East New York

shake the great

What would it take to have a board dedicated to East New York ?

MOD

Usually we add a new board when we see a measurable percentage of members posting about that area or from that area. Traffic wise it needs to make sense.

shake the great

I understand, thank you.

prodigalson

I have tried to get ideas exchanged here about East New York but none have panned out.  The only talk we've had of my old neighborhood is with regard to crime and police shakedowns of innocents.  Luckily for me I'm old enough to remember when it was a vibrant area.  So sad to see it fall apart.  Hopefully it will rise up like the Phoenix but I sure won't be around to see it.

xlizellx

http://gothamist.com/2014/01/09/developers_trying_to_gentrify_east.php

http://www.bkmag.com/2014/01/09/is-east-new-york-due-for-some-gentrification/

http://bkbureau.org/2014/04/17/mixed-views-of-gentrifications-threat-in-east-new-york/

I'm sure it will get a board on here soon....

whynot_31

They might create their own board.

....that's allowed.

xlizellx

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2014/07/mayors-plan-for-affordable-housing-will-turn-east-new-york-into-bushwick/

shake the great

Thanks for all the links. East New York needs gentrification !

prodigalson

I don't know that gentrification is the exclusive solution though some change is definitely better than what it has at present.

Will we ever again see the days when ENY was the cricket capitol of the USA? Will it ever have a new Eastern Park which was the Mecca of American sports in the 1890s?   Not  likely.  But some change - any change for the better - sure would be appreciated. 

whynot_31

I don't think will see a resurgence in Cricket in ENY during this Mayor's administration, but we are certanly going to see a lot of new housing replace the unregulated 3/4 Houses.

If all goes as per plan, the new folks are going to be much different than the old.

What is a 3/4 house?
http://johnjayresearch.org/pri/files/2013/10/PRI-TQH-Report.pdf

How big are the changes planned? http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/06/15/big-changes-coming-to-east-new-york/

shake the great

you are correct, any change is welcome. Thanks whynot_31, I never knew that.

xlizellx

http://gothamist.com/2014/07/30/see_east_new_york_apartments_gentri.php

"Check out the NEW FRONTIER!" this East New York rental listing screams. "Come claim your LOT." Sure, it may be lonely for settlers braving this empty new frontier, but the Gentrification Homestead Act of 2014 promises every plucky pioneer a fresh new start.

whynot_31

It is kind of weird to walk around NYU and Columbia in Manhattan.

There used to be college bars and whatnot in the surrounding areas, but now much of the run down "student housing" has been upgraded and is therefore out of students' reach.

Now, you see throngs of young undergrad and graduate students gathering in places like Bushwick, and -soon- ENY.

Should I take a "before photo" of Broadway Junction now?

prodigalson

$1500 per month as rent in the worst ghetto in Brooklyn history?

Yikes!

----------

As for fotos of Broadway Junction, yes please put some on the board.  Hopefully it will change for the better though it likely will not match the days when it as the Mecca of sports:

http://www.covehurst.net/ddyte/brooklyn/oldpix/1894 eastern park.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Park

morralkan

Prodigalson, do you remember the stores along Belmont Avenue selling dry goods, eggs, and pickles? (maybe not all in the same store)

pragmaticguy

Fortunoff's started on Livonia. They had six or seven store fronts before they went upscale and built their own store in Westbury. Belmont was great to go to up to around the mid 60s. I remember going there with my parents.

whynot_31

@prodigalson -

You are not the only one looking at Broadway Junction:
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140923/REAL_ESTATE/140929990/dismal-bronx-brooklyn-areas-have-potential

prodigalson

Prodigalson, do you remember the stores along Belmont Avenue selling dry goods, eggs, and pickles? (maybe not all in the same store)

Do I ever!!!!!!

I remember some old timer selling knishes,  a Puerto Rican from my hometown of Mayaguez selling piraguas,  the many fruit & veggies stands, the knitting shops, the candy stores, etc. In fact, I have often dreamed of these things.  Ad how about those shops where you could buy live fish?  I cannot forget the fresh of all that good, fresh stuff.

As for pickles, I still love my kosher pickles and buy Mt Olive brand which is sold here in St Paul. My favorite shop back then  was Sussman's on Blake near Sheffield Avenue where I grew up.  

Ah, the memories!

prodigalson

Fortunoff's started on Livonia.

My dad operated the parking lot on Sheffield & Livonia Avenue.  My first job in life was helping him out when I wasn't in school -  PS 174. 

Max Fortunoff gave jobs to lots of neighborhood folks.  Losing the stores cost ENY a lot of vitality and led to its downfall.

prodigalson

@prodigalson -

You are not the only one looking at Broadway Junction:
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140923/REAL_ESTATE/140929990/dismal-bronx-brooklyn-areas-have-potential

Sounds like they are proposing to dismantle the subway depot.  I'd hate to see it go.  But if they are going to create new housing, I hope it may include a new ballpark of some kind. That would GREATLY revitalize the area. 

whynot_31

I doubt the subway and bus depot are going anywhere. DeBlasio and the real estate industry don't control them.

Instead, imagine lots of moderately sized and priced apartments, equipped with triple pane glass to keep out the noise.

shake the great

The subway and bus depot should definitely stay. There are a number of shelters over there and crime, how would that affect the new housing ????

prodigalson

- moderately priced -


That's the key.  Hopefully, if ENY/Brownsville/New Lots are to be "gentrified", let's hope it will be done with moderately priced housing.  And let's hope all the parks will be cleaned up so that they can be made for safe, enjoyable family fun.

moderately sized

moderately sized

whynot_31

The thing about affordable housing is that everyone wants it to be for them.

However, those who actually FUND and BUILD affordable housing have different incentives.

The city FUNDS affordable housing: It primarily wants to reduce the cost of shelters and jails, and to comply with court mandates.

The developers BUILD affordable housing: They primarily want to make money, and don't care who lives in it after it is constructed.

.....while there a lot of people who want moderately priced and sized housing, they usually aren't more powerful than the above incentives.

southeast

Affordable housing plans hit snag over East New York prices

http://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/09/29/rising-east-new-york-land-prices-complicate-affordable-housing/

Even I saw this coming...

whynot_31

You mean the government is not exempt from market forces either?

(fake gasp)

mugofmead111

What would it take to have a board dedicated to East New York ?

Gothamist is on it!

If having a hipster news blog cover you isn't enough, then what is?  

East New York Real Estate Prices Tripled Overnight

whynot_31

At the bottom of the housing market, single people on public assistance receive $215 a month for housing.

The amount is often paid directly to a landlord, who puts you in a bunk bed filled house in ENY.

If gov was to announce this rate was being increased, the landlords merely increase the amount they charge.

I can't fault landlords for trying to maximize their return on their property.

...at an individual or macro level.

nothinlikeabklyngirl

I'm sure the good people of East New York were just fine with not having any hipster news coverage. 

whynot_31

Me too.

But sadly, media is something none of us get to choose.

whynot_31

In response to soaring prices for land and construction, gov doesn't have the money it needs to meet its goals.

It is now looking for ways to make construction of affordable housing be cheaper, and thus more attractive to developers. Allow them to self certify.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/10/8553747/hpd-plans-major-changes-jump-start-affordable-housing-development