In the time of developing what each individual considers to be their New York, you realize changes are happening everyday in everyone’s communities and that it won’t be the same as it once was. This is because you lose those places that were once in the community which no longer remains. You realize that in some cases memories of that area begin to fade as well. New York continuously improves communities to fit the ideal society, by changing the way things were such as stores which turn into something newer or maybe a more popular store. The downside to making this change is that while building one thing to replace another they’re destroying history for the people who lived during that time and hold memories. For example, Downtown Brooklyn on Dekalb Avenue there used to be The Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn that was opened from 1958 to 2002. Which had an ancient sculpted look, is currently under construction to become apartments. The Dime Saving Bank turning into apartments is a juxtaposition in the sense that something that was once a public area will now shift to a private one.
The Dime Savings Bank is a good example to show the changes to Dekalb Avenue that was an attraction to the people that lived during the time frame which it was opened for because it was once a place where anyone could enter but now will change to individuals home. It will no longer be the Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn but just another apartment near Fulton Mall, which is around the corner from the bank holds a sense of sadness. The people who lived during the time period and entered the Dime Savings Bank will not be able to recognize the area due to the construction it will undergo to become apartments which are separated instead of being a whole piece as a bank. Although the changes have yet to occur, the setting with the bank was an individual’s New York and throughout the changes, they’ll see pieces of it. To know that you can not share that experience with others because they didn’t have the opportunity to see the setting the way you did will leave many individuals feeling nostalgic because they’ll miss the feeling they had at that very place. According to Colson Whitehead’s “City Limits”, “ if you didn’t witness it, it is not a part of your New York and might as well be Jersey”. This quote connects to the thought that it’s only your New York if you were given the opportunity to live through and experience it yourself. In addition, he stated, “ The New York City you live in is not my New York City”. To acknowledge the moment you step foot anywhere you create and form your own judgment based on what you see so everyone’s view of New York is different.
The Dime Savings Bank is something interesting because there are construction signs around it but the ancient look on the outside holds the sense of history. Looking through the door you can see the beautiful (although looking old) tiled floor. Right next door to the building is “Junior’s Cheesecake” because Junior’s Cheesecake is known as one of the best cheesecake restaurants, it seemed that they would change the bank into something more modern than to have an ancient sculptured building right next to the restaurant. Research came up to find it was turning into apartments, the feeling of history going to fade away because many didn’t get to have an experience of the Dime Savings Bank. Now it will be another piece of history that will have overlapped.
Overlapping in general causes a problem for both, the people who experienced it beforehand and those who see it after. It’s a lose-lose situation although you may like the new changes there’s the sense that a lot of the meanings starts to diminish. In addition to overlapping you see the juxtaposition of where each area or store is transitioning from history to modern day life. The Dime Savings Bank being under construction will mean the whole broken down strip on Dekalb ave will soon be under construction as well to blend in. Overlapping will never stop occurring, every day there is something new and different than what was there the day before. This means that soon enough, days, months, etc, there will be something else in the place that holds a memory for you. While living during a time of change and witnessing it, people who did not have that privilege will realize that juxtapositions are hard to find and soon realize that there is so much more to it than just being the neighborhood. It’s your neighborhood, it’s where you made memories and then it will affect you because you’ll realize that things are constantly changing but you will still see what you saw in the beginning. You will still see your home and your park even though it turned into a store. Many of the changes that occur in a neighborhood, benefit the people of the neighborhood but it doesn’t stop or cover the feeling of missing what was there before now. New York has this image and sense of always updating certain places. Thus hiding what was there before and changing up an area for each and every person who goes around that area. Overlapping is just about everywhere but to find it would be hard because there usually isn’t any recognition of what was there before, it could’ve just been a corner store but that was someone’s favorite spot.
Work cited
Colson Whitehead. “ City Limits.” Macaulay.cuny.edu, www.macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/miller14/files/2014/09/Whitehead-Colossus-of-NY.pdf
Evan Bindelglass. “ Landmark Approves Changes To Dime Savings Bank, Paving Way For Brooklyn’s Tallest Tower At 340 Flatbush Avenue Extension.” Newyorkimby.com, www.newyorkyimby.com/2016/04/landmarks-approves-changes-to-dime-savings-bank-paving-way-for-brooklyns-tallest-tower-at-340-flatbush-avenue-extension.html
