The clerks and accountants who currently occupy the two ground floors of the municipal building at the corner of Joralemon and Court could be moving out to make room for cafes and home design shops if the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership has its way. The group, which is both publicly and privately funded, thinks converting the 22,000 square feet of space to retail is a “no-brainer,” according to Joe Chan. While City Hall tries to figure out if moving the paper-pushers to a new location is realistic, civic and preservation groups are weighing in. “The place where you once went to get your public documents is now where you’re going to buy your latte,” said the Municipal Art Society’s Lisa Kersavage. “That changes the character. That’s not always a tragedy, but it’s something we all need to consider.” The Brooklyn Heights Association’s Judy Stanton likes the idea of retail but is wary of the Bed, Bath & Beyonds of this world. “I would rather see a lot of smaller shops,” she said. What about you?
Two Floors of Municipal Building May Get Shops [NY Daily News]
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