Nah-strahnd Avenue

nostrandpark · May 2009

Wanted to plug a very powerful piece offering a different perspective on the development of Nostrand Avenue: http://nostrandpark.com/2009/05/29/crown-heights-360-–-nah-strahnd-avenue/

Excerpt:

There are so many who, without mal-intent, have called and continue to call for sweeping change to the businesses along Nostrand Avenue. With an open mind one can comprehend this point of view, particularly in light of the development of neighboring areas, such as Franklin Avenue. However, there is a contrasting point of view, which stems from the West Indian community that resides here. We have a connection to the Avenue that was spawned well before many of our parents even set eyes on each other...

rosweed · May 2009

I saw that yesterday on NostrandPark and I wanted to reply to it, but there doesn't seem to be a way to leave comments on that site.

Just because I want to see more variety in restaurants, more coffee shops, bars, etc. doesn't mean I want the West Indian places to go away. Yes, I understand there are Indian, Italian, Chinese and more areas in Manhattan. The difference is that you also have a variety of other types of restaurants very close by. That's not the case on Nostrand. There will always be a market for the Caribbean places. There's also a market for other types of food and restaurants.

won't ub my nabor · May 2009

There is a place to leave comments, but it is not very conspicuous. On the date/time line at the top of each post, there is a little dialog bubble and next to the bubble there is a hyperlinked number. That number is the link to the comments section...

There was one comment left last night. It is just as powerful as the original piece. When read together, they create a very thought provoking dialog:

...Despite their very different backgrounds, my dad the first college grad in his family, my mom one of a long line of educators, both my parents who are Erasmus Hall alumni share a sadness when they come back to Flatbush to visit. They both lament on how unrecognizable Nostrand (’Nosetrun’), Flatbush and Church Avenues are to them. Either of them could have written your very same words just 30 years ago!

They miss the upscale Department stores like Macy’s and Loehman’s. They can’t understand why once grand movie and concert venues sit empty or have been converted to sneaker stores. They miss Jahn’s where thye could sit down and have lunch. They complain about loud music, loud talk and sometimes being asked questions by people using dialects of English that they don’t understand...

won't ub my nabor · May 2009

That said, I agree with you Rosweed. It is possible for the new and the old to co-exist on Nostrand. That would be my ideal. Nostrand as a mecca for Caribbean food, but complimented by a few select other types of food offerings. (Reminds me of when I was young and my parents would take my sister and me out to Red Lobster. I hated seafood at the time, but there was always a chicken dish on the menu to suit my palette.)

Now that these national chains are taking root on the Ave, my concern is that there will be upward pressure on rents that will make it more difficult for the smaller shops to stay in business or offer their goods at prices that are affordable to the majority of the community. And then the shift will begin...

Nah-strahnd Avenue

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