PACC is Wack
The future of the Bodegas space on the corner of Clinton and Fulton is of great concern to everyone we know in the neighborhood. Since the restaurant closed at the beginning of the year (in a domino effect caused by money problems and nasty landlords at Liquors), the rumors have been flying. The space is…
The future of the Bodegas space on the corner of Clinton and Fulton is of great concern to everyone we know in the neighborhood. Since the restaurant closed at the beginning of the year (in a domino effect caused by money problems and nasty landlords at Liquors), the rumors have been flying. The space is of particular importance because of its location at the gateway to Clinton Hill on a commercial stretch of road that has been crying out for improvement for years. So it was disbelief that we heard recently that the Pratt Area Community Council (which owns the building) took time out from destroying the aesthetics of the historic neighborhood to turn down an offer from a successful local business owner who wanted to open a wine bar in the space. And for what? PACC told this business owner that it had done a survey that showed residents wanted an Applebees! Yeah, right. This weekend, Clinton Hill Blog reported a rumor that PACC had recently shown the space to North Fork Bank. At least the nabe does need a bank (more than an Applebees), but, geez, turning down someone with a proven track record who wants to put an upscale establishment in this crappy stretch of Fulton? If the organization takes the credit of low-income renters and buyers, surely it can rent to a local business.
Store Rumors [Clinton Hill Blog]
Future of Bodegas & Liquors Thrown Into Question [Brownstoner]
Corner of Clinton and Fulton Up for Grabs [Brooklyn Record]
Dear Race-Baiting 3:23,
You forgot to notice that those comments were made on behalf of “oldtimers.” Maybe they are white, maybe they are black, either way, the people who live in the neighborhood have an interest in restoring and preserving the neighborhood that is entirely separate from you wanting to dine on an 800-calorie salad from Applebees. We do want local services, local amenities, and interesting shops that were once a part of the neighborhood. We live in Brooklyn because we like Brooklyn. People don’t move to Clinton Hill because we are priced out of the UES. There is a very unique character to CH and much potential. We don’t have to settle for sub-urban and sub-quality chains. Since when is a bakery, flower shop, or a grocer with green vegetables just a white people thing? Your comment is rude, beside the point, and utterly foul.
Thanks for posting Dale. Do you work for PACC?
It’s good to hear there are many local entrepreneurs interested in spaces owned by PACC on Fulton and in Clinton Hill generally.
Are actual grocery type stores (e.g. a green grocer, a bakery, fishmonger etc.) part of the services being sought too by PACC?
I just want to put the rumor to rest that Pratt Area Community Council has had no conversations with Applebee’s for our space at Clinton Avenue and Fulton Street (formerly Bodegas). There are currently two Applebee restaurants in the neighborhood at Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration and at the corner of Dekalb and Flatbush Avenues. The application for our vacant spaces at Clinton Avenue and Fulton Street (formerly Bodegas) and at Grand Avenue and Clifton Place (formerly Karrot) has been made available to our waiting list of over 100+ local entrepreneurs. We will be processing these applications in January.
PACC’s Commercial Revitalization Program facilitates commercial development opportunities on and around Fulton Street by assisting in improving the physical appearance of the commercial corridor that includes the exterior and interior of retail spaces. We provide quality technical assistance to area merchants to enhance business growth. Recruit quality businesses to the area that diversify the local retail mix. We collaborate with local business association to create sustainable improvements on the strip that include sanitation, safety and beautification initiatives and help in the sponsorship of numerous community events that promote the eclectic retail mix represented within PACC’s service area. PACC’s Commercial Revitalization Program mission has been and continues to be to set an example. PACC has 16 mix-used buildings in our catchments area of Clinton Hill and Bedford Stuyvesant that are currently rented to local entrepreneurs and organizations. We actively recruit quality businesses to the area that diversify the local retail mix and collaborate with local property owners to assist entrepreneurs in identifying affordable commercial space.
We also took North Fork Bank on a requested tour of Fulton Streets vacant spaces with the hopes of continuing our efforts of finally getting a bank in the Clinton Hill area of Fulton Street. PACC has been aggressively pursuing a bank for Fulton Street for the past two years and will continue to pursue the products and services, including conventional banking services, more sit-down and quality restaurants, video store, cosmetics, quality shoes and apparel, and quality electronics.
Tish James is in the process of trying to get that clinic shut down.
By “good people of the neighborhood” I think donatella meant those who live here, not a selection of the neighborhood, anon 3.23, good lord.
“…why don’t we just fast foward past Appelbee’s to something NICE for the good people of the neighborhood!!”
“Good” people? Why don’t you say what you mean. We all know you’re talking about WHITE people.
Saying that Applebee’s is affordable is just wrong — in so many cases its’ processed food is more expensive than similar items at local restaurants. But I agree that it may be “more welcoming” than many of the smaller restaurants (which want ot bemore upscale), which is unfortunate. Hey Brooklyn Paper — why don’t you do an article on this? Cost of a snadwich or salad at a locally owned place compared with a chain.
Thanks Donatella! Someone’s got to speak up for the oldtimers who don’t read the internet too. All the old 70 year old plus ladies on my block say the same thing.
Dear Brownstoner,
Thank you very much for posting this. I have a very proprietary interest in this little piece of the world and I intend to do everything in my tiny sphere of influence to agitate for goods and services that enhance the neighborhood and not extend the ravages of downtown Brooklyn further east. You once asked what would we do if we came into 100 million dollars to enhance the quality of life in our worlds. Everybody said very high minded things relating to education etc. and I happened to mention that I would buy as much of this stretch on Fulton street as I could and develop excellent retail services which included small Brooklyn based businesses which enhanced our quality of life. The old time residents of my block which is very close to this area told me nostalgically about how wonderful this area was once, with bakeries where you could buy a cake for someones birthday or coffee cake after Church on Sunday, a great butcher, good grocery stores. The bodega people on Clinton and Fulton know me as the lunatic woman who slams the gallon of sour milk just purchased or rotten orange and demands a full refund. I would stand up and cheer if these guys went away and a decent green grocer moved in there, selling fruits and vegetables produced within the last 6 months and or fish. How about FLOWERS?!? Anyway, suffice it to say, retail services of all kinds in that neck of the woods are pathetic and why don’t we just fast foward past Appelbee’s to something NICE for the good people of the neighborhood!!.
Anon 2.31, I think your idea is not without merit re the AY development, but the neighborhood of Clinton Hill could support other businesses without the proposed influx of the AY condos/offices. The proposed arena is actually pretty far away, so it would really be those who work and/or live in towers to be built across Atlantic near Vanderbilt Ave and points west.
In any event, I for one am more for the continued interal growth of the community. I thin the customer base is there for various quality (varied in price too, not all boutique expensive services) restaurants and stores.
I’ve said it before, and will again because I think it is important. Clinton Hill residents are a friendly crowd, new and old residents alike. The antagonism you get on this site sometimes would lead you to think differently. I enjoy living in Clinton Hill, and hope we can see a varied and mostly independent and creative resurgence of this stretch of Fulton Street. I think it is going to happen one way or the other eventually, I just hope it is more of a local owned/operated initiative than a chain store/restaurant overhall.