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]
IMHO, these things should be done to Fulton Mall to attract ALL shoppers.
1) Wish we could Photoshop all the building facades to make them a) cleaner and b) brighter. Really. There are some gems on the street. Also tone down the building signs a bit; make them more human scale. And Marty, get the city to light up downtown Brooklyn. That’s why people of all kinds get frightened, since the streets are in dire need of some serious wattage. Especially on nearby Flatbush, Livingston, etc.
2) More trash bins, more regular pickup.
3) The market is going to determine what stores are on Fulton. People from the entire borough shop there, then go home on the bus or subway.
Don’t kill the Fulton Mall; clean it up and let it evolve.
Anon. 5:13 – thank you for sharing. That really helped the discussion.
I don’t know why I let the trolls get to me.
The fabric stores on Bridge now are a far cry from the days when there were only 3 or 4 business on that street that were NOT fabric or trim stores. You used to be able to get first quality designer goods at a great price, not just the poly and plastic blends that are there now. I was a costume designer back then, and did entire shows from just shopping on Bridge. Those were the days!
I have 40 years living near the mall. I know many people that have been mugged/hurt on or around the mall. The mall predators know there territory well. But I believe, this mall should be preserved it should be disassembled and reassembled on rikers island or give a corner in far rockaway, where it would be better appreciated for its qualities.
If the city or the downtown BID wanted to attract new businesses to the Fulton Mall area, especially to the upper floors of some of those great buildings, they could target businesses that wouldn’t necessarily need storefronts, such as lawyer’s offices, accountanting firms, architects, medical professionals, publishing and the like. Of course, all this depends on the building owners making their buildings attractive, up to code and livable. I have a feeling that some of those upper spaces haven’t been seen in years, which as a brownstone owner, makes no sense. If you only live on the first floor, and never check above you, or on the roof, how do you know the whole place isn’t going to come down on you? Many of those buildings are at least 100 years old, the newest ones are from the 1920’s and I especially worry about the ones with the decorative cast iron and tin rooflines. The building owners can certainly afford to upgrade and fix. They should be forced to, but that won’t happen until one of them has a fire, or the roof caves in.
In my first post, I forgot to mention the king of 5 and dimes: Woolworths. That was one of the busiest stores on Fulton St, and also had a thriving lunch counter business, as well.
Bx2Bklyn — Bridge Street still has some fabric stores, but I am not enough of sewer/stitcher to know whether they are any good.
Used to walk through the Mall at night during the early 90’s on my way home after class. Found out from one of my teachers that at the time, a number of the buildings were owned by the proprietors of some of the larger “junk stores” (that’s how we referred to them back then).
The feel of the mall definitely changed with the loss of Mays, Martin’s and Korvette’s (all department stores that catered to various income levels) and the results have been that stores now cater only to a limited type of consumer (young and urban and most definitely not only Black)
As far a utilizing unused space, the mall is the way it is because the property owners want it to be that way. They like the fact that the businesses they lease space to do a tremendous business and don’t ask for much in the way of facilities. The owners figured out a long time ago that poor people of any color need a place to shop too, and providing services like layaway which have disappeared from most suburban chains will keep the folks coming back.
Should the mall change? Maybe. I stopped shopping there once I stopped desiring sneakers and jeans as the main staple of my wardrobe. But if Atlantic Terminal is any indication, the folks that shop there will continue to shop there if the stores change. Fulton Street is a staple to folks from Brooklyn.
Perhaps “Sh*tty” was not the proper term. However, I do agree with the poster that Downtown Brooklyn (including Atlantic Yards, the Business District and Brooklyn Bridge Park) should serve as the “face” of the borough. Brooklyn is a first class city so I can understand the desire by many in the surrounding area to make significant improvements to the Fulton Mall since it’s located at the “Gateway to Brooklyn” and gives the outside world it’s initial impression of the borough (matter of perception).
Though fruitful and educational, much of this discussion is actually an exercise in futility since the free market system will ultimately decide the fate of the mall. The same market forces that brought Ikea, Target and Fairways to Brooklyn; that’s bringing the Nets arena and a plethora of high rise luxury condominiums to Atlantic Avenue, will invariably change the face of Fulton Mall as well. Businesses will be displaced. Consumers will be displaced. All of whom will invariably share the same fate of certain residents of Prospect Heights and Fort Greene with respect to Ratnerville. It’s all a matter of social and economic Darwinism.
My two cents.
BB
Very well said, Bx2Bklyn. ITA!!!!