Studio Site Interview 4/27

Interviews

#1 Woman, 58 years old (had keys right next to my site)

• "Something o bring new and old residents together" - "A library. I find myself making so many trips to strand" (laughs).
• Approved the idea of a library / green house.

#2 Group of 14 years old

• After a concise decision would like to see a recreational park for hanging out and their parents not thinking they're up to no good
• Liked my idea, but I had the impression they would not be using it.

#3 Luciano, Italian resident of the area

• Wants ice cream / yogurt places / "A cafe shop where you could get a variety of pastries and desserts and just hang out with family".
• Did not think the area necessarily needed a greenhouse space. He suggested to me a museum or cinema instead.

#4 Pat, 85 years old, works in the Union, lived in Brooklyn his whole life

• Chatter box, had a lot to say about gentrifiers, initial response when I asked him what would be one thing you'd change or add to the neighborhood, "Get the yuppies out."
• Then answered reasonably, "Get people better educated, with speaking, politics and respect. This would benefit the area a lot more. I don't want to live to see what they're going to really make out of this place"
• Pat was the most bitter person about gentrification, but had quite the argument to defend his reasoning.
• Like my idea of a two-story library and greenhouse for young and old residents to leisurely enjoy themselves in their neighborhood.

#5 Couple with an Infant

• Would like to see a park or recreation area for kids to have fun and emphasized the need for it to be safe.
• Approved my idea.

#6 Middle - Aged Man

• Did not directly answer whether or not he would change / add anything to the neighborhood but stated that there were plenty, maybe too many bars in the neighborhood so I interpret this as staying away from anything that will attract a younger, drinking crowd more than Brooklyn already does.
• Walked away before he could tell me whether he liked my idea, but because of his answer I would claim he would.

#7 Latino Young Women

• Asked for a grocery market that had similar food offered in Manhattan stores, like Trader Joe's. Typically around Skillman Avenue, there are deli markets and cheaper grocery stores
• Smiled and nodded at the idea of a greenhouse library space.

#8 Child , about 10 years old

• I asked her if she would like to see a frozen yogurt or ice cream shop hangout in her neighborhood and she said "Yes! That would be the greatest idea ever! We don't have many but i love ice cream". I asked her favorite flavor, she replied with "Chocolate with chocolate sprinkles".

#9 Child's Mother

• She said the ice cream shop would be great idea, if it was safe and a spot large enough to hang out for more than 10 minutes, where her kids could run around and play for awhile.
• Approved my idea, and said she could she herself there a lot.

#10 Homeless Man

• I was hesitant to ask him because he did not technically live on Skillman Avenue and he doesn't pay to live there, but Brooklyn is his home so I continued to ask what he would change about the area..
• Should have expected him to say, "A place where I can sleep comfortably and it be affordable, i have no money but I need somewhere"
• Seemed indifferent about my idea because it wasn't going to help him have a place to sleep at night.

#11 Mildred, 56 year olds, lived there her whole life and has rent control on her apartment

• "Not a single thing, I think it's great how it is. Plenty of nostalgia here."

#12 Average Cute Hipster Guy

• Would like to see a club like in Manhattan near the area. Not necessarily in the neighborhood but something the people near Bedford or here could get to.
• When I suggested my idea, he was embarrassed of his answer and agreed that my proposal for a site was probably a better solution to the tension between young and old residents and even class demographics. I told him I could resemble it after a night club if he wanted, he laughed.

#13 Girl, 20 years old

• Work out center that could offer workout classes for a small fee. But the place couldn't be gross and super cheap.
• Liked my idea of a library/ greenhouse between the residential houses.

#14 Girl, about 22 years old

• Flea market shops, boutique, basically anything fashion friendly and girly
• Agreed my idea would do well, but questioned how it would blend it. And I answered that i technically didn't want it to, and want people to notice it enough to make them intrigued.

#15 Old Man, resident of 30 years

• Annoyed by the young kids trying to take over the Brooklyn area, and would like to see, "Them not coming in here and thinking they have authority. It's disrespectful. Design a place to keep them occupied and we'll take back our neighborhood, though it already is too far along with their destruction".
• Approved of my idea.