Monthly Archives: December 2015

Local Businesses Being Shut Down in Washington Heights (Draft Lede and Nutgraf)

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163rd St and Broadway

A wall scribbled with graffiti is all that is left of the strip of local businesses located on 163rd Street and Broadway. The Dominican “mom-and-pop” restaurant which served the typical arroz con habichuelas y pollo alorno (rice, beans and chicken) lunch for over 40 years, along with the barber shop where hundreds of locals passed through for a haircut, were left with no choice but to close down. Facing the same issue on the block was Sebastian Income Tax and Multiservices Inc., an agency many would use to send money to their native country and file their yearly taxes. Now facing the tough task of starting their businesses all over again, this issue is all too common in the neighborhood due to gentrification. Small business owners who once catered to the people of Washington Heights were forced to relocate after the landlord who bought the new property refused to renew their leases.


One business remains. Fruteria El Buen Camino is the lone fruit market left standing, something even the owner, Thelma Santana, describes as a “miracle.” She recounts how it all happened. “Three years ago, this strip changed landlords, and every couple of months we would get notices saying that our leases would not be renewed.” After multiple meetings between the business owners and Coltown Properties LLC – the new real estate company that bought the strip, her prayers were answered. Santana’s business would remain, while every other local shop on the block would be shut down.

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Fruteria El Buen Camino

Jose Campos, owner of Sebastian Income Tax & Multiservices, Inc describes the relocation situation differently.  “We were like little children being bribed with caramel candies” he said, when recounting how the previous landlord told the business owners their leases would be renewed, only to send them letters to vacate the premises within the month after the properties were sold. In 2012, Coltown Properties LLC bought five buildings from the previous landlord for about $31 million dollars, and business owners on the strip quickly saw the changes occurring.

Washington Heights has gone through many changes in the last couple of years due to gentrification. With a rise in the non-hispanic population in the neighborhood, the cost of living is rising; as a result rents are increasing, uprooting locals and forcing them to relocate.

According to the 2010 census, 48.4 percent of the White-householder population is over the $60,000 yearly income range. This is in stark contrast to the Hispanic/Latino population with only 24.3 percent making over that amount, and an average 75.7 percent making under $50,000 in yearly income. Washington Heights has quickly become the new “it” neighborhood, due to the now low crime rate and affordable rent by New York City standards.

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Corner where Punta Cana once stood

Punta Cana – The Dominican food restaurant – was paying $7,900 in rent before they closed down, instead of the $5,000 they were accustomed to. “We were told that if we wanted to keep this business, our rent would increase to $9,000 a month. We could barely afford the current rent. Now I’m 80 years old and retired” says Angel Santos, owner of Punta Cana, the last restaurant that was forced to shut down after not finding another spot to relocate to.

 

Alphabet City Will Never Be the Same

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From East 14th Street to East Houston lies Alphabet City and all of its residents. Most of New York’s residents look at neighborhoods with convenient stores, close transportation and lower rent prices when deciding where to live. About 66,000 people live in this neighborhood. 66,000 people have chosen to live in a neighborhood that lacks what people find most convenient about this city.

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A busy entrance to the L train on East 14th and 1st Avenue

The nearest subway line to this entire neighborhood is the L train on 1st Avenue and East 14th Street. “It takes me 25 minutes to walk to the subway every day and then I have to always transfer to another station” said resident Gina Cappola rather frustrated. She moved here because the rent was slightly cheaper than the other apartments in the area. It seemed like a good idea at first, but now she can’t wait to move on to a different neighborhood when her lease ends.

“I moved into the city because I was a commuter and now I am still a commuter” said Gina Cappola laughing. It takes her over an hour to get to where she works which is just about as long as it took her when she lived near Rockland County.

You can see the look of frustration at the Subway entrance for the L train. There are lines at each turnstile during busy hours and each person looks like a zombie waiting to get in as if they do this everyday.

“Its truly unbelievable what I need to go through to get on this subway” Daniel McDonald said while waiting for his train. Most days this 50 year old man does not mind, but others when he’s tired the train seems further away then ever.

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The Pheonix, a small bar/ restaurant in the neigborhood

Alphabet City is not your typical neighborhood. As you walk up and down the streets there is no Starbucks. Duane Reade is only on the border streets. There is no chain grocery store favorites such as whole foods and no chain restaurants. “I can always find something similar to what I need but it isn’t always what I want. Sometimes walking twenty minutes to get my favorite brand of coffee just isn’t an option” said long time resident Billie Hudzik.

New York is known for its convenient means of transportation. Usually we think of subways at almost every corner and a McDonalds or a Starbucks every other block. Alphabet City denies its residents both.

Manhattan Community Board 3 has addressed issues of transportation saying they have been working on plans for decades now. There was talk of extending the subway line under Avenue B.

Residents of this neighborhood laugh when asked about it. They feel that this is never going to happen. “If it does happen maybe my grandchildren’s grandchildren can get to work faster than I ever did” Billie Hudzik said jokingly.

The lack of transportation and commercial shops and restaurants to draw residents in, are issues not being ignored any more. Gentrification is now being seen in Alphabet City. There are plans for new Walgreens to be brought into the neighborhood as well as talk of other chain establishments.

IMG_1857There are all new upscale restaurants and trendy spots that have emerged over the past few years with the intention of changing Alphabet City for the better. “They won’t ever do anything about the Subway system so they are trying to make it more appealing in other ways” Billie Hudzik said when asked about future changes. The new crowd that these trendy spots are bringing in has changed Alphabet City and is beginning to give it a new reputation.

According to DNAinfo.com this gentrification brought a dramatic 71 percent drop in major crimes in the area over 17 years since 1993, led by a 91 percent plunge in car thefts, an 81 percent drop in robberies, and 77 percent declines for murders and burglaries. “This neighborhood used to have a bad reputation but now its becoming a hot spot for young crowds. I used to just see the same people walking around everyday now I see a new face every night” Billie Hudzik said after living here for 35 years.

East Village Cafe on East 13th

East Village Cafe on East 13th

Crime rates have dropped and rent prices have gone up. The new developments to Alphabet City have caused a significant increase in building costs. Buildings that have been vacant for years are now getting swooped off the market, remodeled and sold. According to StreetEasy tallies the median increased for asking prices rose 2.79 percent to $699,000 by the end of 2014, but today this has jumped to $865,000.

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Residential area of Alphabet City displaying the artsy vibe of the neighborhood

Some new residents were drawn to this area because of the changes and the style of living. New resident Aliyah Sullivan says, “It was one neighborhood that reminded me of how New York is supposed to be.” Each street you walk up and down has businesses and restaurants that created by people hoping to find a place to thrive in the city. Here in Alphabet City they find a way to mesh creating a vibe that draws people in to live here and an authentic New York feel.

Alphabet City is changing, but not everybody is happy about it. Julia Bennet who has lived in Alphabet City for 10 years said, “I have to leave this neighborhood after this year. My rent keeps going up and I can’t afford to stay here anymore.” The unavoidable increases in rent that are due to gentrification is pushing out many long time residents.

“This neighborhood used to be original but now they want to take that away from us” Markus Reynolds another long time resident said angrily.

Artwork dedicated to Robin Williams on Avenue B

Artwork dedicated to Robin Williams on Avenue B

Despite the lack of subways and a quickly changing neighborhood, many residents are in favor of this. “Its always good cardio for me to walk to the subway I have never minded!” said Richard Brenner who currently lives all the way on Avenue C.

“The changes are making this neighborhood safer and more original then it ever has been before. Alphabet City is really coming into its own” said Sophia Watts of Avenue B. This is why many people are leaving, but why more are coming. The changes coming to Alphabet City are unavoidable. Almost as unavoidable as the walk all of its residents put of with to get to work each day.

This neighborhood has become something beautiful. While some residents are frustrated with its lack of similarities to the city, majority are being drawn closer due to its differences.

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American Girl

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What is the theme of Ta Nehisi-Coates”s profile?

In this piece, Coate offers a unique perspective on Michelle Obama by providing her background, along with context on her view towards America’s racial stance.

Is there an overarching narrative?

Although the main purpose of the article is to explain Michelle Obama’s dynamic cultural views, it does so by introducing a larger historical context of black cultural views, and it’s dynamic nature as racial integration proceeds.

What surprises Coates about Michelle Obama?

As Coates puts it, “In all my years of watching black public figures,
I’d never heard one recall such an idyllic youth”. Essentially, what surprised
him was the unconventional perspective Obama displayed; relatably offering
the perspective of an average American.

How does Coates contextualize Michelle in the context of his own background growing up in Baltimore?

Coates relates Michelle Obama’s experience to his own childhood by discussing the perspectives they had with relation to “black” as a culture. While Coates experienced his own culture explicitly in comparison to his white peers due to the racial integration in Baltimore, Michelle Obama was surrounded by a uni-racial neighborhood, and only knew of America’s multicultural nature as a concept.

Black and White

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Fox’s story takes on a very personal style, as she tells her grandparents’ story　of a pursuit and struggle for racial equality in the housing market. In Fox’s piece,　the injustice in the Stuyvesant Town community is a matter of race.　The story more recently released by New York Times is told in a more objective voice. Displaying　specific statistics and figures, this piece focuses on the socioeconomic struggle　for fair housing.
Both pieces tell the struggle for, and triumph of, justice in the community.
When combined, these two stories also show the dynamics of the housing
situation of Stuyvesant Town over the years.

American girl

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I think the theme of this profile is getting readers to identify with Michelle Obama and understanding of how to see the world through black and white. The overarching narrative is how relatable she is. Some of her actions seem unexpected, but her upbringing shapes a lot the decisions she makes today. At Nehisi-Coates was surpluses to hear Michelle recounting her life. He had never heard a black public figure recall such an idyllic youth.

The battle between South Slope and Park Slope’s borderlines

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South Slope has been overshadowed by Park Slope’s prestigious culture, small businesses and real estate properties. A neighborhood once considered Green-wood Heights was rezoned within South Slope’s fifty-block stretch eleven years ago.

It is not clear whether people are not aware of South Slope’s name and blurred boundary lines because of favoritism towards Park Slope, misinformation, or misleading real estate properties.

In July 1973 the Slope was given boundaries by a Historic District Designation Report created by the City of New York, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Administration, and Landmarks Preservation Commission. In 1981 Gail Collins wrote an article for the New York Times marking the first division between North Slope and South Slope.

New Yorkers will mostly be familiar with North Slope rather than South Slope.

“I tend to call this neighborhood Park Slope most of the time. I feel like a lot of people don’t know what South Slope is. It doesn’t seem like a part of Park Slope. I didn’t even know that it was considered South Slope until I moved here. I live on 17th Street and found out it was South Slope through Google Maps,” said Brittney Alvarez, 23-years-old, a South Slope resident of four years.

Unlike Park Slope, classified as number one in New York City for nightlife, Green Space, Restaurants, and safety amongst other categories by New York Magazine, it is no secret that Park Slope is a luxury neighborhood. Could it be that people prefer telling others they live in Park Slope, because of its prestige and higher status?

“Well I used to say it was Park Slope, until I was corrected by the principle at the school I work at. He also lives here and said it was South Slope. I still say I live in Park Slope because it sounds nicer and it’s more expensive. I would’ve always said Park Slope if he didn’t correct me,” said Pat Rademaker, 47-years-old.

South Slope has been recognized by a recent surge of town houses, co-ops and condominiums. An influx of apartment buildings in South Slope relatively cheaper than those in Park Slope has caused an increase in new residents.

“It use to be a lot of New Yorkers, now its people from other states, ” said Sam Sarsour, 48-years-old, owner of South Slope’s Subs and Stuff located on at 624 5th Avenue between 17th and 18th Street.

One block away from Subs and Stuff locates South Slope’s trendiest coffee shop, Roots Cafe, located on 639 5th Avenue between 18th and 19th Street. Roots Cafe has seen the growing changes in the community and was featured on The New York Times titled A Cozy Living Room With a Barista: Roots Cafe in the South Slope last February.

Cafe Shop owner Amanda Neill believes that people are aware of the neighborhood name. She believes the South Slope neighborhood is a slow fade between 15th and Prospect Avenue. Neill

Feels like South Slope is changing its tone, but not mirroring Park Slope’s identity.

“I wouldn’t want to change it, but would hope to preserve the small-town feel that it now has. I fear that change will take away from the quiet beauty of this place that attracts so many,” said Neill when asked what she would change about South Slope.

South Slope is beginning to receive recognition by both the New York Times and locals for artsy bars and coffee shops. New Local businesses are driving young professionals to the community who are informed on the South Slope name and margins.

According to the New York City Department of City Planning official website, South Park Slope was approved for rezoning in August of 2005. South Park Slope’s area boundary is between 15th Street and 24th Street and between Fourth Avenue and Prospect Park West.

Those who don’t know the neighborhoods designation are either uninformed or do not have access to the web. Currently the only source that distinguishes South Slope’s name and rezoning is the New York City Department of City Planning, Google Maps, and the KickMap application.

Those that are unaware of South Slope’s borders can be misled by businesses and properties marketing themselves located in Park Slope to maximize its value, but are technically located in South Slope. One example of this is Park Slope Christian Center, located on 269 Prospect Park West between Prospect Avenue and 17th Street.

Those that are unaware of South Slope’s borders can be misled by businesses and properties marketing themselves located in Park Slope to maximize its value, but are technically located in South Slope. One example of this is Park Slope Christian Center, ran by part-time real estate agent and full-time Pastor Alexander Rivera, 48-years-old.

 

Conflict Pitch

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I want to report on CM Ferreras plan to improve the 111th Street highway because originally I had thought that the plan would be supported by all people around, but it turns out that not everybody is supportive of the plan. I want to explore why there is not an unanimous agreement to implement more protection for pedestrians and bike-riders. The conflict rests on whether enough community support will push this plan, because it seems as though the improvements are not immediate. I would like to explore what the city council for district 21 wants to do exactly with the street, and how some residents feel about it. I would like to reach out to realtors to see how it may affect the real estate, and how the highways construction actually does not need change. By reporting on both sides, it would be interesting to find out what may come of this proposal and how it will be resolved in the neighborhood.