Gentrification is all around us these days in Park Slope, and now it’s even moving into our end of our neighborhood (which we’ve always fondly referred to as “The People’s Slope.”)
Here’s an example: one of our favorite local eateries was called Jack’s. They made a great pot roast & Betty’s favorite Huevos Rancheros. They’ve been closed for more than a month, and we’re anxiously hoping they will re-open.
A block away, a new place called Piramide has just opened, along with places called Fuel and Edible Eats.
*sigh* It means there’s a lot more of these folks around, too.
I’ve always been mixed over gentrification. We’ve lived in “South Slope” for over 10 years now and it’s certainly not Park Slope which is one of the big reasons we moved here. But I will say that as much I I too enjoyed Jack’s, it was sliding down hill towards the end. I probably wouldn’t go back if it reopened it was so bad lat time we were there.
As for the neighborhood, 10 years ago we were broken into and robbed twice. 9 years ago, same story. 8 Years ago, only one break in, but my wife was chased by a blood soaked lunatic down our block and I was told I wasn’t welcome in the neighborhood by a street gang. 7 years ago our car was broken into and 6 years ago it was then blown up. Literally, not a figure of speech. 5 years ago things started getting “better”. Sure we have 2 hipsters on our block, but neither of them have robbed us, broken into our house, chased my wife, threatened me or blown up our car.
The people at Fuel are nice, haven’t been to Piramide. Edible eats is a stupid name.
Damn. You moved between the wrong avenues. I’ve been here for 10 years and it’s been lovely the whole while.
(For those that don’t get it, we live around the corner from each other, but Betty & I live on the “okay” side of 4th ave, & Billie & her partner don’t.)
I also feel a little worse about gentrification since we don’t own our place, & when rents keep going up, we’re going to be priced out of the neighborhood. If you own, gentrification means your home ends up being worth more. So that’s a huge difference, too.