Daily News Spotlights Clinton Hill
It took us all of the long weekend to get through the NY Daily News lengthy feature on the revival of Clinton Hill. But Jason Sheftell is making one big claim: that the neighborhood “may be considered one of the most important community-inspired growth periods since legendary activist Jane Jacobs saved the West Village and…
It took us all of the long weekend to get through the NY Daily News lengthy feature on the revival of Clinton Hill. But Jason Sheftell is making one big claim: that the neighborhood “may be considered one of the most important community-inspired growth periods since legendary activist Jane Jacobs saved the West Village and SoHo in the 1960s.” The streets resemble Paris, or 5th Avenue in 1910, or New Orleans in 1950! And then there are the mansions! Pratt is the glue that holds it all together, which is dubbed a “cultural and physical anchor.” And the praise goes on, including the turnaround of Myrtle Avenue and smaller pockets of retail and restaurants popping up. Despite housing projects, crime, “questionable” public schools, the G train, and the fact that “luxury automobiles can blast rap,” the community continues to grow. Think this all backs the claim that “Clinton Hill delivers the top block-by-block living experience in New York”?
BK Neighborhood Blooms in Residential and Retail Awakening [NYDN]
Jason Sheftell recently changed his NY Daily News photo…in the old one, it looked like he was on the toilet trying to push out a big poop. Anyhoo, if you think his take on CH was off-pitch, you should read his take on Williamsburg from a few weeks back…he reminds me of Borat.
Who woulda thunk that the Daily News, the workingman’s paper, would get as gosh-golly as the Times in neighborhood coverage? I give him a C+.
I wish reporters would do some real research before wandering around gawping at mansions. They were not all built by the Pratts, in fact, the ones in the photo above have no direct Pratt connection. He could have done some basic research on the history of the neighborhood, it’s not hard to find. The reason the neighborhood “looks like New Orleans” can be found in its long history.
Why must everyone judge a neighborhood’s success by how awestruck people from Manhattan are when they come here? Who cares? Living in Manhattan does not give one street cred on taste, or awsomeness.
Once again, he makes the assumption that the neighborhood was nothing until recent money rediscovered it. That is so not true. The horror! Take out Chinese restaurants! Projects! Give me a break.
There were some positive elements, including some nice descriptions, and the statements from some of the hard working people striving to make the neighborhood work, while running their businesses. Those parts of the article worked the best.
Punko, are you gay and have two of everything?
Clinton Hill was the sleeping beauty of brooklyn.
While my husband was at Pratt (graduated 1999) this neighborhood was scary to say the least. I hated walking from the train to the school. Going to Myrtle to do grocery shopping was a field trip cause you went with a few people. As a women you didn’t go alone to Myrtle. I knew the nabe was going to improve. Gorgeous architecture lures people.
Going to read the article now.
“Has anyone ever buried a person up there?”
By punko on January 18, 2011 10:06 AM
“…gay people are never satisified with just one of anything.”
This has got to be one of most ridiculous statements ever posted on Brownstoner, quite an achievement for someone who has already set the bar quite high.
I think this is generally true!!!!! I’m not.
DIBS, No, pretending to be loaded buyers strolling into the expensive open houses
“…gay people are never satisified with just one of anything.”
This has got to be one of most ridiculous statements ever posted on Brownstoner, quite an achievement for someone who has already set the bar quite high.
By more4less on January 18, 2011 9:52 AM
DIBS, I’ve been in all 3 of the Mansions in the pic
Delivering Chinese food???? 🙂
“The streets resemble Paris, or 5th Avenue in 1910, or New Orleans in 1950!”
meh – i don’t think so