Vacant Lots Today, Eyesores Tomorrow?
When we were tootling around Bed Stuy last weekend we were keeping an eye out for vacant lots that could be the future sites of architectural travesties. The sheer number of vacant lots are perhaps the neighborhood’s greatest vulnerability going forward. We offer up a few of them here, in various points in the development…
When we were tootling around Bed Stuy last weekend we were keeping an eye out for vacant lots that could be the future sites of architectural travesties. The sheer number of vacant lots are perhaps the neighborhood’s greatest vulnerability going forward. We offer up a few of them here, in various points in the development lifecycle.
1089 Fulton GMAP
1185 Fulton GMAP
794 Lafayette GMAP
117 Lexington GMAP
Thank you, Brownstoner. That was both eloquent and right on.
Yes, brownstoner, well said indeed.
Well said Brownstoner. I agree.
David,
Building ugly, cheap buildings that age poorly is hardly in the best interests of the neighborhood. Obviously issues like poverty, education and the abyssmal child services program are more immediate and desperate needs. But putting up these kind of buildings only perpetuates the ghetto-ization and isolation of the neighborhood and its residents. It’s hard to feel a lot of respect and pride about your neighborhood if this is the dominant aesthetic, especially when there are so many reminders of the area’s true architectural heritage. And, remember, the people who are being suckered into scraping together their savings to buy this crap are the very people you are worried about helping and protecting. All this stuff is tied together. The concern of a great many people on this blog about the aesthetics is not as disconnected from reality as you seem to think.
sorry, bedstuer, but I agree with David. I found this post to be quite disturbing. Here you have an economically under-served and under-realized neighborhood with empty lots and boarded up buildings…. brownstoner’s concern? The potential for unattractive new building! Although this is a real estate blog, it doesn’t have to be so insensitive as to say that eyesores are the “greatest vulnerability” for the neighborhood! I grew up in a neighborhood that had lots of empty lots and boarded buildings and it was a sign of far greater problems… We were all psyched whenevr ANYTHING new happened economically…
David,
You are right, but if you lived in Bed-Stuy, it would be an issue for you also. Believe me, I am not blind to poverty and crime. But just because those are major issues in Bed-Stuy, it does not mean its residents should ignore the disrespectful way in which these developers are treating the residents of the neighborhood. I acknowledge all the issues, but this is a real estate blog after all.
Actually rampant and persistent poverty,and higher than acceptable crime rates are far bigger problems for Bed Stuy than potentially ugly developments.
I mean come on people – sure ugly buildings are upsetting but please dont let your good fortune and/or the partial gentrification blind you to the incredible human suffering that still takes place in Bed Stuy and other similar nabes (Crown Heights and Red Hook come immediatly to mind)
Preston,
You are exactly right. Once they put up those ugly buildings – all is lost.
get out your checkbooks…