Fire!!

A beautiful old industrial wreck of a building went up in HUGE flames this morning, right outside my window: a fire that burned all day and went from a 9-alarm fire to 10-alarm (80 units!) this afternoon, after going all morning. The sunset was impressive, and even now (2AM) there is a cloud of white smoke rising - the firefighters have lit up the area as they continue working.

This fire is on a plot of land that's due to be developed into this.

I feel sick. The owner, Joshua Guttman, has had other buildings of his burn down under similar odd circumstances. A rumor was floting about the Gothamist that a meeting had been scheduled for tonight to discuss granting the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse landmark status, which I think it deserved. World's largest rope factory in the late 19th century! Other rumors (including a woman on the street today - I do get out occasionally) say that they already had a demolition permit, but burning is cheaper - and gets them out of disposing of toxic industrial waste properly.

I hope they get Guttman for this. More futilely, I hope the development doesn't happen and they turn it into public waterfront access - there's far too little of that in this neighborhood.

I regret never going inside when wandering about those warehouses (a bit afraid of the squatters, I was). The photos from inside look even more fascinating & intruiging than the arial walkways and wreckage on the outside. If I'd know it wasn't going to last... but nothing does, in New York. Nevermind, I'm being a silly industrial wasteland romantic. It's much better to put it to good use, like housing for all the homeless haute bohemians who are so *over* SoHo already.

Sorry for the late post, all my dear non-readers - my wireless card is being fussy tonight

Update: 36 hours later, the wreckage is still smoking. This morning the wind was such that you smelled the smoke walking to the L - I was thankful that it turned by the evening.

Roommate Michelle has a Fireman Friend (Rob), who was at the fire all of yesterday. He's quite sure it was arson. Apparently the firetrucks kept overheating, so they'd have to take breaks - and then the fire would rear up again and make their progress moot.