Yes, Dickens nailed it when describing the ambivalence folks have been feeling about the nabe recently, at least in semi-private conversations I've had, and perhaps you've had too. Okay, I'm being dramatic. But one couplet of pics neatly describes the ups and downs of neighborhood life.
The Parks department apparently came by to put up this lovely pit guard. Why just one on a street full of trees? Is it possible private citizens paid for its installation? More info please!
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| Pic by Rudy on W |
And then just down the street, a sign of City negligence and neighbors' indifference:
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| Pic by Rudy on W |
And yet, signs of life and forward-motion persist. One of the Fabulous Fanning Brothers tells me he saw private citizens cleaning up the trash around the Lincoln Road and Gino's Restaurant area, and for a few hours it looked positively Germanic along the Autobahn! (and who were those unmasked men, anyway?)
And not to be too cryptic, but a probably swell new upscaley food/beverage joint will move into the vacant space next to Gino's sit-down-and-order place. Things are moving forward on Lincoln Road, both with impending closures and impending openings. More soon, I promise, but I'm not at liberty to go into details. (okay, LPT's days are numbered. There I said it. But you're probably not surprised.)
The food and smoovies at B'Fruitee are delicious by the way. Owner-operator Sherma and her husband have run other businesses on the Flabenue, including part ownership in Rhythm Splash (they were bought out recently and opened B'F). If you haven't given her a shout, and your money, then scurry on over and you'll be supporting a truly local business (they live down on Hawthorne Flat/Bed). And how 'bout those beet muffins? Why not add to the chorus of thumbs-ups on the Yelp?
Yes, the best, the worst. But as usual, the Q says mostly best, because a day doesn't go by that I don't feel the love for the people I meet and interact with. Most. But the guys playing gangsta next door have GOT to go. See? Best. Worst...
22 comments:
As I dropped my wee one off at daycare today I noticed that the entire block of Lefferts btwn Nostrand and Rogers is getting these awesome tree guards.
How do we get that mojo in more places??
-Paul on Ocean
Is that block of Lefferts in the Historic District?
Also, if LPT closes, what's going to replace it? It's amazing that all of the businesses on such an active commercial stretch would shutter in the span of a year.
Fenimore has these tree guards. Some of us called 311 a couple of years ago and then one day last year a group of people showed up and installed them. It wouldn't hurt if more people called 311 and requested them as well.
Lefferts btwn Rogers and Nostrand has a block association. From that comes traffic calming, tree pits, greenest block competitions, etc. etc.
"Is that block of Lefferts in the Historic District?"
Yes
I really hope there are some openings on Lincoln before there are more closings. It's starting to feel bleak on that block...
I have noticed that Flatbush has been way, way cleaner than it used to be. Have people been getting fined? Something changed for the better - makes a huge difference.
I want to further Tim's endorsement of B'Fruitee. The food there is really excellent and the owner is really nice and friendly. She seems to really enjoy what she's doing. If anyone is feeling pain from not having a coffee shop, try the coffer at B'Fruitee - it's excellent.
is it only me who has very mixed feelings about the fenced-in tree pits? Seems like for every nice, well-tended tree pit there are 3 that are nothing more than an overgrown weed patch that catches blowing trash...
Tree pits must be on someone's agenda. On Winthrop, the subject of the photos, the whole street is marked and pits are being dug (noisily) as I write this.
Notice the graffiti on the green mailbox in the top photo. I called 311 to find out how to get this graffiti removed as it has been spreading to some of the buildings along Bedford Avenue (I reported those). They said you have to report the mailboxes to the local post office which I did. (reported one on every corner from Lincoln Road to Fenimore Street). I was happy (and a bit surprised) to see that the first of the building graffiti was removed yesterday (within a week). Wouldn't hurt to call the post office (718) 773-9541 about many of the other mailboxes along Flatbush and elsewhere. (a fix a broken window kind of thing)
If those are made of any kind of scrappable metal and aren't set in concrete footings I give them a month. The paving stone surrounds on some of the million trees nyc plantings seem much more understated and elegant.
The tree guards are very firmly affixed in the cement. You have to request them from the city, which then requires that a majority of homeowners on the block confirm that they want them. No majority, no guards.
I'm on that block of Lefferts - we were approved for them two years ago, and the City explained the delay by saying that they were having problems with the factory that manufactures them - in China. WTF? Whatever, they're finally here - hallelujah.
Winthrop Street btw Flabenue and Bedford now has 10 new tree guards. It started a number of years ago when a woman on our block, Christine, circulated a petition and made the proper applications with the proper authorities. We all kind of gave up on it as there had been no word but many budget cutbacks, then Christine got an email saying they were on the way and now they are all installed. Generally a very good work crew but it helps to stay on top of them so everything goes in level.
Rob on Winthrop
I love the lovely tree guards. Huge facelift!
Let the bulb planting begin!
The square stock is solid, not hollow square tube. They wont be rusting out anytime soon.
Jenny on Winthrop Street
Glad everyone is excited about the tree beds... Now what about the fact that there seem to be more and more vacant retail spaces -and more to come? This is not a healthy sign for our neighborhood. How is it possible that PLG just continues to stay the same while all the other Brownstone neighborhoods get more and more good food, etc. Depressing walking down Lincoln Rd these days... And Flatbush. Can't get much for lunch here, or a good latte, or a bagel, or cheese, or fresh bread. I know I know we have the best Carribean food here but that's not what everyone wants to eat all the time here! Diversity in choices would be great!
I agree with anonymous 9:37 PM...why can't PLG sustain one coffee shop or even one bar catering to the gentrifiers? I'm sorry but there are a ton of young gentrifiers moving into this neighborhood and it would seem that there is a demand for stores that cater to them. They cannot expect these young people to stick around here because of good roti's or a fruit smoothie. They prefer craft beer and good burgers. Sorry to burst everyone's bubble but a couple of tree guards will not keep young renters staying in this neighborhood. Instead if the old timers continue; and i suspect, drive away businesses that cater to gentrifiers we can expect more gun violence and blatantly open drug dealing to occur. There have been many incidents such as the father assaulted on Lincoln Road because he was white and was screamed at by a female to get the hell out of their neighborhood. These type of incidents makes me assume most native PLG'ers do not want to see any change. Eventhough native can take on so many different connotations. Everyone talks about how diverse and integrated the neighborhood is but i really dont see it. I see the beginnings of racial tension boiling up between the gentrifiers and the people that have resided here the past 30 - 40 years. I really hope I'm wrong on this but PLG seems stuck in perpetual gang violence and they are the ones bribing the police to stay out and for landlords to avoid businesses that cater to gentrifiers. Look at Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights vs. us here. Its truly very sad.
Then open a craft beer and burger joint, anon. It takes guts and an insane work ethic to open places, and apparently you have neither. Your comment is full of generalizations. Franklin Ave by the way has been working on their yuppy project for more than a decade, planning, making safer, inviting and helping bizzes start. The Crow Hill association is what did it. Plus it was dead, nowhere to go but up. There is no leadership here, and the landlords don't care. Thats the real difference. And frankly, with attitudes like yours coming from the new crowd, there's little consensus for positive growth anyway. People move expecting everything to be handed to them. Its hard work making a place more livable. And race-wise, do you expect the area to role over and play dead? Of course there will be pushback. I'm surprised how litte actually. Look, you're either part of a solution and a community or part of the problem. Vote with your feet if you must. But the big change in demographics happened here very very recently, and apparently none of the new residents brought businesses with them. Change happens whether you approve or not, and sometimes it isnt smooth sailing.
I'm on Winthrop between Bedford and Rogers. I would love our block to have tree guards as well-what's the procedure?
Yes, it is insanely difficult to open a small business and then make it work. But coffee shops, and restaurants, and boutiques, and specialty shops are opening every day in Brooklyn, but they're not choosing PLG. Every time I see another solid restaurant or shop close in Park Slope because of over-saturation of the same stuff everywhere there, I can't help but think, if only they had opened in PLG. They perhaps would've had a better shot at success.
I have heard that some of the successful Mini Brooklyn Chains have come over here to have a look at our neighborhood: Connecticut Muffin, Bergen Bagels, just to name a few- and then they run as far as they can. Why? Because they see trash and loitering on Flatbush Avenue or a desolate road on Rogers, and the drug dealers on the corners. OF course we are also hurt by the greedy landlords who think they can ask Park Slope rents on this side of the park which is totally ridiculous. It's a vicious cycle and it needs to break.
So, does anyone here have any experience they can lend to help create a group that can attempt to work with the landlords to source businesses, and inspire a change here just like Franklin Avenue, Vanderbilt, Washington... I certainly would make myself available for something like this! I know there's some group out there called FEPMA or something that claims to be doing this, but it seems they could use an awful lot of help.
PLG is stuck in a rut and we need to get out of it, or all the people who want a little more amenities near their homes, will leave as quickly as they came, and then what?
Anon @ 12:14 - I'm totally with you - if there were a group that existed to help lure a higher quality and more diverse range of businesses to this neighborhood, I would also enthusiastically volunteer my time to help. What it takes is somewhat to take the lead and start that group. Maybe some of us who are concerned about this issue should have a little meet-up to discuss what we can do?
I think some of the old-timers are discouraged because of a prior effort to form such a group that failed.. but that doesn't mean it isn't a good idea worth trying again. Maybe our good host the Q can help us out here?
I was involved in the initiative to bring new businesses here that fell apart, though we did have some successes - members influenced the owners of Kdog and then Enduro to open on Lincoln Rd. We also started the ArtMart in conjunction with PLG Arts, which had a pretty good run.
For anyone seeking to start a new initiative, my suggestion would be that you partner with a commercial broker. You need individuals who can pose arguments effectively to landlords as to why they should lower their rents and work with local chains - as lay people, they would not even talk to us (except for Rong Ge, which some people might find ironic now). Do not expect any of the existing community groups or local officials to be of any assistance at all. It's too touchy of an issue for them, as they represent a very broad swath of constituents and cannot justify business diversification as part of their agendas.
That said, I think it's possible to start influencing change, especially as there seems to be a lot of organic growth taking place now. Maybe start with trying to give a group of commercial a tour of the neighborhood and what your perceive as opportunities - like a brokers "open house" for PLG!
Once again it seems that "amenities" in PLG have struck a nerve!
I just got off the phone with Rong, and I've heard interesting tales from others, and for those clamoring for new businesses I can assure you that the "second wave" will be pleasing to many, and not just newcomers. When I have the time I'll post an elaboration, though it's difficult to be too specific without betraying confidence - I'm not the National Enquirer and I want people to know I'm rooting for the home team, and that means everyone, and I'm not looking to hurt feelings or make enemies! But in the meantime I hope to see a lot of you at the neighborhood forum tonight, where another issue of perhaps greater, or more urgent, import will be discussed. - tim
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