Williamsburg Comes to Crown Heights?
The New York Sun took a look at Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights yesterday, noting that “bodegas, hair salons, and fast-food restaurants lining the section of Franklin Avenue that runs between Eastern Parkway and Atlantic Avenue, on the western boundary of Crown Heights, are slowly being replaced by organic markets, cafés, and clothing boutiques.” One…
The New York Sun took a look at Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights yesterday, noting that “bodegas, hair salons, and fast-food restaurants lining the section of Franklin Avenue that runs between Eastern Parkway and Atlantic Avenue, on the western boundary of Crown Heights, are slowly being replaced by organic markets, cafés, and clothing boutiques.” One resident likened the newfangled street to Williamsburg, noting his own store has started stocking organic produce to please the new residents, moving in for the relatively cheap rent; one broker says apartments are about $300 less a month than similar pads in nearby Prospect Heights, and that retail rents can be $1 or $2 less per square foot. Not all residents think that if the street changes it will become a Bedford Avenue; Smith Street and 5th Avenue were invoked, as well, noting the new beer garden, Franklin Park (which apparently draws residents old and new to its halls), a fancy boutique, Point de Couture, a cafe and a tattoo parlor. A 21-year veteran is redeveloping his own building into a residential complex. Question: Is it possible for a neighborhood to shift like this without becoming Park Slope or Williamsburg, to withstand an influx of residents and retail and still be very much Crown Heights? If these new establishments manage to speak to those who’ve lived there for years, maybe we’ll see an example of it. What do you guys think?
Franklin Avenue Changes as Crown Heights Shifts [NY Sun]
Houses, Crown Heights. Photo by gkjarvis.
I am proud to say we are boutique owners on Franklin Avenue and have been here for several years. About Time Boutique also has an annual kids day on july 25th to encourage other neighborhoods to come out and see the beauty of Crown Heights. This year we’re blocking off Franklin Ave bet. Park & Sterling… so come out w/the kids and support your community! I love this blog! 🙂
I am proud to say we are boutique owners on Franklin Avenue and have been here for several years. About Time Boutique also has an annual kids day on july 25th to encourage other neighborhoods to come out and see the beauty of Crown Heights. This year we’re blocking off Franklin Ave bet. Park & Sterling… so come out w/the kids and support your community! I love this blog! 🙂
I am proud to say we are boutique owners on Franklin Avenue and have been here for several years. About Time Boutique also has an annual kids day on july 25th to encourage other neighborhoods to come out and see the beauty of Crown Heights. This year we’re blocking off Franklin Ave bet. Park & Sterling… so come out w/the kids and support your community! I love this blog! 🙂
Interesting that the article talks about Franklin Avenue but shows a photo of Carroll Street between Kingston and Albany Avenues. That’s a good half mile away from Franklin Avenue and not the trendy neighborhood to which the article refers. I live here and like it a lot, but I doubt coffee houses are about to open in the heart of this Hasidic neighborhood.
I don’t anticipate Crown Heights becoming the next Williamsburg; Nor do I foresee Franklin becoming a version of Smith Street. At present many of the businesses in Crown Heights are homogenous ie. corner stores/bodegas, juice bars, fruit stands and hair salons. I was very excited that Bristen’s Eatery opened up on Franklin and I hope to see an increase in a variety of Carribean owned businesses which attract a diverse crowd.
It is apparent that there is a very vibrant and stable Carribean community here.
I don’t anticipate Crown Heights becoming the next Williamsburg; Nor do I foresee Franklin becoming a version of Smith Street. At present many of the businesses in Crown Heights are homogenous ie. corner stores/bodegas, juice bars, fruit stands and hair salons. I was very excited that Bristen’s Eatery opened up on Franklin and I hope to see an increase in a variety of Carribean owned businesses which attract a diverse crowd.
It is apparent that there is a very vibrant and stable Carribean community here.
I posted this on another blog re: this article:
If I were to take a guess — or maybe its more like wishful thinking — I would say that Crown Heights is going to feel more like Lewis Avenue in Stuveysant Heights in the years to come. To me, Lewis Avenue has a feel of jazz meets young urban black professional meets meets the artisan entrepreneur community. And that seems representative of the mix of people that are moving to and store fronts that are opening up in Crown Heights.
I would love to see some sort of jazz/neo soul cafe open up around here. I know that Tavern on Nostrand does jazz nights, but that seems more incidental than central to the business.
Wow, it seems as though living in Crown Heights, can be at times like living in two parallel worlds from reading some of the experiences of others on Brownstoner compared to my own.
I’m one of the new tenants, in a newly renovated apartment, paying higher rents than my “old timer” neighbors. But please note, I am Afro-American and though some may consider me a “blipster”, I personally feel I am not.
I am just a young professionally working in film who wanted a bigger apartment, was bored by Williamsburg scene, no offense to any one living there it just was not for me.., and fell in love with the architecture and vibe of C. Heights.
I’ve passed Bedford, Franklin and Nostrand. I live on New York Ave. Call me naive, but never in a million yrs would I have thought there was thriving drug trade on Franklin. Granted, Franklin Ave. is not the prettiest of streets, but much better looking than Nosrtrand Ave, in my humble opinion.
Personally, I find all three Avenues lacking in variety of stores and products. It would be great if all three Ave. could embrace/absord/inter twine a little more variety with what is already there.
I love the Carribian stores, the fruit stands, the Afro-centric stores etc. Then, I’m starting to miss a larger variety of restaurant, I moved from Park slope, organic foods, book stores etc.
I just hope the wonderful flavor of the some of the great stores already existing on Franklin and Nostrand are not pushed out with the slowly emerging new.
I have no idea what Bedford Ave. was like before, but it seems a little thin in variety of offers still. But if it is a positive improvement, I’m all for it!
Thanks Montrose for the info on the local brokers. We have been taking some walks after Sunday Mass and will continue to do so.