Seventh Avenue Sell-Out a Boon to Fifth Avenue
Although just noticed by the New York Times, the familiar cycle of colorful mom-and-pop stores being replaced by sterile chains has been playing itself in Park Slope for several years: As chain stores continue to replace small businesses along Seventh Avenue, its hip, younger sibling, Fifth Avenue, is becoming what its older brother once was:…
Although just noticed by the New York Times, the familiar cycle of colorful mom-and-pop stores being replaced by sterile chains has been playing itself in Park Slope for several years:
As chain stores continue to replace small businesses along Seventh Avenue, its hip, younger sibling, Fifth Avenue, is becoming what its older brother once was: a home for entrepreneurial adventurers, many of whom, forced out by rising rents, have set up shop two blocks east and a world away.According to Kenneth Adams, president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, rents on Fifth Avenue are roughly $30 to $40 per square foot, half the rate along Seventh Avenue, which, with Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, commands the highest commercial rents in the borough. As a result, few retailers can afford a Seventh Avenue address.
Are there Park Slopers out there who prefer living further down the hill as a result of this shift or is the desirability of the higher avenues unaffected by the Soho-ization of Seventh Avenue?
As One Strip Goes Stodgy, Another Turns Hip [NY Times]
Steve:
From Corcoran’s website, there is no indication that any of the 7th Street places have been sold. More reasonably priced condos in the “Sutherland” on 20th Street seem to be going rapidly — to figure this out, you have to look at the “in contract” apartments from the listing brokers. And the “Carraige House” on 15th Street just went on the market this week — the top apartment seems pretty pricey, but the views must be great from there, and the lower apartments are more reasonable. I suspect that the “Carraige House” will go faster than the 7th Street places, but we shall have to wait and see.
RW
Speaking of…anybody know whats happening in those “No Man’s Land” Corcoran condo’s on 7th Street? Does anybody know if they are selling?
Signed
A concerned “No Man’s Land” homeowner
More to Linus:
To determine whether I am cracking up in my middle age, I went back and looked at the archives. I was misremembering a discussion between you and Jemstone (who does live on 11th between 4th and 3rd) about $1000/sq. ft Corcoran apartments and local prostitutes. My bad.
RW
Sorry Linus. I thought you lived on either 11th or 12th between 3rd and 4th Ave. My mistake — another regular contributor must live there. Or I may be losing my mind, which is always a possibility.
RW
Call west of 4th Ave whatever you want — I don’t live there. The only thing that puzzled me was that I thought (wrongly) that the anon was mixing up the south and west extremities of the Slope, which happens on this board from time to time.
In any event, I’ve lived in PS about 13 years and have never heard anyone use the term “no man’s land” to refer to any part of it, west or south. The discussion was beginning to make it sound as if it were a term you’d find on maps or something.
DaveW:
Don’t tell linus that west of 4th is a “no-man’s land”!
Ron Weasley
I think BigBubba has it right. I know that area intimately. His area even has its own Greenmarket on Sundays, a whole buncha new and decent restaurants .. even the old stone house park seems cleaner these days.
Just wish the city DOT would resurface 6th Avenue between Flatbush and 9th .. it’s a war zone.
It’s prolly next – they just did 3rd, 5th and 7th Avenue in the Slope in the past 2-3 years ….
And yes, west of 4th is “no man’s land” but soon to be populated by a Whole Foods at 3rd & 3rd …
stay tuned. South of 9th St. is definitely NOT a “no man’s land” by far.
Same with me too. I spend most of my time hiking to either 7th Ave in South Slope – or – 5th Ave in Central/North Slope. Funny how that works. I just hope vibe doesn’t get pushed any further out, though there is still plenty of room to expand at the southern end of 5th Ave. Also, I keep reading that Vanderbilt Ave in Prospect Hts is starting to get the “vibe”, though that’s too far for me and I’m not much into crossing Flatbush Ave (been nearly run over too many times).
Anyhow, despite the need to travel a few blocks to find the edgy “vibe”, I still much prefer the staid beauty and serenity of the environ above 7th Ave for living. If I lived in Manhattan, I’d probably live in WV, but travel to EV for fun.
Agree with Anon regarding the southern end of Park Slope (which incidentally isn’t truly South.) Vibe south of 9th Street is fairly similar to the section of 5th Avenue, north of about 5th street or so. Some emerging restaurants (Tost, Naidres, Applewood, etc.), good shopping (Bird, Nest, new toy store, Blue Apron) and some of the best bagels in Brooklyn at Bagel Hole. Even though I live in the center slope, most of my time is spent either in South Slope or down on the northern part of 5th Ave. Quite a transformation in both neighborhoods.