Greene Hill Co-op Approves Putnam Lease
At last night’s general meeting, members of the Greene Hill Food Co-op voted 29-0 to approve the terms of the lease at 18-24 Putnam Avenue. A similar vote in favor of the location itself had been cast last month, which gave the lease committee the authority to negotiate terms with the landlord. We don’t know…
At last night’s general meeting, members of the Greene Hill Food Co-op voted 29-0 to approve the terms of the lease at 18-24 Putnam Avenue. A similar vote in favor of the location itself had been cast last month, which gave the lease committee the authority to negotiate terms with the landlord. We don’t know what the specific terms are, but the word is that the landlord is being generous. According to an email we saw last night, getting the lease signed could still take “a few weeks,” but in the meantime Co-op members will be setting up tables in the neighborhood and even knocking on doors. If you’d like to join, the sooner you can, the better. You can sign up here.
Food Co-op’ers Back Putnam Location [Brownstoner]
Food Co-op May Lease Space on Putnam [Brownstoner]
So instead you simply created a class system that favors people that have tons of free time on their hands. Why would you not offer the option to buy out at whatever price the cost would be to hire someone. If people are willing to pay they will if not you don’t lose anything. There are folks that hang out at Home Depot hiring themselves out as laborers. Why not let me create a job for someone else if I prefer not to work at the coop?
Regarding the pay your way out issue: we thought about it over a year ago, but agreed on a working only coop because we didn’t want to create a class system where people who could afford it didn’t have to work, and those who can’t afford it (and may have to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet) would be left doing the work.
Also, coops that people can pay instead of working tend to not have particularly good prices (see Flatbush Coop on Cortelyou as an example). If you think about your 3 hrs a month in terms of a minimum wage worker, that $21.75/month or $261 a year, not including the overhead expenses for that worker such as benefits and taxes. That’s much more than most people are willing to spend per year for the coop membership, even though their time might be valued more highly at their day job. Not that these numbers ever came up at a meeting, but it just drives home why working coops are able to offer the best prices.
Great news, it will provide a boost to this area, let’s hope we get a resturant to this area, it will go well with Michael Allen bakery. there’s few vacant stores on this block.
The fact is that the work requirement places an unfair tax on those who already work onerous hours or those who are highly compensated for their time. I really haven’t heard a good reason why you should not be able to buy out of it other than the fact that it offends some militant leftists.
We are assuming it will take quite a while to raise all the money we need to fully renovate the store, probably at least a year to open the doors, so wasder is correct. Please join now to help speed up the fundraising process! Not only does it help increase funds, but it shows support which will help us look more attractive to investors and potential grants. Waiting until the store opens to join will only lengthen the process.
And for the work requirement, I’m willing to trade off ~3hr/mo in exchange for good cheap produce, something that is lacking in this area at any price, but that’s just me and the coop structure isn’t for everyone. For those who don’t want to join because of the work requirement for other reasons, but want to see the business here, we will still welcome your support!
Dahlia
Co-chair of the Greene Hill Food Coop Lease/Location Committee
Great news for the area but I’m going to pass because of the ridiculous work requirement.
We should all join now to give them an investment cushion. Would no doubt speed the opening.
Good question! My guess is at least a year til it’s up and running. Someone correct me, I am just a Hill Person.
That wedge near where Brownstoner lives is suddenly full of cool stuff. Seems the creperie is close to opening too.
Giddy with excitement!
Does anyone know how long it takes to get one of these things up and running though? I’d love a sense of when it’s actually going to open.