Jackson Heights Life

I believe that in certain commercial zoning groups a store is limited to a certain size of it doesn’t have off street parking. Maybe they tried to get away with a paid parking garage.  Having a Target with no off street parking wouldn’t to good for the block or neighborhood.

Yea, in your mind, a Target means moving on.  Get your head examined.

Shouldn't any zoning issues or challenges to zoning have been resolved before the building was razed? I don't fully understand what is going on here.

Quote from: abcdefghijk on September 04, 2018, 08:07:33 PM

Observing.

On the other side of 82nd, there's OLD NAVY, GAP & BANANA REPUBLIC and these franchises are crowded with immigrants buying stuff.

I'd say any Target that opens up will also be overflowing with folks in pursuit of the American Dream.

That doesn't mean they are doing the best thing for the neighborhood. Yes, it will be popular and the money from our community will be siphoned out of it and going to wherever Target is based. It makes us poorer and takes away our character.

I agree. But if even the immigrants who are providing the character are more interested in shopping "in the American way"... it doesn't bode well for keeping the character.  I suppose stores can be retro-fitted to create character (Williamsburg)...or retro-Latino fitted...for more ambiance...but here in the USA, everything does tend to end up Disney-fied.

Hey, ain't that the American Dream?

Quote from: abcdefghijk on September 05, 2018, 06:09:09 PM

Quote from: Jeffsayyes on September 05, 2018, 07:53:07 AM

Quote from: abcdefghijk on September 04, 2018, 08:07:33 PM

Observing.

On the other side of 82nd, there's OLD NAVY, GAP & BANANA REPUBLIC and these franchises are crowded with immigrants buying stuff.

I'd say any Target that opens up will also be overflowing with folks in pursuit of the American Dream.

That doesn't mean they are doing the best thing for the neighborhood. Yes, it will be popular and the money from our community will be siphoned out of it and going to wherever Target is based. It makes us poorer and takes away our character.

I agree. But if even the immigrants who are providing the character are more interested in shopping "in the American way"... it doesn't bode well for keeping the character.  I suppose stores can be retro-fitted to create character (Williamsburg)...or retro-Latino fitted...for more ambiance...but here in the USA, everything does tend to end up Disney-fied.

Hey, ain't that the American Dream?

Immigrants aren't the only ones who can provide character. BUT usually it's immigrants who have to open up their own businesses in order to have an income. Most stores do not make very much - that's why the kids become nurses, doctors, lawyers etc. If it's target, though, no one in there is making enough to support a family.
Gentrification is such a loaded word. I lean towards keeping the most money as possible in our community. The local business will keep the most money here.

Yes, to keep the money in the neighborhood would be good. Theoretically.  But I wonder if that really happens?
The landlords live outside of the neighborhood.  Patel Bros' owners are definitely outside the neighborhood.
Do the shop owners live in the neighborhood?  I don't know. Possibly not.

I agree the idea of keeping the money in the neighborhood is sound.

But I imagine the reality is already far from that.

Dudley (Queensboro) is part of the neighborhood.  E77 definitely is. Food Dynasty, absolutely not.  Foodtown, no.
It would be interesting to know which of the shopkeepers live in Jackson Heights.  My guess is not that many.

Also, the thing is that Target could hire workers from the neighborhood...



 

Almost all of the landlords and store owners in JH live in Nassau County and actually have a poor opinion of the neighborhood. They always tell me that while they do business here, they would never live here.

I have spoken to immigrants who live in the neighborhood and they do not like the local stores. They said, "This is not like real America." It reminded me of a movie in which the immigrant family moved to Quebec, Canada and they said it was "fake America."

Also the Bruson building is still half empty so who are all these small businesses that will pay the rent.  We don’t need a another pharmacy! People love shopping at Target and I am one of those people. Sorry, but it’s true. Where do the people who want Target protest? To me it seems as if a few people making a lot of noise are stopping this.

To be fair if people who oppose Target trigger or cause a reexamination to see if Target complies with zoning laws, is that wrong?  Other landlords who rent to smaller stores have to comply with the zoning laws so why should Target be given an exemption? The main problem is the lack of parking. Both College Point and Maspeth have huge parking lots. I understand that this store is smaller but maybe not small enough to trigger the requirements for off street parking exclusively for the store. Zoning laws are the law.