Food Co-op May Lease Space on Putnam
This would have pretty major implications for a longtime troubled corner of Clinton Hill: The Clinton Hill Blog is reporting that the Greene Hill Food Co-op, a nascent food co-operative that has been in the works for a couple of years now, is considering renting a row of small storefronts at 10-16 Putnam Avenue for…
This would have pretty major implications for a longtime troubled corner of Clinton Hill: The Clinton Hill Blog is reporting that the Greene Hill Food Co-op, a nascent food co-operative that has been in the works for a couple of years now, is considering renting a row of small storefronts at 10-16 Putnam Avenue for its permanent headquarters; this stretch includes the mysterious and infamous Putnam Candy Store, profiled last year on The Times’ Local Blog. Combined with the new bar that’s in the works at 8 Putnam Avenue, this could set the stage for the kind of turnaround for the drug-addled corner that law enforcement has been unable to fully bring about (though big strides have certainly be made in the last five year). (Full disclosure: We live in the neighborhood.) There’s a meeting tomorrow night to discuss the idea at 138 South Oxford Street at 7 pm. We’re not members yet, but consider this a vote of support! Update: We just got an email from a reader saying that he thought it was only the two spaces on the left, not the candy store itself, that were being considered by the co-op. Anyone know for sure? Update #2: A member of the Co-op’s lease location committee emailed to confirm that the space under consideration is 18-30 Putnam Avenue. Regardless, this would be incredible for the area.
Finally some good news for this area. I’m ready to join and feel safe right there. Ft. Greene is too pricey for the co-op
I don’t really care what they call it regardless of which neighborhood it’s in.
For me, it’s not about about deterrence…it’s just not encouraging. I already go out of my way to go to Park Slope co-op, why should I start a new co-op, with new rules, new membership fees, etc.? Also, my point is they are capitalizing on the Fort Greene earthy crunchy name. Call it…Clinton Heights…or Clinton Bedford…or Hill Heights or just Clinton Hill Co-op. Don’t try to get all Fort Greeney, now. Remember, everyone says we don’t have any grocery stores anyway and we don’t want any store claiming our hood that doesn’t service us:(.
Lafayette is not a commercial corridor in either FG or CH (except for the intersection of Fulton and Lafayette, and the coop certainly could not find the space there), so that is out. Dekalb has no space large enough for this, and is residential from around Clinton Avenue onwards. Myrtle has buses but no subway nearby, but is already developed and does not likely have a large enough space at a reasonable rent. Fulton (and this stretch of Putnam) is the way to go – and the further east you go the better the space and the rent. Seems like the logical place to me, especially with the transportation options. The western edge of FG already has a farmers market at the park each weekend and several higher end grocery stores. If value and the coop philosophy is what drives you to use the coop, the one stop subway ride from the C on Lafayette to Clinton Washington would not deter you.
Good point denizen. This location would be convenient for Prospect Heights too.
Certainly if I lived in Ft Greene I’d be less than pleased about this location – but I can’t think of any open retail that is on the border of CH and FG. Obviously choices needed to be made. As my monicker indicates I would be psyched at this location. Obviously Putnam and Grand is less upscale and, yes, perhaps safe than Dekalb and Adelphi – but since when did Coops get all fancy-pants? I am sure when the Park Slope Coop started Union wasn’t so pretty. This location would work well for a whole bunch of people in Prospect Heights as well, no?
Heather, check the census data. Large majority of the neighborhood does NOT have cars.
At the very least, if they go through with this location, they should rename it the Clinton-Stuy Food Coop, because that ain’t Fort Greene.
I am thrilled about this location. It will also serve those of us on the Bed Stuy border and it’s great that it’s closer to an underserved neighborhood where there’s more of a need for healthy and affordable food.