Big Bucks for Jazzing Up 'Outdated' Fulton Mall
As part of a $40 million investment in the Downtown Brooklyn streetscape, the city’s Economic Development Corp. will pony up $15 million to spruce up the Fulton Street Mall. “You’ll have a great new open space a la Herald Square at 34th Street in Manhattan, and an overhaul of the Fulton Mall’s physical environment,” said…
As part of a $40 million investment in the Downtown Brooklyn streetscape, the city’s Economic Development Corp. will pony up $15 million to spruce up the Fulton Street Mall. “You’ll have a great new open space a la Herald Square at 34th Street in Manhattan, and an overhaul of the Fulton Mall’s physical environment,” said Joseph Chan, president of the city’s Downtown Brooklyn Partnership. The effort will include new bus shelters, benches and street furniture as well as the addition of new lights and trees. Another $3 million to $4 million will be out towards creating a 10,000-square-foot green space at the former Albee Square mall that could double as a place for public performances. Work is expected to begin a year from now. Even sooner, the greening of Downtown Brooklyn will also extend to two “gateway to Brooklyn” planting projects on Flatbush Avenue and Boerum Place.
$15 Mil for ‘Herald Square in Bklyn’ [NY Post]
I agree with the posters who think Fulton Mall is a dump. The low-end retail, the guys hanging around and hustling young women, the tacky storefronts. Who would guess that homes nearby sell for millions of dollars? A stroll down Fulton mall should serve as a reality check for everyone.
i just think that the money could be better spent elsewhere in brooklyn in the name of economic development. there are distressed areas that could get help in starting up developments rather than “improving” one that is already successful. I think the numbers of shoppers should speak for itself. Perhaps the EDC should question who the people are that consider FM “tacky” and if their money should go to serving their interests.
“Herald Square is certainly an improvement to what currently exist….”
Agreed. Fulton Mall Strip really is a dumpy looking place. I doubt the new stores will be extravagantly high-end but def a much-needed upgrade. I’m feeling good about this renovation.
What’s really needed:
Better lighting — on Fulton as well as the side streets. More and brighter likes Times Square.
Better lighting on Flatbush between Myrtle and Atlantic Aves .. allegedly Flatbush is going to be reconstructed or at least re-surfaced between Tillary and Atlantic soon.
This Fulton stuff goes back a few months to the controversy over changing buildings and their facades … some said that takes a lot of the ambience out of the place … I say look for a happy medium between standardization and low-rent … local flavor should be maintained.
Fulton St. has been a main shpooing drag in Brooklyn forever … and yes the plaza in front of the WaMu, er, Dime Savings Bank building could be something if done right.
bus shelters are free for the city. the company handling the advertising on them installs them free in exchange for the revenue.
when ‘Fulton Mall’ was created (25 years ago maybe?) with all the city money to make it more pedestrian friendly, plantings, new sidewalks, lighting, etc — did you call that a gentrification scheme?
why should this be any different? Current shoppers I think would not mind some sprucing up.
why are new bus shelters on everyone’s wish list? they cost millions, are useless, and are never much nicer than what they replace. better to use money to encourage the landlords and tenants update their facades and lighting. ever notice how Macys doesn’t even bother with window displays anymore?
Thank you Dave for your thoughtful and articulate comment.
I think it’s a great that they’re putting money in to spruce up Fulton Mall. However, the stores leave a lot to be desired and will not be as easily revamped as the streetscape.