Author: Katherine Rivard

Feature Story

When will the city offer public relief?

The bathroom at Louis Valentino, Jr. Park and Pier is unexpected, standing at the edge of the small park across from Hoek’s Pizza. The metal facility is about 12 feet long, with an overhang and a water bottle refill fountain on the side. A somewhat elaborate light system indicates whether the toilet is occupied, vacant, out of order, or cleaning. […]

Feature Story

Three ducks in a row (house), by Katherine Rivard

In the front yard of a house on Clinton Street on the Gowanus side of Carroll Gardens is a modest pond with enormous koi—each one easily more than two feet long. A mesh cover protects them, allowing the fish to grow long and fat, free from the prying talons of would-be feasters. The fish—white and orange and so unexpectedly thriving […]

Feature Story

Solving housing and senior problems in a fell swoop, by Katherine Rivard

Most people have a “bad roommate” story—an out-of-control college bunkmate, a Craigslist find gone wrong, or even a friendship that soured once shared chores came into the mix. But there are also plenty of happy pairings that go unreported. These pairings are critical in New York City, where affordable housing is hard to find; sharing a space can mean the […]