In a time where the “it” places to live change faster than fashion trends, communites all over New York are seeing drastic changes. But how does one know when the changes have gone too far? Where can the line be drawn between improving the quality of life in a neighborhood and transforming said neighborhood into the next trendy, happening place to live?
This is what residents of Kensington are worried about. Some fear that recent talk of bringing entertainment in the form of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants will turn the small neighborhood into a new hot spot, specifically another Park Slope. No offense to nearby Park Slope, but some residents prefer Kensington to keep its small town feel  On the other hand, some new and old residents alike are welcoming the idea of bringing in new businesses.
The battle for and against the gentrification of Kensington is fairly recent but has already stirred up much debate. Living most of my life in the neighborhood, I have seen it change and still remember the shock on people’s faces when they opened up a Subway sandwhich shop on Church Avenue. A newcomer to the neighborhood that I spoke to couldn’t see what the big deal was saying, “A little change isn’t so bad, is it?”
As the debate wears on, here’s a little bit of it from Kensington’s neighborhood blog started just over a month and a half ago. It starts out talking about the price of retail space and then becomes a heated discussion about the future of Kensington. Have fun.
Kensington’s Blog
Many residents of the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn are fearful of a possibility of gentrification. The neighborhood, which many describe as a small town in a big city, has recently seen an increase of new comers who have been priced out of Manhattan and nearby Park Slope. They want to add coffee shops, restaurants, and bars into the neighborhood which doesn’t have any.
While change is needed in the neighborhood, by way of cleaner streets and road improvements, many long time residents, including myself, are afraid that the new comers desire for more businesses will lead to gentrification, in particular the possibility of Kensington becoming a second Park Slope. Kensington does lack business (in fact there are little except for Bangledesh, Mexican, Pakistani, and Chinese food places) nail salons, and 99 cent stores, but the idea of bringing in new businesses leads many to believe that Kensington will soon be lost to gentrification. Caroline DiSimone, a long time resident of the neighborhood, is vocal about the possibility of gentrification. “People move to Kensington because it does have the atmosphere and appeal of a small town,” she says. “The proposals for adding new businesses in the neighborhood threaten that. This is a family-oriented neighborhood. What are we gonna do with bars?”
Here is a link to an article from Newsday where Kensington is profiled. They discuss the residents fear of gentrification and even speak to the founder of the neighborhood blog, who is an advocate for new businesses in Kensington.
In honor of the fourth anniversary of the Iraq War and the 3,200 men and women in the arm forces who have died, 75 people stood outside of Borough Hall in Brooklyn last Monday. MoveOn.org, a political action group, sponsered the event. It was one of 1,000 vigils that was held all over the city. The group wanted to remember those who have died and protest the war in Iraq. Regardless of what our political views are, we should always keep in mind those who risk there life or have died for our freedom.
Click here for more information.
While reading the City section of the New York Times yesterday, I happened to stumble on an article about my neighborhood (Kensington). There have been complaints about the calls for prayer coming from Masjid Nur al-Islam mosque. Four times a day there is a loud call to pray that can be heard for many blocks. Many living near the mosque have complained that it is too loud. Now a debate is emerging about what to do about it.
I live just a few blocks from the mosque and often hear the call for prayer. It has been going on since before I moved to the neighborhood almost 12 years ago. It doesn’t disturb me and I don’t consider it loud at all. When I asked around the neighborhood, I found that I was not the only one to feel this way. Those who I have spoken to have said that the calls for prayer are not bothersome. They should be allowed to continue there call for prayer as they have been doing for many years. More can be read about the issue here.
Collectively we have noticed the disappearance of mom and pop stores, which are replaced by chain stores such as in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The old Meserole Theater was replaced by an Eckerd Drugstore. We feel that it takes away from the character and individuality that Brooklyn once encompassed. This is happening all over the world. In Paris, similar things have happened. Parisians have tried to hinder the influx of chain stores on the famed Champs-Elysees. Here is a link to the article: Paris
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