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ra g e iU rn u tN iA January 24, i y /4United They'll StandDevelopments along Atlantic Avenue have been astonishingly swift in recent years, as the character of the avenue has been sharply altered from a no-man%u2019s land of shuttered storefronts to what has become an alive, vibrant shopping area that is marching down the Avenue toward the Flatbush junction.The step announced this past week by private businessmen to organize themselves to channel and control this growth is a welcome one that promises to bring an extra dimension to what has been taking place naturally along the street.Despite local shopping areas, the proximity of Fulton Street has inhibited the development of a range of service and retail businesses that suit a \surrounding the downtown area. The direction of Atlantic Avenue development seems to be toward creating this %u201c regional%u201d center. This can have extra benefits for both our neighborhoods and neighborhood businesses.We applaud the leadership of the South Brooklyn Savings Bank, McVicker and Fliggenbotham and the Downtown Brooklyn Development Association in getting this organization started, and pledge here in print our help in getting things moving even faster than they have up to now.NOT SO LONG AGO DEPARTMENT: This was the view at the corner ofAtlantic Ave. and Fourth Ave. Elevated station is on Flatbush andWilliamsburg Savings Bank Building in in background with Academyof Music in rear left. (Photo Courtesy Long Island Historical Society)One Boerum PrecinctWe don't accept the curt decision by the Police Commissioner that the situation which has divided Boerum Hill into three different police precincts must remain the same indefinitely.There is no doubt that where to put the entire neighborhood might be open to question (Councilman Richmond has proposed that the entire neighborhood go into the 84th), but there should be no doubt that a change is needed.In spite of continued denials to the contrary, there is no efficient plan or pattern for police protection in Boerum Hill. There is no fixed responsibility for what happens. Police officials are still dealing with the Boerum Flill-Gowanus area as though it was pieces of other areas. There is a growing neighborhood mood and feeling in this area, as a cursory examination will show, and the inter-relationships with other areas are not significant.We refuse to accept the Police Commissioner%u2019s decision, and urge Councilman Richmond to continue his fight. However, we are curious about where the other public officials who represent the neighborhood stand on this issue. Why aren't they helping?Nix Floating EateryThere is no doubt of the development potential for public access to the water and the breath-taking view available at the foot of Fulton Street (Cadman Plaza West). We are enthusiastic about the outstanding potential that this area holds for public use %u2014 inThe same view today, looking up Fourth Ave.the near future.For this reason, we oppose the awarding of a contract by the City to a Manhattan restauranteur that would be a virtual giveaway of a site that is a necessary part of what should be public access area.Fulton Ferry has stood fallow and unused for too long for us to settle for a single development idea as the \that will make or break the area. The \of the developer is a proper one. We don%u2019t have to take it, and he doesn't have to consider any alternatives. The notion advanced by the City that some kind of project will either happen as proposed or not at all should be rejected as bad human relations, if not bad planning. The potential of the Fulton Ferry site is too great for us to have to settle for this kind of limited, half-way step that would block better ;deas for the future.----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- vThe PHOENIX is published 50 times a year by Advocate Press, Inc., 130 Clinton Street, Brooklyn, New York 11301. Single copy price is 15 cents, annual subscription by mail in New York State, effective July 1, 1973 is $5; outside New York, $6.Michael A. Armstrong, Publisher1 30 Clinton Street Brooklyn 1 1201 Tel. 643-1032Sees Drop inSeniors' AidTo the Editor:Our Community Advisory Board is composed of senior citizens and concerned community people involved in our Park Slope Senior Citizens Center. We are very concerned about recent changes in the Social Security-Welfare procedures of the State and Federal Governments which seriously affect senior citizens in Park Slope and elsewhere.As you know, Food Stamps are no longer given to many senior citizens. The actual value \stamps is supposed to be made up in cash under the S.S.I. program so that the recipient suffers no loss in net benefits. However, many of our seniors report that they are actually getting less now than before. In addition, many report that checks are very slow in arriving, because of the Federal takeover of certain welfare benefits.I%u2019m sure that you will agree with us Licit tin s is a very deplorable situation and that you will check with the agencies involved toeliminate these unjust practices that so badly hurt people who have worked all their lives and who now depend on these meagre stipends.Thank you very much.Sincerely Community Advisory Board Park Slope Senior Citizens CenterSkyrocketingRents Real .%u2022The following letter was sent as a reply to a recent letter by Ken Boss of Sidney PI., published here earlier this month.My dear Boss:I read your letter to Assemblyman Stein in some throwaway called %u201cThe Phoenix%u201d in which you castigate Louise Finney for advocating the repeal of %u201cvacancy decontrol.%u201d You claim her charge that landlords are doubling the rent of tenants occupying decontrolled apartments is %u201cunfounded and ridiculous.%u201d Not so.Here, at 35 Orange Street, the iciiiiiig Hclmslcy Spear%u2014 more than doubled the rent of the apartment, 2D, that had beenvacated by Mr. & Mrs. Sam Fuchs (he was the former druggist) when they retired in late October. The Fuchs paid $120 a month; the new tenants $275 a month. The rents for other apartments that fell vacant in this 48-unit building also have skyrocketed despite the fact that there are outstanding violations and the landlord and renting agency have not done a damn thing in the way of improvements. If anything, the building has deteriorated since a pliant Office of Rent Control granted an MBR.Here, at 35 Orange Street, the renting agency %u2014 Helmsley-Spear %u2014 more than doubled the rent of the apartment, 2D, that had been vacated by Mr. & Mrs. Sam Fuchs (he was the former druggist) when tney reared in iaie October. The Fuchs paid $120 a month; the new tenants $275 a month. The rents for other apartments that fell vacant in this 48-unit building also have skyrocketed despite the fact that there are outstanding violations and the landlord and renting agency have not done a damn thing in the way of improvements. If anything, the building hasContinued on Page 13