Some not-so-great things about GWH

Split this topic off...in all fairness, let's discuss some of the improvements our 'nabe may need.

I'll add to JoanJettofArc by saying we have a real trash and dumping issue on the streets surrounding Green-Wood Cemetery. Have CB7 and DSNY working on that one...

Who's next?

Some of the people seriously suck (ie, my neighbors).

Well, there are the next door nabes who seem nice but smoke in the hallway. I guess they don't want to stink up their own apartment, so it stinks up mine. I don't mind so much, but what does bug me is that there are cigarette butts all over the hallway.

Then there are the several people who don't lock the effing door. The gate lock is broken and the front door is always open. The only people that I've actually seen doing it are young and white or asian yuppy types. In fact, I would say that they are the biggest jerks of all. Once I put a sign reminding people (please, yada, yada) make sure that the door is locked and the sign was taken down. I tried a few more times, it continued to be removed. I gave up. It wasn't worth the aggravation.

I put a note on my mailbox reminding the mailman that the people whose mail he was delivering to me had actually moved and THAT was removed. That particular one had me in tears. It's not a big deal that I get someone elses mail but removing the note just felt pointless and unkind. Oh, and did I mention the laundromats near me?

Not very happy right now!

Honestly, I like most of the longtime residents better than some of the newcomers.

filmlover44 wrote: Honestly, I like most of the longtime residents better than some of the newcomers.

Ugh.

I wasn't trying to say anything other than all this new construction will bring a wave of new retail. And that no matter what shape this wave takes, it will be welcomed by some and loathed by others. (There was a thread on this group discussing the new liquor store on Fifth and 17th, and one poster lamented the lack of what they considered more useful businesses. That poster asked rhetorically if a film-developing store or 24-hour pharmacy might not be more useful. Which is ironic, because the new liquor store used to be a film store. Go ask the guy how business used to be.)

But now that I brought it up, one other improvement that would help this neighborhood is for these likeable longtime residents to understand that the changes wrought by people moving in are inexorable. However excrable you may find them to be. ...Another dose of irony here is that most of these likeable longtime residents were, themselves, interlopers. Gentrification didn't begin last year; it comes in waves.

More importantly, given that these likeable longtime residents often desire to, through fits of community activism, guide the changes still to come to these environs, they would be wise to embrace newcomers as potential allies. Acquaint them with your causes, accept their concerns as your own and tolerate their non-Brooklyn ways. It's the only way to hang onto whatever is left of the Brooklyn you remember.

Ten times a day, someone on this board says something crossways about new people moving in, whether they are coming from Manhattan island or Manhattan, Kan. Some frustration can be excused and nostalgia should be encouraged, but anything else is just silly. This is what New York is now. If it wasn't, you'd still be sweeping broken bottles and hypodermic needles off your stoop every morning.

Yes, all very good points and I don't think anyone, at least on the GWH board was waxing nostalgic. More over, on this thread at least, is some of the "not so great things" that exist now, may be improved in the future...or may stay the same, regardless of an influx of new folks.

It's just the AMOUNT of new folks by the glut of condos in the South Slope/GWH that has me worried. Not quite the "wave" Username: * describes, more like a tsunami! :evil:

Being a relatively new home owner in the area (2003), I am already seeing some new amenities coming in (would kill for a decent green-grocer, though I don't mind a good walk).

There are also lots of great things with the existing GWH (see other thread), something we loved and attempt to keep "through fits of community activism"

Looking forward to what the future brings, hopefully not at the total expense of what currently exists...good & bad (since that's in the eye of the beholder "broken bottles and hypodermic needles" and all )

Speaking of broken bottles, what is the best way for me to clean up the back yard? Should I use a broom or a rake?

contractor bags, definitely. not only do you want to protect yourself from pieces of glass poking out of bags, but you want to protect the sanitation workers, too. want a surefire way to screw up the quality of life on your block -- piss off your sanitation workers! :shock:

Now that 23rd St (and 21st/22nd) is repaved, garbage blows UP HILL all the faster

Our GWH neighbors are very bad at picking up after their dogs. I tried to call out one guy who just left his dog's bomb in the middle of the sidewalk, and he just walked away from me.

It seems to be getting worse lately (I've been in the 'hood five years). Can anything be done?

What do you do when you see someone not picking up after their dog? Or worse, when a pile is left in front of your house?

Oh man, I'm moving from Park Slope to GWH and you guys are making me really unenthusiastic too.

I have a few questions though..

1. Who do you use for your cable/internet provider? I'm hoping this will be my chance to escape from TWC.

2. Are there any good dog walkers in the area? If so, can you send me their website/email?

Jodi wrote: Oh man, I'm moving from Park Slope to GWH and you guys are making me really unenthusiastic too.

http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32138

One of many good threads!

Gimme some help here people! :roll:

Jodi wrote: Oh man, I'm moving from Park Slope to GWH and you guys are making me really unenthusiastic too.

I have a few questions though..

1. Who do you use for your cable/internet provider? I'm hoping this will be my chance to escape from TWC.

2. Are there any good dog walkers in the area? If so, can you send me their website/email?

1) Less crime than Park Slope, but really pretty much the exact same kind of neighborhood except less "gentry" and more "salsa".

2) There is no escape from TWC.

3) Not that I know of, but that is exactly the business that I hope to go into within the next year or so. I'll be curious about your experiences with dog walkers/sitters.