Comments on: LIC residents and business owners ask the City to help the community.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:35:47 +0000

I am not referring to the 18 wheelers …….I am referring to the weekend drivers that would like to get out and venture onto the highly advertised LIC, and unfortunately cannot get there by train on their days off,saturdays and sundays (since the train is not stopping on Vernon)
For you it is obviously easy to get around since you know LIC like the back of your hand……but for those who dont ,it gets confusing.
There is plenty of parking on weekends especially now that the bridge is closed ……
Businessess are affected! you clearly see it on Vernon , please come out one weekend and see for yourself…:) and smile !

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:42:03 +0000

#53 I happen to have an office in LIC and take the LIE to get to it every day and I know the area like the back of my hand. Probably more so than most locals.
If someone NEEDS to go to Vernon by car and is familiar with the area, its not a big deal to get there even now. On the other hand if you are counting on lost truck drivers and other car traffic that made it Vernon by accident before then you are out of luck I guess. But at the same time with the ZERO parking situation that is Vernon Blvd. during business hours I can’t imagine things were that drastically different. Its not like 18 wheelers were double parking and scrambling to get a Mario’s meatball sandwhich before.
The ones that know and love the places on Vernon, will still get to them in no time.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:19:22 +0000

#53 Thank you, you are so right.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 22:14:44 +0000

Whoever is stating that the Borden avenue bridge doesnt hurt Vernon boulevard business and the detour is only 2 minutes obviously does not know what he is talking about! When getting off the LIE yes you do get detoured but there are no signs that lead you on to Vernon Blvd. Unless you know the area you will end up getting lost! I guide myself by the hand written sign hung by the Crabhouse Restaurant pointing you in right direction. As for the 7 train …everyone is affected especially the local merchants and restaurants ! Cant wait until this is all over. Another thing, THERE IS NO NEED TO PERSONALLY ATTACK EACH OTHER! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WILL GET RESOLVED BY INSULTS AND FINGER POINTING!
I am employed by an LIC merchant and get to see first hand how these changes are affecting business……yes it is a bad time of the year for business , the economy is bad and the bridge closure along with the 7 train closure makes it worse than past years!

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 03:36:16 +0000

Why wouldn’t you be surprised, #49? Do you know something about them that we don’t? What have you ever done for the neighborhood.

Now, how am I nasty, as opposed to your “Stop whining people and deal with it.” and “Anyone with half a brain”, #32/49, along with Thomas’ statements ? I call ‘em as I see ‘em. If any person can’t/won’t back up your statements, and they choose to hide behind anonymity or a pseudonym when they attack and insult others, then they are acting cowardly. “Put up or shut up” is not an insult; it’s a straightforward request.

I also see that it’s now time to ignore you, as your comments do not warrant logical or realistic responses.

Charlie.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 18:22:29 +0000

Finally, a breath of fresh air!
I just read the article myself. I live in the same building but this is the first I’m hearing of this or anything about his message board for tenants of E. Coast. I’m curious myself…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 17:26:44 +0000

To change gears…

Anyone know anything about that guy who wasn’t allowed to renew his lease at EastCoast? I saw a story in today’s NYT and Gothamist.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:26:31 +0000

This is #32 here. This discussion board is simply becoming an advertisement for the army navy store that some other poster called an eyesore. I wouldn’t be surprised if the owner of the store was posting half the junk here. Also Charlie (whoever he really is) is just plain nasty. This is useless.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:05:55 +0000

I love Mario’s as much as most people’s here and frequent it often and I am sure local lunch time crowds can still get to it very easily if necessary. He is nowehere near the Borden Ave. bridge and if you drive he is still not inconvenient.

The thing is, January has been a really bad month so far for businesses everywhere, and the bridge closure conveniently seems like an easy thing to blame it on. But there are a lot of factors at play here economically.

I personally know a few businesses that could benefit from the new detour down to 21st and Jackson Ave and have had terrible last 2 months, even with the increased detour traffic.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:54:15 +0000

Hi #46 – #30 here – I wasn’t referring to you in my 2nd paragraph – It was for other commenters who kept referring to them as “those Delta Force Army/Navy people”. I just wanted to set the records straight. Brian owns that store, but he is acting as a spokesman for Hunters Point Community Development Corporation/Merchants Corporation in re: this situation.

#45 – I would suggest you speak to some people such as Mario’s Deli who have seen their lunch time business drop off considerable since the bridge closure. And – many people do walk over that bridge.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:02:54 +0000

to#30 from #38 you seem to have me confused with someone else. I never mentioned Delta Force.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:01:56 +0000

I think blaming the closure of the Borden Avenue bridge on a lot of lost business is nonsense. There are only 2 places I can think of that could possibly be directly affected and both are on Borden Avenue; Sparks Deli and New York Deli.
The rest of the retail operations on Vernon and Jackson I am not sure how they believe it affects them, as the detour you have to take puts everyone back right on Vernon and Jackson. The entire detour is maybe a 2-3 minute inconvenience for drivers and lets face it, nobody walks across the bridge.

The #7 situation I am not too familiar with, but I somehow agree with #32 about the fact that it also forces the local residents to stay put in LIC on weekends rather than leave. So what I would do as a business is create some kind of incentive to get all these new residents to visit my business on weekends, now that you have their forced attention.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 16:04:32 +0000

Thank you #38 – I am #30. Brian Adams is President of the Merchants Association. He is a lifelong resident who advocates for both the old and the new population in Hunters Point. Members of the Merchants Assoc. are made up of both new and old businesses in our community. If you have read any of the press given to this problem, you would know that many merchants have been speaking out about the situation. The NYT article further emphasizes my other point: re those venues that are suffering due to the weekend closure of the #7 train. For those of you who are newcomers here, the 7 train closures have been impacting this community for many years , and now on top of that we have the closure of the Borden Ave. bridge.

BTW – They are not the “Delta Force Army/Navy people”. They are Terri Adams and Brian Adams speaking on behalf of the Hunters Point Community Development Corporation – a group that has been here for many years – probably before some of you naysayers were even born! I am a former Manhattanite who has lived here for16 years and am proud to be a member of that group. We have never been anti development and have strived to embrace both the old and the new community in order to bring about harmony between the two.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:38:42 +0000

Here’s an artice from the NY Times on the #7 train situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/24/nyregion/24metjournal.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

Charlie.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:05:36 +0000

Only someone like you, could consider your false claims, your slights and insults, as a laughing matter.

Either put up or shut up.

Charlie.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:50:06 +0000

Charlie – your behavior on this sight is making me laugh so hard. Do you really think that I would give you my personal information or take the time to explain anything to you? I do not have to answer your questions and I won’t. Adios amigo!

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 21:26:25 +0000

So Thomas (#39), explain to all how it demonstrates my ignorance. Explain what great things you have done for the community. Also, try answering my questions, and state which broker you’re with.

Charlie.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:59:05 +0000

#34 Your response to me demonstrates your ignorance.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 20:47:36 +0000

#30 thank you for your insightful comments, I agree with you.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:56:04 +0000

33, go screw yourself and “the great things you do” for LIC

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:11:16 +0000

33 you say: “Who owns the place anyway? As a 20 year real estate broker, that place just brings the neighborhood down. I direct my potential clients to walk a different way so as to avoid the store because it is hurting my bottom line.”

Strange, as a broker you should know that anyone can look up the owner in City records within a minute. The fact that you direct clients to walk a different way shows your disdain for the neighborhood. It also shows a dishonest approach to your clients. Boo-hoo about your bottom line. You deserve whatever you get.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:03:26 +0000

32, while you make some very good points the statement that “…if it were not for the newer buildings, there would be less business on Vernon…” is not exactly accurate. What the newcomers don’t know is that there was a Vernon Blvd prior to the era of real estate expansion. What drove many small businesses away were the non-renewals of leases, large jumps in rent, and warehousing that occurred in storefronts, industrial spaces. At the same time residential rents began to soar as did home prices. This was as the focus of public funds was fully directed toward waterfront development while locals begged for an equivalent funding for local small scale development and some protections by way of zoning.

So it’s of course true that the newcomers support the present economy but it’s been at the cost of damage to the previous economy’s potential to grow.

My personal view is that this is a time to for a more balance approach where the focus is not exclusively toward upscale.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:38:33 +0000

#33, If you don’t know who owns the place, or anything concerning grammar, how can you make a statement such as that? You are uninformed. Those who make comments concerning things they know nothing about, just show everyone else how clueless and shallow they are.

Explain to me in detail why I would have to review my statement. I know exactly what I said. It’s those like you who only care about the bottom line, and who do not have the ability to see anything else, are the ones who give real estate people a bad reputation. Also, exlain why my my post makes no grammatical sense and point out where my grammar has gone wrong.

Why have you not made the attempt to know something of the neighborhood and the people in which you do business? People in your profession who do not, give innacurate, incomplete information, and judging by how you expressed yourself in your post; probably mislead and lie to prospective buyers.

Are you a broker or salesperson? What brokerage do you own, or which broker holds your sales license? I would like to submit your infomation along with your post to the NYS Dep’t of State, for review. Now, let everyone know, so they can decide for themselves as to whether they want or want not, to do business with a real estate firm which thinks as you do.

Charlie.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 01:08:38 +0000

With respect to Charlie’s comment, did he even bother to review it because it makes no grammatical sense. There are many of us, including myself, who do great things for the community. As for this Delta place mentioned- what thirty years of fame are we talking about? All I see is a dumpy, eyesore of a store when I walk past. It makes the neighborhood look like a slum. Who owns the place anyway? As a 20 year real estate broker, that place just brings the neighborhood down. I direct my potential clients to walk a different way so as to avoid the store because it is hurting my bottom line.

By: anonymous

anonymous — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 00:49:00 +0000

I do not understand all the complaining about the closing of the Borden Avenue Bridge or the fact that the 7 train is not running on the weekends. I am one of those “yuppies” referred to and if it were not for the newer buildings, there would be less business on Vernon anyway. Did it ever occur to some of you complaining folks that The Food Cellar and Duane Reade are simply closer for us to go to and that their customer service is fantastic. Also, during the winter season many of us “yuppies” go on vacation and are not even in the neighborhood. As a driver, I know for a fact that the Borden Ave bridge needs repair and whatever time it takes to get the bridge properly fixed and safe for drivers is fine by me. As for the 7 train not running on the weekends, the only places losing business are the places in Manhattan that us “yuppies” usually go to. Further, people are just not spending as much money as they normally do due to the state of the economy. I find that most of the business on Vernon occurs during the week anyway when people are coming and going to work. I think it is a benefit to the businesses in the neighborhood that the 7 train is not running on the weekend because the folks that can’t afford to get into Manhattan will stay local. The clothing stores and boutiques on Vernon are not doing well because they do not offer the products that “yuppies” purchase. It is easier to get in a car or go into the city and purchase items because due to the economy, prices on consumer goods (especially clothing) have fallen immensely. There is just more variety, quality, and better customer service available. Stop whining people and deal with it. The economy is doing poorly and that is why businesses are suffering. Stop blaming the “yuppies” and thank us because we have increased the population in the neighborhood immensely. Anyone with half a brain should realize this has increased spending in local businesses. I guess some business owners are never happy but that is the chance you take for running your own business. Before you know it the 7 train will be running again on the weekends.