Gentrifying BK: Buying, Selling, Repackaging Crown Heights

FILM SCREENING

The “Crown Heights vs. Prospect Heights” debate is often played out online, often times right here on Brooklynian. It’s a hot topic. But how does this naming (or renaming) affect the residents?

With a keen focus on Franklin Avenue – the neighborhood’s “contested border” – two area residents have interviewed dozens of area resident to get their opinion on the debate. Interviews include newcomers, long timers, random people, and even some of your favorite local business owners to inquire about their opinions on the changes in the neighborhood and what role they play in it.



The filmmakers ask the uncomfortable questions like “what do you want the neighborhood demographic to be in 5 year - if the neighborhood turns 60% white, would you be okay with that?” and “who is more entitled to have their values reflected in the neighborhood – a long-time renter or a new property owner?” The answers have been surprising and candid. This has now culminated in a film called “Gentrifying Brooklyn.”

Gentrifying Brooklyn is a poignant and personal look at a community in the midst of gentrification.
When a neighborhood is renamed to attract more affluent buyers, what is the community response? In Crown Heights Brooklyn, while many long time residents take pride in their neighborhood’s identity, others are unabashedly repackaging its name, borders, and identity to attract more affluent residents.
Who’s entitled to the neighborhood?

A rough cut of an excerpt of the film will be screening at Five Myles on Saturday, June 19th at 7:00 p.m. The filmmakers will then open up the floor for discussions and critiques about the film. They will also be engaging the audience in questions about the neighborhood changes more generally.

A short sound bite is here: http://nostrandpark.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/gbsound.mp3

And the write up is here: http://nostrandpark.com/2010/06/10/gentrifying-brooklyn-the-buying-selling-and-repackaging-of-crown-heights/

NP & SQ,
We're not doing cross posting right now, but I'll do you one better. I'll global this starting tomorrow. Good luck on the film screening!

(MOD NOTE: Tangential discussion of word etymologies split out to a separate thread so as not to hijack this film announcement thread.

Following. Prospect Heights renter, former caretaker of someone's brownstone, know a bit about the history. Listen to folks who grew up in Vinegar Hill, Gowanas, etc., and the Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, etc., same thing happened.

Prospect Heights was a development in its own right. There have been at least three distinct "settlers" who came this way. I like the name, like the history but NYC is not known for its kindness to renters or even home owners...it goes to developers and that is the end of the story. Good night.

unfortunately, I can't make it on Saturday but look forward to seeing it when it is completed! Good luck to all involved!

I think the renaming of anything is done by the namer to hold power over the object/concept being named. Similarly for instance, the terms 'West Indies' was placarded to the region by the European explorers, American Indian was branded on the native people of this land, and now the Crown Heights vs. Prospect Heights issue.

I balk at the idea of a name change. Its self-serving, and the 'self' here tends NOT to be the long time residents, but rather the forces working insidiously to kick them out -- as was done to the indigenous people of the Caribbean, and the indigenous people of this land, and the indigenous people of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Ah, the great debate over language.... In this case we could not only debate what the PH-CH borders are (Washington vs Franklin), but also what the edge zone should be called (Crow Hill vs Crown Heights). ....
but wait, we could also debate whether to use the loaded words
"gentrification","capitalism", or "imperialism".

Regardless of what we choose to call it, it will happen.

If we were back in college, I'd wait for someone to use the word "hegemony".

good luck on the film.

Also, FYI - food is generously being sponsored by:

Joey's Gourmet Lunchboxx (707 Nostrand Ave)

and, as we just found out ...

Super Wings (1218 Union Street)

Awesome. I'll be there

lets get it!

8)

Snacks will be donated by Pulp & Bean of Franklin Ave!

Also, Tony Fisher, owner of Pulp and Bean, is in the film and he shares his thoughts about the renaming and gentrification of the neighborhood...

I wish I could make it. I hope you receive a wonderful turnout. I have to tell you, I can't have a conversation with a neighbor where the 'G word' doesn't come out.

Thanks, Brooklynian for stickying this. The turnout was fantastic. Also, the two filmmakers actually met through Brooklynian, so double thanks.

This was a great event, and the great food was an added bonus.One very insightful comment was that the neighborhood boundaries tend to change based upon where white people feel safe. If white people generally feel safe hanging out there, it gets renamed Prospect Heights.

True story: We went to look at the place at 715-717 Prospect Place (the one in the flyer from the film). The first two questions the Corcoran agent asked us were "are you familiar with the neighborhood" and "do you own a car?" :?

yes, the event and film were well done.

...and well attended.

....it should be very interesting to see the film again once it is done.

And on a related note:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/realestate/20living.html

In this instance, the NYT defines the border as Washington.

whynot_31 wrote: In this instance, the NYT defines the border as Washington.

Which is funny, because their real estate section defines the border as Classon.

http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/prospect-heights-brooklyn-ny-usa/0-99000000-price

i like how the NYT article devotes a significant amount of coverage to areas east of Franklin.

mr. met wrote: i like how the NYT article devotes a significant amount of coverage to areas east of Franklin.

you forgot your sarcasm tag.

Yes, the area WEST of Franklin seems like it gets far more coverage than the percentage of Crown Heights it represents, both in terms of geographic area and people.

Perhaps that is where the author believes his readers would be most interested in learning about/living?

the word "perhaps" is in itals to indicate dripping sarcasm.

Anyone bored enough to figure out what percentage of CH is on each side of Franklin?

Depends on who's being counted in the half....

I planned on counting people.

haha i was actually being serious! i thought the article referenced south of EP and interviewed someone that lived on Schenectatdadsdydyy.

i only read it once, though.

and in fairness, it really wouldn't make sense to talk about Ralph Ave. in this article.

oh yea, i remember a description of the blocks east of Albany as "barren" and "sun-baked." ha.

they did. But then there is that large picture of Franklin Park... that's gotta skew it.

I'm thinking Kingston would be the geographic center

If anyone was under-mentioned in the article, I'd say it was the Orthodox. http://www.crownheights.info/

Wow. Who knew that the elementary school on Rochester Ave & Bergen Street was doing so well?

Public School 138, to the west, teaches kindergarten through Grade 8; 61.7 percent there tested at or above grade level in English, 79.4 percent in math. To the east, No. 335 teaches prekindergarten through Grade 5; percentages were 84.2 in English, 97.2 in math.

CLAYFILMS wrote: Wow. Who knew that the elementary school on Rochester Ave & Bergen Street was doing so well?

Public School 138, to the west, teaches kindergarten through Grade 8; 61.7 percent there tested at or above grade level in English, 79.4 percent in math. To the east, No. 335 teaches prekindergarten through Grade 5; percentages were 84.2 in English, 97.2 in math.

It's as if middle class, hard-working, educated homeowners send their kids there (which of course, they do).

...needless to say, the teachers and kids get some credit too.

I agree Whynot! It's just that all you ever hear about is how woefully terrible NYC public schools are and it was a very pleasant surprise to read how well a neighborhood school is doing.

ps..it was great to meet you at the gentrification movie screening

God bless!!