Cat Man Plans Grocery at Myrtle Project

Another day, another bit of news on John Catsimatidis's will-it-or-won't-it-happen development on Myrtle. Last week's buzz on the project, per the Brooklyn Paper, was that the supermarket magnate/mayoral candidate was indeed moving forward with the 660-unit, mixed-use development, albeit with some notable changes: Four buildings rather than two towers, and ixnay on the affordable housing. A press release sent out this morning on Catsimatidis's behalf confirms the four-building plan (three low-rise, one high-rise), and it also says that the "first phase of the development is expected to include a drug store and a neighborhood style supermarket." And the development may yet include affordable housing, according to the statement: "Plans for 50/30/20 Affordable Housing in the two adjacent low rise buildings has been delayed by the current unavailability of tax exempt bonds that are a vital component of financing such projects. Red Apple continues to maintain a dialogue with the New York City Housing Development Corporation concerning the future availability of these bonds." Click through for the full press release

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 10:42 AM

Is the "high-rise" the 12-story building that they had mentioned in the the Brooklyn Eagle?

And what the heck is a "neighbourhood" super-market? Are we taking something a-la Gristedes?

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 10:48 AM

sounds like they're putting back what was torn down in the commercial space.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 12:44 PM

Maybe. But will the new stores be as crappy as the old stores?

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 1:11 PM

But Myrtle already ~is~ a drug store.

I can get coke, crack, heroin, weed anytime of day 7 days a week there.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 1:17 PM

Hahaha. Yes, let's pretend that very little coke, crack or heroin is consumed in the financial district, soho, or any other rich/trendy neighbourhoods.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 1:26 PM

1:26

Agreed 100% but I don't have to walk past drug dealers, gang members and teenagers with guns there.

HUGE difference.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 1:39 PM

so this means they won't have to tear down admiral's row?

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 1:45 PM

1:39, I think that you're on crack right now...what the hell are you talking about? Do you even know where this development is?

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 1:51 PM

1.39

Did you hear about the woman that was raped in Soho a few days ago? And again another one in April?

What about all the sex offenders that work and live in Manhattan? Have you taken a look recently? On most streets in Manhattan you will walk past where sex offenders (rapists, child molesters) work and live without ever knowing it.

Do your research, check out the crime statistics. You will actually find that Forte Greene is extremely safe, with the level of gun-related violence on par with the safest parts of Manhattan.

Ah, and you'll also find a lot less sex offenders working and living in Forte Greene then, let's say, Midtown.

Also, NYU has (or will soon have) a campus two blocks away from these stores, and there is already a full time guard post that looks down Myrtle Avenue, in full view of where both the drug store and commerical center will be. Strikes me that the confluence of security, affluent students and affluet neighbours will make this block as safe as any in the city.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 1:59 PM

1:59..shut em down..shut em down..lol

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 3:09 PM

1:59 As a very longtime resident here, I do have to say that every time I think that Myrtle Ave. has been calmed down and I trust enough to walk from downtown or to drive thru the projects, I have been surprised. About 6 years ago I relented, walked down Myrtle from Polytechnic (the site of the proposed NYU Engineering School) with my 11 yo daughter and when I got home heard sirens. There had been a shooting only five minutes after we passed. I gave the projects a wide berth for another five years, and drove thru one night last year only to hear shots which resulted in a dead 15 yo.

I am as positive as anyone about the possibilities of living in a wonderful tolerant diverse neighborhood, and enjoy the changes elesewhere, along with many other neighborhood residents. But when walking or driving around the projects today is as dangerous as it was in 1975, I sort of doubt the fantasy of Catsimatidis new develpment being able to ignore crime across the street.

If we could make every bullet really really expensive, a la Chris Rock's suggestion, maybe a safe Myrtle Ave. could happen. But I am not very optimistic.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 3:16 PM

3.16pm

It's not rocket science. Look at the crime statistics for the area around Flatbush / Myrtle, and you'll see that gun-related violence is low and on the the decrease.

Myrtle Avenue runs through Bed-Stuy, which is infested with gang-related violence. But then again, so is 5th Avenue, if you follow up it up to Harlem. Your reasoning doesn't make any sense.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 3:59 PM

3.16, you are such a tool. The zip code in question (11201) has less violent crime than some of the nices neighbourhoods in Manhattan (10024 UWS, 10016 midtown). Source: www.bestplaces.net/city

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 4:08 PM

Some one is shilling on here for sure. Why is the idea that public housing = violent crime controversial? I live not too far from here and I can tell you there is nothing pleasant about the amount of street noise in the area, the man who openly smokes crack on the stoop of $2 Million dollar homes, or the glassy eyed idiots spend my tax dollars on Juicy Juice when I need to get some milk from the grocery store. I simply do not understand why the property values are so high.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 4:54 PM

3:16, maybe you're the one doing all the murdering....seeing as how everytime you pass through Myrtle Ave someone "just happens to get shot". Serial Killer, maybe? Believe me, this ain't the "Murder Ave" of yesteryear. I have lived at University Towers since 1998...when I first moved in, you definitely heard the "pop, pop, pop" a couple of times a week. Nowadays...I honestly can't tell you the last time I've heard gun shots...maybe a year ago? Not to say that it doesn't happen, but I'm not exactly sitting around the house all day waiting for it...and it certainly does not stop me from walking on Myrtle.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 5:00 PM

4:54 PM

If you want to make a point, find some resonable evidence that the crime rate in Downtown Brooklyn is higher than it is the nicest neighbourhoods in Mahnattan / Brooklyn.

Some of the other posters have found evidence to the contrary. If you have a point to make, back it up with evidence, otherwise all you have are groundless opinions.

Property values are so high?? High compared to what??

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 5:33 PM

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs084pct.pdf

DoBro precindt

nuff said

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 7:43 PM

did they really spell Fort Greene wrong? That is very bad.

Posted by: guest at May 29, 2008 8:20 PM

I've walked by those projects every day for 6 years. Never had a problem, never have seen a problem.

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 9:10 AM

so will there or will there not be a tower? one day there wasn't now there is?

Posted by: guest at June 4, 2008 8:15 AM