Bensonhurst Neighbors Concerned About New Bay 50th Street Location Of Food Pantry

One of Coney Island’s most well-known charities serving Southern Brooklyn’s neediest, the Salt and Sea Mission, lost its home in Superstorm Sandy. Now relocated to Bay 50th Street near Stillwell Avenue, neighbors say it will draw “undesirables” and hurt property values.

The new location was donated by an anonymous property owner, bringing relief to Pastor Debbe Santiago that the shelter could continue to provide services to the homeless, drug addicts and domestic abuse victims.

But residents of Harway Terrace nearby are sharing concerns about the clientele, even though the location is in the middle of a commercial-industrial corridor.

Brooklyn Daily reports:

Residents were dismayed at the prospect of a magnet for the indigent and addicted opening just around the corner from their homes.

“It’s going to be a disaster. You see all of them lined up on Neptune Avenue. I’m not putting them down, but there are a lot of undesirables,” said Norman Hyman.

Others feared that having a such a facility nearby would torpedo local home prices.

“I guess it’s time to sell now. Our housing values are going to go way down,” said a woman who declined to give her name, but said she owned a home around the corner.

NIMBYism, or well-founded concerns? You tell us.