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November 6, 2008

The Big Draw in Clinton Hill: Architecture

clinton-avenue-1108.jpg
AMNY gives Clinton Hill a look this week, noting that Pratt Institute and the handsome housing stock have drawn residents, especially since Myrtle Avenue has been on an upswing. "Dubbed 'Murder Avenue' during the sharp decline of the 1970s, the street has improved dramatically since then, with the help of community groups and citizens throughout the neighborhood who have made efforts to open new businesses and restore housing, much of which was in a state of disrepair," they write. The roundup of places to eat, party and shop include Kum Kau, "the best greasy Chinese food in Brooklyn"; Outpost, which has outdoor movies in warmer months; and Repop, the vintage furniture store near the Navy Yard. More here.
Photo by Frank Lynch.




Posted by lisa at 10:33 AM | Comments (30)
Categories: Clinton Hill

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Comments

Man I love those two houses. Isn't that white one where the Halloween show is?

Posted by: plgdude at November 6, 2008 11:20 AM

It did it for us, 20 years later my husband and I still recall our jaws dropping when we first drove through the neighborhood.

Posted by: Schultz at November 6, 2008 11:34 AM

I still get all tingly walking down Clinton and Washington Avenues.

Posted by: Lothar of the Clinton Hill People at November 6, 2008 11:52 AM

There are some spectacular houses in CH.

Posted by: dittoburg at November 6, 2008 12:03 PM

Hubby went to Pratt during the 'Murder Avenue' days, which weren't that long ago. He graduated 8 years ago. None of the students would go to Myrtle unless it was necessary. We would walk around the neighborhood looking at all the great architecture. There are gorgeous houses.

Mrytle sure has changed.

I remember walking from Park Slope to Pratt once, about 10 years ago. It was desolate and empty. I remember passing a huge empty red brick building on the corner of Gates and I forget what, thinking, this is a beauty, but who's gonna want to live here.

Look at the neighborhood now...it's come a long way.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at November 6, 2008 12:09 PM

Clinton Hill is a remarkable neighborhood to say the least. From the architecture to the community of people who live there and look out for each other it is a truly special place that I have been proud to call home for 7 years now.

Posted by: wasder at November 6, 2008 12:44 PM

The Myrtle Avenue BID and its head Blaise Backer deserve huge credit for that turnaround.

Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2008 12:51 PM

Mr B--what do you think the chances are that the new Fulton Street BID has even a small semblance of the same success?

Posted by: wasder at November 6, 2008 12:59 PM

The real estate company holding that brown house (which really could be considered a "mansion although connected to the house next door...something I always found strange) which has a carriage house was asking $400,000 in 1992 or 1994 as I remember. Unfortunately, it sat empty for many years and was apparently vandalized and had details and materials stolen.

:-)

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at November 6, 2008 1:11 PM

Wasder, we shall see. We're hoping to get involved with it. We've got a few ideas up our sleeve. From what we understand PACC is the key player within the BID. Trying to learn more.

Posted by: brownstoner at November 6, 2008 1:37 PM

Well, please let me know if you do get involved. I certainly would volunteer some time if there was a constructive way to help Fulton improve. PACC's involvement would seem to be a good thing no?

Posted by: wasder at November 6, 2008 1:44 PM

" still get all tingly walking down Clinton and Washington Avenues."

That's the patch kicking in!

"Clinton Hill is a remarkable neighborhood to say the least. From the architecture to the community of people who live there and look out for each other it is a truly special place that I have been proud to call home for 7 years now."

I would hold off that celebration. There is a massive collapse of the Mutant Asset bubble going on right now and with the budget cutbacks we could see the 70's again.

"Mr B--what do you think the chances are that the new Fulton Street BID has even a small semblance of the same success?"

Let me help you Wasder. It's a damn shame the Asshats do not support the business on Fulton St (I'm dead serious). Except for the Wine Bar everyone else is losing business because there long time customers have been priced out of the neighborhood.

2009 is going to a rough year and with dumbassed Landlords demanding high rent Fulton St will not live up to it's true potential..

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at November 6, 2008 1:44 PM

Places like Outpost, Kush, Olivino and it's new wine bar, Green Panet (the organic food/vitamin shop) are doing ok. Brown Betty is only open on the weekends. We should frequent the new bakery often as it is a much needed and welcome addition. The newish high end nail salon/spa (whose name escapes me) seems to be doing well too. Autour du Monde is great, but have suffered a bit from the construction and equipment parked outside of their restaurant since opening. Of course, Sister's Community Hardware does well...

As for other businesses losing customers, if the What is referring to the dollar stores, bodegas and nail salons (with the exception of the new one), I haven't seen a lot of evidence of that, and in any event we don't really need anymore of those. Green grocers, fish mongers, butchers, more cafes and restaurants, a better grocery store would be fantastic.

Having choice opening on Atlantic, the new bakery on Fulton etc. all bodes well.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2008 2:13 PM

oops, I meant "its new wine bar" not "it's"...

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2008 2:26 PM

Outpost is great. Coffee is awesome and the food solid for a cafe. Plus they play good music. It seems to be doing ok even with the construction madness going on around it. The senegalese restaurant Joloff on St James and Fulton is stellar and seems to be doing OK as well. Agreed that Olivino and a few other businesses seem to be doing OK but really there needs to be a lot more basic stores as 1842 states above.

What, this Asshat patronizes many businesses along Fulton, from the deli at Grand and Putnam to the above. I see no reason if the buses return to Fulton and the construction ends that this thoroughfare couldn't be a viable retail strip.

Posted by: wasder at November 6, 2008 2:30 PM

I'm sure a local fish mongers would get old and new resident's business

Posted by: dittoburg at November 6, 2008 2:31 PM

1842 is a newly implanted Asshat while I was bon and raised here! I notice the ebb and flow of my environment and Fulton St is suffering big time. With the construction and Covert race/class warfare displacing longtime residents I don't see the upside of Fulton St especially the "Dead Zone" from Grand to Classon Aves.

I know that you want to see the wonderful side of everything but you need to look at the real picture.

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at November 6, 2008 2:34 PM

What, I respect your long term perspective on the neighborhood but as you say, I do want to see a positive side of things. I wonder why you seem so invested in seeing the down side of things. This is a sincere question. Businesses are trying to open in that "dead zone" you mention, which is truly an eyesore if ever there was one. There is a new bakery that looks really good, and a new clothing shop across from Outpost. I will patronize any business that brings useful merchandise and services to the strip. I hope you can say that you are as invested in the success of Fulton Streets as you are to trashing every effort to improve it.

Posted by: wasder at November 6, 2008 2:39 PM

Actually, What, I am not a newly implanted anything - not that it matters in the slightest with respect to this discussion, but I'd safely wager that my family has lived in Brooklyn for much longer than you have by many generations - but what the h*ll does that have to do with a discussion of what everyone hopes will develop on Fulton Street from a commercial perspective?

I welcome all views, from those who just got here to those who have lived here for the entire lives. You however, seem to have a fetish or fascination with trashing communities and people. I don't know why.

Fulton Street, with its access to the subway, and return of the buses once the construction is complete, can and should be a thriving commercial area, especially with the influx of new residents, money and residential construction, along with the existing strong families and communities that have been here all along.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2008 3:16 PM

Thank you What for being honest. These stories about CH are always the same...murder ave, blah blah blah. I find it funny when ppl talk about fulton they always like to look over the longstanding businesses like the country house, the various barbershops, fish & crustaceans, golden krust,etc...and also look over some of the newer businesses like LOX, Sisters Hardware, the clothing store right next door to the countryhouse, etc. Just because it doesn't appeal to you, doesn't mean it doesn't exist...

Posted by: clintonhillchill at November 6, 2008 4:40 PM

Choice is opening on Atlantic? Where?Secondly, when is that construction scheduled to end because before you know it winter will be upon us and it will come to a grinding halt. That is impeding the businesses on that stretch. That poor new bakery cant even be seen with the construction equip parked in front of it but the pastries are delish.Tried several including the financier,damn damn good. Hopefully they will stay in business but need our support.I cant wait till the strip from Vandy to Franklin improves more with businesses.

Posted by: iluvclintonhill at November 6, 2008 5:08 PM

The new Choice outpost will be on Atlantic between Grand and Classon. Glad to hear the bakery fare is good. I met one of the owners and her son when they were working on the space, she seemed very nice. I'll try to stop by tonight and pick something up.

Above, Bstoner says the construction is slated for completion by December. From what I can see, and the pace of work, I think that is achievable, finally. Just finishing repaving and then redo the rest of the sidewalks... fingers crossed.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2008 5:18 PM

So will Choice have 3 outposts including the one on Greene or just Lafayette and Atlantic and Greene Ave is now scratched?

Posted by: iluvclintonhill at November 6, 2008 5:35 PM

The thing I really hate when Brooklynites start discussing "local" businesses and patting themselves on the back for supporting them is their definition of local excludes businesses that have been there for years. Fulton has good bodegas. A good fish and chips place. A hardware store. A health food store. The Met.

All it needs is some decent coffee.

And possibly a Barnes & Noble.

Posted by: Heather at November 6, 2008 5:38 PM

I personally am not discounting what's there. I mentioned the hardware store (which is not that old), the health food store (which is only a few months old by the way), and there is good coffee at the Outpost, and hopefully at the new bakery...

Problem is, there are many unused storefronts, and have been for many years.

The Met is slowly getting better - though the owner actually told one of my friends that the reason why they are making an effort is because the neighborhood is "getting better" - nothing like setting the bar low when you think you can get away with it...

I completely disagree with you on the bodegas, however. I don't think any of them are particularly nice and most do not make an effort to keep the places clean and trash free out front.

Point is, further development versus preservation of successful businesses is not mutually exclusive. The nice thing about all the newish businesses on Fulton is they are not chains (the on and off again Subway is an exception) and often owned by people who live nearby.

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2008 6:26 PM

Actually, I think there will be 4 Choice locations: the original on Lafayette, the store type place with cut flowers and food (less of a bakery) on Greene, the place on Atlantic, and a place in DUMBO (I think).

Posted by: 1842 at November 6, 2008 6:28 PM

"What, I respect your long term perspective on the neighborhood but as you say, I do want to see a positive side of things"

I see the reality of things, not as I want to be.

"Fulton Street, with its access to the subway, and return of the buses once the construction is complete, can and should be a thriving commercial area, especially with the influx of new residents, money and residential construction, along with the existing strong families and communities that have been here all along."

Naw you mean things for the Asshats, not for the "existing strong families and communities that have been here all along."

Have you noticed that Medicaid Mill on Fulton Bet St. James and Washington? You are in La La land so much that you have not notice that crap! Thats going to do wonders for Fulton St.

"All it needs is some decent coffee."

Hell Yeah!!!!

"And possibly a Barnes & Noble."

Hell Naw!!!!!

Fulton St. is a dump! You can argue all you want!!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at November 6, 2008 8:08 PM

A good Barnes & Noble would do more for than the community than another gourmet grocer. What's more it would serve all of the community. All. of it.

Not that Choice isn't nice -- it is, even if sometimes all of the preciousness makes my teeth ache -- but seriously, Clinton Hill and Fort Greene already have a metric ton of quaint little shoppes selling organic produce and seventh generation diapers. Do they need more? By the same token I'm not sure they need more wine stores? (I can count three on Fulton within ten minutes of each other and I'm not even trying.)

I know the health food store is fairly new -- about a year, I think. Pretty sure the hardware store has been around a bit longer though.

I'm still not entirely sure where the Outpost is, except that it's far enough down on Fulton that I've never seen it. Past the Post Office, I guess?

Both bodegas on Clinton and Fulton are fine. Yaffa's coffee is even decent, and they're great.

Posted by: Heather at November 6, 2008 9:57 PM

Heather, we are really talking about the stretch of Fulton down past Grand. That is where it really gets to be barren (and that is also where the Outpost is, between Downing and Irving). There is one bodega, can't remember the name, where Grand, Putnam and Fulton all come together and the guys in there are really nice and know all the folks from the neighborhood. I like that vibe.

Posted by: wasder at November 6, 2008 11:23 PM

Yes, well, you guys over there shouldn't complain -- at least you have coffee!!

Posted by: Heather at November 7, 2008 6:55 AM

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