Here, in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, part of the 36th NYC Council District and the 56th Assembly District, sits another shuttered building on Fulton Street between Albany Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard.
1576 Fulton Street has to its left a bicycle shop that’s been in business for at least 10 years to my knowledge (I purchased a BMX bike for my son from the shop that far back) and a row of shuttered properties to its right.
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To help readers appreciate these images better, they were taken on July 13th 2009.
I’ve lived in Bedford Stuyvesant for the first 22 years of my life and from the time I can remember riding on the B10 city bus (currently the B15) to attend Samuel J. Tilden High School, this location always appeared this way.
Daily life occurs here, where hundreds of pedestrians pass daily to shop at the Restoration Plaza, catch the C train at the Kingston-Throop station, or attend memorial services for loved ones at the Woodward Funeral Home.
Estimated to have been built during the Great Depression (circa 1930), its construction was characteristic of the walk up apartment buildings of its day, boasting 9,600 square feet within its 4 story structure.
Siting on a 40 ft by 100 ft city lot, this structure, occupying a 40 ft by 60 ft footprint, offered 7,200 sq ft residential living space and 2,400 sq ft retail/merchant space.
In as densely populated a neighborhood as Bedford Stuyvesant, rehabilitating a property of its size not only could provide needed residential units but also create mixed use development that could increase the retail/merchant offerings sorely needed at that end of Fulton Street.
But just as in the case of 172 Brooklyn Avenue, also located in the 36th NYC council District and 56th NYS Assembly District, there had to be more here than meets the eye. If you take a look at the title history for 1576 Fulton Street, the picture begins to form.
New York City has held title to 1576 Fulton Street since April 18th 1979, having cleared all title defects and possessing free and clear of all encumbrances.
In order to appreciate the magnitude of the 30+ years of urban blight you’ll have to acknowledge a few constants during this period: Al Vann, Annette Robinson and Marty Markowitz. As you’ll see, this happened on their watch, compounded by the neglect of Mayors’ Edward I. Koch, David N. Dinkins, Rudy Guiliani and Michael R. Bloomberg
Yes, this condition existed over 4 different Mayoral Administrations in NYC
Annette Robinson and Al Vann have both been elected to represent 36th NYC Council District and 56th NYS Assembly District over this period. Marty Markowitz has been Brooklyn’s Borough President since 2001.
While each may have significant legislative accomplishments over their careers, the issue that neither have adequately addressed has been this monument to urban blight.
And honestly, not all the blame lies with them, just most of it. And here’s why:
The New York City Charter identifies a political institution that safeguards the interests each community has and it’s rightful claim to services, resources and revenues. This institution is known as Community Boards, and Bedford Stuyvesant has Community Board #3 as its advocate. Here is a brief explanation from the Mayors Community Affairs Unit on what each of the 59 Community Boards are responsible for;
The 1975 City Charter revisions allocated greater responsibility to Community Boards, especially in relation to municipal service delivery, the City budget, and land use, and the 1989 Charter revisions affirmed their role in those processes.
From all 59 local Community Boards flows items that impact local services, programs, issues, work projects, resources, etc…that are debated and reconciled by its members. How are members chosen to serve on a local community board?
Appointments – The Borough President appoints the Community Board members. At least one half of the members must be selected from the nominees of the district’s Council Members, in proportion to the share of the district’s population represented by those Council Members.
The Borough President must ensure adequate representation from different geographic neighborhoods in the district, and must consider whether all segments of the community are represented.
The only thing left to wonder, after numerous appointments, were Al Vann, Annette Robinson, Marty Markowitz and the board members of CB #3 unaware of the urban blight at the east end of Fulton Street…
for 30 years?
As you’ll read in our next post, you’ll see the convergence of special interest and Politics in New York City as it pertains to 1576 Fulton Street. And be forced to asked consider if voting the same people into office actually benefits your community.
This is the first installment in a 3 part series that continues at Goldman Sachs finds opportunity in Bedford Stuyvesant
Related posts:
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You really like blaming everyone. Since you seem to know it all, wouldn’t it be more constructive for you to be part of finding a solution by working with the community and your elected officials?
Unbelievable,
I guess if you’re assuming that I’m not involved in working on a solution and only finding the time to point blame at individuals who happen to be elected to public office, then I can see the reason for your response.
I appreciate the time you’ve taken to read the 1st of a 3 part series that ran in July 2009 at the old blog site we were running @ Http://mybrooklynreport.wordpress.com.
I hope you’ll read the last 2 posts in the series we’re re-publishing on 1/6/10 & 1/7/10.
I look forward to your comments on the other articles.
Great informative piece, Michael. Enjoyed it just as much as the 172 Brooklyn Ave piece.
I’m not clear how high up the political hierarchy the blame should go on this one, but I will note that Councilman Vann’s office at 613 Throop is in hop-skip-jump distance from 1576 Fulton, yet he seems to have slept on this. I’m really trying to like Vann based on some of the good things I have heard about him from work he’s done in the past, but things like this are utterly frustrating.
Also I am curious about the process of getting a property like this on HPD’s RFP list. Is that something that the community board would have to present to HPD?
Hi Laurel,
I, too, have long been fighting to fully support Al Vann.
From as early as I can remember, he is the first politician I met as a kid (he was at the A/C Utica Avenue train station giving out literature and shaking hands in the early 80’s)
However, It’s hard to ignore certain realities that remain even to this day and believe your vote for the same candidate will yield a change in instances like this.
Properties like this are available through the city’s RFP list, which I encourage investors/developers to attend the CB’s Housing Committee meetings and introduce themselves.
In addition, it would be wise to also have a team with bios in your proposals, as it’s easier to kill initiative if not presented properly.
I’ll email you a colleague of mine on the Bedford Stuyvesant Real Estate Board who is also employed in HPD. She handles these things and constantly encourages residents who have a stake in their communities to purchase and develop these properties.
But as you’ll read in our next installment, Goldman Sachs is coming to the ‘hood (and in a big way)
This is a great post. I know that ten years ago when I was employed by them, ACORN New York was greatly involved in trying to change these dynamics within Bed-Stuy, East New York, Crown Heights, and Brownsville. By using the constituents most affected by these circumstances, they tried to pressure city officials to make better usage of the land and coerce land-owners who also allow properties to disintegrate into making better conditions. If they are still as active and alert, I wonder?
If they are, it would be good to see them a lot more active on this issue. There are a lot of businesses that could utilize that land and make Bed-Stuy a more vibrant, viable neighborhood.
Keep up the good work. Very informative!
This is a great post. I know that ten years ago when I was employed by them, ACORN New York was greatly involved in trying to change these dynamics within Bed-Stuy, East New York, Crown Heights, and Brownsville. By using the constituents most affected by these circumstances, they tried to pressure city officials to make better usage of the land and coerce land-owners who also allow properties to disintegrate into making better conditions. If they are still as active and alert, I wonder?
If they are, it would be good to see them a lot more active on this issue. There are a lot of businesses that could utilize that land and make Bed-Stuy a more vibrant, viable neighborhood.
Keep up the good work. Very informative!
Good-By the orginal bed-stuy (do or die)
will be gone but never forgotten
RIP
Born and raised in bed-stuy….and proud
of it….
I’m with you Yvette,
Having grown up on Gates Avenue bet. Lewis & Marcus Garvey (formerly Sumner Ave), I’m anxious
for a transformation of my beloved neighborhood.
I’m not one to romanticize what was once a rough and difficult quality of neighborhood life as is
common in rap records. Quite the contrary. However, I’m not convinced that anything will happen
anytime soon at this location, as Goldman Sachs is not a real estate developer.
i remember this area of my youth. wasn’t this property once the site of an army and navy store, where my mother would send me to get something for her. i grew up in this area. there was a meat market called spring valley meat market, and a bakery on this block too. it’s sad to see this go down.
Wow Vera,
You’re taking me back. I remember those stores being there as well. Hopefully whatever will come there will be an improvement over what’s there now.
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