Where's Wall? Doh!

A couple weeks back we reported on developments at the former Brooklyn Ready-Mix cement lot bounded by Kent Avenue, North 3rd, North 4th and Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg. Building permits allowing construction of an eight-foot plywood wall around the collection of lots suggested that the new owners - a real estate investment group headed by Meyer and Joseph Chetrit (which collectively holds more than $3 billion in real estate including Chicago's Sears Tower) - was preparing to develop residential units on the property.

Now, a curious twist: at some point in the past couple of days, about half the wall - which by Brooklyn construction standards is about as handsome as they get - has been removed. Posts pulled out of the sidewalk, everything. A quick scan of building permits gave no clue, although the fact that the property is made up of three separate lots could explain the partial removal. Or maybe the giant rats ate it.

Meanwhile, the former Mebel Z Polski Showroom building at the corner of Wythe and North 4th is once again accessible - precariously gaping holes and all.