The Ditmas Park Word: Meet Sandra Abramson

From new transplants hailing from places across the city, country and globe to residents who have lived in Ditmas Park for decades, our neighborhood is home to an amazingly diverse collection of people. This interview is the third in our “The Ditmas Park Word” series, in which we’ll get to know some of our wonderful neighbors who make Ditmas Park what it is today. For this week, we interviewed Ditmas Park West neighbor Sandra Abramson.

How long have you lived in the neighborhood? As of March of this year, I have lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. I moved here with my partner Terry.

Where did you leave prior to here? I had lived in Park Slope for 24 years and on Kings Highway for a year.

What prompted the move to our neighborhood? At the time I had lost my job and could not afford to live in Park Slope anymore, and someone had suggested this neighborhood. Moving here was the best investment we could have made in every way — monetarily, the amount of living space, the sense of community here, and the style of life. When I visit Park Slope now, it feels very crowded. This community feels like a small town.

What kinds of changes have you seen in the neighborhood over the past 20 years? The neighborhood is less diverse culturally. I can recall having a block party five years after we moved in and I believe there were about 50 countries represented there — Italians, Irish, Haitians, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Albanian, to name a few.

[pullquote]When I visit Park Slope now, it feels very crowded. This community feels like a small town.[/pullquote]

Have there been positive changes as well? The new restaurants are very nice and the supermarkets have improved. Homeowners are putting a lot of money into the upkeep of their homes, painting them and taking care of them.

What do you like about the neighborhood? The neighborhood has most services that one needs in a small town — hardware stores, drug stores, etc.

What is missing in our neighborhood? There isn’t really anything missing from our neighborhood. However, I’m disappointed that the B103 bus does not run the same way that it used to; it does not make as many stops.

Finish this sentence: Ditmas Park West is… a lovely community to live in. It is quiet and relatively safe.

What is your profession? I’m retired; I used to work in community development in the area of affordable housing. I do consulting work now in project development and management for non-profits.

What do you like about your work? I feel like I am helping people who need it and building community. I like that I’m using my skills to make people’s lives better and enjoy working with others who have similar goals. It is a great feeling to see the results of my work, i.e. seeing a new building get built.

Do you have a favorite store in the neighborhood?  I like the food co-op because the prices for vitamins and supplements are very good.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in the neighborhood? I love the Farm on Adderley and was very happy when that restaurant opened in our neighborhood.

What is the neighborhood’s best kept secret? That it is a very pleasant place to live, and therefore there isn’t a lot of turnover; people enjoy living here.

We live in a very diverse neighborhood, how meaningful is that to you? It is very important to me in terms of cultural diversity. It is like the United Nations walking up and down this block. Diversity is important for the kids and the schools in this neighborhood because we can learn a lot from each other.

What do you think of Brooklyn’s new found popularity? I feel very mixed about this. I drive down Flatbush Avenue now, and I’m shocked because it looks like downtown Manhattan. And like all of New York City, the borough is losing its diversity. There isn’t a place for people who can’t afford expensive rents. I’m excited about some of the changes — the addition of the Barclays Center and the renovation of the Kings Theatre, but these attractions will also result in less affordable housing and a less diverse community.

[pullquote]I drive down Flatbush Avenue now, and I’m shocked because it looks like downtown Manhattan. And like all of New York City, the borough is losing its diversity. There isn’t a place for people who can’t afford expensive rents.[/pullquote]

Do you have a favorite quote? “A life is the reworking of a destiny by a freedom.” What this quote by Simone de Beauvoir means to me is that you are dealt a hand of cards in life, but how you play them is up to you.

Is there a philosophy that you try to live your life by? My mother taught me the importance of patience. It is important to not react immediately to a situation based on your emotions, but give it time to sink in. For some of us, this is not an easy thing to do.

Where do you hope your next vacation will be? I’m dreaming of Paris, but my next destination will be Aruba.

What was the last great book you read? “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson about America’s great migration. I found this book to be fascinating and illuminating. Also, “My Promised Land” by Ari Schavit and “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich.

What was the last great movie that you saw? One of my favorite films is “A Beautiful Mind.”

What do you like to do in your free time? I love to read, and I love to cook and share food with others. I volunteer with Engage Jewish Service Corps, a program of UJA that works with impoverished people. I cook for a soup kitchen on Coney Island Avenue and have made lunch for as many as 120 people.

Tell me about your work with the Flatbush Development Corporation. I have served on the board of FDC on and off for about 10 years since the late 90s. FDC is a major provider of after-school and summer programs for kids at the local schools. We work to strengthen the Flatbush community and assist tenants with dealing with landlord issues. The FDC also runs the Flatbush Frolic and the Victorian Flatbush House Tour.

If you know someone you’d love to see featured in this series, let us know! You can email us at editor@ditmaspark.com.