I really dont know why some ppl think LI is great (New York: real estate, rental)

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by Joe L

Like I alway's say if those type of changes were so good so many people would not be against it. The people have spoken.
There are plenty of new built up mainland citys people are free to move to if they want to look at concrete, smog and light pollution.

The city's all built up, but it's surrounded by nice woods that are within walking distance. No smog that I could see.

I walked back, after the interview, from there to the Bronx. There's a great walkway that goes for about 10 miles along the Bronx River Parkway. There's nothing like that here.

If this endless mall ridden sprawl represents the Voice of the People, to me it's nonsense.

[andybuildz]

Let me put it this way...Long Island isn't getting prettier.
The strip malls were the beginning of the end in my opinion.
the minute you shy away from real "town life" things become that much more impersonal.

Unfortunatly its not just this way on LI.

[sean sean sean sean]

Originally Posted by andybuildz

Let me put it this way...Long Island isn't getting prettier.
The strip malls were the beginning of the end in my opinion.
the minute you shy away from real "town life" things become that much more impersonal.

Unfortunatly its not just this way on LI.

The strip malls have been here since the 1950s! I guess the end is taking it's sweet time coming?

[Dedalus]

Like at the Hicksville Train Station. There used to be: a dive bar, a barber shop/mobile phone store (no kidding - they were good at both) and a greek owned coffee shop.

Now: yet another pizza place, yet another Dunkin Donuts, and some other chain store.

The bland rules. They apparently like bland, here. All these places charge higher prices for things ($1.60 for a small coffee?) and employ low wage workers.

[andybuildz]

Originally Posted by sean sean sean sean

The strip malls have been here since the 1950s! I guess the end is taking it's sweet time coming?

Nothing that even resembles whats here today...not to mention all the little "towns" that are now nothing more than something to drive past because of all the glut of strip malls.

Its unfortunate that when I drive through a town and "notice" that it actually looks like a place people gather in.
Like Huntington for example....people actually come from "other" towns just to hang out and shop here.

[GCGuy]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

Like at the Hicksville Train Station. There used to be: a dive bar, a barber shop/mobile phone store (no kidding - they were good at both) and a greek owned coffee shop.

Now: yet another pizza place, yet another Dunkin Donuts, and some other chain store.

The bland rules. They apparently like bland, here. All these places charge higher prices for things ($1.60 for a small coffee?) and employ low wage workers.

C'mon, man, i agree, but have you been in NYC lately...it's like a big mall. It's everywhere. higher rents, space renovations, and increased security (of receiving rent payments) are big selling points to landlords, though I wish it wasn't the case.

[Dedalus]

Originally Posted by GCGuy

C'mon, man, i agree, but have you been in NYC lately...it's like a big mall. It's everywhere. higher rents, space renovations, and increased security (of receiving rent payments) are big selling points to landlords, though I wish it wasn't the case.

Sure. I was there the day before yesterday. I was pounding the pavement looking for work in Kingsbridge, in the Bronx, where I'm looking to move.

I did see a "Dunkin' Donuts" trying to open up next to a neighborhood coffee shop...it will be interesting to see whether "brand recognition" makes the people around there want to pay another 50 - 60 cents for a small coffee that's weaker and flavorless. I predict 'not.'

Otherwise, lots of discount stores, small regional chains, real discounters...

BTW, in Hicksville, don't go to that Dunkin Donuts...take a few steps over to my buddy Lal's on Broadway, across from the little park with the flower beds. He sells a better cup of coffee than DD charges a $1.40 for...for 75 cents. He also sells a variety of the kind of packaged baked goods that Latinos like, 'pan dulce' I think they call it. Good stuff, sweet, but way less oily than a donut.

Tell him Dedalus the Sorehead sent ya.

[slvrcts04]

Originally Posted by Dedalus

Like at the Hicksville Train Station. There used to be: a dive bar, a barber shop/mobile phone store (no kidding - they were good at both) and a greek owned coffee shop.

Are you talking about the Sweet Shop? Did they close down?

[Dedalus]

No, the Sweet Shop is still there.

I'm talking about the coffee shop right next to the LIRR ticket office. It was run by what looked like a family of Greeks, old time NY type place. Now, it's a homogenized outlet, fer Chrissakes...yuck.

[Dedalus]

Also, very few chain stores. Mostly owner run joints. There is a D'Agastino's.

Oh, interview at 5 PM...here! I can see the "Welcome to Nausea County" sign fading into the distance already.