Greenpointers: Covid-Related Closures in Greenpoint and Williamsburg Near the 100 Mark

On August 26, 2020, Greenpointers covered the disheartening increase in small business closures in North Brooklyn neighborhoods, and discussed legislation recently introduced by Senator Kavanagh and Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou that would grant property tax breaks to property owners who renegotiate leases with commercial tenants to help these small businesses stay afloat. The full text of the article is below; the original version is available via the link above.
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Covid-Related Closures in Greenpoint and Williamsburg Near the 100 Mark
By Greenpointers
August 26, 2020

It’s no secret that times are tough for local businesses trying to navigate the coronavirus pandemic as the number of COVID-related closures in Greenpoint and Williamsburg since March nears the 100 mark.

A new video compiled by Layer Studio features one second clips of the shuttered storefronts (as of August 25) visualizing the small business crisis.

The latest closures include neighborhood pizzeria and natural wine bar Adelina’s (159 Greenpoint Ave.), which celebrated their final day last weekend and Trophy Bar which will permanently close on August 30th.

A proposed partial solution by NY legislators including Senator Brian Kavanagh would grant 10 years of property tax breaks to landlords who negotiate new leases with commercial tenants to alleviate the burden of unpaid rent. “Small businesses that anchor our neighborhoods are struggling; half in NYC worry they won’t survive,” Kavanagh tweeted.

A list compiled last week by Cristal Calderon puts the current number of closures at 88 in Greenpoint and Williamsburg.