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Around Brooklyn: Danny DeVito buys Brooklyn brownstone

February 12, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle Staff
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Danny DeVito buys Brooklyn brownstone

Movie and TV star Danny DeVito of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Taxi” fame quietly purchased a Clinton Hill brownstone in January of 2020, the New York Post has discovered. DeVito’s and wife Rhea Perlman’s names are both on the deed. The brownstone, unlike most, was built fairly recently, in 2014, and has four bedrooms and five bathrooms. It is unknown exactly how much the home sold for, according to the New York Post.

Vaccine centers coming to Brooklyn, Queens

Two new major vaccine distribution centers will be coming to Brooklyn and Queens starting the week of Feb. 24, according to the Governor’s Office. The sites, at York College in Jamaica and at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights, are meant to address disparities in vaccine access in Black and Hispanic communities. The centers will each have a supply of 3,000 doses per day, and their supply will come from a special allocation from the federal government. The centers will be staffed by federal army personnel and state guard members and will be open only to members of their respective boroughs.

LIRR problems this weekend

The Long Island Rail Road won’t run in Brooklyn this weekend because of a maintenance project, the MTA announced. Railroad service will be suspended between Jamaica station and the Atlantic Terminal in Downtown Brooklyn from 5 a.m. Saturday to 1 a.m. Sunday, and again between 5 a.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday. The suspension means that commuters won’t be able to catch LIRR trains from Atlantic Terminal, Nostrand Avenue or East New York during this period, according to Patch.

Brooklyn educator stresses social justice issues

Lakeasha Williams, principal of P.S. 399 in Flatbush, is stressing social justice issues in her school because she believes kids need to learn early about other cultures, especially the ones represented among the student body. Most recently Williams sponsored a “Brown Girls Empowerment” activity that focused on the election of Vice President Kamala Harris. “Every child that walks through our doors, guess what walks in with them: their language, their skin culture, their culture,” said Williams, according to published reports.

Brighton Towers gets $35M refinancing

Capital One has provided a $35 million Fannie Mae loan for the refinancing of Brighton Towers, a Brighton Beach waterfront luxury apartment complex. The 10-year loan, which features a 2.64 percent interest rate, was brokered by Meridian Capital Group. Located at 40-50 Brighton 1st Road, the 450-unit, luxury co-op property is 97 percent sold. The 16-story building features a heated swimming pool, sauna, fitness center, 24/7 security, a part-time doorman, an on-site building manager and a laundry room, according to Commercial Observer. The building is managed by Brooklyn-based TKR Property Services.

Construction tops out at Clinton Hill building

Construction has topped out at 550 Clinton Ave., a 29-story residential tower in Clinton Hill. The building, designed by Morris Adjmi Architects and developed by Hope Street Capital, is bound by Atlantic Avenue to the south, Clinton Avenue to the east and Vanderbilt Avenue to the west. The building will have 284 apartments and about 60,000 square feet of retail stores, according to New York YIMBY.

Brooklyn artist’s work at Macy’s

A Brooklyn-raised artist’s work is on display at Macy’s windows nationwide as part of Black History Month. Michael Anthony Pegues says growing up in Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights had a profound impact on his work. “I was hanging out with guys who were tagging trains and all that stuff like that,” he said. Pegues was looking to get his work noticed on a grand scale, and so he turned to Macy’s. “I believe this summer he came into our store in Herald Square, went into our visual offices and said he needed to be in our windows,” said Macy’s National Windows Director Manny Urquizo, according to News 12 Brooklyn.

Jewelry firm grows at Brooklyn Navy Yard

Catbird, a jewelry company at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, started 16 years ago in a tiny apartment above a retail store in Williamsburg and now has more than 100 employees. The first moved to the Yard three years ago and now has two spaces in Building 77. Rony Vardi, owner of the firm, says, “Catbird has been able to keep making its rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets.” Online sales have allowed Catbird to hire new workers. “I think jewelry makes people feel really good and, at times of stress, you can buy jewelry without really breaking the bank,” Vardi told News 1 Brooklyn.

Cops’ horses break free in Midwood

Two mounted NYPD officers lost control of their horses in Midwood on Thursday afternoon, police said. The incident took place around 12:30 p.m. when the officers climbed down from their mounts because one had a minor medical issue. Something then scared the stallions, named Samson and Freedom, and they started running down the street near East 8th Street and Quentin Road. Police gave chase and caught up to the horses, which were back in their police vehicle by early afternoon, according to the New York Post.

Cemetery seeks to ID WWII vets

Green-Wood Cemetery is asking the public’s help to identify World War II veterans that are buried on its historic grounds in honor of the 80th anniversary of the country’s entry into the war. The Brooklyn cemetery launched a World War II Project on Thursday to identify and honor all “permanent residents” who served during the war both overseas and at home, whether military, medical or civilian. The project is the latest in Green-Wood’s efforts to uncover and highlight the stories of its veterans, who can be hard to identify given that burial records and gravestones don’t always indicate military service, according to Patch.

Suspect caught in ’93 murder

A man who is wanted for a 1993 murder in East New York has been arrested in the Dominican Republic and is now facing charges. Luis Carmona, who was 20 at the time, allegedly shot Jose Rafael Laro during an argument on Aug. 17, 1993 at Pitkin and Warwick avenues. The location may have been drug-related. A Brooklyn grand jury indicted Laro for the slaying in 1994. Recently, members of the NYPD Cold Case Squad were able to locate Carmona in the Dominican Republic and, with the help local authorities and the FBI, had him arrested. Carmona, appearing before a Kings County Criminal Court judge on Feb. 9, pleaded not guilty, according to published reports.

Adams demands higher capacity indoor dining

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez (D-Manhattan) along with restaurant owners and workers on Thursday to demand the State set out a clear timeline to allow indoor dining to re-open at 50 percent capacity, and extend their hours to midnight, as soon as possible. They denounced the City and State’s inadequate response to their industry’s severe economic struggles and urge greater relief measures to keep food service establishments afloat during and after the pandemic. The event took place outside Balboa Restaurant, 1655 Bedford Ave.

Cornegy officially launches campaign

City Councilmember Robert E. Cornegy (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) on Thursday was joined by family members, supporters and endorsers at a Zoom rally to formally launch his campaign for Brooklyn borough president. There were appearances and taped messages by special guests, including Brooklyn native and NYC basketball star Chris Mullin, Brooklyn-raised actor and comedian Tracy Morgan and Teamsters 237 President Gregory Floyd.

Cumbo: Capital Funding Applications Open

City Councilmember Laurie Cumbo (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn) is reminding her constituents and nonprofit organizations that the NYC Council Discretionary Funding Expense Application is now open. All not-for-profit community-based organizations that wish to apply for New York City Council’s discretionary funding for FY2022 must submit a Council Application. The FY2022 application is now available on the Council’s website. The submission deadline will be on Tuesday, February 16.

Compiled by Raanan Geberer.

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