Neighborhood Update

Our once quiet little section of Glendale, bordered by Woodhaven Blvd., Union Tpk., Cooper Ave. and St. John cemetery, and 80th St. is a little enclave of what was, in 2000, quiet streets and mixed residential and commercial. Today it is pretty crowded, and our once sleepy streets now have bumper to bumper parking and traffic whizzing through all day and night. Not to mention lots of foot traffic going to and from the mall. I like the mix of residential and commercial because that means fewer people, and there is sometimes an interesting architectural variety. But all is in flux. Inevitably, we will see further development, and all parcels are up for grabs. There are a few sites on 88th that I am concerned about. For now, here's' a status on small changes:







Our old reliable Glendale Latticini is under new management and has a new name, though this picture shows they kept the awning with the old name and put up a new sign above it with the new name. One mistake they made is not keeping the local staff that worked the register in the morning and weekends. People like to see that.

A new neighbor is offering an alternative to Starbucks at Metropolitan and Cooper. I don't know if we need an alternative to Starbucks in Glendale, and I wonder if the community can support this place. Esparks is a small chain-- I saw one in Glendale/Ridgewood near the CB 5 offices. I really am not sure how to pronounce it. I checked it out--it has bagels, cream cheese, coffee...but if a place does not sell the daily papers, well. Both the Latticini and this place service mostly all the truckers and workers who come into the neighborhood--there's big bucks in brex and lunch. They do not make profits from those of us who live here. We are small change.

And, finally, a closing. China Buffet on Cooper--closed by the Board of Health says the yellow sign on the door. This happened once before, and they opened up a few days later. But it makes you wonder. We ate there with the family. Lots of food. You can really pile it on. Still...