Meghan and I had brunch at Orbit up on 116 and First Ave. yesterday. I rode the bus up from my apartment, and there were these two older white ladies who looked very out of place on the uptown M15 above 96 Street. One of the women got up and asked the bus driver which was the right stop for the Costco. Ah. That explained it.
When I got off the bus and crossed over, there were tons of white people with baskets and huge shopping bags wandering 116th Street, looking confused and out of place. This, it seems, is the future of the neighborhood. At least during the day. On weekends.
The huge shopping center, which may or may not include a Home Depot and a Target to match the Costco in the near future (it's always in deliberation), looks totally out of place. Here, take a look at these photos:
Looking left, it's New York City.
Looking right... Aaaah! FML!
If the Target and Home Depot do come, I can't say I won't go to them. They're right up the street, after all, and I do miss megastores sometimes. But on the other hand, it's too close for comfort. If I'm feeling like this, there's no telling what the lifelong residents are feeling. Is it still Spanish Harlem, or will it be the SpaHa white developers have long been wanting?
Sigh.
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