EBBETS FIELD

I think MEC is still working on converting Crown St. in to a student plaza. Which would be nice IMO.

I can't imagine they would ever buy the Ebbets appartments.

Oh, you mean the Ebbets Field APARTMENTS.

A bit more dorm space than MEC could possibly use, don't you think? Also, if CUNY were (hypothetically) to buy it, what would they do with the current tenants?

Regardless of how one feels about the Ebbets Field houses and its residents, at this point MEC has no ability to "help".

MEC's current quality has put it in jeopardy of losing its accreditation as a BA/BS granting college: http://www.msche.org/institutions_sas_pds.asp?idInstitution=66

MEC has only recently (2009) begun to get the capital funding it needs to upgrade its facilities to a level that it can compete with other 4 year colleges: http://assembly.state.ny.us/Press/20090330h/

So, even if Ebbets Field Housing was for sale (which is sort of a crazy thought), MEC does not have the resources to buy such a large group of buildings, manage it, or fill it with students.

I've see rentals posted on Craigslist for Ebbets in the past.

What's up with the vicious gang? I heard about a woman's door being shot for reporting a drug dealer.... but that seems like it was 5 years ago. The place seems actually super quiet, esspecially given how massive it is. Nice playground in the back as well.

Readers: Trivoli Towers is the tall bldg located at Crown and Franklin.

Ebbets Field is is the massive building at Bedford and Mongomery

map:

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=tivoli+towers+brooklyn&ie=UTF-8&ei=t3L0ULSWNeSP0QHi9oGAAg&sqi=2&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAA

dmiami-

Yea, I remember reading about Trivoli Towers in one of the real estate blogs. Here's press stating how they were able to keep it affordable, and info about the developer:

http://www.stellarmanagement.com/TivoliTowers11022010.htm

Sad talk.

Ebbets Field is a shrine to a time when anything was possible. In reality, it is a shrine to any ballpark that was the place you used to go that has simply vanished

Sad talk.

Thanks thecameralady!

Convert to dorms / more classrooms a music center etc

On the other hand, there is a vacant condo building across from the complex on Sullivan Place that has been standing 3/4 finished for years. The only tenants there are two guard dogs and a bunch of rats-rats which are much more of an eyesore than Ebbets Field.

Low income high rises such as Ebbets Field are perceived as a threat, and/or as an ill-conceived model throughout the country.

By being able to evict people who are convicted of certain crimes, NYCHA has an ability that many management companies lack. NYCHA also does a much better job at keepings its high rise complexes safe than comparable housing authorities throughout the country.

So, while Abba Realty may be managing a complex that houses tenants who are less problematic/needy than the "average NYCHA tenant", they are less able to evict those who make the lives of their neighbors miserable.

As we seem to agree, whether you are in a wealthy community or a poor one, it only takes a few troubled people to destroy the environment. Abba Realty and the Ebbets Fields Tenants Association need assertive and effective means of dealing with this subset.

Without such means, it may become as bad (or worse) than the lowest tier NYCHA projects.

homeowner said:

Ebbets Field doesn't need to be a dorm. What it does need is to be a better version of what it is, affordable housing. This means a management company that provides clean, well-kept housing, properly maintained housing with a responsive maintenance and management team. Tenants that are responsible for maintaining the quality of their homes by discouraging things like litering, vandalism, and illegal activity. A true sense of community and a safe haven for those that reside there. That will only come with a change in attitude and effort by all parties. Otherwise, it will continue to be another high rise that is seen as being dangerous and a threat to the changing community.

It's not that the tenants don't care. I've been attending tenants association meetings, and similar complaints come up at the meetings. Some people will post signs advising neighbors to not leave trash in the hallway or to leave the elevators clean. (The last sign was put up in the elevator in my building within the past two days.) Apparently there isn't a critical mass of people who can come together to effect long-reaching change.

Low income high rises such as Ebbets Field are perceived as a threat, and/or as an ill-conceived model throughout the country.

Without such means, it may become as bad (or worse) than the lowest tier NYCHA projects.

TeReKeTe said:

As we seem to agree, whether you are in a wealthy community or a poor one, it only takes a few troubled people to destroy the environment. Abba Realty and the Ebbets Fields Tenants Association need assertive and effective means of dealing with this subset.

or just a bike corral.

Ha. Where per chance does one suggest placing a bike corral?

As I read this thread, it seems only chloeroyal believes something is wrong with Ebbets Apts to the degree that the residents should be displaced.

The other posters seem to want to help the residents of the complex. Several point out that the idea of MEC taking it over is not feasible, and/or not beneficial.

theCameralady-

I am suggesting that it is unfortunate that the mgt of Ebbets Field does not have the same powers as NYCHA, not that the Ebbets Field folks are as needy.

I agree that because of things like DHCR regulations and rent stabilization rules, the mgt (sadly) has, in many ways, their hands tied.

I have no idea.

However, I do find it interesting that people dislike Ebbets Field, and have begun to conclude that their feelings stem from failing to differentiate it from NYCHA complexes.

Those who are familiar with NYCHA, know that many (but not ALL) of the complexes' residents are some of the poorest members of our society: Those with disabilities, the aged, victims of domestic violence, formerly homeless people, etc.

...Folks who have been denied educational opportunities and/or subsisted in poverty and violent environments for literally generations. For many, SSI/SSD, public assistance, and SNAP are lifelines.

In contrast, the residents of Ebbets field are comparatively stable: Most are able to secure work to the degree that they are able to pay the rent on their rent stabilized units.

While the complex wrestles with crime and the break down of community, the problems are not as severe as many NYCHA complexes. For example, it seems a greater number of "cautious mothers" allow their children play in the play ground adjacent to Ebbets Field, while the playground adjacent to Albany Houses (located off Kingston in N Crown Heights) is mostly deserted.

The police seem to take a similar view. This article points out that while the racial demographics of N Crown Heights and S Crown Heights are similar, the number of stop and frisks is dramatically lower in S Crown Heights.

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130205/crown-heights/one-brooklyn-neighborhood-two-very-different-faces-of-stop-and-frisk

While I am not a big fan of stop and frisk, it is as if the police and their commanders can tell the difference between the various types of "black people" as related to crime and social problems, when other people (such as the author of the article) either can not, or don't bother to dig deeper.

At least the blurb didn't refer to it as a public housing project.

All seven buildings in the complex are more than 20 stories tall, despite what the author wrote. Overall though, this blurb is innocuous.