FAB Neighborhood News – Jan 2024

NEW YEAR ‘TINGS!

 

Happy New Year!

Ready to undeck the halls? You have options, from both DSNY and NYC Parks!

In Brooklyn, for the first time, trees will be collected with compost! First, strip your trees of stands, lights, and ornaments, and do not place or wrap them in plastic. Just put your tree out with other compostable items for pickup on your regularly scheduled compost/recycling day. DSNY will collect trees from January 5 – 13.

Or, make a family event of it, and join Mulchfest, NYC Parks’ annual holiday tradition of recycling your Christmas tree! Put on your boots and haul your tree to a Mulchfest location — in our neighborhood, it’s Fort Greene Park — and Parks crew will chip your tree into wood chips that will be used to nourish trees and make NYC even greener. More than 58,000 trees were recycled last year; help them top that number this year! And on January 6-7, bring your tree to the Chipping Weekend event, and get your own bag of mulch to use in your backyard or make a winter bed for a street tree. Learn more here.

Whichever method you choose, know that you’re doing good, green things for the City, and keeping our streets clean, too. Please DO NOT dispose of your trees at corners near public waste baskets on the FAB Fulton corridor.

 

NEW YORK CARES — AND SO DID YOU!

We officially kicked off our coat drive collection campaign for New York Cares on Marathon Sunday, back in early November. Thanks to YOU, the FAB residents and neighbors of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, by the time we shipped the boxes off before the Christmas holiday, we’d collected 175 warm coats for men, women, and children! It was amazing to contribute to such an important cause and ensure all New Yorkers stay warm this winter. Special thanks to our fantastic partners who kept our boxes available for donations: Ridgewood Savings Bank, Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center, Discovery Pit Stop, and Rose Management at 475 Clermont. And shout out to Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church for adding to our total from their coat drive!

 

BROOKLYN’S FUTURE TECH

On January 11th, the Center for an Urban Future will hold a policy forum that discusses what actions are needed to close the opportunity gap for tech careers in New York and bolster tech education and training infrastructure in Brooklyn.

This forum will focus on the opportunity to expand access to tech careers in Brooklyn. It will feature a plethora of Brooklyn-based leaders discussing the borough’s tech education and training ecosystem, and examine what more policymakers, employers, educators, and workforce practitioners should do to help more Brooklyn residents get on the path to technology-powered careers.

You can attend in person or online; get RSVP and link info here.

 

WHAT’S NEW?

The winter holidays are the busiest time of the year for most small businesses, but there was a bit of movement in our district right as the streets started bustling with clients and customers!

Long-time Fort Greene relaxation space Cynergy Spa relocated to Clinton Hill, to the home of the former Outpost Cafe (1014 Fulton). This beautifully renovated space (pictured) is a calm and welcoming oasis on Fulton Street now!

New to the district is Hakata Japanese Market (1017 Fulton). They carry authentic sundries and market specialties, along with an awesome selection of prepared food, including sushi! Stop in and welcome them to the neighborhood!

And a familiar brand name comes to Fulton Street in Brooklyn-based [salon]718, taking over the Triple Crown Salon location at 940 Fulton. The official salon of the Brooklynettes dance team and helmed by founder Michaella Blissett Williams, the new door marks the sixth [salon]718 location! Learn more about their services here and make an appointment today!

 

SPEAK UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

New Yorkers ages 16+ have a unique opportunity to shape local communities by joining a Community Board. The 59 NYC Community Boards are independent City agencies, empowered by the City Charter to monitor the local delivery of municipal services; resolve constituent concerns; serve as the first review of City and State applications; and advise on local land use, zoning issues, public policy, and the City budget. All Community Board meetings are open to the public, but residents age 16+ who apply and are appointed to a 2-year Board seat may vote on Board Actions and advisory opinions that shape and improve our daily lives.

The online application for 2024 is now OPEN. Apply by February 19; click here for more info and application.

 

FAB AT 15

No, it wasn’t just your imagination: 2023 was the least snowy year on record in NYC. And although there are at least 3-4 months ahead that could become very wintery, it’s unlikely that we’ll get snowfall of years past.

So, looking forward to the warm-weather season, just know we’re currently planning a calendar of fun, free, FAB events to mark our 15th anniversary milestone! Stay tuned for announcements and save-the-date reminders for art, music, and film happenings for everyone to enjoy and celebrate the small businesses in our district!

 

GREAT WORK, MTA!

In case you missed it, the subway entrance at Fulton Street and S. Portland Avenue (northeast side) is open again! The station renovations are complete on this side and the stairs look great! We are appreciative to the MTA for their quick work on this station improvement project.

 

ABOUT FAB FULTON
The Fulton Area Business Alliance (FAB FULTON) is a non-profit organization that advocates for and collaborates with small businesses and property owners along Fulton Street in Brooklyn’s neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill to maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming community while securing resources and partnerships for initiatives that enhance and promote the district.