Briefly Noted: 80 Flatbush Demo, Indie Publishers, National Dog Day & More

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Scaffolding, netting, and sidewalk sheds surround 80 Flatbush (Photo: Pamela Wong/Bklyner)
      • Demolition has begun on the controversial 80 Flatbush development, Brownstoner reports. Despite a lawsuit launched by Boerum Hill residents seeking to halt the construction of two towers—one 986 feet and another 840 feet—applications for demolition permits were filed by the developers earlier this year.
      • Cyanobacteria, the toxic algae that can be fatal to dogs, has been found in Central Park, Morningside Park, and Prospect Park, the New York Times reports. Keep dogs leashed and do not allow them to swim in or drink from lakes and ponds, NYC Parks warns. Dogs can collapse or die after ingesting contaminated water or licking toxic algae from their fur, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adds.
      • NPR spoke with the artist behind “Sonic Succulents: Plant Sounds and Vibrations,” a new exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden that invites visitors to listen to corn grow.
      • Publishers Weekly takes a look inside the Old American Can Factory’s burgeoning independent publishing community including Akashic Books, Archipelago Books, Ugly Duckling Presse, Restless Books, and the literary magazine One Story.
      • Comptroller Scott Stringer, Congress Members Nydia Velazquez and Hakeem Jeffries, and Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, have sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) requesting more info on the impending rehabilitation of the 1.5-mile triple-cantilever portion of the BQE between Atlantic Avenue and Sands Street. The officials are asking that DOT provide details on the project’s schedule, scope, and financing by September 13, according to Curbed.
      • And finally, Happy National Dog Day! Check out Twitter for some canine cuteness.