Closing Bell: There IS Someplace Like Home
Behold a snippet of the video chronicling the fight against gentrification in downtown Brooklyn, Some Place Like Home. Families United for Racial & Economic Equality, a Brooklyn-based group made up mostly of women of color, is behind the movie, which “tells the stories of community residents and small businesses that are displaced to make way…
Behold a snippet of the video chronicling the fight against gentrification in downtown Brooklyn, Some Place Like Home. Families United for Racial & Economic Equality, a Brooklyn-based group made up mostly of women of color, is behind the movie, which “tells the stories of community residents and small businesses that are displaced to make way for high-end retail and luxury condominiums to the area,” and chronicles the impace of the Downtown Brooklyn plan.
It depicts the pulling out of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene’s legacy of being a once-forgotten neighborhood built from the ground up by generations of low-income and working families from all walks of life. Small business owners that have helped to make the area the 3rd largest retail district in New York City talk about the deferment of their dreams as entrepreneurs. It reveals practices and policies used to support massive real estate projects as the historical, economic and cultural fabric of the area is torn apart. It follows the battle of community residents and small businesses as they fight for some place like home.
The film will premier on December 5th at Medgar Evers College. More info here.
I’m with you on the Oxygen. i worked in Soho from the 80’s to the 90’s. the day french Connection opened its first sotre, that was the day Soho began to change. It had been a vibrant, exciting, funky neighborhood with really fascinating people and shops. Artists everywhere- it was fantastic. Now- meh.
I realize it goes against the general “progress is wonderful, all hale progress” mantra,but although downtown Brooklyn wasn’t pretty, financially it was very successful. I think there are points to be made for Furee’s argument against gentrification. We’ve made a habit out of thinking progress and growth can only be measured in Wall st. terms. well, that hasn’t worked well. We catered to Wall st., too much. so solid business areas like downtown Brooklyn did have enough curb appeal. And we tend to forget there were a lot of business people, homeowners and renters who invested time and money over many years.
This is not to say i think all gentrification is bad- I certainly don’t. But I’d like to see development better thought out, and less destructive of the communities that live in its path.
To the OP:
Re: SOHO.
I didn’t move to NYC until the early 1980s. I can tell you I prefer SOHO then to what it has become now. SOHO SUCKS ASS now. Some of my art professors were living there and working as artists in their lofts when I cam to NYC. In time, they all moved on, many out of the city because the neighborhood that THEY made desirable was turned into a fashion tourist shopping mall zoo. Even the art gallerists had to move on due to real estate values.
In the 70s the artists reclaimed the old rag warehouses and gave the place it’s significance to NY and world culture.
seems like these people are in the same position as AIG, GM, Citigroup…no they aren’t in suits with white shirts and expensive ties
seems like these people are in the same position as AIG, GM, Citigroup…no they aren’t in suits with white shirts and expensive ties
It is a very interesting fact that Fulton Mall is the 3rd highest ranking retail area in the city based on average of rental price and sales volume -ranking behind 5th ave and madison ave. The argument is that LOCAL businesses such as the ones on Willoughby that were forced out for new developement were doing well and serving a customer base.
QOTD:
Now its a split down the middle, yuppies and project kids.
(or was it yesterday?) but that is the epitome of New New York. BARF
*Rob*
It is a very interesting fact that Fulton Mall is the 3rd highest ranking retail area in the city based on average of rental price and sales volume -ranking behind 5th ave and madison ave. The argument is that LOCAL businesses such as the ones on Willoughby that were forced out for new developement were doing well and serving a customer base.
PS – Note: It was my post quoting Vinca from the Forum, not Vinca responding to you.
jfss-
If you read my post as well as my response to Vinca, you’ll see that you and I are in agreement for the most part. Also, I think you’ve misread a bit.
First off, I came to the area in 1983 after my Dad bought an building in Boerum Hill. I live here, taking care of him as he’s become disabled. So I know the area for over 25 years. I do remember Carroll Gardens and although hardly the ghetto Boerum Hill was it was not that nice. And Smith Street WAS dangerous and to say it wasnt unsafe is just plain wrong. I’m not one of the precious entitled ones. I’ve been here just like you. I’ve been mugged, our building has been broken into and I’ve dealt with my fair share of crap, even in olden days Carroll Gardens you refer to.
One place we actually agree is that I too believe that its just business and that its the market that sets the price. That is the whole point that I was trying to get to Vinca in the first place. Read her post then read mine.
As far as the Italians I denigrate, I don’t. I have shopped and supported all of the local vendors from day one that I arrived and do to this day. But it took a good 5-10 years for me to get on a 1st name basis in the shops and to this day, non Italians are scowled at.
I will disagree. Ask any old timer where the families are and they themselves will agree that most moved their families to the suburbs because the city was a rotten place to raise kids. Sure a few stayed but the middle generation, know in the 40s with kids live elsewhere. If they stayed you’d see the local schools filled up with more Italian kids. Now its a split down the middle, yuppies and project kids.
” You didn’t discover CG; the natives have always known about it.”
I never claimed I did. This is my 25th year in Brooklyn and my 46th year in NYC.
” Maybe if you built relationships instead of grievances you might be happier here.”
I’ve built many but I know that SOME people that have no interest in building a relationship with my kind.
” There seems to be a lot of misinformed ranting around here lately and it’s getting tedious.”
I was thinking the same of you.