Flatbush Avenue Will Never Be The Same Again
Tomorrow morning, Marty Markowitz will don his dungarees and grab a shovel to help developer Ron Hershko celebrate the groundbreaking of the two Ismael Leyva-desgned towers at 306 Gold Street and 167 Johnson Street. (Alright, he’ll probably have a suit on but whatever.) Gold Street will be a 40-story tower with 303 condo units while…
Tomorrow morning, Marty Markowitz will don his dungarees and grab a shovel to help developer Ron Hershko celebrate the groundbreaking of the two Ismael Leyva-desgned towers at 306 Gold Street and 167 Johnson Street. (Alright, he’ll probably have a suit on but whatever.) Gold Street will be a 40-story tower with 303 condo units while Johnson Street will top out at 35 stories and have 214 apartments. In addition to being the tallest tower in Brooklyn, the development will also be distinguished by its amenities, which include a squash court, a swimming pool and an indoor basketball court.
Downtown Glitz Jumps Flatbush [Brooklyn Papers] GMAP
Huge Towers for Flatbush [Brownstoner]
I think if the races were flipped in the babs scenario, there would be no “understanding” on behalf of many on this board. There is always talk of how snobby white gentrifiers are and how they don’t speak to their new neighbors. Well, if the reactions of babs and co are anything to go by, whites are not exactly welcomed. It is not acceptable to act that way, no matter what color you are and no matter how openminded you think you are. It reveals your own prejudice. You can call it what you want, and you might not be some all out racist, but it is telling none the less of your attitude and your upbringing if you think it is ok to stop and stare at someone who is a different color from you and the rest of the residents in your neighborhood.
You’re right. We all need to work on being less defensive and jumping to unwarranted conclusions. But you’ve got to admit that there’ve been some horribly blatant, racist comments posted on this blog recently.
From what I’ve read of bab’s comments in the past, she sounds reasonable and educated.
Not the type that would talk of denying anyone the right to live in a neighborhood because of their race or socioeconomic background.
I think you’re jumping the gun and putting words into her mouth again. You don’t know if her ‘stare’ represented a thought like ‘what are you doing here, get back to your own neighborhoods’. Or if it was mere surprise that the hipsters are also moving into her neighborhood.
Three years ago, you’d rarely see someone white walking east of Classon ave. I remember ‘staring’ with surprise the first time that I saw a group of white kids strolling down a block in Bed Stuy. I wasn’t hateful or prejudiced. I was just in awe that gentrification had proceeded that far east.
And I welcomed it all with open arms. It took 15 seconds for me to adjust to the new reality and for the stare to end. I was driving at the time; so it made no difference to these kids.
I interpreted babs comments as surprise that there were hipsters living in her neighborhood.
I don’t think babs — whatever color she is — meant any offense, but it’s worth considering how it would have gone over if someone equally well intentioned had made the same post with the races flipped.
Ok so here we go again. Standing and gaping at someone because they are a different color than most of the people in your neighborhood is not racist but god forbid you post anything detrimental about public housing and out come the fried chicken and watermelon comments. Talk about hypocrisy.
Reread babs comment. It is clear what she was saying.
Anon 8:02, come on, it’s nyc, nobody says hi to a stranger that they meet in the streets (whether it’s a panini store, starbucks, a plexiglass encased liquor store or, a pizza shop).
Talk about puttin words into people’s mouth. How can you assume that Babs was staring at them because they were white. Why couldn’t you give her the benefit of the doubt and assume that she was staring at them because they were “dressed like grunge/hipster”.
Maybe staring isn’t the best way to make someone feel welcome but there’s no need to jump to a conclusion about race. Heck, I don’t even know whether Babs is white, black or green.
Good points, anon 9:56. I’m sure that babs will come on and find some justification for her double-standard.
The other day two black guys dressed like hip-hop types passed me on Henry Street. They were telling each other, “Yo,” and went into Starbucks. Later they came into the panini shop. Everyone (myself and the store clerks included) stopped dead and stared at them.
Hey, that’s not offensive, is it?