Article on Washington Ave in Brooklyn Papers

ben

Did anyone read the article about businesses on Washington Ave in this week's Brooklyn Paper? Below is the link to the PDF version of the paper, I'm not sure if it's possible to link to the story directly, the article is on page 6:

http://www.brooklynpapers.com/html/issues/_vol29/29_08/29_08bp.pdf

It basically talks about the state of retail shops on the Ave. with the general consensus that shops will follow the new residential developments going up. However, they conceed that the pace has lagged a bit beyond what it should be and one reason has been the failure of the WAMA, the Washington Ave. Merchant's Association.

Does anyone know if anything is being done to revive the WAMA and to get this retail strip back on track?

jack krohn

Yes, I read this article last weekend. Very interesting. I took note of Tish James's comment about "not being able to move forward without leadership" - she neglected to mention what she plans to do to help change this, though.

qtrain

Jack Krohn wrote: Yes, I read this article last weekend. Very interesting. I took note of Tish James's comment about "not being able to move forward without leadership" - she neglected to mention what she plans to do to help change this, though.

You want her to step down from City Council and run the board herself?

lovemynabe

qtrain wrote: [quote=Jack Krohn]Yes, I read this article last weekend. Very interesting. I took note of Tish James's comment about "not being able to move forward without leadership" - she neglected to mention what she plans to do to help change this, though.

You want her to step down from City Council and run the board herself?

That would be a good move. At least she would be at ground zero.

sterling2000

I think we covered this topic on the board a few months back in regards of lack of visitors to the Garden, Museum, Library and Park not lingering.

But, I can't find the discussion...

lovemynabe

sterling2000 wrote: I think we covered this topic on the board a few months back in regards of lack of visitors to the Garden, Museum, Library and Park not lingering.

But, I can't find the discussion...

Yes, we covered this topic before http://dailyheights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19235&highlight=#19235
but I think the Brooklyn Paper has a slightly different prospective, mainly that the Washington Avenue Merchant Association is inefective and perhaps mired in incompetency.

easternpkwy

I really took issue with the quote by the Massey Knakal realtor - that once the new condos are on line, retail will follow....

Bullshit! There has been sufficient money and interest in this community for years to entice new retail, and it hasn't happened...why should 30-odd new condo units somehow bring us to a tipping point, when all the co-ops on the south end, the brownstones to the west, the conversions to the east, and the lofts at the north end have failed to do so?

And I firmly believe that until the absentee owners of many of these buildings actually acknowledge the changes in the neighborhood over the last 5-10 years and try to provide services for the new demographics, rather than passively collect rent from ossified businesses, NOTHING will happen on Washington Avenue.

Don't tell me there aren't interested entrepreneurs willing to have a go at bringing in a butcher shop, a coffee shop, a restaurant, on Washington... so what's holding them back? Lack of space, and unfair rents. I hate to wish anyone's business to fail, but there are several shops on Washington that I would not mourn the loss of, if they were replaced by something more relevant to TODAY's Prospect Heights....

jack krohn

qtrain wrote: [quote=Jack Krohn]Yes, I read this article last weekend. Very interesting. I took note of Tish James's comment about "not being able to move forward without leadership" - she neglected to mention what she plans to do to help change this, though.

You want her to step down from City Council and run the board herself?

Did I say that? If so, please show me where.

I was pointing out that she seems long on talk and short on action concerning this matter. She always seems to have time to protest the Atlantic Yards, but for a bread and butter issue like this all she can offer is a platitude.

qtrain

Jack Krohn wrote: I was pointing out that she seems long on talk and short on action concerning this matter.

What would you have her do? WAMA needs a director who can keep the books clean and effectively use available funds to help develop the area. James was right to point out that nothing can go forward until someone steps up to fill that role.

Maybe you'd like to see her host "WAMA's Next Top Executive Director" on BCAT?

easternpkwy

Tish has been a prime mover behind the scenes on Washington Avenue, but as a legislator her primary tool is influence; she can only 'do' so much.

The city's Small Business administration is the organization that needs to refocus on Washington: that is where the grant money comes from for a merchant's association, that is where merchants themselves can go for seed $$$.

sevenoneeighty

Hey, I was late but we did take a poll on this too:

What kind of shops do you want on Washington Ave:
http://dailyheights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2362

The article captured the tone of the posts there too.
Apparently, The WAMA and the real estate office on Washington Ave and Lincoln are a BIG problem according to people with more experience.

The Real estate broker on Washington and Lincoln was trying to get a 99 cent store there instead of something a little more imaginative like....a restaurant or cafe to bring money in to the neighborhood. The row of abandoned retail storeronts on Lincoln and Washington is shameful!!

The residential condos on Washington will hopefully bring more retail , I counted 3 new ones going up - but so will the Atlantic Yards Project...it is true.

There is a virtual Goldmine between Atlantic and Eastern Parkway on Washington Avenue if you can afford to buy there.

Here is a great Link showing new condos in PH:
http://www.therealdeal.net/pdf/ProspectHeights.pdf

alafairnadia

messing around on craigslist, I found this on underhill for $4,250 (which seems really high to me). that's it in prospect heights. the only things on washington ave. are near myrtle in clinton hill. so wtf? even if I wanted to open something on washington I couldn't, despite empty store fronts?

danaeo

Jack Krohn wrote: She always seems to have time to protest the Atlantic Yards, but for a bread and butter issue like this all she can offer is a platitude.

Jack, she's been working with community groups on Vanderbilt Avenue pedestrian safety.

My first priority is not getting hit by a car; second, getting coffee.

sevenoneeighty

Re: Place on Underhill from Craigslist:

Crappy looking storefront.
Looks like it is already a cheap take-out joint.

Hire an architect!!! Or at least look around at a decent storefront.

And $4,250 IS expensive but some can swing it. A coffee house would be filled everyday and half the night.

Regarding the other areas of Washington: Imminent Domain!!
They are sitting dormant.

Offer fair market rate and go for it.
Anyone refusing should ave 2 years to open or upkeep the place to occupancy standards or leave.

spinningpinwheel

I think that's the old tattoo place on Underhill.

Its a great location on a great block with a ton of potential. If this was a coffee shop or a bookstore or a bar I would probably live there. The backyard, while crappy-looking, is gigantic and would be amazing if someone sunk a little cash into it.

Point - it sounds expensive but worth it with a good business plan, and I hope someone rises to the challenge, as its a shame that this place has been empty so long (at least three years, as long as I've been here.)

carnivore

spinningpinwheel wrote: I think that's the old tattoo place on Underhill.

Its a great location on a great block with a ton of potential. If this was a coffee shop or a bookstore or a bar I would probably live there. The backyard, while crappy-looking, is gigantic and would be amazing if someone sunk a little cash into it.

Point - it sounds expensive but worth it with a good business plan, and I hope someone rises to the challenge, as its a shame that this place has been empty so long (at least three years, as long as I've been here.)

Isa called repeatedly about that place to query about it as a possible future location for her restaurant. They never returned a call. Another person I know who's a real estate agent also tried to call them to no avail. I really don't think they're serious about renting out that space right now, for I have no idea what reason.

alafairnadia

over in the PS board, we're talking about a mythical Gorilla opening up in PH or CH. two things:

have any of you ever approached Gorilla about opening satellite branches?
where would you put a Gorilla coffee shop in PH/CH? I was thinking near Eastern Parkway on either Washington or Classon to draw post-Museum folk. oh, and people who want coffee in the morning on their way to work. thoughts?

jack krohn

Jack Krohn wrote: I was pointing out that she seems long on talk and short on action concerning this matter.

What would you have her do? WAMA needs a director who can keep the books clean and effectively use available funds to help develop the area. James was right to point out that nothing can go forward until someone steps up to fill that role.

Maybe you'd like to see her host "WAMA's Next Top Executive Director" on BCAT?

Not sure, qtrain. Solving these types of problems is her job, not mine, that's why people elected her. I assume that she has broad connections and could help identify qualified prospects.

As far as a BCAT program, though, excellent idea! Actually, I'm surprised that someone on this board has not yet proposed the idea for a "Daily Heights" BCAT program. Such a show would automatically have a huge fan base.

ben

I was in Ginger Root today and saw a postcard for this website: http://www.washington-avenue.com

It looks like a bunch of the merchants have gotten together to try and create some organization to the business district on Washington. Maybe this could lead to the next WAMA.

carnivore

Ben wrote: I was in Ginger Root today and saw a postcard for this website: http://www.washington-avenue.com

It looks like a bunch of the merchants have gotten together to try and create some organization to the business district on Washington. Maybe this could lead to the next WAMA.

Cool link. I was wondering what "dinning" is? :twisted:

lnclnplcgentrifier

are the WAMA folks connected to the other half of that storefront where they're selling crap in the window? you'd think people trying to attract merchants would put something in their space that would entice and not turn people away.

here i go again: if any of you looking to invest want to know where the money is, please put in a coffee place on washington between lincoln & st. john's. you'll get all the people who can't fit into the islands after each first saturday at the museum and you'll get incredible foot traffic going up to the subway each morning from all of us yuppies who live on either side of washington within a block or 2 of eastern and have caused the value of a mediocre apartment to go way past half a mil.

sevenoneeighty

PLEAZZZE!!

Love my Ave!

It needs some love right now becasue it is sadly underperforming it's sister Avenues of Flatbush and Vanderbilt.

It's good to see some movement by merchants.
The WAMA must go. They dont appear to be too active or helpful in developing the area or helping merchants.

Imminent Domain!!

armchair_warrior

to me they need a new exit on the bqe. to exit near washington ave. also make washington a one way. this way alot of traffic can come into the nabe that would also make walking slightly better.

muteflute

there's a new store, I think, opening on the east side of Washington Ave. between Bergen and Dean--it looks to be right next to the health foods store, and maybe is another restaurant?

woot.

ben

there's a new store, I think, opening on the east side of Washington Ave. between Bergen and Dean--it looks to be right next to the health foods store, and maybe is another restaurant?

Is this the same as the bagel place mentioned here?
http://dailyheights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2749

muteflute

Ben wrote:

there's a new store, I think, opening on the east side of Washington Ave. between Bergen and Dean--it looks to be right next to the health foods store, and maybe is another restaurant?

Is this the same as the bagel place mentioned here?
http://dailyheights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2749

yes. there was no sign when I walked by it. and it is separate from the health foods store that has still yet to open (I don't see why a business would shell out so much for rent just to never be open EVER).