Fulton Mall: Death By Compromise?
The Pratt Center for Community Development has released its full report–analysis and recommendations–on the Fulton Mall. Here are the five “strategies” the report recommends following. Clearly, they are trying to walk a very fine line balancing all the class and racial sensitivities that are all rolled up in the issue now. 1. Address the physical…
The Pratt Center for Community Development has released its full report–analysis and recommendations–on the Fulton Mall. Here are the five “strategies” the report recommends following. Clearly, they are trying to walk a very fine line balancing all the class and racial sensitivities that are all rolled up in the issue now.
1. Address the physical appearance of the Mall with innovative and culturally sensitive facade improvement (huh? sounds like politically-correct jibberish to us), building conservation and new building design techniques that embrace the aesthetic theme of “old meets new.” (We have no idea what this means but it sounds like a recipe for confusion and mediocrity.)
2. Better utilize buildings by activating vacant upper stories and carefully planning a mix of uses that supports the dynamism and diversity of the Mall and makes it more of a 24-hour place. (No quibbles with this one.)
3. Promote and enhance the current retail themes found on the Mall: urban wear, Hip Hop fashion and music, uniquely Brooklyn. (What, no Banana Republic? What about that diversity?)
4. Improve the public realm and enliven the side streets to enhance the experience of shoppers and visitors on Fulton Street, as well as workers and residents to the north and south. (Ah, so this is where they throw the gentrifiers a bone. The only problem is it sounds like they’ll have to wade through the penis-engraved tooth caps to get to their precious cafes. Not gonna work in our opinion.)
5. Engage a broad and diverse group of stakeholders in the planning process from this point forward. (We’re all just one big happy multi-cultural family!)Fulton Mall 2006 Report [Pratt Center]
Photo by f. trainer
Brownstoner, you might be right on that point at 10.41am, unfortunately…
To those who want the Mall to stay the same as it is in terms of the stores, do you have any issues with facade improvements, removal of ugly signage, harsher fines for store owners (and shoppers) who litter or don’t clean up their sidewalk? I don’t think that would be controversial and would make it a nicer place for everyone. What do others think?
Ugh,
While we don’t take issue with your statements of personal responsibility, we are skeptical that the coexistence of “hi-lo” is possible in an isolated environment like the Fulton Mall.
And yes, it is a real shame that Gage and Tollner is gone. I think that is a prime example of what Brownstoner said in response to point #4. If an area is generally made unattractive as a desitination for those who would like to frequent more upscale shops and restaurants, and such upscale places will not get the traffic they need and be forced to close.
Good grief though, TGIF in the old Gage and Tollner’s space. I think the old Gage and Tollner antique light were replaced with those stained glass TGIF lamps too. Uggh.
I am so tired of the culture of entitlement in america – it runs through all classes and races, except recent immigrants who bust their balls to make a living. 9:45AM whines about why should richer and more vocal and more politically connected people have more say than xyz and the richer, etc.. complain about why they have to pay the taxes they do…listen: in order for a society to work, everyone has to pitch in and have a stake. the richer have to pay their share of taxes and those “stuck” in the ghetto (or mall) get off it already and organize and educate. don’t complain if people use their connections or voices to ask for change. if you don’t feel like you’re getting your fair share then organize, vote, stop glorifying lifestyles that lead nowhere – you do that and you will be ignored. you become an important voter, a tax payer, you get to weigh in on what happens on the mall. everyone feels like they’re owed something and over and over again the people who move beyond that kind of thinking are the ones who actually accomplish something – that goes for black AND white, rich and poor. If I (an immigrant of color) have made some money and feel that I have a stake in my neighborhood and I would like the Fulton mall to be more physically appealing and offer greater selection, then I can use my voice to ask for this. I can see a balance, if only everyone stops viewing the existing and the potential as mutually exclusive. it’s like it can only be Hi or Lo, not Hi-Lo.
What’s the difference between urban wear and hip-hop fashion?
I thought point #2 is a good idea.
As for the rest, especially point number 3, to promote and enhance the “urban hip/hop” theme of the Fulton Mall essentially means keep it the same, with some unclear goals regarding the tacky facades being improved. This doesn’t promote diversity or cater to the majority of the people (of all races) that live in the neighborhoods adjacent to downton Brooklyn. I don’t want an entire downtown of Connecticut Muffin shops, but at the same time, I do not want an entire downtown of hip hop shops and cell phone stores. A mix is good and would serve everyone.
I’m not an advocate of any sort of forced change (with the exception of rules regarding signing on the buildings), I think market forces will work best in this case, though I do think making the area attractive to new development (residential and commercial), while preserving the old architecture where appropriate, is a good idea. I do agree the area needs to at least be cleaned up from a visual point of view (landmarking buildings, removal of signage etc.). It would be great if it was a 24/7 destination with a mix of residential and various commercial businesses (not just hip hop/urban gear).
I was a regular shopper in the Fulton, since back when I lived in Clinton Hill (Pratt Dorms) and would shop for bargain shoes and clothing, also fabric and sewing supplies in the fabric stores (which have sadly dwindled in numbers over the years). With my pale gothy/punky completion and mostly black wardrobe, I definitely was sticking out among the Fulton Mall’s more ethnic clientele (but hey, what good is it being a college punk if you *don’t* stick out ?).
I then moved to Fort Greene and on to Carroll Gardens. When the A&S was turned into a Macy*s the customer service went so down hill, I all but abandoned shopping that Macy*s. But since it was any easy bus or walk to the mall, I still did some shopping in Fulton Mall bargain stores.
I’m now living on edge of Ditmas Park West, so I really don’t shop in the Fulton Mall, at this point. But I would like to see the upper floors of those incredible buildings better utilized and the tacky storefronts somehow detackified (or what ever the P.C. term would be). While the end result shouldn’t end up like a Disney ye olde street or a Vegas themed venue; restoring the street to some of it’s former glory would be great.
As a side note: How bummed was everyone that the Gage and Tollner was turned into a TGI Friday? Sure I only ate there on a few special occasions, but a TGIF, that’s just wrong. http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/brooklynfulton/gage.html
i don’t recall brownstoner saying lattes or muffins- is this what’s going to happen again- i walked thru the other day after a day of jury duty… it is a mall in everyway- i saw young people everywhere, a few families- this is a mall and this is mall culture like you’d find at any mall in the country- the last time this was discussed i was hoping for scaled back sinage and better building use and restoration but now i am thinking it is what it is- and it is fine the way it is- although the buildings are wasted here behind sinage and not being used, it is where this mall happened to come to life and in a way now i’d hate to see it change- there is more to downtown that is under utilized and in need of restoration- maybe let the mall be the mall and revitalize some of the more dead parts of brooklyn’s downtown in that area.