Getting Whole Foods to be a little more Brooklyn

raulism · February 2007

Whole Foods... or a whole lotta traffic?

Our friends on the other side of Flatbush have a petition at
http://www.parkslopeneighbors.org/wholefoods/index.htm

Park Slope Neighbors has initiated a campaign asking Whole Foods to make several alterations to the design for the market it plans to open next year at the corner of 3rd Avenue and 3rd Street.

Whole Foods, which has garnered acclaim for its commitment to organic and natural food products, excellent employment practices and all-around good corporate citizenship, plans to build a 64,000-square-foot store along the Gowanus Canal, its first in Brooklyn.

PSN, while welcoming Whole Foods to the neighborhood, is asking the company to alter some aspects of its design. The requests include:

:arrow: A reduction in the number of parking spaces by at least 100 from the currently planned 420

:arrow: The elimination of the rooftop parking lot in favor of a green roof or solar panels

:arrow: The implementation of a comprehensive transportation-management plan, including jitney service to mass-transit connection points, free van service home for customers, and ample bicycle parking

I think sometimes companies move into Brooklyn and don't quite know how to deal with a non-suburban situation. For instance, Commerce Bank wanted to have a more car-oriented branch on 5th Avenue. But both the bank and the neighbors ended up happier when they adjusted their design to respond to neighborhood concerns.

brooklynleather · February 2007

damn i want it to be closer to me!

escap · February 2007

Wasn't there already a looong thread on this very topic?

oiseau · February 2007

Give it up. What, making 100 less parking spaces means 100 less cars will go there? I think not.

raulism · February 2007

Oiseau wrote: Give it up. What, making 100 less parking spaces means 100 less cars will go there? I think not.

Okay, you're right. I give up. I moved to Brooklyn because I want it to be like every other place. And I think the best way to be involved in my community is to shut up and let other people set the agenda. And it sure would be nicer to have the roof of the new store covered with asphalt instead of grass- that will serve the consumers here much better.

And Commerce Bank on 5th Avenue is surely going to close because they caved into community pressure to make it less car-friendly. It's always in the interest of companies to ignore the concerns of the neighbors. I guess that's why every company uses some variation of the slogan "we're a bad neighbor."

But here's my question. If you think I should give up, then shouldn't you give up too? And if having fewer parking spaces will not prevent cars, then why be opposed oppose PSCC?

MOD · February 2007

Can I just say, I wish it was a Trader Joes instead of a Whole Foods. Am I the only one. :oops:

quijibo · February 2007

we ALL wish it was a Trader Joe's

as far as the 3 points mentioned - i agree with the first 2 wholeheartedly and the 3rd, mezzo-mezzo...

just because i'd wish there was more of a focus on encouraging people to walk as opposed to using gas guzzlers, and consequently consume more. the bicycle parking item is a great idea, van service thumbs down

alafairnadia · February 2007

as much as I love Trader Joes, I HATE the one in Union Square. every time I go in there, I end up walking out. it's hugely depressing to see that line. I just can't do it. it feels like I'm trying to get into some exclusive club or some shit.

jack krohn · February 2007

I'm not sure how this plan would work, as it's based on the faulty assumption that people will readily cast aside their cars in favor of public (or public-style) transit. When it comes to lugging heavy bags of groceries, trust me, people (especially yuppies) will stick with their cars. If the # of parking spaces is reduced, then people will simply park on the street, which will only exacerbate the traffic congestion that this plan seeks to alleviate. Plus, who really believes that Whole Foods will be willing to finance a fleet of shuttle vans for hundreds, if not thousands, of weekly customers? This sounds like another anti-development pipe dream to me.

And what's up with the bicycle parking? Are customers supposed to clutch bags of groceries while riding "no hands" all the way home?

oiseau · February 2007

raulism wrote: But here's my question. If you think I should give up, then shouldn't you give up too? And if having fewer parking spaces will not prevent cars, then why be opposed oppose PSCC?

Nope, I'll be one of those fuggers you curse at as they drive to Whole Foods. But actually, I like driving to Fairway better.

I'll wave to you as I go by, how about that?

dw438 · February 2007

WHINE! WHINE! WHINE!
The British have a word for it.
Wankers.
Friggin' WF's building in a warehouse/manufacturing district.
You wanna bet that that lot will be on overflow once it's built to original specs?
Jitneys? Gimme a break. This is NEW YORK. Someone's going to want their cut, especially the MTA.
And excellent employment practices? Tell that to the supermarket workers union.

bigguy · February 2007

it's hugely depressing to see that line.

That line at 14th st used to kill me every time I saw it. But I have to admit, it moves incredibly fast.

jgregorie · February 2007

best thing to do at trader joes on 14th is go with another person. as soon as you get in the store grab a cart and get in the checkout line, while your partner picks up groceries for the both of you.it really makes the whole experience more tollerable.

i would kill for a TJs in park slope

i dont see what all the fuss is about a whole foods.
you can get the exact same stuff at either union market or fairway.

Getting Whole Foods to be a little more Brooklyn

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