Car-Free Montague a Bust?
Was the first “summer space” Sunday on Montague Street really as underwhelming as this photo from Brooklyn Heights Blog makes it out to be? Crowds Throng Montague On First Piazza Day [BHB] ‘Summer Space’ Coming to Brooklyn Heights? [Brownstoner]
Was the first “summer space” Sunday on Montague Street really as underwhelming as this photo from Brooklyn Heights Blog makes it out to be?
Crowds Throng Montague On First Piazza Day [BHB]
‘Summer Space’ Coming to Brooklyn Heights? [Brownstoner]
If you build it, they will come…
When tenants try to cheapen up their product (food quality, service, decor, etc) to balance out a high rent is a surefire way for the business to quickly be out of business. There are too many other options in the city to accept Montague’s collective sh*tbox of stores
11:31, Montague Street store rents are higher than similar Manhattan rents, which seem to allow for the very “independents” you claim to be shut-out of the BH drag?
“Unfortunately, that demographic lacks the kind of “food-culture” to support more ambitious restaurants; “clothing culture” to encourage more boutique-y shops, and so on.”
That’s a very naive and snobbish view. The commercial rents on Montague Street are simply far too high for new, independently owned restaurants and boutiques to open. The trend is for national chains to take over the street-level storefronts once occupied by mom and pops. Eventually, this could happen to Smith Street and the main avenues of Park Slope.
The shaping of the street is mainly driven by commercial landlords, not by the culinary-and- wardrobe-challenged hillbillies of Brooklyn Heights.
“…For being in the middle of wealthy Brooklyn Heights, the commercial quality is really low grade….”
Well, that says it, doesn’t it? In tandem with the comment that the street is predominantly geared to the shopping needs of nearby workers.
But as BH’s main drag Montague should really offer more that’s in keeping with the area’s live-in demographic.
Unfortunately, that demographic lacks the kind of “food-culture” to support more ambitious restaurants; “clothing culture” to encourage more boutique-y shops, and so on.
“But with so many choices nearby (CH and Dumbo), I do not have to tolerate the embarrassment that is Montague Street!”
So sensitive. Is it really that bad for you?
7:28 – Key Foods is horrible, the take out food places (Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese) are akin to Mid West mall food, the laundry mat is a dump. The liquor store is ok, but certainly far less appealing than the store on Atlantic. Of course there are too many real estate and offices and banks, but also too many crappy women’s shoe stores and make up stores. Overall, the quality of the stores simply does not match the level of the neighborhood. Some blame high rents, but that does not make much sense. Real reason is that the street is geared towards govt/ court workers at lunch. But with so many choices nearby (CH and Dumbo), I do not have to tolerate the embarrassment that is Montague Street!
Just realized something: Does Montague Street ever have a street fair of some sort? I literally don’t recall ever seeing one when Court and other nearby streets have them.
9:52
If you live in the city, you better start thinking of moving to the exurbs because you don’t sound like someone who likes an urban environment.
Without the cars, the horns, the traffic, and the congestion you’ve got the boondocks, so go there, and stay, and leave us alone.
Who are these people who move to New York and expect the Outback? Let me guess, you are the guy with the gigantic wilderness backpack on the R train -right?
9:52… Move to Vermont. Or Poland. Or back to Indiana. And still be miserable.