Food Co-op May Lease Space on Putnam
This would have pretty major implications for a longtime troubled corner of Clinton Hill: The Clinton Hill Blog is reporting that the Greene Hill Food Co-op, a nascent food co-operative that has been in the works for a couple of years now, is considering renting a row of small storefronts at 10-16 Putnam Avenue for…
This would have pretty major implications for a longtime troubled corner of Clinton Hill: The Clinton Hill Blog is reporting that the Greene Hill Food Co-op, a nascent food co-operative that has been in the works for a couple of years now, is considering renting a row of small storefronts at 10-16 Putnam Avenue for its permanent headquarters; this stretch includes the mysterious and infamous Putnam Candy Store, profiled last year on The Times’ Local Blog. Combined with the new bar that’s in the works at 8 Putnam Avenue, this could set the stage for the kind of turnaround for the drug-addled corner that law enforcement has been unable to fully bring about (though big strides have certainly be made in the last five year). (Full disclosure: We live in the neighborhood.) There’s a meeting tomorrow night to discuss the idea at 138 South Oxford Street at 7 pm. We’re not members yet, but consider this a vote of support! Update: We just got an email from a reader saying that he thought it was only the two spaces on the left, not the candy store itself, that were being considered by the co-op. Anyone know for sure? Update #2: A member of the Co-op’s lease location committee emailed to confirm that the space under consideration is 18-30 Putnam Avenue. Regardless, this would be incredible for the area.
I am 100% for this location, but there goes the easy parking in this secret corner of the hood…
I think this is a great location and I doubt it’s a longer trek for people in Fort Greene than the PSFC is. Regardless, Clinton Hill is a borderline food desert. Let’s remember what this store could do for people who do not have access to affordable fresh food rather than just think of it in terms of how convenient it is for people who are already members of another coop.
Oh, and,
“”Most people in Park Slope drive to the Co-op too.””
That is REALLY, REALLY not true at ALL. I would estimate 20%, tops. Probably less.
“”Those parents that will be shopping at this coop? They all have cars.””
First of all, they don’t.
Second, why would you assume parents would be any more likely to join the coop than non-parents? Based on my experience at the Park Slope coop, I really don’t think that’s true.
Really, cillmy? People who live on 15th street don’t drive to the coop? Windsor Terrace members? Kensington? PLG?
Of course, if none of those people drive to the co-op, then the Putnam street location shouldn’t be a problem for BAM-centered Fort Greene (which is at most a 15 minute walk anyways… or, like I said, there’s a bus.)
Personally, I don’t care if one drives to the coop or not, but I find the hypocrisy amongst a certain subset of Brooklynites a little amusing.
Fort Greene and Clinton Hill are pretty much the same neighborhood. They always (as far as I know?) have been. If it really bugs you… (and this might work for all of the crime-fearing folk too), call the new co-op, “Fort Clinton, the Co-Op.”
Heather, you assume a lot. Most people that go to the Park Slope co-op do not drive. The name is not a quibble, it’s the name. Call it the Brooklyn Heights co-op if it’s not a big deal…ha.
What major implications? You must mean that instead of a laundromat riddled with bullet holes, we’ll see a co-op riddled with bullet holes.
“Heather, check the census data. Large majority of the neighborhood does NOT have cars.”
True. But check your local playground. Those parents that will be shopping at this coop? They all have cars. And, like I said, there’s a lovely bus. Two, even.
Quibbling about the name, btw, is absurd. Don’t hold up opening it over that, or start bemoaning the fact that there’s a parking lot and that means people might use cars. Most people in Park Slope drive to the Co-op too.
I’m thrilled it’s on the C train (would also be thrilled with the A). I live way east in Bed Stuy but I think I could handle the train transfer. It would be worth it. We currently buy our groceries in Williamsburg. I would really love to belong to a food coop that would cut our grocery bill by 2/3 and yet also where we could get really high quality food. It would make a huge difference to our lives. I would also welcome the work aspect.