Future of Fulton Mall Crystalizes Race Issues
NY Observer writer Matthew Schuerman, who also contributes much of The Real Estate, had a piece in the paper last week that spoke with unusual frankness about the issue of race in the borough’s process of gentrification and commercial revitalization. The future of the Fulton Mall, he points out, is forcing these issues out on…
NY Observer writer Matthew Schuerman, who also contributes much of The Real Estate, had a piece in the paper last week that spoke with unusual frankness about the issue of race in the borough’s process of gentrification and commercial revitalization. The future of the Fulton Mall, he points out, is forcing these issues out on the table. There is a lot of pressure from business leaders and residents of neighboring Brownstone Brooklyn to “improve” the mall–despite the fact that it commands some of the highest retail rents in the city and draws heavy foot traffic in its current state. At the same time, however, side streets are deserted and the upper floors of many of the historic buildings are underutilized as well. Community planners and landlords are confronting the reality that it’s going to be hard to attract cute cafes to those side streets and young professionals to buy lofts in an area whose anchor tenants include a “forlorn Macy’s, a Conway, three Payless Shoe Sources, two Foot Lockers and a Kids Foot Locker.” And forget about Class A office tenants: “It’s hard to lure Fortune 500 companies to downtown Brooklyn with people selling penis-engraved tooth caps next door,” writes Schuerman. Indeed. What to do?
Fulton Mall Fights for Existence [NY Observer]
Upscale Lofts in Mall’s Future [Brownstoner]
Another one bites the dust. It was good while it lasted.
There’s this great part of manhattan, Broadway between 29th and 25th, that’s all wholesale vendors. It’s not a swanky shopping strip. But it’s in the middle of what’s becoming one of the swankiest parts of manhattan — Madison Square Park and its immediate environs are upscaling faster than you can say condo.
Those wholesale vendors won’t be here much longer. They’re small-time enterpreneurs, they can’t compete with the giant stores inching their way up from Union Square (what a mall that is!). I will miss those vendors. They draw a very loud and fun crowd, especially on the weekends when it’s swarming with people from all over the NY area buying “crap” to sell elsewhere for a lot more money.
(Perhaps they sell it at the fulton mall.)
My point, though, is: you can’t preserve/conserve a fluid market.
BUT: you CAN and MUST conserve/preserve a vibrant community, be it by encouraging the renovation of run-down beauties that reflect the roots of the community’s history, or encouraging small, local businesses to flourish. Not corporations — but businesses, where people within the community can make a living from their success.
Corporations dont give a f-k what color anyone is; but if the market is aiming at white 30 something, they will become a segregating power.
I confess that I just can’t take the heat of active engagement in Brownstoner shoot-outs on a daily basis. As such, I’ve been sitting this one out. But, so far, it’s been rather encouraging to see the way this thread has developed. Notwithstanding a few ignorant trolls and some genuinely misguided folk here and there, the quality of discourse on this thread has been better than most others on this forum that have previously dealt with gentrification issues of race and class.
Of course, biased as I am on this subject, I’m especially appreciating Babs, CrownHeightsProud, Bx2Bklyn and some of you anons (get out of the closet!) for making some really excellent points. Also to Grandpa and Anon 6:18 for bringing some much needed levity to the table. I’m still chuckling over those images. Thanks for that!
There were threads last week that were closed down by brownstoner. I’ll admit to being overly sensitive on occasion and I also find the racial remarks upsetting and unnecessary too. We all live here- that’s what makes NYC so great- its diversity. When that’s gone- what is left? DisneyYork?
Anon 6:18- but then it would get published in Denmark and I would have to boycott something Danish.;-) (Cherry is my favorite). Not to make light of anyone’s feelings or to condone disrespecting other people’s religions but we could lighten up a bit here. What say we call a truce folks? We’ve got a lot to learn from one another- and I mean good things.
Annon 5:45 was referring to Robert Moses a historic figure not to Jews as nation.
It happened that Robert Moses was a racist and damaged some parts of NYC beyond repair like no one else in history.
It was the worst of the urban planning possible. It happened the he was a Jew as well but it has nothing to do with Jewish people as a group.
AWjf
I haven’t read any anti-jewish comments on brownstoner.
I did read you calling someone a Nazi and a KKK member.
I may be ignorant but you certainly didn’t misunderstand what I said. Considering the tone of this thread I hardly think misunderstandings would be a surprise. If I did I of course apologize, but having read racial and anti-semitic comments on other threads you can see why I reacted. And yes- I know exactly who Robert Moses is- the man who destroyed a lot of beautiful neighborhoods.
Moses parts the traffic of Flatbush avenue and low and behold the promise land of the Fulton St Mall.
Now don’t make a cartoon about that.