My computer crashed...The "water control feature" was in a lot in landfill where 
there had been shipyards on the Lower Eastside of Manhattan (Grossman et al) 
where the film "Batteries Not Included" had been filmed prior.  It was 
connected to what were thought stone drainage channels as part of the 
former house and filled with a dozen chamber pots, clay marbles and "abolition 
coinage" minted to remind people to end slavery I suppose by showing up in 
pockets or purses.  

Also in what is known as "Alphabet City" due to the eastward placement of 
streets past 1st or First Ave., the cardinal numbers for north south streets run 
up as they go west, hence A, B, C, and D Avenues in Manhattan, they cover 
what had been some important shipyards, one became a naval architecture 
school, the Webb Institute on Long Island. That shipyard produced many 
"cutting edge" vessels for foreign governments, our own, playing catchup later, 
due to our "disinterest".

George Myers