Open Thread Wednesday

By on September 4, 2018 11:14 pm in open thread

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • Andrew Porter

    Today is the last Members Hours at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and I plan to go even if I get heat stroke…

    The current renovations, btw, mean the destruction of these wonderful granite stairs there, sigh:

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c8c3154e947fbf227d85e0273ed97702ab9316a4146f4d7b8d9b4c639d3cf677.jpg

  • Jorale-man

    Has anyone figured out why Tazza closed? It seems odd that they leave a note on their window thanking customers after 15 years but never gave an explanation for the closing.

  • Eddyde

    Prolly the usual lease expired, exponential rent increase, deal.

  • Jorale-man

    That’s what I figure. And now the space will probably remain an empty eyesore for years because no one else will be willing to pay the exorbitant rent.

  • Eddyde

    Yeah, and become a tax write-off for the landlord. Then again, that’s probably the plan…

  • TeddyNYC

    Going back over 30 years, I can’t recall a time when Montague had so many empty storefronts.

  • Eddyde

    I go back 50 years and can say the same.

  • Knight

    Not just currently empty but long term empty! How long has the former Starbucks space been vacant?

  • Banet

    I’m surprised it’s only 10. Did you include Friend of a Farmer? Did you notice the “for rent” sign in the 2nd story business called… “Home Stories”(?)

  • Jorale-man

    There was a recent NY Times article about the issue and it said that about 20% of storefronts city-wide are vacant. You’d think City Hall would see this as more of a front-burner crisis but it seems like it barely ever makes the local news. I wonder what, if anything, our local representatives are saying about it.

  • Heights Guy 77

    What are the available solutions that City Hall has? I’m not educated on the subject.

  • Eddyde

    It was an informal count. You are probably right, it’s likely more than 10.

  • Eddyde

    That space and the one above it have been vacant more than occupied since the early 80’s, when it was renovated. The word is, the building is owned by a jerk that no one wants to do business with. Again, that’s probably the plan…

  • Eddyde

    I don’t think there’s much that can be done, not with existing laws. Perhaps some sort of vacant property tax?

  • http://www.yotamzohar.com StudioBrooklyn

    Perhaps a tax rebate for landlords who give discounted rents to small businesses that meet certain requirements set forth by neighborhood business associations, or rent vouchers for such businesses?

    “Who’s gonna pay for that?”

    I don’t know, maybe our elected leaders could embezzle less?

  • Jorale-man

    Exactly, it seems there are ways through tax laws to incentivize landlords who don’t let store spaces sit vacant.

    Given how much real estate developers are helped out by the City, you’d think it’s within government’s power to help on this front.

  • DIBS

    Isn’t anyone going to complain about having an alternate side parking holiday because of Rosh Hashanah?

  • http://www.yotamzohar.com StudioBrooklyn

    Thinking of going and sitting in my car for a couple hours tomorrow, for old time’s sake.

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7nPOzGeyaw Arch Stanton

    Dave, You troll’n?