Are you shopping 2nd Avenue?
You can’t help but notice, if you’ve been anywhere on the East Side near Second Avenue, that there’s some MAJOR construction going on for the 2nd Avenue subway.
What may be escaping you (if you don’t live anywhere on the East Side where you routinely are near Second Avenue) is that there are a plethora of businesses, many of which have been on or just off the avenue for decades,that are suffering – not just because of the economic malaise in general,but the construction process.
With barriers, closed sidewalks, and signs obstructing their view from the street – it can be hard to remember there are many once vibrant businesses that are not so much anymore.
I love the Shop 2ndAvenue campaign, and I’ve tried to at least a few times per month, patronize local business along the avenue. Whether its stopping for a light dinner at Ricardo’s Steakhouse after a broker’s open house (111th and Second Avenue), getting my hair done at Eddie’s Jr Hair Salon (110th and Second Avenue), a mani/pedi at Pretty Nail No 1 ( 102nd and Second Avenue), brunch at Don Pedro’s (96th and Second Avenue), groceries at Key Food (93rd and Second Avenue) or the new Fairway (86th Street off Second Avenue), breakfast meetings at Viand Coffee Shop (86th and Second Avenue), new keys for my listings at Umbrella Locksmith (68th and Second Avenue) – well you get the picture! It is incredibly important to support your neighborhood businesses.
The Second Avenue Subway, once completed, will be terrific. It will ease many transportation deficiencies east of Third. Using myself as an example, it can take me approximately 10-15 minutes to walk to or from the train station, if I’m not speed walking (and yes, I know that we New Yorkers tend to be speedy – I prefer to look at it as goal oriented focus). The new Select Bus Service on First and Second Avenues, which replaced the limited M15, can be terrific. Additionally the bus does leave me closer to my apartment than taking the subway, but it sure would be great to have a subway on Second Avenue!
… but take a look beyond the construction. Haven’t you noticed, when you look for someplace to live – whether purchasing or renting – very often the closer you are to transportation, the more expensive it becomes? In New York City, this is very often the case.In Manhattan, on the East Side, you have ‘east of Third’ and ‘west of Third’,and that’s WITHOUT taking into account the inherent cachet of being on or off some of the avenues.
Is there a hidden opportunity? Maybe … if you can look past the construction,and the increased traffic as a result,and see out perhaps less than ten years from now,when all of this is gone,and you are three minutes from the Second Avenue subway – wouldn’t that be terrific? If you’re thinking of buying, wouldn’t it not be worth considering buying in this area, and being able to see some what will likely be inevitable appreciation in the value of your property over time-this may be the opportunity for value purchases.
While you’re contemplating that…start by patronizing some of the local merchants let’s Shop 2nd Avenue !