These days the stretch of Myrtle Avenue from Ft. Greene Park to Classon Avenue is no stranger to development. In the last seven or eight years it has evolved into something of a main drag for Clinton Hill residents, with banks, laundromats, restaurants and bars taking root one right next to the other. With the exception of one Connecticut Muffin all of the new businesses on Myrtle Avenue have not been chains, until now.
Right in the corner of Clermont Ave. and Myrtle Ave. a new building, which will contain condominiums and street level retail space, including a Walgreens, is being erected. The fencing around the construction site bears an illustrated rendering of the finished building, complete with bustling street-scape and blue, cloudless skies. Adjoining this sign is another from Corcoran Group, proudly proclaiming the arrival of this new development in the neighborhood. Both of these signs are unique. What is more typical is fencing or plywood around a construction site with only the contractors name and the required permits affixed to it, no superfluous fanfare. Never before have I seen a sign announcing, celebrating the arrival of a new building on Myrtle Avenue.
Which brings us to Walgreens. As I mentioned, this building will have a Walgreens on the ground floor. It’s not that the neighborhood doesn’t have drug stores, it has many drug stores, at least two of them on Myrtle Ave. within walking distance from my house. What has changed is that Walgreens feels as though it can make some money in Clinton Hill where there was no money to have been made before. So is this a sign that the end is near, that property taxes are going to take a giant leap and scatter all of the long time Clinton Hill residents to points all over the map? Maybe. If it is though not everyone seems to mind. “I think it’ll be convenient. It’s big, they have a really good selection,” says Lucinda, a Clinton Hill resident. Other people were fairly ambivalent and feel as though the arrival of Walgreens and the condos is inevitable. Some even herald its arrival feeling as though it will bring in more businesses and services that Clinton Hill had been lacking.
Perhaps Walgreens is inevitable. Starbucks probably is too. The challenge then might not be how to keep certain businesses out, but how to make them work for you, for your neighborhood, your community.
This is really interesting, it seems that major chains and businesses are taking over everywhere. Keep us posted for the arrival of Starbucks!