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February 23, 2009

The Co-Op School Finds a Home in Clinton Hill

After five years of using temporary space (mot recently at 241 Taaffe Place), the Co-op School, a pre-school serving the Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and Bed Stuy communities, has found a permanent home: The 60-family group will take over the Irving Place Child Development Center at 87 Irving Place between Putnam Avenue and Fulton Street in Clinton Hill. From what we hear, everyone is thrilled with how the long search ended up. Hopefully, it will also apply some extra pressure to law enforcement's efforts to address the long-time, ahem, quality of life issues that have plagued Putnam Avenue. GMAP

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This is most awesome news. I am very hopeful that this dose of community energy will be a great addition to our somewhat blighted corner of the neighborhood. Now my daughter can walk to school in the fall. And this is an awesome school, with a great mix of folks and really amazing philosophy/educational outlook. I couldn't be more excited about this development.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 10:04 AM

"Hopefully, it will also apply some extra pressure to law enforcement's efforts to address the long-time, ahem, quality of life issues that have plagued Putnam Avenue."

Ahem, Asshead, that section of Asshats Hill is "cleaned up". Police have stepped up efforts to rid that section of Knuckleheads! Brownstoner I have told you to walk around in your neighborhood, Dumbass!

"I am very hopeful that this dose of community energy will be a great addition to our somewhat blighted corner of the neighborhood. Now my daughter can walk to school in the fall."

Then Wasder you need to buy that building on the corner of Fulton and Classon Aves, fix it you and put a business there. that section of Fulton St was and will be "Blighted" for years to come. Maybe if was not so deep into the "hype", know what I mean.....

The What (2009=Fail)

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at February 23, 2009 10:15 AM

That's good. The building looks like it could support more than 60 families, are they going to expand?

Posted by: Heather at February 23, 2009 10:23 AM

Police have stepped it up, true, but it's hardly "cleaned up." The warmer weather will undoubtably see a pick-up in business and let's see if we can have a shooting-free Memorial Day weekend before we break out the champagne. There was also some really neighborly, family-friendly activity going on in front of the Putnam Candy Store on Saturday night as we were "walking around our neighborhood," so don't act like there's no room for improvement. Anyway, regardless of one's analysis of where things stand today, the school can only mean good news for enforcement going forward.

Posted by: brownstoner at February 23, 2009 10:27 AM

"Then Wasder you need to buy that building on the corner of Fulton and Classon Aves, fix it you and put a business there. that section of Fulton St was and will be "Blighted" for years to come. Maybe if was not so deep into the "hype", know what I mean....."

Not quite sure what your point is here. I have no misconceptions that this stretch of Fulton is miraculously going to become a model commercial stretch. I am merely celebrating the fact that a really incredible, community based school is moving in right down the street from me. The influx of all of those kids and their parents on a daily basis will enliven and improve that corner and that is a fact.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 10:40 AM

"Police have stepped it up, true, but it's hardly "cleaned up." The warmer weather will undoubtably see a pick-up in business and let's see if we can have a shooting-free Memorial Day weekend before we break out the champagne."

This statement shows your ignorance Brownstoner! Compared to years ago Classon and Fulton has come a loooooong way!!!!! I'm talking 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning type clean but what do I know, I live in Lodi NJ....

The What

Someday this war is gonna end..

Posted by: Return of The What at February 23, 2009 10:48 AM

What, don't think we're disagreeing then--it has improved quite a bit in the 3.5 years we've been on the block. But we don't think that means one should stop wanting it to improve more.

Posted by: brownstoner at February 23, 2009 10:52 AM

"But we don't think that means one should stop wanting it to improve more."

Let's move all the Black people out! That's a great idea Brownstoner! I'll get started on it right away!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at February 23, 2009 10:57 AM

What about the school What? What do you think about that?

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 11:04 AM

I hope this also spurs/supports more commercial activity on fulton to compliment outpost and Michael Allen deserts.

There is no doubt putnam is progressing(slowly) but with each new step I feel that progress may speed up, a shooting free summer would sure be nice but unlikely.

Posted by: DowningByLaw at February 23, 2009 11:13 AM

Downing by LAw--how long have you lived in the neighborhood? I have only been around this neck of Clinton Hill for 6 months. I do think that this added foot traffic will be good for Outpost (which doesn't really need more business as far as I can tell) and Michael Allen (which probably could use the business). I am talking with some neighbors both on Irving and Putnam about starting a neighborhood association for these blocks. Want to join?

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 11:17 AM

I moved to Ch in 99.
Having a few business' opened after 6p on the stretch opposite outpost is what i was aiming at, anything to encourage more foot traffic would help overall- for intstance after dark irving btwn. putnam and fulton is deserted, I wonder how late the co-op intends to stay open daily? and is that antique store still operating?

Posted by: DowningByLaw at February 23, 2009 11:42 AM

Sorry. Misread your first post. Yes, it would be great to have a few more open businesses on that stretch, but improving the health of the ones that do already exist should be a natural outgrowth of the school. As for hours I would assume that the school lets out around 4:00 so between 3:30 and 4:00 there should be quite a volume of children and parents swarming that corner. Don't know about that antiques store. There are still things in the window but I don't see too much activity. BTW, One of the goals of a prospective neighborhood association would be to put a community garden in the big junk lot on Putnam between Downing and irving.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 11:47 AM

The owner of the antique store uses it more as a warehouse for his sales on the road. This is great news - I thought it was odd that the space was still empty. I've sort of missed the little devils looking down at me in my yard and telling me my capri pants were sissy (which of course is true!).

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at February 23, 2009 12:04 PM

PutnamD--what's up? When are we going to have our pow-wow?

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 12:07 PM

Wasder, I believe that those lots you speak of were just sold at auction. At least, that's what I read on this blog sometime last week. If I'm wrong I'd love to see a community garden go in there and teach my kids how to plant and weed and eat their food they grew themselves.

Posted by: DowningStreet at February 23, 2009 2:27 PM

with the after-school program there will be kids at the school until 6pm.

Posted by: lkh at February 23, 2009 3:11 PM

Oh wow, Downing. I hadn't heard about that auction sale, though I did notice some clearing out of the mess in the yard. Do you know anything about the buyer?

Brownstoner--did you hear about this?

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 4:01 PM

you are probably talking about the lot with the carriage house on the corner of fulton and downing (massey had that for sale for ever) - that one has recently been auctioned (anybody know for how much)?

the lot on the corner of putnam and irving, pretty sure it wasn't auctioned, however i did see the dumpster on the lot so apparently somebody is doing something...

wasder/putnamD, what about that neighborhood association?

Posted by: Emperium at February 23, 2009 4:30 PM

Hey Emperium--I have been discussing this idea with a few of my neighbors. You interested? Let me know how to reach you and I will try to loop you into discussions.

Also, in re the lot, you don't think that the junk lot was the one sold at auction? A lot of crap has been taken out of there recently so something is going on...

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 4:36 PM

hey wasder. i'd love to get involved in said association as well. have lived on Downing since 2002. you can contact me at downingstreet@mailinator.com.

Posted by: DowningStreet at February 23, 2009 4:53 PM

Right on....just so you understand, we have had all of one meeting so far about this so its not like about to launch at any moment. We are planning on putting flyers up soon enough to gauge community interest but really its in very early stages of development. But glad to know that there are other folks out there who want to do the same thing.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 4:57 PM

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2009/02/two_fulton_lots.php was the lot I was talking about.

However, acris shows no deed transfers on this lot and the putnam/irving lot.

contact me at raggert@fastmail.fm for the neighborhood association

Posted by: Emperium at February 23, 2009 5:06 PM

Right on emperium. I will be in touch with you and Downing as soon as I have a firm plan.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 5:09 PM

So parents have been taking their kids there for years, but now that it's inhabited by a different school police presence should automatically increase?! That place has been a daycare center for years as well as Nelrak around the corner.

Posted by: clintonhillchill at February 23, 2009 5:17 PM

Hey BKNesto! What's up? The daycare center in question has been unused since I have been living here, getting tagged and gathering garbage around it. This is why I am excited for the school to open and why Brownstoner said what he said. If it was still an operational day care center we wouldn't be talking about it but its an eyesore right now.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 5:22 PM

The school has been open longer than it was closed, there's also Nelrak around the corner, P.S.56 down the block and a playground across the street. What's so different about this school that one thinks it will put pressure for increased police presence?

Posted by: clintonhillchill at February 23, 2009 5:39 PM

I don't know why Brownstoner specifically linked police presence to this particular school but from my perspective it is a very welcome addition to the neighborhood. For one thing my daughter is going to go there so that is convenient for me, but also that stretch of Irving has been really downbeat since the child care center closed and having a vibrant school there is good for the neighborhood no matter how you slice it.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 5:44 PM

It's great news. It's a grass-roots school too, that a lot of people seem to be happy with. With this, and with the Achievment First Charter School on Waverly between Fulton and Atlantic to open hopefully soon, there will be more young kids regularly attending school along Fulton, which is nice (more parents along the commercial strip in the morning, after school etc...).

Posted by: 1842 at February 23, 2009 5:50 PM

I didn't say it was unwelcome wasder. I asked a question, if you didn't have an answer you couldve easily let it slide. I'm not trying to slice anything.

Posted by: clintonhillchill at February 23, 2009 5:56 PM

Wow...

Posted by: clintonhillchill at February 23, 2009 5:58 PM

This school is a private co-op which is predominantly non-African American (even to the extent that they feel the need to reach down their waiting list to be more "colorful"). To the extent that it represents a presence by an upper middle class institution, I believe there is some sense that it confirms the possibility of further development/change of this corner of Clinton Hill. Given the number of empty lots over here, anything which encourages further development is welcome. But your point is well taken, BK,[clintonhilchill] it is obvious that there is a strong undercurrent of "a school filled with kids who look like our kids." Perhaps visions of a little Berkeley-Carroll School in the hood. (I know that the Co-op School is hardly that!)

Sigh, sorry if our enthusiasm reveals our classist slip is showing.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at February 23, 2009 6:05 PM

Hey BK! I seriously was not trying to call you out or anything. I understand what the nature of your question is and I don't think you were wrong to ask it. I just think that anything active and positive going into that space is welcome. Sorry if it seemed like I was questioning you. I am not sure Putnam if your analysis of the racial make-up of the school is that accurate but I don't pretend to know for sure--my daughter is going to go there in the fall but I have not been to the school yet. I had the sense that it reflected the racial demographics of the neighborhood better than that. But I can see why you (BKnesto) would question the police presence thing. I am just glad something positive is going in that space.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 6:23 PM

Oh it shows big time here and PLENTY of other posts. I'd go on a limb to say it's not simply a "classist slip". I do however appreciate your honesty. But once again it shows some of the attitudes people have about the people they live around is sickening...The divide continues...

Posted by: clintonhillchill at February 23, 2009 6:28 PM

BKNesto--if I may say so myself, you do a great service to everyone in trying to bridge whatever "cultural divide" we have in this neighborhood. I don't personally think that anything that was said by commenters in this thread was particularly egregious in the "classist" sense but I do appreciate your point of view in general. I think that perhaps it was a stretch to equate police presence with this school but in general I really think that most everyone who lives in this neck of the woods, no matter their background, will agree that the Clinton Hill Co-op school going into this space is a good thing.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 6:43 PM

The divide does indeed continue - and of course, as I make clear in my post, it is racial in nature as well as class. But here and there people create bridges, which sometimes crumble and sometimes hold. A lot depends on people being willing to listen hard, being open to being wrong, and retreating from absolutes.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at February 23, 2009 6:43 PM

And people like BKnesto who blog about these kinds of issues are bridge builders. I would also like to be a bridge builder and in my own way I try to integrate with my neighbors and see what makes them tick.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 6:50 PM

Our child was recently accepted to the co-op school and we were thrilled. We thought it was a little odd that the email recommended that we walk by the new location but after going there, I understand. We were extremely disappointed by the location, which was not only further away, but across the street from an empty lot with trash all over the streets. I wouldn't want to pick up my child by myself when it got dark. I'm surprised that anyone affiliated with the school is "thrilled" by the location. I thought it was funny that the price of the coop school was increased (along with a requirement of a $2000 bond) when they basically moved to a crappier (albeit it larger) location.

Posted by: chnewbie at February 23, 2009 7:41 PM

Hey - I cleaned up the street yesterday. Obviously you are facing a different situation than you expected, so I'll try not to be too insulted. From our postings above, it should be clear that we who live near the new site of the Co-op School (is it still a cooperative?) are aware that we do not present as spiffily as say, Washington Avenue (but isn't the school of Taafe Place now? hardly convenient). Building new institutions and communities involve taking risks - perhaps you should talk to the leadership at the Co-op School to understand why a building the size of the irving Place building is such an opportunity. If you take another look at the area you may stumble across Outpost Cafe and Michael Allen's Desserts which may feed your need for coffee and sweets. People have been picking their kids up at that location for decades without problems. My son and I walk down Putnam every day. I remember others having similar fears about the location of Community Roots Charter School and they got over it. I hope it works out for you, or that you find a place more to your liking.

Posted by: Putnamdenizen at February 23, 2009 8:21 PM

chnewbie--As someone who lives on the next block from the school (and as someone who also, like Putnam Denizen, picks up a lot of trash around the area) I can understand your misapprehension about the physical appearance of the block. However, I moved here from Clinton and Lafayette and I have never felt unsafe or unwelcome here on my street so I would imagine that the look of the place has made you unnecessarily unsettled. You would have no problem picking your child up from school at whatever hour and you would find that the area is inhabited by friendly people. Definitely go check it out again before you make a snap judgement.

Posted by: wasder at February 23, 2009 9:33 PM

Fair enough clintonhillchill/bknesto - I see where you are coming from. I doubt there's anything that insidious about the question from Brownstoner. We know about PS 56, the daycare with the playground on the roof of the senior center etc. Considering that those places haven't resulted in any greater police presence probably means the Coop School won't make a difference to police presence.

Brownstoner made the same sort of post when he talked about the Achievement First Charter School to be opened on Waverly - he said something about that school opening hopefully putting pressure on the methadone clinic to clean up its act. The kids at that school will be 99% poor and minorities, so maybe that's why you didn't get upset at that post.

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/01/ground_broken_o_1.php

I think that more schools along Fulton Street is a good thing. I doubt it will result in more police presence, unless you have parents who are more prone to calling the police regarding quality of life issues they see near where their kids go to school. That may be the case, who knows. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, and parents of little kids can be very squeaky. However, without some sort of active push from proactive parents, I don't see much changing re cop presence. Maybe an increase in people frequenting Michael Allen Deserts, Outpost, Brown Betty for a cup of coffee etc., but probably no change in police...

Posted by: 1842 at February 25, 2009 6:07 PM

Dang I keep missing all the fun posts.

Posted by: Putnam junk yards at March 5, 2009 9:08 PM

« NYC Real Estate Market 'Most Challenged' Sunset Park Tops Brooklyn's List of Poopiest Nabes »

February 23, 2009

The Co-Op School Finds a Home in Clinton Hill

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