April 22, 2020

Brooklynites may remember the days when the Hamilton House, a famous restaurant and catering hall known for its elegance and style, was the place for dinner or to hold an affair, for weddings to graduations and anything else one could think of. From there one could stroll in the park across the street and soak up the energies while looking at the Verrazano Bridge. Bridal parties took pics in the park, and to this day, still do.

There was no building above the Hamilton House until 35 years ago when the building you see here was built. I found my way here on 9/1/91 when I took a job as a realtor, sold my house, and knew this is where I would spend the rest of my life.

When I moved in the restaurant was between owners eventually changing hands four more times, but always remaining a restaurant. Within those changes, the name of the building became the Bridge Hamilton.

Five years ago the last of the restaurants closed as tenants wondered what would happen next. After months of construction it became an urgent care center much to my delight as having a doctor this close in case of emergency felt right. The years passed but it never opened, the reason being too many other urgent care facilities in the neighborhood.

Today I discovered they had finally opened at the time of the coronavirus pandemic when First Responders and Health Care Workers are in the news every day, the heroes of the hour.

I tapped on the window and asked a nurse if they are only open during the pandemic or if they are going to stay open. She said that as far as she knew it would be permanent.

Now we get to the flipside ... as there is always a flipside ... There are many tenants who do not want sick people this close to home. Actually patients come through the side door you see here, park in the street, and never enter the building. I am not concerned.