Comments on: Restaurant Row on the brink http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/ Rego Park, Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Briarwood Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:34:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: West http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6635 West Fri, 28 Dec 2007 04:21:36 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6635 The Meatpacking District I wouldn't go as far as to say the city is better off. But if you say it is now one of the more popular destinations to eat, drink, dance, shop, and call a 3 million dollar loft home, then yes. And how did that happen? If I recall, the area resisted the impulse to build oh-so-typical highrises over the existing structures. Although a highrise hotel or two may have spilled over from Chelsea, I believe it was later designated a historic district. I still see the old buildings with the loading bays, and metal awnings over the cobblestone street. Some of the meat companies remain, and businesses and residents old and new wanted the neighborhood to stay the same. Hmmm. It doesn't make sense. The area is outdated, yet it is thriving, and arguably one of the hottest spots at the moment. But don't you need megabuck development and brand name businesses to show that an area has really made it to the big time? The Meatpacking District

I wouldn’t go as far as to say the city is better off. But if you say it is now one of the more popular destinations to eat, drink, dance, shop, and call a 3 million dollar loft home, then yes.

And how did that happen?

If I recall, the area resisted the impulse to build oh-so-typical highrises over the existing structures. Although a highrise hotel or two may have spilled over from Chelsea, I believe it was later designated a historic district. I still see the old buildings with the loading bays, and metal awnings over the cobblestone street. Some of the meat companies remain, and businesses and residents old and new wanted the neighborhood to stay the same.

Hmmm. It doesn’t make sense. The area is outdated, yet it is thriving, and arguably one of the hottest spots at the moment. But don’t you need megabuck development and brand name businesses to show that an area has really made it to the big time?

]]> By: Peter http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6630 Peter Thu, 27 Dec 2007 21:50:45 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6630 Public housing and rent subsidies and controls just do not work. We live in a free democracy, not a socialist state, and public control of real estate is detrimental. If you think the city is not better off with the meatpacking district the way it is now compared to 15 years ago, there is no use talking to you. Public housing and rent subsidies and controls just do not work. We live in a free democracy, not a socialist state, and public control of real estate is detrimental. If you think the city is not better off with the meatpacking district the way it is now compared to 15 years ago, there is no use talking to you.

]]> By: KGResident http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6625 KGResident Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:06:35 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6625 It's all reprehensible. This city has sold out to developers. It's like when they "gentrified" the meatpacking district a couple of years ago. Folks thought that because they spent 3 million on an apartment, they had the right to complain about the trucks moving around at 3 am. IT'S A MEAT MARKET! THEY BUTCHER, ETC. Why should an industry be pushed out because someone is stupid enough to pay stupid high prices. They came to the nuisance so to speak, deal with it. Most of the NYCHA projects at this point in time are pretty well maintained and over all safe. Just because they are in Manhattan the developers want them. Hell move the tenants around to where ever the City believes will be appropriate. The hell that the kids are in school, have a social network, etc. Often there are generations that watch one another's kids, etc. Sorry, I get a bit crazed when it comes to what is happening to this town. Whatever happened to Mitchell-Lama which was for the middle class? Yeesh. It’s all reprehensible. This city has sold out to developers. It’s like when they “gentrified” the meatpacking district a couple of years ago. Folks thought that because they spent 3 million on an apartment, they had the right to complain about the trucks moving around at 3 am. IT’S A MEAT MARKET! THEY BUTCHER, ETC. Why should an industry be pushed out because someone is stupid enough to pay stupid high prices. They came to the nuisance so to speak, deal with it. Most of the NYCHA projects at this point in time are pretty well maintained and over all safe. Just because they are in Manhattan the developers want them. Hell move the tenants around to where ever the City believes will be appropriate. The hell that the kids are in school, have a social network, etc. Often there are generations that watch one another’s kids, etc.

Sorry, I get a bit crazed when it comes to what is happening to this town. Whatever happened to Mitchell-Lama which was for the middle class? Yeesh.

]]> By: West http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6623 West Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:25:30 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6623 The idea has crossed their minds. http://curbed.com/archives/2007/10/24/bye_bye_public_housing_hello_luxe_condos.php In the article, ".....near Dumbo" likely refers to the Oro's lower lying (and purported lower income) neighbors. The idea has crossed their minds.

http://curbed.com/archives/200.....condos.php

In the article, “…..near Dumbo” likely refers to the Oro’s lower lying (and purported lower income) neighbors.

]]> By: KGResident http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6622 KGResident Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:02:37 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6622 Crazy huh! Look at what is happening in the Bowery. Luxury housing next to a men's shelter. I didn't know the Oro was next to public housing. I wonder if the government is going to try and drive those folks out and convert it. That has happened in the past. Care about the poor! Not in this city! Crazy huh! Look at what is happening in the Bowery. Luxury housing next to a men’s shelter.

I didn’t know the Oro was next to public housing. I wonder if the government is going to try and drive those folks out and convert it. That has happened in the past. Care about the poor! Not in this city!

]]> By: West http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6621 West Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:58:39 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6621 Of course the Oro looks good. It is right next to public housing! I wouldn't necessarily consider it out of scale. The nearby areas were rezoned to foster this type of development. Of course the Oro looks good. It is right next to public housing!

I wouldn’t necessarily consider it out of scale. The nearby areas were rezoned to foster this type of development.

]]> By: KGResident http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6619 KGResident Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:42:16 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6619 The Oro isn't bad, out of scale with the area, but not ugly. The Oro isn’t bad, out of scale with the area, but not ugly.

]]> By: Peter http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6617 Peter Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:35:24 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6617 Ok, how about in Brooklyn then? Please, just name one, just one . . . Ok, how about in Brooklyn then? Please, just name one, just one . . .

]]> By: KGResident http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6616 KGResident Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:18:24 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6616 Hmmm, good question. Actually I can't, not because there are none that I might like, but because the only hirises that I am familiar with are those locally. There are some interesting projects in LIC, but they seem to be lackluster glass boxes. Unfortunately, our area does not attract I.M. Pei and Stern to design here, they are busy in the West Village, or Brooklyn (where they have caused controversy). What we get here are the "architects" that do buildings such as the horrible white building on Austin and 74th. Or the monstrosity that went up on Metropolitan and 116th Street (Park Lane Condos). In fact, the "architect" that built the Austin street abortion was trying to building a sliver building next to my building. Not only was he shut down, he was indicted for attempting to bribe a DOB official (that in and of itself is a miracle, an honest DOB official!). Square boxes extract the most out of a limited space. Adding any ornamentation or sacrificing some saleable square footage for style is not something that is generally done in the outerboros. It is truly a shame. Hmmm, good question. Actually I can’t, not because there are none that I might like, but because the only hirises that I am familiar with are those locally. There are some interesting projects in LIC, but they seem to be lackluster glass boxes. Unfortunately, our area does not attract I.M. Pei and Stern to design here, they are busy in the West Village, or Brooklyn (where they have caused controversy). What we get here are the “architects” that do buildings such as the horrible white building on Austin and 74th. Or the monstrosity that went up on Metropolitan and 116th Street (Park Lane Condos). In fact, the “architect” that built the Austin street abortion was trying to building a sliver building next to my building. Not only was he shut down, he was indicted for attempting to bribe a DOB official (that in and of itself is a miracle, an honest DOB official!). Square boxes extract the most out of a limited space. Adding any ornamentation or sacrificing some saleable square footage for style is not something that is generally done in the outerboros. It is truly a shame.

]]> By: Peter http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6615 Peter Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:52:41 +0000 http://www.queenscentral.com/2007/12/21/restaurant-row-on-the-brink/#comment-6615 Ok, can you name a highrise anywhere in Queens that you like? Ok, can you name a highrise anywhere in Queens that you like?

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