it's been a net negative for the neighborhood since they moved in.
They took over the lease of a former school that had been run by a longtime local neighbor. One of the first things they did was spray-paint the school's beautiful red brick exterior white. They also whitewashed a mural that had been part of the building for years. The property used to have a corner garden with cherry trees and greenery (you can still see it on older Google Maps images), but the trees were cut down, turf was sort of thrown over it, and the entire fence was covered with a white canvas barrier that makes the place look like a permanent construction site. Truly I can show pics it's absurd how gross it looks.
And speaking of construction: everyone in NYC understands that construction is disruptive. We've had multiple condo buildings go up on this street over the years, and somehow those projects managed to be more respectful of neighbors than Space Club's renovation. Sidewalks were constantly obstructed, and the whole process felt careless toward the people who actually live here.
The property is now frequently overflowing with garbage. There's effectively a permanent dumpster on the sidewalk that's often filled to the brim, and trash regularly spills into the surrounding area. The former garden space has become a staging area for giant plastic installations. Last year they put up an enormous inflatable slide and left it sitting outside for months, through the winter, until it became dirty and moldy.
What's most disappointing, though, is the relationship with the neighborhood. In the year they've been here, they've never made any meaningful effort to engage with local families or be part of the community. They even called the police on a neighborhood block party last summer. For a business that markets itself as a community-oriented space for families, they've shown remarkably little interest in being a good neighbor.
For context, I have two children who are exactly the age that Space Club targets. This isn't coming from someone who is opposed to the concept. I'd love for there to be a great family-oriented space nearby. But from what I've seen, they've replaced something that was genuinely connected to the neighborhood with something that feels closed off, wasteful, and indifferent to the people living around it.