Tommy writes: "It was just a typical get-a-slice-and-a-soda kind of place, but that's the kind of pizza place you think of when you think of NYC pizza, so I was sad to walk by the other day and see that it had been closed, emptied, and gutted.
Just next door, to the north, what was once a deli is now behind scaffolding and green plywood--who knows what's coming there. And a few doors over to the south is the building whose facade infamously collapsed during Hurricane Sandy and has not yet been restored.
I may just be thinking pessimistic thoughts, but there's something about this stretch of 8th Ave that seems ripe for some developer's something. Even if that's not true, I don't imagine that whatever's going to show up in that spot will be a cheap-and-easy eatery like Mezza Luna."
Last time I walked by, the guys who sell socks on the sidewalk had set up a makeshift (very makeshift) shop inside the dark and empty pizza place.
JM, I'm usually about as pessimistic as it gets - to the extent that I can barely walk down a block without worrying what'll change - but I think we're reaching a tipping point on the commercial side in our favor. I live on the UWS in the 80's and the number of vacant store fronts on Columbus is incredible. Sure, they could remain vacant for years waiting for a chain to take over but I doubt I think that's going to happen. At any rate, I'd encourage you and your readers to write to your local city council member to try to initiate legislation that deems long term vacancies as "blight" with the aim of encouraging property owners to rent out to properties to local businesses.
ReplyDeleteThis gentrification thing must be some sort of conspiracy. All 5 Boroughs are set to be completely gentrified in the coming years. Their are tons of development projects going on in all 5 boroughs and they are intended to make everything for the wealthy, almost like a Utopia. They will destroy the poor of this city or only let of them stay for show.
ReplyDeleteagain we lose "food" in this case it could have been really good food. pizza is great in the winter time. fro-yo? not great anytime. we need food. not sugar snacks not cell phones not coffee & cake. not more condos. let them eat cake she said! i say NO!
ReplyDeleteThe impotence of New York politicians is somewhat surprising. As an historian of Tammany, it was obvious that key retailers, long time residents, and a few others had serious tax breaks to maintain their presence. When that "corruption" is added to Thomas Piketty's observation that real estate taxes are the most regressive of all American taxes, it's pretty obvious what's needed, and even more obvious what's lacking: a system to defer or forgive taxes on vulnerable merchants (and there are plenty of ways of defining that vulnerability, from history to retail prices), or to vulnerable residents (by income, age, or other minority characteristics), and to give landlords incentives to retain the city you love. Stop whimpering: change the system. We're doing it elsewhere. Check out the Audi Urban Future Initiative or the Rockefeller 100 Cities of Resilience.... Don't write obits when you can save lives.
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