Turnover is really high down here - I've lived in the area since 2016 and I'm pretty sure we're the longest tenanted residents in my building. Heck, I've seen 3 leasing companies in my building since I moved here. So it's pretty hard to make connections with people.

I agree that it would be nice if there were more casual hangouts, there used to be more, but a bunch over by me (Le Pain Quotidien, the restaurant that predated Taco Daddy, Dinosaur, heck even Fairway) closed before and during covid. There's Third Place now, and that is a pretty cozy shop.

BLT keeps the rents high and it does seem to keep businesses from coming down here. I agree that it's pretty boring - we usually go elsewhere to go hiking or bicycling, which are our non nerdy hobbies.