I love Sunset Park. My parents were born here, I was born here and intend to stay here as I start my own family. What is happening on my block and others creates a rage in me and, at times, I have to avoid driving on blocks anywhere close to the China town on 8th avenue because I turn into Archie Bunker. I live between 4th and 5th aves and it seems the Chinese want to move their operation down to 4th. They currently have the right to build whatever they want, the cheapest shoddy construction they want and without regard to their neighbors. I would love to buy my house from my parents, but it seems that the neighborhood I know and love may not survive. The new homeowners do not intend to contribute anything to the community. They intend to leech anything they can out of it. Standard of living is out the window. It's sad to see and I hope the rezoning will shed some light on the illegal building/occupancy, etc. I would love to join a cause, volunteer to check on permits, file complaints, etc. because this grassroots approach seems to be the only way to protect our properties. The city isn't gonna do it. I may just end up like Archie, proven wrong and defeated at the end of every episode.

Posted by: Just around the Corner at June 24, 2009 12:05 PM in response to Neighbor Building a Monstrosity

Sunset Park is not protected by landmark status. The Chinese are gutting and destroying the homes in this neighborhood. They actively offer way over the top cash deals to get the buildings and cut them up into 10 apartments for slum-like living. The facades of the brownstones are taken off and ugly yellow bricks are put in their place with no regard for their neighboring homes or the aesthetic of the block and neighborhood. The brownstone that was there was in perfect shape. Their is currently a gutting happening on my block just around the corner and there is no limit to waht they might do. A wonton retail shop in the middle of a residential street? Why the hell not?

THESE ARE NO DEVELOPERS! They are wealthy Chinese investors who will house three times the capacity of families in one room efficiencies for profit. It's gonna be a slum. If the house on my block suffers the same fate, I am outta here.

Posted by: Just around the Corner at September 27, 2008 12:26 AM in response to A Brownstone [Still] Dies in Brooklyn

Dear "Just around the Corner"- Check out - Sunset Park Alliance of Neighbors www.spanbrooklyn.com / spanbrooklyn@yahoo.com / (718) 853-0949, a grassroots group organizing around this issue AND also contribute photos (before/after, under construction) with URLs for Permits/Violations/Stop Work/Orders to sunsetparkmatters@gmail.com for posting on the blog- http:// SUNSETPARK-BROOKLYN-MATTERS.BLOGSPOT.COM. There's a lot each of us can do, starting with telling our neighbors what's going on.

Posted by: Sunset Park Matters at June 24, 2009 11:49 PM in response to Neighbor Building a Monstrosity