the most under-utilized real estate in north brooklyn
This title has always belonged to the Sally Army across from the L entrance at Bedford & N. 7th. It broke my heart every time I looked at it. Big footprint, good FAR, and the location of the gods.
But they wouldn’t sell. They wouldn’t even talk to people about selling. I know at least a dozen people who tried to open up that debate. Lots of creative suggestions as well.
It made no sense that they wouldn’t sell. One of the tactics someone I know took was that they were actually going against doing God’s work by not selling, because the money they could make could fund countless programs that were part of their mission. It didn’t matter. They just wouldn’t even consider selling.
The other thing that killed me about that location was that it was BUTT-UGLY. Someone gets off the train in much-vaunted Williamsburg and they see what looks like a burnt-out, abandoned building. Even the smelly bodegas on the corners renovated themselves with the profit gained from being on that corner.
And now, today, Gothamist tells us:
Did Apple Buy the Bedford Ave Salvation Army?
I bet there was one helluva price tag.
mikki said,
September 30, 2008 @ 7:41 am
I’ve heard this rumor for years: that Starbucks owns the building but they are afraid of backlash if they open, so they just sit on it until the neighborhood has gotten gentrified enough that a Starbucks will be accepted. I have always enjoyed this rumor, and am sad if it is not true. I would actually prefer a Starbucks to an Apple store, Starbucks are usually at least contextual. Don’t want a big glass Apple box on Bedford–that can go by the water with the rest of them.