tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post1281061126925463065..comments2024-02-19T05:18:27.849-05:00Comments on <center>the Q at Parkside</center>: Fighting Gentrification In All the Wrong WaysClarkson FlatBedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13463744536115119388noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-70026324572323684062016-09-02T21:36:47.608-04:002016-09-02T21:36:47.608-04:00I like the idea that one can find the cause of gen...I like the idea that one can find the cause of gentrification, and that there is a beginning.<br /><br />It's like finding the start of a circle.MikeFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12947132324744364565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-54842008381024582622016-09-02T18:59:05.496-04:002016-09-02T18:59:05.496-04:00We can safely state that gentrification began shor...We can safely state that gentrification began shortly after Columbus arrived. And it hasn't stopped. The process goes on, and will always go on, however its opponents get old, retire, move away or die. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the city government favors gentrification, which increases tax revenue and permits the financing of some subsidized construction and its tenants.<br /><br />This isn't new information.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-34863253939947488312016-09-01T11:53:32.276-04:002016-09-01T11:53:32.276-04:00"Had we the money we probably would have boug..."Had we the money we probably would have bought there [Lefferts Manor], but it was never in our price range"<br /><br />You're too young Tim :-)<br /><br />Mee too--if I were 5 years older I could have bought in Park Slope; 10 years--Brooklyn Heights. We're both lucky because old city houses were so under-valued back in the day (whenever that was). I miss the days of Everett Ortner's "school teachers coup", when a couple of teachers could but an old house and live "like millionaires" for very little money. Being a literal millionaire (solely by virtue of my house's appreciation) isn't anywhere near as good.Bob Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734112800580467028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-48499144163755050782016-09-01T11:43:34.631-04:002016-09-01T11:43:34.631-04:00The intention of the Lefferts family was no doubt ...The intention of the Lefferts family was no doubt to get the maximum price for their lots. They set a minimum price for houses that would be built and set other standards about what could or couldn't be done. To their credit they did not incorporate the sort of racial or religious restrictions that were common at the time and (although no longer enforceable) remain in many other restrictive covenants.Bob Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734112800580467028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-32936268157613167322016-09-01T11:35:52.707-04:002016-09-01T11:35:52.707-04:00"Bob may be right that the deed restrictions ..."Bob may be right that the deed restrictions helped keep the neighborhood diverse, by which I think he means somewhat white".<br /><br />Well, yes, to a degree, BUT STILL integrated. Saul Alinsky famously wrote that integration was just a temporary step in a process that inexorably lead to re-segregation. Despite the best efforts of block-busting real estate speculators in the '60s that did not happen here.Bob Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734112800580467028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-4245574311682689412016-09-01T09:15:21.601-04:002016-09-01T09:15:21.601-04:00Yes, there are several lovely things about the cov...Yes, there are several lovely things about the covenant, but as far as our interpretation of American history goes, it would be unjust to brush aside the true intentions of its creators.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792646871333738725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-12270688997026754532016-08-31T23:33:16.195-04:002016-08-31T23:33:16.195-04:00Babs I don't think anyone could argue that wha...Babs I don't think anyone could argue that what's happened in Barf Slope and Fort Preen and Brooklyn Beights have caused any harm. They look great, and by splitting them up more people get to live there. Plus, if you're rich enough (as some folks I know are) you hire a good contractor and put it back in mint condition, plaster and all, with central air to boot.<br /><br />Bob may be right that the deed restrictions helped keep the neighborhood diverse, by which I think he means somewhat white. But even that's kinda...weird. I find the whole thing sort of bizarre in a city like ours but dang some of those houses are nice and barely fucked with, and I can certainly appreciate that. Had we the money we probably would have bought there, but it was never in our price range. The wife still has some envy, but it usually passes when we realize how lucky we are to have a home at all.Clarkson FlatBedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13463744536115119388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-28727367997336300542016-08-31T23:15:52.492-04:002016-08-31T23:15:52.492-04:00I totally support the covenant. Look at what has b...I totally support the covenant. Look at what has been done to the townhouses in other neighborhoods like Brooklyn Heights, Bark Slope, and Fort Greene, which have been cut up into ugly, tiny apartments. Our architectural details and quality of life have been preserved thanks to the covenant. If you want a real, intact house, this is the place to come!babshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08365488181982105888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-49211865262611875172016-08-31T13:54:11.697-04:002016-08-31T13:54:11.697-04:00You're very likely right Alex as to the origin...You're very likely right Alex as to the original intent of the covenant. It's ironic (in a good way) that a restrictive covenant, historically a tool for racial and religious prejudice, eventually contributed greatly to building a successfully integrated neighborhood here.Bob Marvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12734112800580467028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-21516858995338357162016-08-30T09:03:12.934-04:002016-08-30T09:03:12.934-04:00As a relevant aside, the Lefferts Manor deed coven...As a relevant aside, the Lefferts Manor deed covenant was created to keep immigrants and poor people out of the neighborhood. The covenant made it possible for the developer to say to buyers, "Don't worry, THAT can't happen to these homes," referring to the tenements of the Lower East Side and elsewhere.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00792646871333738725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-20274863428894863462016-08-29T16:20:57.216-04:002016-08-29T16:20:57.216-04:00That's your reading. I actually presented this...That's your reading. I actually presented this as how if you WANT to fight gentrification, MTOPP and Equality 4 Flatbush are doing it all wrong. Not that they care what I think.<br /><br />I find the whole anti-gentrification thing highly suspect to begin with. There are other more specific issues, and parsing them out makes a lot more sense.<br /><br />I'm beginning to think you, anon, don't read things very closely. That's okay. I don't write them very closely either.Clarkson FlatBedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13463744536115119388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541468051247516447.post-9018552004350725562016-08-29T15:49:45.889-04:002016-08-29T15:49:45.889-04:00Here we go again, the enemy is rich people who don...Here we go again, the enemy is rich people who don't share your values!<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com