Streetlevel: Organic Boom on Cortelyou
The changing demographics in Victorian Flatbush are having a big impact on the neighborhood’s food market scene. On the heels of a new organic market opening on the cornering Cortelyou and Stratford a couple of weeks ago (and the Green Market opening this past weekend) comes the news, via a neighborhood tipster, that the Food…
The changing demographics in Victorian Flatbush are having a big impact on the neighborhood’s food market scene. On the heels of a new organic market opening on the cornering Cortelyou and Stratford a couple of weeks ago (and the Green Market opening this past weekend) comes the news, via a neighborhood tipster, that the Food Co-op will be buying out the Associated on Cortelyou and Marlborough. According to our source, Associated owner Leon Boyer is selling because of all the “damned yuppies.” What’s the impact of this on the folks in the area who can’t afford organic fare? Do they still have other options?
Photo by Kate Leonova for Property Shark
What turned me off of PS were those damned Stoller Moms.
Can’t speak for anyone else, but I left PS because it was crowded, there were cars freaking *everywhere*, and I suffer from seasonal affective disorder…which means a railroad style apt in a brownstone is bad news. Now I’m in Flatbush, have more space, windows and sunlight on all sides…and no, I neither have nor intend to have kids. Just one story in the big city…
I know it’s not a popular idea and it’s not for everyone. But I’m guessing it’s mostly people who come to DP exactly for the Vic. houses, driveways to keep their cars, and large families (or large bank accounts), who like things non-park-slopish. That’s ok. Kensington will be the area to do the most changing anways.
Anon 9:13: Thanks for respecting my honesty..
As a single woman, I couldn’t afford to buy a home in this neighborhood a year ago, so I could only buy a small apartment. i think many people in the slope (and other places) are also feeling the same way and looking in this area. I’ve already met two people in my building from Slope/Carroll Gardens.
I love the brownstones too. The problem is, there aren’t a whole lot in this immediate DP vicinity… nor a lot of multi-unit housing. Not that I’m promoting that in DP, but the Slope has tons of brownstones that go on and on. It really promotes a tighter knit, denser population that want to hang out within the community because they don’t need to go anywhere else. DP has its niche charm which should be carefully considered in any changes.. but it’s going to move more slowly than areas that have more multi-housing (Church, McDonald). Those same great large, Vic. houses also bring in a very different demographic than those in the slope. They stay at home, putter around, drive where they need to go, etc. One block of Victorian homes has maybe the population of half a block of 1 side of brownstones. And they’re not going to be young 20-something professionals in those Victorian homes.
I’m not putting down DP; I’m just noting a very logical difference in why one area developed so fast in a short time, and why DP won’t until there’s more affordable multi-housing. I’m not for overdevelopment of any huge multi-housing, mind you. And from what I see, no one in DP wants to do any business on the busiest border streets: Church, Flatbush, CIA because they see these areas as “fringe”. Thus, this is why only a large chain business willing to make a risk, will change those streets.
I have the fortune of living between DP and Kensington and although some people look down on Kensington, it has a a lot of opportunity for change. Especially around the Church Ave F. It may not have The Farm or Picket Fence, or a high end wine store, but it has commercial space and soon to be 3 Thai restaurants. And from what I hear in the rumor mill (which as we all know, may be nothing!), Starbucks is looking at Church/McDonald area because the high foot traffic appeals to them.
As I’ve mentioned before, CIA would be a great area for any commercial business that the area needs, without ruining the small-town feel people love about DP. Anything’s better than half of what’s there now.
There is a halal butcher on the corner of Church and Dahill in Kensington. It is a hike from Cortelyou but it is a nice bike ride. The meat is fresh, resaonably priced and cut to order. In addition to the Muslims of varying backgrounds who shop there, they have a very large Mexican/Central American clientele. I think that they may deliver as well. The family who owns the establishment are Albanian and have been there for years.
To Midwood Park et. al.
Midwood, you wrote:
“We go to Coney Island Ave below Ave. H for dried fruits that are outstanding!”
Let me suggest the store on the corner of CIA and Avenue J, on the other side of CIA from the now-closing Rite Aid. Best prices I’ve found for dried fruit.
Also excellent for nuts. But the best nut prices I’ve found are available at Oh Nuts on Avenue J at E 15th St.
You wrote:
“We buy bags of basmati rice for a song at the Pakistani stores on CIAve.”
Check Eastern on CIA and Avenue I. They also had the best milk prices in Brooklyn, though I was in the store yesterday and a gallon had risen to $3.39.
Slope to Cortelyou,
I am not promoting a “if you don’t like it here go back to where you came from” attitude and I was not trying to be “snarky.” I did read quickly through the thread-69 comments, but your overall tone seemed to imply that Victorian Flatbush did not suit your tastes. I too have pointed out on this thread ways that the nabe can improve services and as a lifelong Brooklyn resident and 15 year resident of Vict Flatbush I too welcome change. Sorry that you felt that you had to “defend” your comments but you answered my question and I can respect your honesty. If you had the money you’d be in Park Slope and for you Victorain Flatbush was the “next best” which is what I picked up in the tone of your posts. I personally think that Brownstones are beautiful. I grew up in my parents pristine Brownstone which they later sold for an outrageous price. Of course the grass is always greener, so when I purchased my home, I preferred Victorian Flatbush over the Brownstone nabes.
Oh, and also Anon 9:52: I’m the one who suggested a bank and other commercial shops could go onto CIA and not Cortelyou. Please re-read my comments. You’ll note that any gripes I have are nothing that is overly the top negative. I think I can complain about crowded platforms (bringing notice to a situation that I’m sure many already realize) and the fact that lugging groceries from far flung local businesses are not convenient for me. I know you said you were only curious and not saying it facetiously, but it did sound a bit snarky and I wholly defend my comments. I don’t expect everyone to agree with them, but I also don’t feel they warrant a “move back to the slope if you don’t like it” comment either.
Anon 9:52: I think you’re overgeneralizing by saying I’ve pointed out everything wrong with Cortelyou. I’ve pointed many things that are also great with it and some things that would be a welcome change. I don’t think there’s anything I’ve said that really put down the neighborhood. And I dont’ know about you, but there is no one perfect place. If we don’t voice our preferences, who will?
Also, I’m sorry, but I don’t have a wad of cash to buy something in the slope. I chose the next best place possible and think there’s no harm in joining the voices of all the others who’d like to see some changes. I’m sure there will be positive changes here, but if all of us keep mum about what we’d like for fear that people will tell us to go back to the Slope, then it really doesn’t help anyone who would like to see similar changes, does it? And it seems I’m not the only one.. people who’ve grown up here or been here for longer than I, feel the same way. I haven’t voiced anything that someone hasn’t also agreed on. The whole “move back to where you came from if you don’t like it here” view is a bit simplistic and unwelcoming.