Big Plans for 79-81 7th Avenue Quashed
In October, we discovered that the single-story storefronts, destroyed in a fire, were to be reborn as a two-story brick building at 79-81 7th Avenue at Berkeley Place in Park Slope. The design had to pass muster at the LPC, but turns out that wasn’t the biggest hurdle. The Brooklyn Paper reported last week that…
In October, we discovered that the single-story storefronts, destroyed in a fire, were to be reborn as a two-story brick building at 79-81 7th Avenue at Berkeley Place in Park Slope. The design had to pass muster at the LPC, but turns out that wasn’t the biggest hurdle. The Brooklyn Paper reported last week that the owner, David Chemtob, has to wait for the right tenant to sign up before he’ll resurrect the spaces. “We’re waiting to see what type of tenant we’re going to get and whether they want a basement, or two stories, or one story, Chemtob said. I don’t want to do the job twice. The space was once home to Zuzu’s petals (which moved to 5th Avenue), and has been vacant since. Looks like it might be a long haul before it’s occupied, and thus fixed up, again. GMAP
Big Plans for 79 7th Avenue [Brownstoner]
The Fire This Time [Brooklyn Paper]
Photo by lumpasaurus.
Just read most of the discussion about Jake on the Daily Slope and it’s just amazing how many thesis papers are being drafted there. Here’s his deal as well as the deal of many of the semi-permanent “homeless” guys on 7th Avenue: Many of them have homes and get disability and the pan-handling supplements their income. Whether that’s good or bad, I’m not judging. But lots of Brooklyn neighborhoods have folks like this.
What I personally don’t like about that is that many other neighborhoods hire these guys to do deliveries and odd jobs. Which I’m fine with. Heck, even near me in Boerum Hill you see many neighborhood regulars cleaning or running errands and making money. Just standing in the street and doing nothing? That can only happen in a neighborhood that—pardon me for saying this—has lots of yuppie guilt.
Which is fine by me because I’m not giving these guys change. But when the snow comes I will pay one of the neighborhood guys to shovel the sidewalk.
Thinking about the homeless folks where I grew up in Brighton Beach, they all had jobs doing something for someone. And people accepted that.
So seriously that eyepatch guy can grab a broom if he wants my money. And if Jake Greene seriously got $100,000 and blew it? Forget him. No help for someone who gets that much of a windfall an squanders it.
Back on topic, I’m a bit tired of hearing that “Zuzu’s Petals” was at this spot. They weren’t the only place. There was a Korean grocery story there as well as a branch of the Olive Vine that moved there after closing their 6th Avenue spot.
No disrespect to “Zuzu’s Petals” but I’m sure more people patronized those businesses than that flower shop over the years. Loved that Korean grocery when I lived on Union Street in the early 1990s.
once as a joke (i guess not a very PC joke but whatever) my friend jill and i dressed up homeless and went pan-handling. we sucked SO bad at it. 🙁
i dont mind giving change when i have it at all. most of the donations given to legit donation places never go to the needy people anyway.
and im sorry, but when life is that crappy and there’s no hope left, change for a 40 ounce and a cigarette is sometimes more important to them (and rightfully so) than a solid meal or a coat given by a proper charitable organization.
*Rob*
I’ve never quite understood why people give money to the same panhandler over and over again. Doesn’t it become obvious that the dude’s not using the money to help himself in any measurable way? Wouldn’t it be better to donate that money to causes that are intent on providing alternatives for homelessness and panhandling?
Like eyepatch guy at the 7th ave subway. Dude stands there all day long, several days per week, and every day I walk past him and wonder whether it’s so lucrative that he’s better off doing that than, you know, getting a job. It seems impossible that he makes more money panhandling, but maybe I’m wrong?
For the record, I donate to several causes, so I’m not just one of those “my money is my money and screw the unfortunate people” people – but I don’t give to panhandlers basically ever because it feels like I’m hurting more than I’m helping.
I used to live on 7th Ave. and I think this building had the fire 5 days after I moved to Brooklyn (back in late August/early September of 2004).
BTW, you are not a Park Sloper if you don’t recognize Jake. Used to see him all the time (and give him money). Don’t live in PS anymore though.
here’s more information on Jake:
http://www.dailyslope.com/2006/05/23/have-you-seen-this-guy/
I sometimes question why people feel such a need to give to Jake (a seemingly nice guy granted), instead of homeless kids, older people, etc. I think jake makes more than the people working at Ace.
It’s Jake, bktycoon. And he’s still there almost every night.
I found out though that he won some sort of settlement a few years ago and got like 100K bucks and gambled it all away.
I used to give him change all the time, but have since stopped after hearing that story.
what happened to that homeless guy who used to be a staple outside of ACE? I recall his name to be Frank?? He was a real nice and very appreciative whenever I hooked him up. I havent seen him around lately, but maybe perhaps this is bc im sitting in an office mon-fri.
Ace is fine…I like the guys who work there, but it needs a major overhaul. And yes, the “produce” section is basically nonexistent.
I really only buy paper towels there.