So this is what affordable NY housing looks like, Pt 4: Retail Space

So far, my posts on affordable NY real estate have focused on residential domiciles (for a refresher, take a look at my first, second and third housing posts).  This week, I consider the impact of rising rents on small business owners in Brooklyn.

Take, for example, the below Animal Hospital, spotted in the Slope on 11th Street and 7th Ave:

Note the reading material thoughtfully provided in the Vet's "waiting room"

There is a clear vacancy at the hospital, as evidenced by the open purple door (alternatively, there is a rabid dog on the loose - but that's a different post...).  Will the Vet be able to continue to afford to pay an astronomical Slope rent without full occupancy?  Or will this local hospital suffer the same fate as so many other small businesses in the neighborhood?

I know one little guy (also spotted on 11th Street and 7th Ave) who's counting on the hospital remaining open:

It appears the horse may have lost his legs in some sort of farming accident, given all of the machinery piled up to the left of him

Poor fella - just one short, errrr, step away from the glue factory...

So this is what affordable NY housing looks like, Pt 3: Tent City

Sadly, I have another NY housing-related entry (for a recap on what's been covered thus far, have a look at my first and second housing posts).

The optimism that resulted from the beautiful dollhouses I found in June has been completely decimated by the following monstrosity, spotted on 5th Street and 7th Ave:

On the up side, how many Brooklyn apartments have you seen with natural light on all four sides - PLUS a skylight?

It's like a makeshift tent city... for toddlers!  Is this the start of a transient baby community?  Or was space inside the adjacent brownstone at such a premium that the parents decided to put their kid's room outside?

Such a sad state of affairs...

Now We're Cooking

Spotted in the Slope on 6th Ave and 5th Street:

Side note: There was a dude sitting in the van as I was taking these photos.  He thought I was crazy.

As you can see, there was a lot of renovation debris surrounding this li'l kitchen.  I've been trying to decide whether or not the kitchen was tossed as part of the remodeling process, or if it was set up as a makeshift street kitchen for the workers.  Ridiculous?  Perhaps - but consider the following view:

Sun-drenched kitchen with functional plumbing?  Consider me sold!

That is definitely a working hose sticking out just to the right of the kitchen.  Rudimentary, yes, but functional nonetheless.  And although it was filthy, this kitchen was nicer/bigger than many of the apartment kitchens I've seen in this town. 

So this is what affordable NY housing looks like, Pt 2: Valley of the Doll(house)s

If you are a follower of this blog, you may recall my earlier post on affordable NY housing.

It really is a sad state of affairs: rents are high, spaces are small, and the threat of bedbugs is ever increasing.  Don't even get me started on rental brokers...

But things are looking up!

Consider this gem, spotted in the Slope on 6th Ave and 10th Street:

Very open concept...

Note the full bathroom (including bathtub!) - total luxury living...

Or this one, spotted on 12th Street and 8th Ave:

Yes, that is a stable on the left - finally a place for your horses!

Of course, neither appears to include a kitchen, but let's be honest - how often do you really cook at home anyways?

So this is what affordable NY housing looks like

Spotted in the Slope on 6th Avenue:

This photo was (obviously) taken a few months ago, back when Brooklyn was blanketed with snow.

There is something very sad and Wizard of Oz about it to me - solitary barn, middle of no where, Auntie Em MIA...  I half expected little witch legs to be sticking out from under the barn (sadly, closer inspection only revealed standard sidewalk grime).