Fulton Mall Abuzz With Free Commerce
Everybody’s favorite free marketeer, Iceberg, sent us these photos of the Fulton Mall he took yesterday. View these and other Iceberg originals on his Flickr page. We particularly like the Adam Smith portraits! Race Issues and Fulton Mall [Brownstoner]
Everybody’s favorite free marketeer, Iceberg, sent us these photos of the Fulton Mall he took yesterday. View these and other Iceberg originals on his Flickr page. We particularly like the Adam Smith portraits!
Race Issues and Fulton Mall [Brownstoner]
I am no elitist bemoaning changes that are all to the good. Yes absolutely certain aspects can and should be changed. And I agree African Americans are not monolithic- I know that very well. Of course they want better products, services and the respect of the business owners they patronize. My point is that “ratnerization” is a steam roller, flattening anything that gets in its way. Catastophic change as opposed to change created by the market and demographics. You should also note that I called Fulton Mall a working class shopping district- not an African-American one. What gets me angry is that after 40 years of treating Fulton Street as a place to be ignored, suddenly the surrounding neighborhoods and the Mayor noticed the fact that it is a successful, lively place with a great location. So now they want it. Ratnerization is all about money- neighborhoods are a good deal more complex than that. The type of change they want to impose is no different than what Robert Moses did to Brooklyn.
In furtherance of my above point here are pictures from the opneing of APPLEBEES in Bed-Stuy; and while I think it is horrible apparently MANY people (at all economic levels) seem to be embracing the very changes that so many of the elitiest bemoan:
http://urbanchange.typepad.com/photos/applebees_grand_opening/index.html
The primarily “African-American shopper” many are trying to claim are so well served by the Fulton Mall also seem to love the “ratnerized’ (what does this even mean) Atlantic Terminal.
Could it be that “African-American” shoppers arent some monolitic entity only interested in garish signs, t-shirts, sneakers, bad gold and overpriced electronics (oh and the terrible service at Macys).
Isnt it just possible that certain aspects of the mall could be changed and ALL Brooklynites would benefit.
It was the African-American businesses and clientele that kept the downtown area alive for the last 40 years or so. I always shopped there- lots of great places and bargains. I have a difficult time dealing with the fact that it has been successful for so long and suddenly everyone is talking about “doing something” to make it realize its potential. For years I was one of 5 or 6 white people who ever went there- my neighbors in Bklyn Hgts, Boerum, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens never supported those businesses. Now they want to “ratnerize” it. Fulton Mall is working class because working class people kept it alive.It’s loud, it’s brassy, it’s fun- I would hate to see all Brooklyn become an antiseptic fantasyland. I remember when the SOuth St. Seaport was a fascinating area- the main building had old sailors selling mostly sea related items and the area felt like what it was- a port. The sailors were fascinating- they were living, breathing history. Now what’s there? Little upscale shops and the world’s biggest food court where you can buy any franchise fast food you want.
Of course the notion of gradual change and business transition becomes moot if Ratner starts buying up the mall….that would connect Atlantic Yards with Metrotech and we’d all be living in Ratnerville. Frankly, I prefer the mall in its present state to a Ratnerized version, rebuilt with the same glorious architecture and superb consumer offerings of his existing projects…
I think folks need to accept the fact that Brooklyn remains in a perpetual state of change – some for the worse and some for the better. Those adverse or opposed to change will simply have to adjust or be relegated to the role of bystander.
Presently it appears that the Manhattanization of the borough, at least Downtown, is inevitable. Rather than trying to prevent this occurrence by stepping in front of a moving train, borough residents should focus on how best to direct it’s path so that eventual change encompasses the views, considerations and interests of its diverse population. By no means will it be a zero sum game. Those looking for lopsided victories (i.e., the Mall at Short Hills vs. the status quo) will surely be disappointed. In all likelihood, the intermediate version of the mall will lie somewhere in between – though on a longer term basis it might indeed resemble Short Hills or at the very least the UWS.
Forums such as Brownstoner are a great start. However, the struggle to be heard is multi-dimensional; it must be waged and fought at the local political level, community board meetings, the start of business and economic development initiatives, and, more importantly, through consumer spending habits. In the end, the free market system will ultimately decide.
Presently, the mall caters to a predominantly African-American clientele and by most business measures its very successful. If residents of nearby Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, etc. can’t give business owners an economic incentive to change the mix of goods and services available in the mall, then why should they? Should there be a leap of faith on the part of business owners? How much of an economic loss should they be expected to sustain during the “transition period”, or the “demographic shift” of its consumer base.
Moreover, in such a highly populated business district is an abrupt development or transition plan even feasible? The African-American consumer business is so thoroughly entrenched in the area; outside of some earth shattering event (government seizure via the powers of eminent domain or Katrina like disaster) wiping the slate clean and starting anew appears to be matter of wishful thinking because change will be gradual. Last time I looked there weren’t any levees any where near downtown Brooklyn
I think folks need to accept the fact that Brooklyn remains in a perpetual state of change – some for the worse and some for the better. Those adverse or opposed to change will simply have to adjust or be relegated to the role of bystander.
Presently it appears that the Manhattanization of the borough, at least Downtown, is inevitable. Rather than trying to prevent this occurrence by stepping in front of a moving train, borough residents should focus on how best to direct it’s path so that eventual change encompasses the views, considerations and interests of its diverse population. By no means will it be a zero sum game. Those looking for lopsided victories (i.e., the Mall at Short Hills vs. the status quo) will surely be disappointed. In all likelihood, the intermediate version of the mall will lie somewhere in between – though on a longer term basis it might indeed resemble Short Hills or at the very least the UWS.
Forums such as Brownstoner are a great start. However, the struggle to be heard is multi-dimensional; it must be waged and fought at the local political level, community board meetings, the start of business and economic development initiatives, and, more importantly, through consumer spending habits. In the end, the free market system will ultimately decide.
Presently, the mall caters to a predominantly African-American clientele and by most business measures its very successful. If residents of nearby Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, etc. can’t give business owners an economic incentive to change the mix of goods and services available in the mall, then why should they? Should there be a leap of faith on the part of business owners? How much of an economic loss should they be expected to sustain during the “transition period”, or the “demographic shift” of its consumer base.
Moreover, in such a highly populated business district is an abrupt development or transition plan even feasible? The African-American consumer business is so thoroughly entrenched in the area; outside of some earth shattering event (government seizure via the powers of eminent domain or Katrina like disaster) wiping the slate clean and starting anew appears to be matter of wishful thinking because change will be gradual. Last time I looked there weren’t any levees any where near downtown Brooklyn
Aw, c’mon Umar, isn’t a penis-engraved tooth cap good enough for you? Now there’s one photo iceberg missed…
Seems to be working now — thanks! There’s a LOT of new construction out there in EWilliamsburg/Bushwick/even almost Ridgewood, isn’t there? Nice shots of Blue and Switch BTW — Tonic is totally swallowed up (*sigh*)!