Brooklyn Desires

Just Commentary

The time was cold and snowy. I was called to Brooklyn in the hard part of winter.  It was a fifteen story high rise yet to be occupied. It was in a state of disrepair and abandoned , a hulking glass tower wanting to die. The owner in deep trouble over foreclosure and misappropriation of funds. There had been a death on this property that forced this hand .  A worker wanting to impress his boss had decided to visit the top of the building and was not tied off. He was blown over the side  and subsequently died from the fall. It was shut down by OSHA, two years and counting.   This begins my involvement and journey to Brooklyn. The bank hired my previous boss to get this property ready for foreclosure and resale.

The problem was that the current holder of the note wanted no part of this and proceeded to fill the entire garage parking space  with garbage. This of course in New York attracted hundreds of rats! He then had dogs installed in the building to capture some of the rats but in the interim they left their own business that was never cleaned or taken care of in any manner. This was just a great addition to the problems. This man had not paid so many of the subcontractors and causing elevators not to work, all work unfinished , damaged , hidden,  destroyed  and incomplete in so many ways.

There was no heat in this building since nothing had been finished , elevators disabled , well over 300 leaks in the glass wall which was the actual buildings sides. Everything had to be carried to every floor and there was much to be carried. Kitchens were torn apart and needed to be put back together, all the parts strewn all over the basement and none marked . All different by 1/16 of an inch. Needless to say this was a nightmare.

It was here in the heart of Brooklyn I learned to love Sushi. It was one of those tiny places that are so common in NYC, and at the same time so good. The longer we were there the more I came to understand these neighborhoods , how they functioned and just how separate they are just a few blocks from one another.

I grew to appreciate the wonderful architecture and wonderful work on the churches.  My initial thoughts of this city were to be aware. This is not so. It is simply a world apart. Each neighborhood separate and distinct. This brings me to CHANCE 11.  This was a bar we escaped to at the end of an eleven hour workday I a building with no heat or elevator. We slowly cleaned this place and disposed of the vermin. Dog feeces gone  and at the end of these cold and empty days we escaped.  Chance 11 had a quiet respite while not playing rap . It also had Hema!

This is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen! She was from the UK, held a doctors degree. She must have been 26, maybe? She tended bar and was the total package , which she actually referred to herself as. There was no disagreement with me. She was Indian or Pakistani, her parents were both doctors in the UK. Her complexion was the most wonderful , perfectly so smart . well put together, educated , so beautiful , long dark hair and so well spoken. I wish I was 30 years younger , smarter  and better educated!

This was my memory of Brooklyn and I am grateful for this!