Is Crown Heights On The Same Path As Park Slope?
Nostrand Park has an interested thread going. .
Using as a reference the 1970 film The Landlord, that was filmed in what used to be an Afro-American, working class part of Park Slope, the question is, What Do You Think Crown Heights Will Look Like In 5, 10, 20 or 30 yrs?"
Check out a clip of the film and 1970's Park Slope!
The film was mainly filmed right off of 6th Ave on Prospect Pl and St Marks Ave
Using as a reference the 1970 film The Landlord, that was filmed in what used to be an Afro-American, working class part of Park Slope, the question is, What Do You Think Crown Heights Will Look Like In 5, 10, 20 or 30 yrs?"
Check out a clip of the film and 1970's Park Slope!
The film was mainly filmed right off of 6th Ave on Prospect Pl and St Marks Ave
Comments
-
-
That's a great link, Why. Really interesting.
My gamma grew up in Bed-Sty but I know its a VERY different place now from the one she knew. She probably wouldn't even recognize it if she could see it. -
If the Video of Park Slope in the 1970's was down before, it has been fixed and is up!!!
-
I think it's moving in a more diverse direction rather than WI and Jewish. I would hope that things don't change as drastically as Park Slope. They have some nice bars/restaurants/shops, but I really like the diversity of the places to go in this area as well as the people.
-
Doesn't that depend wholly on the demographic change in the country over the next decade? Park Slope may have been sketchy in the 70's but its explosion was directly tied to an urban migration towards NY in the 90's, right? And that was a result of cultural attitudes/job economy/media in the 90's that frankly, Brooklyn is still experiencing.
But cultural mores can change. To say that Crown Heights 2010 = Park Slope 1995 assumes that the winds never switch direction. They do. People might stop moving to Brooklyn, or a very different kind of demographic might become the new kind of New Brooklynite, etc etc.
Just saying that gentrification is nothing but a domino effect misses the larger reality of why it happens in the first place. -
Holla P,
I hear you, but I think the Nostrand Park blog was comparing Park Slope 1970 to Crown Heights 2010. Then, poising the question that if Park Slope changed so much in 40 yrs, what do you the reader think Crown Heights will look like in 5, 10, 20 or 40 yrs.
Also, Park Slope 1995 looked way different that it did in 1970.
Here is the complete text from Nostrand Park's blog below. View actual footage from Park Slope 1970 to really see the total transformation!
If the saying is true that, “Change is inevitable”, how do you think Crown Heights will change and look like in 5 years? 10 years? 30 years?
40 years ago Hal Asby directed the film The Landlord, shot in Brooklyn. The film centers around a young, wealthy, white suburbanite who buys a dilapidated brownstone in a predominately black neighborhood – Park Slope, Brooklyn (yes, that’s right … and the movie was filmed there as well on 6th Ave and Prospect Pl).
Forty years after the release of the film, what was once a predominantly black, working class section of Park Slope, has changed, almost completely vanishing from most New Yorker’s memories. Not many people are even aware that the rapper Foxy Brown — Bonnie to Jay Z’s Clyde — was born, bred and still lives in Park Slope near where the film was shot.
Crown Heights is already in the midst of a change or a renaissance. Old store fronts are being built out and revamped into new cafes, beer gardens, coffee shops and lounges. New condos are being built as housing prices are rising faster than ever before.
Even the borders of what we know today as Crown Heights are gaining momentum to be changed. I’ve actually been working on a documentary exploring and examining the various social and economic forces behind the push to try and change the western border of Crown Heights from Washington Ave – where the neighborhood of Prospect Heights officially ends and Crown Heights begins – to east of Franklin Ave (stay tuned for more on that documentary in the upcoming months).
With all this change that Crown Heights is in the midst of experiencing, what do you think the future of Crown Heights will look like in the next 5, 10 or even 30 years? What do you want it to look like? Is it on the same trajectory as Park Slope was 30 years ago? -
SnowboardQueen wrote: Not many people are even aware that the rapper Foxy Brown — Bonnie to Jay Z’s Clyde — was born, bred and still lives in Park Slope near where the film was shot.
I agree with most of what you've said, but I'm pretty sure that Foxy Brown is from, and still lives in Prospect Heights, not Park Slope (Prospect and Carlton). -
http://www.foxy-brown.com/
"Feels good, feels good, feels good," she said, climbing out of a white Rolls-Royce Phantom and running up the stoop of her family's Prospect Heights home into her mother's arms.
-
carnivore,
Thanks. Will re-check my sources, but I thought she was by 6th Ave and Park Pl.
Doesn't the clip of 1970's Park Slope blow your mind? I heard Park Slope has gone through many changes, but to actually see what it looked like then. Wow!
The other day, I spoke with a man who brought the brownstone next door to where The Landlord was filmed. He said that brownstones on his block were going for around $10,000 a brownstone in the 1970's.
On the blog Brownstoner, a house on the other side of the street from where The Landlord was filmed, is going for 2.1 million dollars today! -
Correct me if I'm wrong, but The Landlord was a fictional movie, no? Do you thihk you may be assigning it more cultural relevance than it is due?
-
arches,
The Landlord was a fictional movie.., but the area they shot the film in - Park Slope, 6th Ave off of Prospect Pl and 6th Ave off of St Marks Ave in 1970 - was an actual working class Afro American community.
What you see in the film is the how exactly how 6th Ave in Park Slope looked in 1970 with the actual social- economic make up of it's residents.
In the book about Hal Asby the director of the The Landlord, on page 106, the author gives the historical context,
"Ashby filmed in Brooklyn's then largely Afro American Park Slope district where he employed a number of black crew members and took on many locals as extras."
on page 107 the author recounts how the Afro-American residents of Park Slope on 6th Ave, where the film was shot, cooked soul food for the black cast of the film.
Look on the Park Slope board of Brooklynian, or just google Park Slope 1970.
"Wed Apr 07, 10 1:32 am EST Reply with quote
I moved to the Slope in '75. Back then everything above 7th Ave between St. Johns and 10th Street was mostly white. Below 7th Ave, somewhat white, below 6th, black and latino. I'd say that Park Place and Sterling between 5th Ave & Flatbush was mixed."
Park Slope, like most neighborhoods in New York has gone through many changes, and that is the core of the initial question, "What Do You Think Crown Heights Will Look Like in 5, 10 20 or 30 years?" -
I would hope that by 2040 we'd finally have flying dollar vans. Long overdue.
-
jeffrey wrote: I would hope that by 2040 we'd finally have flying dollar vans. Long overdue.
I'm for that as long as they are still driven recklessly, have super loud horns, cram people in, and advertise Paternity DNA services on the side. -
The main difference between now and then (aside from the flying) is that all vans will be supplied with demo tape uplinks directly to the UniversalTwitterTube mothership.
Sponsored by McDonalds, as per the present trend.
-
Lately McD's has been doing a lot more with the jazz in the background, complete with a sultry Af-Am woman narrating. ...it's a welcome change, but not specific to Crown Heights. I think the OP wants us to focus on Crown Heights.
With that in mind:
I predict marijuana will be legalized in NY within 10 years, meaning that the stores along Nostrand that are presently closed As Per Police Order after the "April Police and Politician Publicity Raid" have a bright future as medical marijuana dispensaries.
...I'm not sure what will become of the Police Tower that seems to always be on either Franklin or Nostrand, but think it's ability to raise and lower could be put to good use by people living in 5th floor walk-ups. ...Especially on laundry day.
Of course, I'm being silly. If we get flying dollar vans, we will also get floating buildings, ala the Jetsons.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=the+jetsons&gbv=2&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=the+je&gs_rfai=
Note: I could not find any Orthodox or Carribean Jetsons, but this does not mean they will not be present in Crown Heights. ...Unlike the Landlord (1970) it is unclear where the Jetson's were set, or whether the Foxy Jane Jetson is really from Park Slope or Prospect Heights. I wonder if they will design the flying cars to have a special button-free Sabboth setting (feel free to discuss)
So, clearly the unused Police Tower is destined to be purchased by an enterprising West Indies takeout place, and will be used to sell Jerk Chicken to flying motorists. ...much like water is presently sold on Atlantic Ave during traffic jams.
...now I'm hungry for jerk chicken, and its only 11:00 AM. Damn you Jeffery. -
whynot_31 wrote: Lately McD's has been doing a lot more with the jazz in the background, complete with a sultry Af-Am woman narrating. ...it's a welcome change, but not specific to Crown Heights. I think the OP wants us to focus on Crown Heights.
Jazz coming from Mickey D's certainly beats the soca/calypso/dance hall doggerel that was present in the area when I lived in Brooklyn.
With that in mind:
I predict marijuana will be legalized in NY within 10 years, meaning that the stores along Nostrand that are presently closed As Per Police Order after the "April Police and Politician Publicity Raid" have a bright future as medical marijuana dispensaries.
...I'm not sure what will become of the Police Tower that seems to always be on either Franklin or Nostrand, but think it's ability to raise and lower could be put to good use by people living in 5th floor walk-ups. ...Especially on laundry day.
Of course, I'm being silly. If we get flying dollar vans, we will also get floating buildings, ala the Jetsons.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=the+jetsons&gbv=2&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=the+je&gs_rfai=
Note: I could not find any Orthodox or Carribean Jetsons, but this does not mean they will not be present in Crown Heights. ...Unlike the Landlord (1970) it is unclear where the Jetson's were set, or whether the Foxy Jane Jetson is really from Park Slope or Prospect Heights. I wonder if they will design the flying cars to have a special button-free Sabboth setting (feel free to discuss)
So, clearly the unused Police Tower is destined to be purchased by an enterprising West Indies takeout place, and will be used to sell Jerk Chicken to flying motorists. ...much like water is presently sold on Atlantic Ave during traffic jams.
...now I'm hungry for jerk chicken, and its only 11:00 AM. Damn you Jeffery.
I more likely see decriminalization of small amounts rather than legalization of grass in the next 10 years--law enforcement loves the jobs that the drug war creates and they will be pushing back hard.
The Police Tower if sold would be sold to a developer to make it into a big box store (maybe there will be a jerk chicken or roti stand in the store) or co-ops/condos.
Orthodox or Carribean Jetsons? I don't know, but I will say the women on the animated Jetsons unlike the ones in the neighborhood are attractive. -
It's a battle of the danger of the neighborhood vs gentrifier's will to live in a cheap spot
A key difference in the 70s vs now is that there are a lot more choices for livable neighborhoods, and given the danger of CH, there are some pretty affordable and safe places to live. I can see people who know nothing about NY or people who just like CH moving to CH, but I can't see someone from somewhere like Williamsburg or even Greenpoint moving to CH. -
I'd like to see this film, "The Landlord" for myself, but it's hard to find. Can anybody find it on netflix, or must I schlep it on ebay or amazon?
-
An interesting historic tidbit. Grace United Methodist church at the corner of 7th Ave and St. Johns Place was built to be the "high" Methodist church in Park Slope, hence the expensive stone facade and elaborate stained glass windows. It's congregation is now largely African-American, and generally less affluent than Park Slope Methodist at 6th Ave and 8th Street, a much plainer structure with a brick facade and no stained glass, built for the working class folks living in the South Slope around the turn of the century.
My how times change! -
Friend of mine in high school (who was black) lived on 6th just off Park in the early 80's. Generally her friends in PS (who were white) were not allowed to go to her house after dark because "it was dangerous down there".
-
I saw the Landlord at BAM the other day. Same old whiteman fantasy. It ends with the white protagonist hooking up with his exotic 'Black but not THAT black' chick after earlier impregnating another Black woman. His cafe au lait piece took no offense at going to a party where one of the guests was dressed up in Blackface. It sucked, and was offensive. Essentially - white nobless oblige dressed up as 'groovy enlightenment'. Garbage, absolute garbage.
-
SnowboardQueen wrote: If the Video of Park Slope in the 1970's was down before, it has been fixed and is up!!!
Shocking racist clip.
I am stunned. -
Well, here's the thing: The movie was directed by a brother. I don't know if he wrote it, but he directed it, and I could only assume that he had to adhere to the norms of the day.... Maybe I should not have said 'whiteman's fantasy' above; believe me, I am not as angry as I seem. But, it was galling. Incidentally I discovered a bit of gall in a wonderful movie classic that if you are not careful you will miss: 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Now I think Capra was a wonderful man, but there is that segment of the movie -- near the beginning just before they all go to the high school dance; the maid is a Black woman who is being chased by George's (Jimmy Stewart's character) brother. There is a hint towards sex play between the brother and her -- and it seems one-sided. She dismisses it as him being rude/naughty. She runs away going through the swing door to the kitchen, and just before the door closes the camera shows the brother motioning to slap her in the ass; the door swings shut and you hear her squeal. It happens SO quickly it is hard to discern what's happening --but it DOES happen. Now Park Place I know you want to have a cup of coffee with me and work your pity all over my black angry (or angry Black?) psyche, but if you had to see shiite like this all day you would understand my anger. YOU are in the Matrix my friend! YOU took the WRONG pill! I am just the Motherf..kkin Morpheus trying to open your eyes! Your ego would love to think that what you got what you got because of the sweat of your own brown and not due to privilege or cultural policy, but I am here to tell you that ain't so! I am not asking you to feel guilty for me, or your pity or compassion. I am an angry brothah, and I will remain that way. PEACE!
-
MHA wrote: Well, here's the thing: The movie was directed by a brother. I don't know if he wrote it, but he directed it, and I could only assume that he had to adhere to the norms of the day.... Maybe I should not have said 'whiteman's fantasy' above; believe me, I am not as angry as I seem. But, it was galling. Incidentally I discovered a bit of gall in a wonderful movie classic that if you are not careful you will miss: 'It's a Wonderful Life'. Now I think Capra was a wonderful man, but there is that segment of the movie -- near the beginning just before they all go to the high school dance; the maid is a Black woman who is being chased by George's (Jimmy Stewart's character) brother. There is a hint towards sex play between the brother and her -- and it seems one-sided. She dismisses it as him being rude/naughty. She runs away going through the swing door to the kitchen, and just before the door closes the camera shows the brother motioning to slap her in the ass; the door swings shut and you hear her squeal. It happens SO quickly it is hard to discern what's happening --but it DOES happen. Now Park Place I know you want to have a cup of coffee with me and work your pity all over my black angry (or angry Black?) psyche, but if you had to see shiite like this all day you would understand my anger. YOU are in the Matrix my friend! YOU took the WRONG pill! I am just the Motherf..kkin Morpheus trying to open your eyes! Your ego would love to think that what you got what you got because of the sweat of your own brown and not due to privilege or cultural policy, but I am here to tell you that ain't so! I am not asking you to feel guilty for me, or your pity or compassion. I am an angry brothah, and I will remain that way. PEACE!
MHA:
I agree. My accomplishments are not as a result of my hard work but to a great degree, my privlidged white skin. I know that and have alwyas known that. Few have had the opportunities presented to me. I am just not sure why you wish to remain angry for a lifetime? -
MHA wrote: Well, here's the thing: The movie was directed by a brother. I don't know if he wrote it, but he directed it, and I could only assume that he had to adhere to the norms of the day....
are you still talking about "the landlord"? because that was directed by hal ashby, a mormon guy from utah. i'm 99% certain he's not a brother. -
Let's see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Landlord
got it. Ok, now
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Ashby
Hmmm, Bobby does have a point, MHA ....
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=Hal+Ashby&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
The man looks a lot like a white guy.
The producer, Norman, looks kinda 99% white as well.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&q=Norman+Frederick+Jewison&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
...but you can't always judge a person by the way they look.
The good news (?) is that Wiki says the two writers were black, but (as I suspect you might point out) clearly they were working for the man.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Hunter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gunn_(writer)
...and we all know that nothing has changed since 1970. Society is exactly the same, and no progress has been made in race relations (sarcasm). -
All that is happening is a rotational trend over generations. The good neighborhoods become bad, and the bad become new. A way to keep the money moving and give people a false sense of accomplishment and achievement.
-
Cool The Kid wrote: I can see people who know nothing about NY or people who just like CH moving to CH, but I can't see someone from somewhere like Williamsburg or even Greenpoint moving to CH.
really? I have friends who are planning just that move. I know people who work in Williamsburg but prefer the vibe down here -- I'm not sure where you get your info, but just because you wouldn't move here again doesn't mean other people wouldn't. I think this area offers a lot without the pretentiousness that other areas have. I like that I live in a neighborhood and not a hipster fashion show like people further north do. -
xlizellx wrote: [quote=Cool The Kid]I can see people who know nothing about NY or people who just like CH moving to CH, but I can't see someone from somewhere like Williamsburg or even Greenpoint moving to CH.
really? I have friends who are planning just that move. I know people who work in Williamsburg but prefer the vibe down here -- I'm not sure where you get your info, but just because you wouldn't move here again doesn't mean other people wouldn't. I think this area offers a lot without the pretentiousness that other areas have. I like that I live in a neighborhood and not a hipster fashion show like people further north do.
I could see this being the case over west of Franklin, but not out "east" over here. I still think PH is overpriced, but it is pretty nice over by the shuttle; just as you said- with a neighborhood feel instead of the feel of a fashion show. -
Sigh.
There are plenty of beautiful blocks east of Franklin. Just becase you live on what you feel is not one, and therefore refuse to see what else the neigborhood has to offer, does not mean you should generalize as much as you're prone to do. Repeatedly.
Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
- 40K All Categories
- 27.1K Neighborhoods
- 5.1K Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
- 7.1K Prospect Heights
- 2.3K Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy
- 8K Park Slope
- 549 Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick
- 442 Flatbush/Midwood/Ditmas Park
- 657 BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens)
- 151 Red Hook
- 104 Gowanus
- 304 Bay Ridge/Bensonhurst
- 130 Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay
- 270 Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and Downtown
- 598 Windsor Terrace / Kensington
- 673 Greenwood Heights and Sunset Park
- 749 Brooklyn and Beyond
- 6.3K Stuff
- 86 Brooklyn Back When
- 1.2K Brooklyn Pets
- 257 Brooklyn Kids
- 241 Brooklyn Eats
- 51 Brooklyn Booze
- 3.6K The Lounge / Random Stuff
- 611 Brooklyn Politics
- 122 Brooklyn Sports and Fitness
- 111 Brooklyn Photos
- 339 Site Issues
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 6.2K Listings
- 1.1K APARTMENTS and REAL ESTATE
- 1.3K Sales Openings Events
- 2.3K The Classifieds