Demolition to begin near railyards next month

I read in the NYT this morning (New York/Region section) that six Ratner-owned buildings near the railyards will be demolished next month. One of the slated buildings is the Underberg. The others are garages and apartment buildings.

I seem to remember some indication on the atlantic side of underberg that part of it used to be a grocery store. Anybody know this history of the place?

Oh, maybe supermarket equipment.

Nice thread at citynoise. I'll shut up now.

Here, according to FCR, are the buildings that will be demolished:

608-620 Atlantic Avenue (the Underberg Building); 461, 463 and 585 Dean Street; and 620 and 622 Pacific Street.

I believe as many as four of those buildings were occupied before their landlords evicted tenants to sell to Ratner. Anybody recall exactly?

Ratner needs to prove "blight" in order to invoke eminent domain, so it looks like he's doing a little blighting of his own.

bruce may wanna get a permit for these demolitions.