24 BROOKLYN BLOCKS

24 Brooklyn Blocks takes the pulse of Brooklyn’s 5th Ave. by documenting change from Prospect Pl. to 24th St., bridging between a thoroughly gentrified neighborhood (Park Slope), and one that just began the transformation before the recession (Sunset Park). Every 6 months we photograph each storefront that closes or opens as a new business.

“The other 5th Ave”, as the 5th Ave. Business Improvement District refers to it, can be understood as a “Main Street.” In small towns Main St. acts as the major civic connector—is the real and metaphorical indicator for the economic flux of the town. In metropolises, it is not downtown but a multitude of small commercial strips nestled into the individual neighborhoods that fulfill this role. The residential scale of the buildings supports small, independent businesses that are especially affected by the ebb and flow of money into the area in the form of taxes and disposable income. In the area in question, this role is taken up by 5th Avenue.

Its transformation over the past 10+ years has been radical in places, not so in others: In Park Slope, blocks that were 50% boarded up in the mid-90s now sport fancy boutiques. In Sunset Park, gentrification has been slower and wine stores have just begun to edge out butchers and bakeries. How will the economic downturn affect this transformation of 5th Avenue? Already, 99¢ stores have started to replace failed natural foods stores and luxury goods stores have gone out of business. Sadly, once a high-end store moves out, the butcher store does not naturally move back in. What does this permanent loss mean to Main Street, Brooklyn? By collecting these changes into one place, this project will attempt to illustrate and politicize the issues surrounding public space and private retail.

We are planning an exhibition & publication that catalogues the project’s first 15 years. Please be in touch if you are interested to contribute or partner with its dissemination!