Maspeth Avenue Holders (Also known as Greenpoint Gas Holders, Keyspan Gas Holders or Brooklyn Union Gas Holders) were a pair of 400-foot tall twin natural gas holders located on Maspeth Avenue in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.[1] They were the tallest of their kind when constructed, until their demolition in 2001.[2][3][4][5]
The gas holders were built by Brooklyn Union Gas, the first of them, Maspeth Gas Holder No. 1 was constructed in 1927,[6][7] followed by its twin, Maspeth Gas Holder No. 2, which was constructed in 1948.[8][9] The top portions of both structures had a red and white checkered paint-scheme as instructed by the FAA to prevent airplane collisions.[10]
Both gas holders fell into disuse by the 1990s respectively, as Maspeth Gas Holder No. 1 decommissioned in 1992, and Maspeth Gas Holder No. 2 decommissioned in 1997.[11]
Demolition
In April 2001, KeySpan received a permit to implode the tanks from the city of Department of Buildings. In June 2001, company officials announced the demolition plans at a community board meeting, and met with neighborhood groups on July 11, to inform them as to what precautions were being taken to prevent lead dust in the surrounding area.[2][12]
On July 15, 2001, at 7:00am, the two gas holders were both imploded with 750 pounds of explosives, by main contractor Mercer Wrecking Recycling Corp. of Trenton, New Jersey and subcontractor Controlled Demolition, Inc.[13][11][12][5][4]
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