Learning Places Fall 2015 SITE REPORT

Farragut Houses and Vinegar Hill Site Visit

STUDENT NAME Hyoeun Kim

09/17/2015

INTRODUCTION

In our site visit to the Farragut Houses and the Vinegar Hill, we looked into the neighborhood and threw many questions around the area. We took pictures, surveyed and sketched the one of historical buildings in the neighborhood. Discussed about some of residence and commercial buildings architectural structure.

PRE-VISIT REFLECTION

I live in currently, but I was born and grew up in Korea. I’m here at City Tech as an international student for schooling not immigrant. Even thought, I lived in City for couple years, I’m not still familiar with the system. I haven’t heard of the

Farragut Houses nor visited the Vinegar Hill neighborhood. At this stage, I feel like I have to research and study about the public housing system before we go to site visit. On the other hand, I’m excited about to learn something new.

SITE DOCUMENTATION

SITE OBSERVATIONS

1. The Farragut houses are all have same shaped by star formation. 2. The area is close to Hudson River and the . 3. Have one and couple grocery stores around. 4. The buildings seem old but area is clean. 5. Playground, basketball court and parking lots are located in the property and blocked by fence. 6. There is a public school right across the housing building. 7. The area is very close to the BQE and but far from Subway station.

QUANTITATIVE DATA

Subject Data

Number of Buildings 10

Number of Units 1,390

Floor of Buildings 14

QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESIS

QUESTIONS: 1. Why the Farragut Houses are located in Gold st? 2. Why the Farragut Houses have all same shape? 3. Are they have same land value compare to other residential buildings in the area? 4. Why the Hudson Avenue cut offed in front of the Farragut Houses? 5. Why their facilities distanced from the side walk?

HYPOTHESIS: 1. Building 227 was originally a fire house. It was the constitution engine company 7 volunteer fire department, then it was engine number 8. It was built in 1870. 2. It designed by NYCHA in 1950. 3. Compare to Vinegar hill and Dumbo, Farragut houses had low land value 4. Hudson Avenue cut offed when Farragut houses built in 1950’s 5. They have huge open spaces around the houses.

SUMMARY / POST VISIT REFLECTION It was unique and informative site visit. I learned a lot more detail about the New York

City’s public housing and their living condition. Also, I enjoyed the Vinegar Hill visit, I was surprised by not many but there are some of historical buildings still exist in the neighborhood in their original structure form. It was good to know about the color of street sign has different meaning. I pass by the York street everyday on my way to school campus, now I look the neighborhood little differently than before.

REFERENCES TO EXPLORE HYPOTHESIS

1. Housing Authority, “Farragut Houses”: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/html/developments/bklynfarragut.shtml

2. Keith Williams, “Promised a Supermarket Five Years Ago, A Housing Project Is Still Waiting,” , 17 April, 2015: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/nyregion/promised-a-supermarket-five-years- ago-a-housing-project-is-still-waiting.html.