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.
The point is a lot of Fort Greeners are far from the Park Slope coop and ALSO far from this one, so it doesn’t serve the original purpose of finding a location that’s convenient for Fort Greene AND Clinton Hill. Obviously I wasn’t talking about people who live right on Vanderbilt.
And Stonergut, the large majority of people in the neighborhood don’t have cars.
This would be a great addiiton to the neighborhood. Forgive my not knowing, but how would/ does this impact the Met supermarket?
This would be a great addiiton to the neighborhood. Forgive my not knowing, but how would/ does this impact the Met supermarket?
Very exciting a new food coop is opening up. We live quite a ways over but will consider joining. Couldn’t possibly ever join the Park Slope one.
As a longtime resident of this area, I’ve seen other incredibly undesirable crime ridden locations transform when there’s street traffic due to new neighbors. It will happen here too.
The lots are 18-24 Putnam not 10-16.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=20+Putnam+Avenue,+New+York,+NY&sll=40.682725,-73.961378&sspn=0.003181,0.005944&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=20+Putnam+Ave,+Brooklyn,+Kings,+New+York+11238&ll=40.682737,-73.961184&spn=0.006297,0.011888&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.68276,-73.961081&panoid=IdCpQ2FsIGrPqVmnRgWq3g&cbp=12,175.44,,0,9.33
So it looks like the Candy Store and it’s sweet tooth customers will still be around. I wonder how that will weigh on the CSAs success.
i’m totally in! can’t wait! its a great spot!
zinca, your argument doesn’t really make sense, for those that are so cloase to the Park Slope co-op, they can stay there. doesn’t make sense to put another co-op right near the Park Slope one. Makes a lot of sense to put one in Clinton HIll!
As someone who is very involved with the coop, I would like to encourage those who think this is a great location and those who disagree to come to the meeting tomorrow and voice opinions – we would like to get as rounded an outlook on this space as possible. Also, there was a typo in the meeting announcement, the space is 18-24 Putnam, not 10-16 (so not the Putnam Candy Store). The idea would be to combine the empty storefronts.
On the transportation issue, we realize this is far for some people areas of Fort Greene, but there is the C train a few blocks away and two busses that serve the length of Fulton. And with the cancellation of weekend service for the B69 and closure of the Carlton Ave bridge and 5th Avenue crossing of Atlantic, its going to be more and more difficult to get from Fort Greene to the Park Slope Food Coop.
On the parking issue, that is still a maybe, but the environmental impact of on-site parking is something we will consider – appreciate the comment.
In regards to the Fort Greene vs Clinton Hill issue, we would love to have a great space available that is central to everyone in the two neighborhoods, but the reality is that there are few storefronts of our space requirements in the neighborhood at all, let alone in a central location. This space is affordable and the owner is willing to work with us while we raise capital, something most landlords are not willing to do. It will be hard to find a place that will please everyone, but come hear more about the space before you decide against it.
Ok, a few east of the Putnam Candy store are a couple of storefronts (you see one on the left of the picture) that look to have been renovated and ready for a build out. That would be great. Closest subway stop would be the C at the corner of Washington and Fulton. Closest bus is right at that triangle formed by Fulton and Putnam. Great spot imo, easily accessible, unless you live down near Myrtle Ave.