Jackson Heights Life

I was just telling my husband that I bet they will open a bank and chicken joint. I personally would like a chipotle.  I guess it boils down to whomever can pay the high rents. so sad.. 

would love a chipotle... we have plenty of local businesses and unique restaurants ... i dont get why ppl freak out over some commercial stores. a nice, clean mcd's wouldn't be the end of the world or affect the QOL.

With 70,000 square feet, the owners have a rare opportunity.  A bank or a Popeye's being the least appealing/needed tenants. 
Movie theatre, or cultural arts center or bookstore would get my vote/business. 

Here's a thought--and not sure what we can do to help make it happen--for something that's a chain (i.e. with investment money) but also something the neighborhood could use:  a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's.  I know, I know--we have an amazing Sunday greenmarket and fabulous produce stands but this might be welcome and popular as well.

If you have ever been to the Trader Joe's in Queens, you probably know that the congestion created by shoppers (mostly people with cars) is horrendous.  No matter how much I would love a TJs in walking distance of my apartment, I would never wish that congestion on this neighborhood.

I personally would love to see a NYSC, but I don't know how likely that is to happen.

I also agree that the LL's are going to be trying to get as much money as possible.  I am wondering if someone who understands the issues from both sides could write up a sample paragraph with thoughtful content that we could personalize and send to the LL/management.  I really doubt that writing them asking for a bookstore or cultural venue is going to work.  At this point I feel like we just need to have the most appealing chain store possible.  This way they get their money and we get something that is not as horrible as a Popeyes.

If you have ever been to the Trader Joe's in Queens, you probably know that the congestion created by shoppers (mostly people with cars) is horrendous.  No matter how much I would love a TJs in walking distance of my apartment, I would never wish that congestion on this neighborhood.

Agreed. In Queens, TJ's requires parking, and that building has no parking. Not only does it have no parking, that block is perpetually gridlocked all through the weekend with out-of-towners in cars driving in to shop at Subzi Mandi et al. Not appealing for TJ's planners.

This makes me realize how fortunate the people at the other (80s) end of the neighborhood are to have gotten the larger new organic store in the newly-rebuilt-after-the-fire building on 84th/37th instead of something like a Popeyes.

okay, i have to say it. popeye's might be my favorite fast food place -- it even ends up on top ten lists from my food critic pals when fried chicken rankings are taken. that said, i'd rather have something other than fast food there.

yea if a chipotle and popeyes opens up there I wouldn't be mad at all... I love the restaurants around here but there's nothing wrong with some american fast food sometimes.

there are no city ordinances against fast food, banks, or anything like that. if there were, new york city would still be new york city.
 
i appreciate your idealism, but there's nothing the "community" can "demand" from a commercial landlord. zip. zilch. nada. i'm not saying that's right, but i am saying it's true.

this isn't a new development where the landlord is asking de facto permission to do something. this is a landlord rebuilding and looking to make a killing. that's the modern world. yeah, it sucks. but you and i don't have any leverage to tell a building owner what to do with his property - other than, in the historic district, demand a specific color for signage.

but there are banks and 7-11s and starbucks all across brownstone brooklyn. no popeyes, because that's too declasse for folks who want to spend $20 for fried chicken. but there's a duane reade or cvs every block or two, an atm on every corner. they just have nicer signage.