Five neighbors, concerned with the demise of local independent small businesses, the increasing number of chain stores on Church Avenue, and the physical appearance of our shopping district, decided to form the Kensington Area Resident/Merchant Alliance (KARMABrooklyn) in April 2009.
Our blog began two months later as a community service. We don't charge anybody for anything. Listings on the Community Calendar and the Local Businesses and Services page are free. The organization no longer exists, but the blog lives on.
KARMABROOKLYN'S BOUNDARIES
We cover Kensington and Windsor Terrace.
WHAT KARMABROOKLYN (THE ORGANIZATION) DID
- When we began meeting, we surveyed business owners to find out what their common needs and concerns were. They told us that they weren’t getting enough customers, that their rent was headed toward being unaffordable, and that the appearance of our streets and sidewalks needed to be improved.
- In June 2009, we began holding community meetings. They were open to residents and business owners.
- We started publishing the KARMABrooklyn Blog and the Kensington Area Community Calendar in June 2009. We wrote about local small businesses and posted announcements about programs, events, assistance, and legislation that could help them. We wrote about community events that were of interest to local residents and posted them on our calendar.
- We created a two-page color brochure about our organization.
- We collected data for a Shop Local brochure, which would serve as a descriptive guide to our neighborhood’s retail stores, restaurants, and services.
- We helped the West Kensington Action Group (WKAG) organize a party to celebrate the opening of the triangular park in the middle of Church Avenue at 35th Street. The celebration featured local musicians, a storyteller, a troupe of young dancers, games for children, and refreshments. WKAG was the driving force behind the creation of this Greenstreets park in an area that was being used as a parking lot for buses that were waiting to begin their routes.
- We sponsored “Daffodil Day,” a day for local residents to beautify the tree pits on our main shopping streets by planting daffodil bulbs.
- We compiled a list of empty tree pits where trees can be planted and submitted it to the Department of Parks & Recreation through our New York City Councilmember’s office.
- We lined up local merchants to donate items to a raffle held by the Albemarle Neighborhood Association.
- We designed a flier for a sale being held by Rich Frog Toys (211 Church Avenue) and helped publicize the sale.
- To help Old Brick Cafe (207 Church Avenue) obtain a beer and wine license, we created a petition and got residents to sign it.
- We attended meetings of Community Board 12 and meetings of the 66th Precinct Community Council to speak up about issues affecting Kensington.
- We encouraged people who wrote for the local print and online media to provide much-needed coverage for Kensington.
- We formed relationships with the elected officials who represent our neighborhood.
- We were members of the Organizing Committee for the 2010 Kensington World's Fair, held in front of the P.S. 230 Upper School.