One less place to ‘Meat’
To The Editor:
Yesterday [December 27], the Big Apple Meat Market (located on Ninth Avenue, between 41st & 42nd Streets) announced that they would be shutting their doors in two weeks.
Although the market seemed to be thriving and there has been a change in merchandise to appeal to more upscale consumers over the past six months, it is hardly unexpected given that most of the property on that block, the last vestige of seedy, old Times Square, has remained vacant for a long time. Eventually money wins.
While the expansion of large, luxury rental buildings in Clinton continues to change the residential structure of the community has anyone given a thought to those of us who continue to live here? I live on 37th Street and 10th Avenue. With the loss of Big Apple the only full-service supermarket available to me within walking distance is The Food Emporium. I don’t know if I can afford their prices on my monthly SNAP allowance.
Is there any help for those of us on limited, fixed incomes? Is the future of Hell’s Kitchen simply a place for the young and affluent to play?
I live in an 80/20 building and am grateful for the affordable rent. But these building do not create neighborhoods. Eighty percent of the tenants pay high, market rate rents and tend to move on after a year or two (the terms of their leases). Those of us with lower rents know that they will expire in about 20 years. Where will the seniors go then?
Tony Setteducate
Editor’s Note: Sat., Jan. 12 is the market’s last day of business.
