Upscale Lofts in Craptacular Mall's Future
The Fulton Mall, symbol of all that’s down-market in Brooklyn, may be taking the first step in an image make-over with loft conversion plans underway for one the area’s most glorious architectural gems. According to Brooklyn Papers, 505 Fulton Street is likely the first target: My experience is loft conversion in Soho and Tribeca, said…
The Fulton Mall, symbol of all that’s down-market in Brooklyn, may be taking the first step in an image make-over with loft conversion plans underway for one the area’s most glorious architectural gems. According to Brooklyn Papers, 505 Fulton Street is likely the first target: My experience is loft conversion in Soho and Tribeca, said Albert Laboz, the owner of 505 Fulton Street and co-chairman of the Fulton Street Mall. We’d like to do the same thing down there and we want the city to help us the way they helped neighborhoods in Manhattan. The Romanesque Revival Building was built in 1890 by Henry Offerman as a warehouse and department store. We were a little confused by the photo of the building Brooklyn Papers ran with the story–it doesn’t look like 505 Fulton to us. Help anyone?
Soho Lofts for Fulton Mall? [Brooklyn Papers] GMAP
Milo, so the appearance of Fulton Mall is ideal for blacks and other minorities, just not white yuppies? Come on, the place is dirty and run down. What a disservice to non-whites to espouse such an opinion. It is that sort of apathy and lack of desire to improve things that leads to acceptance of poor standards and poor services as the norm.
Don’t want to offend the Manhattanizers (heaven forbid!), but there is little chance that Fulton Mall will change anytime soon. As mentioned above, while its appearance may not be ideal for white yuppies, it brings in more $$ per square foot than any other place in Brooklyn. Some commenters have mentioned a downhill slide, but businesses there have only become more and more successful over the last 10 or 20 years.
Replace fast food with fancy restaurants? Greasy spoons with posh cafes? Why? There are plenty of fancy places in the Heights and Cobble Hill and Park Slope and Fort Greene.
I used to live right off the mall on Duffield street between Fulton and Metrotech. Even though it was exceptionally convenient for transportation (pretty much every single subway line was within a 3-4 block radius) I often had to go out of my immediate ‘hood to some of the creature comforts I’m used to having in the city: a nice coffee shop, decent restaruants (not fast food, which are ONLY things in the area), a grocery store, liqour store, etc.
It was always sad for me to see the beautiful old buildings that had their facades destroyed and were falling apart. Several buildings (including the one pictured, where Conway is now) have recently been landmarked, which is a step in the right direction. But what the street really needs is more diversity in the types of stores/shops there. If turning what is basically unused and vacant space into condos will help, I’m all for it. As long as RATner has nothing to do with it, and they don’t start tearing them down and building 40 story monstrosities like he did in Metrotech.
There is nothing wrong with the Fulton Mall that mandatory signage/facade requirements, somewhat better sanitation and little bit of landscapring couldnt fix.
Once the place didnt look so honkey-tonk, more professional national-type retailers would consider renting in what is an extremly successful (and far from only discount) shopping district.
What’s up with the assumption that shoppers on Fulton Mall are poor? Seriously, where does that assumption originate? I’d love to know. Even if that were true, there are tons of other places in Brooklyn to buy things. Think Pitkin Avenue, Graham Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, Fifth Avenue, etc. Brooklyn is a very large place and Fulton Mall is not the only place to shop.
But these spaces would make great lofts — just maybe a hard sell right now given the surrounding area.
But hey, if the Flatiron area can do it (and be a landmarked historic district), when twenty years ago Madison Square was a drug and rat infested horror, why not Fulton St?
I lived in Brooklyn Heights in the 1980’s and shopped at A&S a lot and often ate at Gage & Tollner. Fulton St. was not the most beautiful thing on earth, but it wasn’t the horror it has become — and wasn’t MetroTech supposed to revitalize the whole area? Hah!
And the awful Atlantic Terminal mall is becoming an extension of Fulton St. I admit I have shopped there on occasion, but my most recent visits have caused me to flee in horror — Target is an absolute mob scene and the waits are interminable.
Ratnerville won’t eliminate the Fulton Mall, it will extend it. Who wants to buy a luxury condo next to a basketball arena and a low-end shopping mall?
And I have to agree — no people appreciate filth and bad service, but if it’s all you know maybe you don’t think things could be any different.
Anon 1:35 its not about stores for the rich. Most of the stores on Fulton are not discount stores and I’d say there are plenty of places you can shop cheaper and get better deals. It might be nice though if there was something to shop for there besides sneakers and cell phones.
I often support Fulton Mall stores including Macys, Foot Locker, Modells, and a couple of 99 cent stores. They all have much worse service, facilities than their Herald Square outposts (which is hard to do!)
I think a Bed Bath and Beyond should move in, an Old Navy, a nice Marshalls. People here seem to think we “manhattanizers” want more expensive shops. No, trust me, Macys charges the same in Brooklyn (as do the rest). I just want some selection and I’d like some pressure on the established business to clean up thier act.
And I think I may be one of those poor people you all are talking about, so you don’t need to speak on our behalf anymore, but thanks for the effort.