“Here’s one thing I hate! When this neighborhood was all German and all German-Italian, I came out as a kid around 7:30 or 8 in the morning  and I would see all the old ladies sweeping the sidewalks. That just doesn’t happen anymore,” he said with disappointment.

Robert Roman, a 46-year old doorman who has lived in Ridgewood almost his entire life, sits with a leather jacket tightly clamped to his shoulders, smoking a cigar in one hand with a coffee in the other. His overall outlook is positive, but his voice shakes with nostalgia when he thinks of the Ridgewood of years ago. He does not think the neighborhood is a melting pot.

“I’m not going to get into the semantics regarding that term, but I’m not going to pretend that everyone coexists nicely,” Roman said.  “When I was born, it was pretty much an all German neighborhood. When I was still very young, it was an even mix of German and Italian. Then, toward my mid-twenties, it started to become more Hispanic.”

According to the 2010 U.S. Census Data, Eastern Europeans (mainly Polish, Albanian, and Romanian) now account for roughly one-third of those living in Ridgewood from a foreign birthplace. “The last 10 or 15 years has seen a significant increase in Eastern Europeans with Polish and Albanians coming in,” Roman added.

“I think that the Eastern European increase was the most drastic of my lifetime so far,” Roman added, “It’s impossible to not walk down the street and find a coffee shop housing several middle-aged Albanian men. Now we’re also getting a mix of mid-western people supported by their parents who like to be called ‘hipsters’ who move into this area to build it up and also price themselves out.”

The cost of living in Ridgewood has risen, especially in the last few years. The median rent of a home in Ridgewood in 2011 was approximately $1,100 a month. Roman said that as of today, renters in Ridgewood can expect to pay about $1,300 to $1,800 a month. “It costs a lot to live in New York City”, said Roman as he created a pattern of inhaling his cigar and sipping from his cup. “I mean, I remember people paying $600 a month not all too long ago, look what happened.”

Roman runs a picture based Facebook group called: Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village, and Glendale. The group has over 4,000 members and has over 1,000 photos posted of various landmarks, restaurants, small businesses, as well as businesses that have since been shut down in the four neighborhoods. Roman credits his Facebook group with helping himself and others understand the neighborhood better.

Brandon Ferragamo, a 29-year old grocery manager is a member of the group who has come into contact with Roman personally. “He gets intense,” Ferragamo explained, “When he has his camera on him he’s all business. I’ve been out with Rob when he was looking for shots. He gets really quiet, focused and perceptive.”

Gazing at his pocket watch, Roman describes the time frame when he takes pictures for his group. “Usually early afternoon,” he said, “This way I can be home around the evening and make myself a nice steak or something.” Regarding the group’s mission, Roman said that his agenda is to forge common ground with Ridgewood natives as well as former natives through the use of photography.

Roman reads his group’s description from his mobile phone: “This is a group for anyone who grew up, lived or lives in the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village and Glendale. Photos, questions, comments and memories; all input is welcome.”

“The idea for that page came when I was living in York, Pennsylvania for two years”, Roman said as he lit up another cigar, “There were certain areas in Ridgewood that I missed and I looked them up online but there was very little out there. The main purpose was to make a document of the neighborhood as it is today. Secondly, people who used to live here can look at it for memories or they can see how it’s changing day by day. Roman insists that the group’s purpose remains the same.

“I mean the place is getting a bit cleaned up,” Roman said positively, acknowledging its similarities to the restructuring of Bushwick and Williamsburg. He also highlighted some key differences among the three neighborhoods.

“It’s a little different you see,” Roman puts out his final cigar and gulps down his coffee, “Ridgewood was never a high drug and prostitution area like Bushwick still kind of is. I guess you could say there’s less work to be done here.”

While the harsh reality sets in that the Ridgewood of now is not the Ridgewood of Roman’s youth, he greets all newcomers to the neighborhood warmly. Roman speaks with such conviction that his words remain powerful, often times heavily emotional. Despite being a 43-year native, Roman admits he cannot predict how everything will turn out.

“I don’t know exactly if it’ll turn out for the better,” Roman said, “I’m going to be around though so I’m just going to hope things turn out well. Though I must admit, I miss those  old ladies.”

Sources

https://www.facebook.com/groups/339284919491079/