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January 17, 2006

Cleared

The scaffolding around the heartbreakingly half-demolished Todd Shipyards building has served as a home base for the homeless pretty much ever since it was erected. Over the summer, someone moved a sofa in. By September, he or she (I could never figure out the gender) had installed hotplates and the encampment stretched the entire length of the scaffolding.

Then, about three weeks ago, the entire neighborhood was swept clean. Beard Street, which is usually the repository for anything dumped, was suddenly barren. One could even spy rake lines in the dirt. The homeless tenant lasted until this weekend; yesterday afternoon�s walk revealed that she/he was completely gone, leaving behind only a few charred bits where fires had sat and some extra (or responses to the) graffiti on the wall.

I do hope that the person found a warm place. The settlement seemed so permanent�I wonder if there was an eviction by the city/IKEA or if they left willingly. Either way, it is bizarre to see Beard Street so clean. I am glad that we spent some time looking at the ground last month, as all of those shipyard records from the 1940�s would have been long gone.

Posted by callalillie at January 17, 2006 6:43 AM | City Life , Red Hook

COMMENTS

Posted by: Dope on the Slope at January 17, 2006 3:04 PM