMBO Arts Center was founded by Joy Glidden and under her direction from 1997–2006 has helped to establish a successful model for waterfront development that has been referred to and used internationally . June 12, 2014.
  17. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration:DUMBO Industrial District. June 2000. March 6, 2011. Kathy . Howe. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121019090418/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=3049. October 19, 2012. See also: Web site: Accompanying 20 photos. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121019090434/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=3048. October 19, 2012.
  18. . December 18, 2007 . Landmarks Preservation Commission Designates Dumbo as New York City's 90th Historic District . July 3, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020232259/http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/press/12_18_07.pdf . October 20, 2012 . dead .
  19. News: 'Mr Chocolate' Blazed a Sweet Trail for Retailers – Jacques Torres Chocolates . Peter . Moore . Real Estate Weekly . February 18, 2004 . July 3, 2010.
  20. Web site: Pizza Madness: Grimaldi Taking Over Grimaldi's When Grimaldi Moves Next Door . Joanna . Shaw . Nona Brooklyn . November 29, 2011 . November 29, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111209084545/http://nonabrooklyn.com/pizza-madness-grimaldi-taking-over-grimaldis-when-grimaldis-moves-next-door/ . December 9, 2011 .
  21. Web site: Ample Hills Creamery to Replace the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory in Brooklyn Bridge Park. December 5, 2018. Brooklyn Eagle. July 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190711173123/https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2018/12/05/ample-hills-creamery-to-replace-the-brooklyn-ice-cream-factory-in-brooklyn-bridge-park/. July 11, 2019. live.
  22. Web site: Marks. Aaron. March 6, 2013. Almondine Bakery In DUMBO Reopens For First Time Since Hurricane Sandy. https://web.archive.org/web/20220223051539/https://gothamist.com/food/almondine-bakery-in-dumbo-reopens-for-first-time-since-hurricane-sandy. dead. February 23, 2022. September 3, 2020. Gothamist. en.
  23. Web site: The River Café Restaurant – Brooklyn, New York – Established 1977. The River Café. July 14, 2018.
  24. Web site: Music in Review . August 4, 2008 . August 20, 1991 . Allan . Kozinn . The New York Times.
  25. News: John Fluevog is Cool Again. Maybe He Always Was . The New York Times . July 5, 2018 . Dyett . Linda .
  26. Web site: New York Water Taxi Begins Service From Fulton Ferry . https://archive.today/20130630011834/http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/64607/new-york-water-taxi-begins-service-from-fulton-ferry . dead . June 30, 2013 . NY1 . November 27, 2006 .
  27. Web site: Empire Fulton Ferry . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121014141311/http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/the-park/empire-fulton-ferry-open . October 14, 2012 . September 6, 2013.
  28. News: Calder . Rich . Brooklyn Bridge Park Finally Set to Open . October 24, 2013 . New York Post . December 17, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100118182829/http://www.nypost.com/p/brooklyn_bridge_park_finally_set_bym9agsosKay1dnTONph0L . January 18, 2010 .
  29. Governor Paterson and Mayor Bloomberg Open First Section of Brooklyn Bridge Park . New York State . https://archive.today/20121214041818/http://www.governor.ny.gov/archive/paterson/press/032210BrooklynBridgePark.html . dead . December 14, 2012 . March 22, 2010 . April 4, 2012 .
  30. Web site: Cliffs at DUMBO . April 14, 2016 . dumbo.is . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190704040016/https://dumbo.is/hometo/cliffs-at-dumbo . July 4, 2019.
  31. Web site: Picht. Jennifer. May 7, 2018. The largest outdoor climbing gym in the country is returning to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Time Out New York.
  32. News: In Dumbo, A Study in Industrial Chic . The Wall Street Journal. December 11, 2015 . 0099-9660 . Josh . Barbanel . December 9, 2015.
  33. Web site: Cohen. Michelle. June 18, 2019. Dumbo Celebration Marks the 10th Anniversary of the Iconic Archway's Public Life. 6sqft.
  34. Web site: Women's World Cup Brings Hundreds of Fans Together at Brooklyn Watch Party. June 28, 2019. CBS New York.
  35. Web site: Yakas . Ben . September 25, 2018 . Photos: DUMBO Transformed into Gritty Gotham City for Joaquin Phoenix Joker Movie . Gothamist . July 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190308074832/http://gothamist.com/2018/09/25/joker_filming_dumbo_photos.php . March 8, 2019 . live .
  36. Web site: Brooklyn Flea Celebrates 10th Anniversary with New Year-Round Outpost in Industry City. April 3, 2018. Wong. Pamela. Bklyner.
  37. Web site: Historic New York boxing gym opens its doors to Veterans . April 24, 2018 . VA News.
  38. Web site: Earl. Jennifer. June 4, 2016. Gleason's Gym Recalls Muhammad Ali Training More Than 50 Years Ago. CBS News.
  39. News: At Gleason's Gym, Years of Sweat and Grime. The New York Times. November 18, 2016. Vadukul. Alex.
  40. Web site: Yuan. Jada. January 31, 2005. Q&A with Boxing Coach Hector Roca. New York Magazine.
  41. Web site: Heins . Scott . December 2, 2016 . Inside Empire Stores, The Newly-Renovated Civil War-Era Warehouse in Brooklyn . Gothamist . July 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190414160708/http://gothamist.com/2016/12/02/photos_empire_stores_dumbo.php . April 14, 2019 . dead .
  42. Web site: Empire Stores redevelopment passes a major milestone. August 19, 2016. Rosenberg. Zoe. Curbed NY.
  43. Web site: Brooklyn Historical Society embraces Dumbo's maritime past at Empire Stores. May 19, 2017. Plitt. Amy. Curbed NY.
  44. Web site: Breads Bakery New York Magazine The Thousand Best. February 20, 2019. New York Magazine. en-us. November 5, 2019.
  45. Web site: Time Out Market New York Now Open in DUMBO. May 31, 2019. Wong. Pamela. Bklyner.
  46. Web site: Lynch . Scott . May 30, 2019 . Enormous Time Out Market Opens in DUMBO with a Stellar Line up of Restaurants . Gothamist . July 4, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190604174236/http://gothamist.com/2019/05/30/dumbo_food_hall_photos.php . June 4, 2019 . live .
  47. Graham . Jefferson . May 7, 2013 . It's Hip to Be Tech in Brooklyn's Dumbo . USA Today . 5B .
  48. Web site: Goodman . Wendy . See Inside Etsy's Seriously Fun Brooklyn Office . . August 14, 2014 . September 27, 2016 . The other day, I took a tour of Etsy's Dumbo offices and was pleased to find them as original, wacky, and one-of-a-kind as a workplace can get..
  49. Web site: Gurfein . Laura . Here's the First Look at West Elm's New Dumbo Home . . January 13, 2015 . September 27, 2016.
  50. News: The Editors . April 17, 2013 . Welcome to the Gilded City of New York . The Nation . April 18, 2013.
  51. News: East River Ferry Service Begins. Grynbaum. Michael M.. June 13, 2011. Quinlan. Adriane. The New York Times. 0362-4331. September 23, 2016.
  52. Web site: NYC Launches Ferry Service with Queens, East River Routes. May 1, 2017. NY Daily News. Associated Press. May 1, 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170501154444/http://www.nydailynews.com/newswires/new-york/nyc-launches-ferry-service-queens-east-river-routes-article-1.3122046. May 1, 2017.
  53. News: New York Today: Our City's New Ferry. Levine. Alexandra S.. May 1, 2017. The New York Times. May 1, 2017. Wolfe. Jonathan. 0362-4331.
  54. Web site: Routes and Schedules: East River. NYC Ferry.
  55. Web site: January 25, 2019 . Adams Street Library . July 7, 2023 . Brooklyn Public Library.
  56. Web site: Hickman . Matt . October 13, 2021 . WORKac's Adams Street Library Makes Its DUMBO Debut . July 7, 2023 . The Architect's Newspaper.
  57. Web site: Clark . Roger . October 12, 2021 . Brooklyn Public Library Opens Doors to New Branch in DUMBO . July 7, 2023 . Spectrum News NY1.
  58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zzRAPW9hWo#t=27s Jerry Seinfeld episode from 2001
  59. Web site: Boabo. November 5, 2020. WikiGTA – The Complete Grand Theft Auto Walkthrough. en.
  60. Web site: Filming Locations for Sergio Leone's epic Once Upon a Time in America (1983), in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Quebec, Paris and Venice. . The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations . July 14, 2018.
  61. Web site: October 8, 2018 . Exploring the Shadows of Gotham Keith Adams, LMGI . April 21, 2022 . Location Managers Guild International . en-US.
  62. Web site: Jay-Z Revels in the Catharsis of Confession on '4:44'. Jon. Caramanica. July 2, 2017. The New York Times. When he laments not investing in the now-redeveloped Brooklyn neighborhood Dumbo on "The Story of O. J.," it's not clever, just a gripe. And one delivered without much flair..
  63. Web site: 3 Money Lessons from Jay-Z's '4:44'. Courtney. Connley. CNBC. June 30, 2017. On this track, the rapper bemoans rising real estate values in his home city.
  64. News: Giles. Jeff. 2019-09-12. The Most Instagrammable Neighborhood in America, Before It Was Cool. 2024-07-20. The New York Times. en-US. 0362-4331.

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