I received this email from a reader concerned about some of the changes going on around her section of Bedford Avenue:
I live on Jefferson and Bedford. There are rumors swirling around here about properties being sold on Bedford between Jefferson and Putnam. People say the corner bulding with the funeral home/car garage on the NE corner has been sold to Pratt and then others comment that the west side of the block of Bedford has been sold. I’m just wondering if any of you have heard anything?
So, are there changes afoot on Bedford?
I really see Bedford changing in the next few years… It will soon be a great commercial corridor similar to North Flatbush between Dean and Grand Army Plaza. Also while Bedford Ave gets better Nostrand will began to mirror it…
Morgan, I really hope that you’re right.
so do i, especially in regards to nostrand avenue.
Didn’t they re-zone Bedford and all the commercial avenues of Bed-Stuy for taller buildings? Is that what is driving the desire to buy and develop?
Once the Fulton Street B.I.D. – which includes some blocks on Nostrand – gets rolling, Things are going to go crazy. In a good way.
there’s already tons of construction on bedford. across from the Y, there’s a big condo-type building going up. hopefully someone’ll do something about that boarded up building btwn gates and quincy.
I really think so… Also I think we will see less $.99 stores and Hair Shops and more mom and pop specialty shops that you see starting up on Tompkins and Lewis. Also a nice psychological fix is adding more tress along the streets. Bedford could use more green Fulton needs it even more…
does this also mean rent prices being driven up and more of bed-stuy’s older communities driven out? change is good, but balance is essential.
I noticed that Paul, the guy who was selling vintage furniture in the parking lot behind the building on Gates & Bedford, has moved to Flatbush and there are signs up all over the building and the lot perimeter that rat poison has been spread. It made me wonder if that space was finally going to be redeveloped.
yvette, what does balance mean? does that mean keeping businesses around that are no longer viable in a neighborhood. businesses and developers are not blind to the rapidly changing demographics that are no longer patronizing those older businesses. the free market will always play itself out, if the business can provide needs and services that the old and new communities both need that business will survive but if not,are we to subsidize their rent? or tell the landlord he has to keep them in their space even though he cant pay his mortgage?
The huge building on Gates and Bedford recently got scaffolding. I’ve also seen men working inside. The furniture guy was back for a weekend, but only with limited items. There’s also something going in on Greene and Bedford. Certainly changes are happening. Only problem is Bedford is very dark at night and has little foot traffic. This is all good for the neighborhood and for Nostrand, which should see some new offerings.
I think a major problem with the areas merchants is that they don’t invest in there shops… Many of those old ugly signs on Flatbush and Nostrand that are 10’ tall need to go. You don’t see this stuff in Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope or even Fort Greene/Clinton Hill. Another that needs to be stopped which I think is going to happen are the “Fedders buildingsâ€â€¦ They don’t fit the context of that area and as someone that has a degree in architecture these buildings are just UGLY… If you notice these buildings stay on the market for years before they are sold and even then the builder just rents them out. I think Bedford Stuyvesant needs an architectural review board that makes sure all new construction fits well within the historic neighborhood surroundings.
Morgan – agree wholeheartedly with the architectural review board idea. For Brooklyn as a whole, but especially the brownstone areas. Other cities put limitations on new construction, but I think Bloomberg would rather stuff hot peppers up his nostrils than approve any limitations on real estate developers. Stop the ugly!