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
Too bad Gauge and Tollner’s had to shut its doors before the area is restored to the nice shopping/destination it used to be. Now there is a TGI Friday’s in its place. What a shame. This area needs to be revitalized. It should not just be a destination for people looking for cheap goods. Also, it is not as if it is that cheap, a lot of the sneakers etc are expensive. It is just a poorly run mess of an area right now. Obviously it was not built to be that way originally, so why should it be an island of subpar service and junky stores surrounded by a vibrant diverse community? There should be a mixture that would attract everyone, not just the poor and “marauding youth”.
What stores does Fulton need in order for it to lose it’s image as a place for the poor? Does Fulton need Banana Republics and Abercomberies to make it seem more upscale. Or are we talking Saks and Barney’s.
As a side bar, once Ratnerville gets built, won’t this be the ideal location for high end retail? Fulton Mall will be made obsolete by Ratnerville..
I sure would like to see something done with this area. As it is now, its a pain in the neck to go down there, the sidewalks are filled with fat obese people walking super slow that you can’t get around and who obviosuly have nothing to do other than wander around. The stores are rotten. It seems like many of them might be selling stolen merchandise. Many of them are playing loud music onto the street which is illegal as well. It seems like its ripe for overhaul, it has great access to many subway lines, its right by the courts so office people who work there could go there over lunch or after work, and its even close to manhattan, so you might even get some traffic from there as well.
Anon 1:35: Fulton Street used to cater to ALL income levels (I used to work in two of the dept stores after school), so the variety was there. The streets were clean, the stores were maintained, service was not non-existent the way it is now, and it was a pleasurable (and productive) shopping experience for all. It’s no longer that way, and it should be good shopping across the board. No, we don’t need Saks on Fulton St, it doesn’t belong there (and I don’t shop there either); but the major dept stores that closed spanned the income spectrum: Abraham & Strauss, Martin’s, May’s, Korvettes, Woolworth, and maybe a few others that pre-date me. My family was by no means “rich” back then, but good, quality merchandise could be had for good $$ value price points. If it takes some residential development to turn the tide and restore the mix of retail in downtown Brooklyn, then so be it. Everyone needs options.
you’ve ALL lost track of what’s happening here.
FOCUS PEOPLE, FOCUS
Just what Brooklyn needs – more stores that cater to the rich. Where are low income residents supposed to go to buy shoes, clothing, and maybe a gift for friends and family? Yes, poor people don’t like crappy service either, but what are they supposed to do, shop at Saks instead? Fulton Mall does not need redevelopment just because you don’t like the selection!
Dabs who is the “they” you refer
b/c I havent met anyone that likes crappy service , the homeless guys, and marauding youth.
Who is blaming “victims”. Who do you mean by victims. All that people have said is that it would be nice if the area was cleaned up an the stores were not a mess. That means nice for everyone. Then a poster chimed in with the opinion that those who shop at Fulton Mall like the mess and poor service.
How do you Fulton Mall haters envision the future of Fulton Mall? How do you think it should look? What kinda stores should be there? Should the retail envirnment be like Soho, The Village, Chelsea or Midtown?
Macy’s, Footlocker, Children’s Place, Strawberry’s, Nine West, Zales, Ashley Stuart, Radio Shack, Finish Line and many more are all national chains. If you have problems with cleaniness or service, why don’t you take up your gripes with the corportate office instead of blaming the ‘victims’.