gentrification photo exhibit #2...

whynot_31

Once upon a time, readers lovingly documented the transformation of a "down and out" bodega (affectionately known as the "Dis-Associated" by long term residents) into an upscale market complete with fresh produce and deli meats.

The scene took place on Underhill and St. John's, mostly during 2008. The photos tell the story of Gentrification photo exhibit #1











and here's how the placed looked today, 5/16/10:



This new thread "exhibit #2" is dedicated to a space on a nearby corner: The Northwest corner of St. John's and Washington.

Note to longtime readers: We are not discussing the famous "is there ham in that cooler" bodega, located on the southwest corner. ...but I will put the link here if any of you need to walk down memory lane: http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32481&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

must. stay. on. topic.

Prior to 2007, the space I am going to waste an inordinate amount of time discussing was a run down bodega featuring no edible produce and dusty canned food.

Like the former Disassociated, it was not known as purveyor of quality food items. The old place seemed to do most of its business in beer sales, but it also seemed to have some added income: Items available in thumb size zip-lock bags...

It has now sat vacant for around 3 years, but I learned yesterday that work has begun on it to get it back on the market. The space is completely raw at this point... lots of work needs to happen.

As the process occurs, I'll post pictures of the transformation here. You are encouraged to post pictures and comments as well. (Note: the workmen did not know what it was going to become when I talked with them yesterday).

It's a large space ...it's anyone's guess what we will end up with.



enjoy, discuss.

Anyone know what the name of the prior establishment was?

architecture biscuit

I saw a couple guys working there pretty late Friday night. The space inside there is bigger than I imagined.

whynot_31

Architecture Biscuit wrote: I saw a couple guys working there pretty late Friday night. The space inside there is bigger than I imagined.

I didn't ask the workmen if they were working for the landlord or a new tenant. ....but, yea, the space is huge.

If I had my wishes, The Islands would find 200k and open a sit down restaurant. ...their present upstairs space only sorta counts

MOD

^^^ I would second that!! Love The Islands

inpixels

Bagels please

whynot_31

inpixels wrote: Bagels please

its way too massive to be bagels! Even if they made more massive bagels than Bergen.

steve austin

The space used to be occupied by a Chinese Jamaican couple that sold Caribbean goods. The husband got sick and the place closed. The place was legit but unless you are from the West Indies you would probably never have set foot in there.

theburgerking

This corner and the hole in the ground on Franklin and EP are vital to the redevelopment of the area. Good news to hear something may be coming in...

whynot_31

TheBurgerking wrote: This corner and the hole in the ground on Franklin and EP are vital to the redevelopment of the area. Good news to hear something may be coming in...

I've also heard that the next block over on St. John's (St. John's and Classon) will soon be renovated into an academy that trains Court Officers. This corner currently features the St. Theresa's complex (a decrepit auditorium, a never open thift shop, an under utilized high school type building). All the buildings appear as if they were last cared for in 1975.

See the blog I Love Franklin Ave for details,
http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/2010/05/court-officers-training-academy-coming.html

or this link to see the RFP.
http://www.dasny.org/construc/bidops/opportunity.php?bidid=1481

...which is excellent news for those folks just over the border in Crown Heights. Go St. John's! Go!

bohuma

whynot_31 wrote:

I've also heard that the next block over on St. John's (St. John's and Classon) will soon be renovated into an academy that trains Court Officers. This corner currently features the St. Theresa's complex (a decrepit auditorium, a never open thift shop, an under utilized high school type building). All the buildings appear as if they were last cared for in 1975.

See the blog I Love Franklin Ave for details, ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/
or this link to see the RFP.
http://www.dasny.org/construc/bidops/opportunity.php?bidid=1481

...which is excellent news for those folks just over the border in Crown Heights. Go St. John's! Go!

I would love to see the St Theresa's complex renovated. It is a blight on the neighborhood. It's a pity the city doesn't make church groups maintain their property or forfeit it. After all we give them incredible tax breaks on all their land, we should be able to take it over if they can't or won't maintain it.

danaeo

Back to St. Johns and Washington - I remember at a community board meeting that a liquor license was applied for that address. MIght be able to find more info about the construction through the DOB website.

whynot_31

danaeo wrote: Back to St. Johns and Washington - I remember at a community board meeting that a liquor license was applied for that address. MIght be able to find more info about the construction through the DOB website.

and dig I shall...

First discovery: The address in question seems to be 810 - 814 Washington., aka 433 St. John's Place. http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/PropertyProfileOverviewServlet?bin=3029406&requestid=6

Second discovery: Neither address appears on this site as having requested a permit to serve alcohol. http://nyc.everyblock.com/liquor-licenses/locations/zipcodes/11238/by-date/2010-01-01,2010-05-17/

third attempt: Let's try the minutes of our local Community Board and see if they have any kind of record. One does have to file an application with a community board before one starts selling booze...
http://www.brooklyncb8.org/

hmmm, nothing in March's minutes
http://www.brooklyncb8.org/pdfs/mins/CB8 Mar 2010.pdf

The board didn''t meet in Feb 2010 (maybe due to snow?)

hmmm, nothing about that address in January's mtg either.
http://www.brooklyncb8.org/pdfs/mins/CB8 Jan 2010.pdf

Conclusion:
I can't read anymore of this stuff. Are you sure it was this address? I didn't find anything on it.

asil

I don't remember the name of the store that used to be in that corner space, but seems like it closed a lot longer ago than three years. There was a brief time, maybe mid/late 90's, when all three corners of bodega/grocery store type businesses had multicolor flashing lights. It was very bright and festive.

bk164

Can't say for sure cause I asked one of the workmen. Said it might be a gourmet food store with a bakery, takeout and stuff.

whynot_31

Asil, Google street view seems to confirm your suspicion. The photos seem a few years old, and it's been painted over a view times (to cover up vandalism, I guess) since google street view drove by.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=810+washington+AVe,+11238&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.435463,56.337891&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=810+Washington+Ave,+Brooklyn,+Kings,+New+York+11238&ll=40.677758,-73.963351&spn=0,0.013754&z=16&layer=c&cbll=40.673683,-73.963352&panoid=wU4BL3j2l-KPzTBJgUlZpA&cbp=12,0.26,,0,5

I do remember the Festive 3 Corners of Lights Era. I'm pretty sure it was still present when I moved to PH in 2003.

(Needless jabbering: When I first moved to the area, I remember sarcastically thinking it was version of Times Sq. ...to successfuly engage in this fantasy imagine the Times Sq recruiting station being placed at the triangle formed by the split of Washington and Grand. ...you known, the place that fixes the ancient Mercedes and the kinda scary windowless tax assistance place? Note: You may also need to be me in order for this fantasy to work.)



So to make a long story less long: I'm totally willing to part with my "about 3 years ago in 2007" estimate.

whynot_31

BK164 wrote: Can't say for sure cause I asked one of the workmen. Said it might be a gourmet food store with a bakery, takeout and stuff.

BK164, your post is likely making bagel starved Inpixels jump up and down!

I wonder if the workers are hired by the landlord or the new business. If they wre hired by the landlord, that could mean there is no tenant yet. ...which means it could sit vacant even after it is renovated while a tenant is found. However, if they are working for the new business/tenant, we could likely get something in there within 6 months.

Dare I ask, has anyone seen a work permit? My amatuer search of the DOB site did not reveal any valid permits for the address ...which, needless to say, is not a good sign. (Over on Vanderbilt, Paquena's attempt to create a ventilation system without the DOB's blessings comes to mind)

http://a810-bisweb.nyc.gov/bisweb/PermitsInProcessIssuedByBinServlet?requestid=7&allbin=3029406

ssshhhhhhhhhhh, no one from DOB is allowed to read this thread.
no one from the DOB can see the workers that several of us have seen. The fact that work is occuring on the space is our little internet secret.

whynot_31

now we are talking! Thank god I'm not the first person to kill large amounts of time here! Thanks Rhodamine!

http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=300&view=previous&sid=af0b4154c888366d5b0ab7f9236e9d9f

Steve Austin, the former Bodega was called Enersy. Is this the same place you are remembering? It doesn't look West Indies themed from the outside, but I can't say I went in very often.

These photos went up in 2005, so clearly my memory of "around 2007" is faulty. I have now revised my guesstimate: I now believe it closed between 2003 and 2005.

It's a classic!