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March 6, 2006
Church Avenue: Commerce Meets Art
Taking a right on the crowded, commercial stretch of Church Avenue, we had to pull over to take a closer look at No. 1720 whose street-front belies the glorious Neo-Gothic (we get that right?) carved facade of the upper two floors.
Comments
neo-Gothic, yes. Carved, probably not. Looks like terra cotta.
Posted by: Halden at March 6, 2006 11:24 AM
And we in Prospect Park South invoke a little religion, praying that Church Avenue heading west toward Coney Island Avenue transforms the way Smith Street and Fifth Avenue did. What are the chances? Slim, we must admit, particularly after visiting the new "Eatry" between Stratford and CIA.
Posted by: PPSer at March 6, 2006 12:04 PM
This building is the main offices of CAMBA (Church Avenue Merchants Block Association), a large social services and housing development agency.
Posted by: anon at March 6, 2006 12:45 PM
Pretty good Mexican restaurant on that strip of Church west of the train station. But don't get your hopes up generally. That's not a likely stretch to gentrify. Not enough business, and not enough foot traffic to generate it. If you wanted Smith Street, you should be living in Cobble Hill. I do recommend take out from Ram's Roti in the other direction, however.
Posted by: David in NY at March 6, 2006 1:18 PM
I don't know - I think it has some potential. They are putting up a few apartment buildings around there, toward the park, on Coney Island Avenue. Also, on the weekends there are tons of yuppies who drive in and park around there to take their children to the tennis center and private school games at the parade grounds. Those people might be enticed to eat before going home if there was a decent restaurant on church or grab a beer while their kids are at their lesson if there was a decent bar. Smith Street, no, but it has some potential.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 6, 2006 1:25 PM
yes! let's gentrify church ave!!! woo-hoo!
i lived on the corner of caton and marlborough for about two years and didn't really miss the bars and restaurants. sure, having nice places in your 'hood is nice and convenient (i live in ft. greene now; obviously more culinary choices), but prospect park south/victorian flatbush isn't actually that far to walk to park slope (if nice out) or go one or two stops on the Q or F trains. i agree with david, if you want smith st. around the corner, live near smith st. or take the train.
additionally, things i miss in ft. greene are the 24-hour fruit stands and 24-hour bodegas that dot church ave. i'd trade one french restaurant for a cheap fruit stand in a heartbeat.
Posted by: Anonymous at March 6, 2006 6:10 PM
Smith Street we don't want or need...but something better than the sparse and dismal commercial mix we've got right now would be nice. I'd happily take the mix they've got over by McDonald Ave. and Silver Rod...more variety, less depressing. Don't forget Cortelyou...a few nice options down there.
Posted by: Brenda at March 6, 2006 10:29 PM
I agree with you, Brenda. The Church Ave. commercial stript on the west side of Ocean Parkway is a wonderful mix of a variety of cultures -- polish, russian, pakistani, jewish, mexican, asian, etc. That mix simply does not exist east of Ocean Parkway.
Posted by: PPSer at March 7, 2006 10:54 AM
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