Maspeth Gas Holders

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Maspeth Avenue Holders
Maspeth Gas Holders
General information
Location Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York City
Coordinates 40°43′7″N73°56′2″W / 40.71861°N 73.93389°W / 40.71861; -73.93389
Completed
  • Gas Holder No. 1: 1927
  • Gas Holder No. 2: 1948
DemolishedJuly 15, 2001
Owner KeySpan
Height400 ft (121.92 m)
Design and construction
Main contractorBrooklyn Union Gas

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]

Contents

History

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 7:00 am, 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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References

  1. "Maspeth Gas Holders". www.emporis.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "The Tanks Came Tumbling Down". Queens Gazette. July 18, 2001.
  3. Tutton, Robert (May 20, 2015). "Remembering Brooklyn's Maspeth Holders, Demolished in 2001". Curbed NY.
  4. 1 2 "Vault: Iconic Greenpoint Gas Tanks imploded in 2001". ABC7 New York. July 27, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Brooklyn Loses Greenpoint Tanks". The New York Times. Associated Press. July 15, 2001.
  6. "Keyspan Gas Holder No.1, New York City". SkyscraperPage.com.
  7. "Maspeth Gas Holder 1, New York City". www.emporis.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022.
  8. "Drawings of Keyspan Gas Holder No.2". SkyscraperPage.com.
  9. "Maspeth Gas Holder 2, New York City". www.emporis.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022.
  10. "Implosion of Maspeth Holders – Digital Collections". Brooklyn Public Library.
  11. 1 2 "More Photos of Keyspan Gas Holders Implosion". legacy.phillyblast.com.
  12. 1 2 Newman, Andy (July 9, 2001). "Last Days for Brooklyn's Giants; Twin Tanks Carry a Love-Hate Reputation to the End". The New York Times.
  13. "KeySpan Energy Gas Holders". Controlled Demolition Inc.