Despite Objections, CB3 Backs Bed Stuy Bar
Daphne Surpris, who has operated the impeccably designed coffee spot Ms. Dahlia’s Cafe at 449 Nostrand Ave since last year, recently decided that she would like to expand by opening a bar in an empty space next door. You might think such an entrepreneurial move by someone who’d proven her commitment to the neighborhood and…
Daphne Surpris, who has operated the impeccably designed coffee spot Ms. Dahlia’s Cafe at 449 Nostrand Ave since last year, recently decided that she would like to expand by opening a bar in an empty space next door. You might think such an entrepreneurial move by someone who’d proven her commitment to the neighborhood and her ability to create a tasteful establishment would be welcomed by Bed Stuy residents, but a Community Board 3 meeting on Monday night revealed widespread disagreement within the community about the bar in particular and the future of the neighborhood in general. Some of those in favor of the application said they were tired of going to Park Slope and Harlem to find “more sophisticated bars.” Other supporters argued that the community should be backing an African American woman wanting to open a business in the area. (“We should be supporting someone who looks like us,” said one person from the audience.) One of the arguments against the bar was that there are some schools nearby, though it was later pointed out that the closest one was an adult learning center. Others worried that adding alcohol to an already dangerous block (dangerous? really?) had the potential to increase violence in the area. A man in his late 20s, whose parents lived nearby, argued that he didn’t want them to worry about the same type of violence he felt growing up nearby. Despite the naysaying, the community board ended up supporting the application for the liquor license, so now it’s on to the State Liquor Authority for Surpris, who, ironically, plans to call the new spot Nobar. GMAP
Biff is dead right, although it’s perhaps a cyclical trend rather than a linear one. What is happening in large parts of Brooklyn is “re-gentrification”. Many of the areas now gentrifying were of course built for wealthy homeowners in the first place, the source of their architectural distinctiveness.
gs3, are you going to answer my question or not???
You are a two-faced double-standard racist and most people here have already called you out on it.
Shame on you. Go play somewhere else until you have the maturity to answer my original question. You act like a 4 year old.
Dave-
you made a racist joke.
“Will they have any caricatures of white people on the walls???”,Dave.
shame on you.
And shame on everyone else for tolerating this.
And I should add that anyone who actually bought a place in a more depressed area years ago has certainly done very well with their investment as the area has experienced increases in the number and quality of services and businesses. Admittedly, this does not help renters, but I’ll stick with my original point that gentrification is a part of New York history and not a Bed Stuy / Clinton Hill phenomenon.
“Gentrification is tough on working-class and poor people, and the more that wealthier people move into this part of Bed-Stuy, the more likely it is that lifelong working-class renters in this nabe will have to move to a place that is much less pleasant to live and less convenient and less safe.”
rf, the reality is this has been happening in almost EVERY neighbourhood in New York for more than 100 years. For the kind of home I wanted for my family, I was priced out of the Upper East Side. Now I have to live in less convenient and less safe Brooklyn Heights. 🙂
But seriously, wealthier people displacing less wealthy people has happened virtually everywhere (and to people of all backgrounds, financial position – other than the extremely wealthy). Not saying it’s right, but Bed Stuy is hardly the first place to experience it.
gs3, you’re being a childish ass. You also don’t seem to have a very high level of reading comprehension. See above.
Now answer my question.
“Will they have any caricatures of white people on the walls???”
You did say this Dave.
please explain
Rob, as far as regards commercial establishment, those are the main two; liquor licenses and noise/clubs. There may be more. They also hear cases regarding fair distribution of social service entities, ie, having too many clinics, shelters, etc on a block, or neighborhood. I occasionally go to CB meetings, but not often enough to have a 100% definition of all of their duties and responsibilities. The meetings can get quite lively, and can also be a snorefest. It all depends on what’s going on, or what issue comes before it. I do think they are a valuable entity.
I have no problem with that quote.
BTW, I’d also be all for an Italian family living in Little Italy wanting to open a restaurant there. I just tried to take someone to eat in Little Italy and I kept walking around, saying, I know Little Italy is around here somewhere … just give me a second to remember … it’s just a bit of a street…