502 New York Ave: Not So Bad? Eh, Pretty Bad
We received another development submission from a reader (keep ’em coming, folks). This one happens to be at 502 New York Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. (Let’s just say we’d be pleased as punch if this discussion could stay on track about the development and design without yet another digression into how safe the nabe…
We received another development submission from a reader (keep ’em coming, folks). This one happens to be at 502 New York Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. (Let’s just say we’d be pleased as punch if this discussion could stay on track about the development and design without yet another digression into how safe the nabe is.) Anyway, here’s what the reader had to say about the new structure:
Certainly the design is not a paradigm of tasteful restraint, but you can see that at least an effort has been made to build something of some quality – not a Fedders box in sight, or any of those window cages so common on other buildings in Hassidic areas. And while the juliette balconies on the front may not be suitable for religious use (except for the top ones), the back has three big, staggered balconies for Sukkoth.
The photo at top right shows a view of the construction site next door to 502 on the NW corner of Lefferts Ave and New York Avenue; at bottom left is a for-sale sign on the lot across the street from 502.
Comment: Looks like a veritable building boom is underway in PLG!
2:17-
It’s good to know that white people have the Right of Return in Brooklyn.
Excuse me, Anon at 1:45- “The Jews” are not looking for more space. The Lubavitch are. And except for the Hasidic sector, most of the Jewish population is known for having a smaller birth rate than the other groups. If we can keep the ethnic commentary out of it, it would be much appreciated. By the way the extra bars are for kid security- several years ago a child squeezed through normal spaced bars and fell. I don’t recall if he was Hasid and whether or not he died.
actually white people are not “Spilling over into a neighboring area that they did not live in previously”
Because previously they DID live in those neighborhoods. My grandmother (white) is from Bed Stuy and her sister lived on Crown Street. My mother grew up on Putnam Avenue. I have chairs that have been in my family 4 generations and they are back in Brooklyn only blocks from where they started.
That building is ugly. It’s out of scale with the buildings surrounding it why are those balconey’s neccessary. They’re most definately an eye sore.
As for th Jews they’re just looking for more space. They have a large population and they reproduce faster than any other ethnic group in the borough.
Ron- of course the spread of white people into neighborhoods they didn’t live before is ‘spillover’. There is nothing ‘prejudicial’ about it all.
Oops- forgot to ask. Do I see balconies on that strange thing sticking up in the air at the top? At right angles to the building…
Thank you Biggest Shiksa because that is exactly the reason. Sukkoth and lots of little kids. They are a fire hazard but I believe because it has a religious basis, it also comes in under freedom of religion. I may be wrong on that but I don’t see any other good reason why the cage balconies would be allowed. As for “keeping out the Black Man” that comment is ridiculous, coming from a fireman or not (and I know many!) Much as I love them, anyone will tell you firemen are not traditionally known for not being prejudiced. That being said, they will always set aside any personal feelings to rescue anyone, and I mean anyone. They’re heroic, they’re big-hearted and they are also very human.
On-topic: I know there is an attempt to make the building look better but it’s still no prizewinner. I wonder what the interiors look like?
People, use the internet! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukkoth Granted, my lapsed-Jewish boyfriend explained Sukkoth to me once, so I’m ahead of the game.
I’m sure the excessive bars on the windows and terraces are for security, but I always figured it was more likely to protect the kids inside. Hasidic families can be enormous, with lots of little kids, and windows and balconies are a recipe for disaster.
I don’t understand why you call the move of the hassidim into PLG, a spillover??? That is not the proper term to call that. It is a bit prejudicial. They desire to remain in the area that they are in now (crown heights), the same as many of the people on this blog from brownstone brooklyn. I would also call the move of all the “whites” from park slope,bklyn heights, carroll gardens into PLG, bed-stuy,fort greene and prospect heights “spillover”. They are in essence doing the same thing. Spilling over into a neighboring area that they did not live in previously