tour or photos wanted: Old armory at Washington and Dean

whynot_31 · December 2008

It's a large old armory, currently used by the Nigerian Muslim Alliance.

I've seen folks using it for services, but because I am neither a Nigerian or Muslim, I haven't yet had the opportunity to stick my head in to look around.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=classon+ave,+brooklyn&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=53.961216,114.257812&ie=UTF8&ll=40.679265,-73.963429&spn=0.000797,0.001743&t=h&z=20&layer=c&cbll=40.679271,-73.963535&panoid=q9PXL3RqPkL8i6m7UkeHcA&cbp=12,32.28679122635123,,0,5

It is a huge building, (1850s?). Great turrets and classic massive brick architecture. I would love either a tour or photos. Can you hook me up?

I will respect your house of worship.

Thanks

ilovefranklinave · December 2008

Swing by on a Saturday or Sunday morning--they almost always have events going on and if you caught them afterwards, I'm sure you ask to meet the minister/community leader/whoever runs the place and get set up with a tour.

whynot_31 · December 2008

I'll do that if blogging my way in doesn't work. ...if there is enough interest from fellow posters, and I'm permitted to take some, I'll post photos.

Getting in this building should be pretty easy... it is used often.

ilovefranklinave · December 2008

Post them, for sure. Are you the person who posted a bunch of cool photos of St. Joseph's on Flickr?

http://flickr.com/photos/franklynch/sets/72157602258301225/

whynot_31 · December 2008

nope, not me. ...but I did go in that church before services a few years ago, just to wander around. That's a really big crumbling complex that I thought for sure the Catholic church would sell once Atlantic Yards got going. ...now that AY isn't going to happen, it will still be around I guess..

Back to the Nigerian Muslim Alliance: Can some feedback from a Muslim reader whether my request would be well received?

ilovefranklinave · December 2008

Hey, whynot, here's another place to bring your camera if you haven't already:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/nyregion/17convent.html?_r=1

I'd love to see what the grounds look like more thoroughly.

whynot_31 · December 2008

I'm into "big cavernous and decrepit". ....the only big high ceilinged place they have is likely the chapel, and it looks to be in good shape. Besides, nuns freak me out.

On a related topic: If you've ever ridden the Hudson Line of Metro North, you'll see a huge unused powerplant at the Garrison station. Despite the asbestos and pcb warnings, I was in there once, it was awesome.

Mercury and asbestos = ok
Nuns = not ok.

...I'll keep working on getting in the old armory. So far, this board hasn't led to any good leads. C'mon, didn't one of you readers used to date the guy who sweeps the floors?

king without a crown · December 2008

The owner of the the Church is named Ade, hes there on the weekends during services. I'm sure he'll have no problem letting you in to look around. Unfortunately, the building hadn't been maintained in years and last time I was in there it was in a state of disrepair; with most of the details you'd expect to see sheet rocked over.

whynot_31 · December 2008

Thanks KWAC. I'll likely see if Ade is around the Mosque some weekend in January.

Yes, I can imagine that it is very hard to maintain something so huge. ...and have to assume that Ade was able to buy the property back when the abandoned buildings were auctioned in the 80s. ...should be interesting nonetheless.

I've been in large beautiful mosques in Muslim countries ...my fascination with this one is that is so off the beaten path, and huge.

tour or photos wanted: Old armory at Washington and Dean

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