Cobble Hill Tunnel Tours May Soon Close (PHOTOS)

Until recently, New Yorkers have been able to glimpse a piece of decayed (but preserved) history below ground-- the abandoned Atlantic Avenue tunnel in Brooklyn. Opened in 1844, the Cobble Hill Tunnel is the oldest below-ground subway in North America. In the past few years intrepid visitors were (legally) sheparded down into the belly of the tunnel with flashlights and encouraged to look around. [SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOS]

Last week, we wrote about an amazing event that Rooftop Films was throwing called "Trapped in the Tunnel" in which films were showcased in the abandoned tunnel, along with an accompanying tour by tunnel aficionado Bob Diamond. The organizers found out hours before their event was to begin that the FDNY was shutting it down for safety reasons.

The Rooftop Films released this statement:

This came as a complete surprise to us, as we had every reason to believe the events were entirely legal and sanctioned. While we believe that the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel is a valuable and historic New York City landmark, we also have a strong commitment to safety, and hope that arrangements can be made to reopen the Tunnel safely and legally so that it can again be enjoyed by all New Yorkers and visitors.

It appears now that this episode has caused irreparable harm to the regular weekly tour in the tunnel. Organizer Bob Diamond says that the FDNY is threatening to shut him down for good. "I believe these actions on the City's part are purely politically motivated for some reason unknown to me," he told Gothamist.

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Inside The Tunnel

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Comments

[BlueLogic]

07:47 PM on 01/09/2011

I must have walked past this stretch more times than I can count and I had no idea of this tunnel right here in Brooklyn.

[GonzoLoungeLizard]

11:11 PM on 01/02/2011

I think it's fair to say that if a fire broke out there would be an getting people up through the manhole

[GonzoLoungeLizard]

11:11 PM on 01/02/2011

*an issue.

[Totto]

07:18 PM on 12/21/2010

What ought to be restored and preserved is the IRT City Hall tunnel, not this rat hole.

[Max Shaw]

12:36 PM on 12/17/2010

Can someone please explain to me WHY it is that we can climb down into manhole cover in the middle of Atlantic Ave to look at a tunnel...when we are NOT allowed to go view the Underbelly Art Project???? This is complete BS...

At least the art would be something interesting and unique to look at. If I wanted to see something old in a subway tunnel I would just RIDE THE SUBWAY AFTER 2 AM!!

[AntonioVTorres]

09:38 AM on 12/15/2010

That's rentable space in my eyes. The FDNY shouldn't even have say over this property. Remember the pot cave out in California I think. They turned it into some kinda cheese thing. I don't remember fully. I can see something like that happening here as well. They need to get some inspectors down there, work out a viable entrance b/c ladders suck, etc etc etc.

[lj9283]

01:09 PM on 12/14/2010

"The construction of the IRT is well documented in this 1904 commemorative book honoring the opening of New York's first subway. It includes construction diagrams, photographs, and a full accounting of the infrastructure of the IRT subway."

http://www.nycsubway.org/articles/irtbook_index.html

[pierre F Lherisson]

12:05 PM on 12/14/2010

If it is safe from harmful radiation, flooding, has adequate ventilation and is structurally sound, then the city should find a creative way to generate revenue from it

[MirrorMonkey]

04:25 PM on 12/30/2010

And fire exits?

Ohhhhh, yeahhhhh - those things.

Never mind....

[iwn2000]

11:04 AM on 12/14/2010

Sounds like somebody on the city council wasn't getting their bribery payment and decided to crack down. What a shame. I took this tour, it's a great piece of history and a great story of a man determined to find a piece of city history without any help from the powers that be.

[mamased]

12:42 PM on 12/14/2010

Way to jump from A - Z.

[BassguyGG]

10:12 AM on 12/14/2010

I've done this and it is one of the coolest things to do in New York! It is the closest thing to the Catacombs you can see anywhere in the USA. I've done a little "urban spelunking" in my day and the underground of NYC is one of the most fascinating places in the world. Check out this site with pics of abandoned NYC subway station. http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/

[Gerald Serlin]

09:05 PM on 12/13/2010

This is a tourist attraction other places would die for. Why not lease it to an operator, who would be required to make it safe before opening it to the paying public? The cash-starved City of NY would benefit in many ways as would the citizens.

[Balzac]

08:34 PM on 12/13/2010

Looks like a great tour.

[1donewrong]

07:25 PM on 12/13/2010

Why not let the homeless stay there??

[onlyaquarterdelusional]

08:22 PM on 12/13/2010

Because in 2 weeks it would stink like piss for 2 decades besides building codes would wisely call this space not habitable. Light, ventilation, exit requirements, etc... but it really would make for a great club.

[BassguyGG]

10:13 AM on 12/14/2010

Don't worry, the rest of the NYC Subway system already does!

[peebo]

07:13 PM on 12/13/2010

Aw, that sucks. I went over the summer and it was really interesting. Diamond is da man!
http://reclaimedhome.com/2010/07/26/yo-brooklyn-has-the-oldest-subway/

[whizzobutter]

06:45 PM on 12/13/2010

It's really starting to annoy me that so many writers on HuffPo, who have the amazing privilege of seeing their material published here, don't know how to spell. Sheparded?

I see WAY too much of this on HP.

[jackhole]

06:16 PM on 12/13/2010

"Bob Diamond says that the FDNY is threatening to shut him down for good. "I believe these actions on the City's part are purely politically motivated for some reason unknown to me,"

Well Bob the answer may be found in the quote below:

"Last week, we wrote about an amazing event that Rooftop Films was throwing called "Trapped in the Tunnel" ----HP

[mamased]

12:46 PM on 12/14/2010

Yah know Bob, maybe what you are doing might be dangerous and illegal. How about trying to get approval BEFORE you make your cash