Brownstones Archives - Be Kind, Thrift and Rewind

Ever since the early 1990’s I have considered Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn to be a beautiful neighborhood. Even when it was still filled with gangs and constant violence I could see the potential in the few occasions when I took walks there. My artistic eye saw its promise. One of the gifts that a person who is capable of designing has is the ability to visually rehab or upcycle things in their mind. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen dresses or outfits and ripped them to shreds in my mind, then carefully rearranged them into something entirely different. I have always been able to view architecture the same way. If the structure looks stable enough on the outside I can see the possibilities. I believed in Bedford Stuyvesant and I held tight to the dream of what it could be.

When I moved back to Brooklyn in 2008 I aimed to be as close as possible to Bedford Stuyvesant. Gentrification in the area was happening at a slow but steady rate. A few years later the diversity skyrocketed and the remodels, rehabs, and rents all increased as well. My dream was to be a part of the Bedford Stuyvesant community during this time and to live in a brownstone. I managed to live in two brownstones during the years that I lived there. Each time they were flawed situations with having to share some common areas and not a total complete apartment of my own. The first actually was a rented room by the week in a run-down brownstone. After about eight months there I found a smaller space that had more privacy and a lease. It still had its flaws, not a total complete apartment but I wanted to remain in Bedford Stuyvesant longer so I signed the lease and rented some storage for my furniture, clothing, china, and art work that could not fit into my tiny studio. My place was on the border of Clinton Hill and Bedford Stuyvesant. That meant when the music that sang out from the mosque sounded a few times a day a sea of families from India, the Middle East, and Africa walked several blocks to attend the service. In the summer this is a truly beautiful sight since they have on their ethnic garments. The colors and variety of attire are a sight to see. In this community people live together as neighbors and often treat each other as brothers and sisters. This is another thing that makes Bedford Stuyvesant beautiful. There are a variety of establishments for dining and dancing, and the latest arrivals have been wine shops. Back when I first arrived there in 2008 there were very few shops to buy alcohol. With gentrification came wine shops where your salesman may be wearing a suit. Gluten-free crepes and cupcakes are now a block or two from the Nostrand Avenue stop. Another wonder of the neighborhood is a diverse variety of places to eat out on a budget that can vary from low-budget to higher-priced. The tenants in the area vary from very poor to wealthy, so there is something for everyone. I have been to the halal restaurants regularly for years and they are very low priced. If I want a more elegant experience I can head over to Alice’s Arbor on the border of Clinton Hill and Bedford Stuyvesant or down to Peaches for some down-home, good old Southern-style cooking. Either way I am always happy to be in the area.

The brownstones are old and well known in the city as being some of the most beautiful in the New York City area. In the fall an annual event is held where you can sign up to go see approximately a dozen open houses on a certain day. I went on this walk myself one year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Next time I am stopping for a sit-down lunch. My legs were just plain worn out from all the stairs I climbed to see the various floors of the brownstones. Some people buy the brownstones and modernize them, while others restore everything in the most antique way possible. One home even had a very antique mailbox. The handrails, interior wood, old glass on light fixtures and often statues in the hallways are just downright lovely. The outdoor stonework is unique and often very intricate. Many rooms had old fireplaces with beautiful carved wood or stonework around the mantel. I saw one house where the owner downstairs has created a garden that was fit for a palace. His bushes were rounded, trimmed and breathtaking. He had bought his home with other people or families, which is rather common today, and the various owners had all agreed to install a kitchen on every floor. I saw homes where the people living downstairs loved antiques, but on the second floor the interior decorations were ultra-modern. Either way in general the homes I saw and visited were beautiful. It also speaks loudly of this area that people can join forces and buy homes this way. Bedford Stuyvesant is a true melting pot and this something to be celebrated and enjoyed. It is no longer a “Bed Stuy do or die” neighborhood. When I moved in people slowed their cars and smiled saying “Welcome to the neighborhood!” Some owners resist remodeling and but even their brownstones can have some lovely old woodwork in them. The picture of the woman carrying a rosary is in an old brownstone that hasn’t been renovated in a very long time. Despite the shape of the interior the building even made “building of the day” back in 2011 for its previous renovation of the front entrance area, which sets it apart from the other houses on the block.

There are still blocks being restored in Stuyvesant Heights, which is the more elegant area of the community. The other areas in the community have also been undergoing numerous remodels and new buildings are being built all the time. Habitat for Humanity restored a few buildings a couple of years ago. One was in Ocean Hill, an eastern section of the neighborhood. Condos are being built along Bedford Avenue down near the Bedford Stuyvesant YWCA. Organic markets have been a common addition to the area the last couple of years. With the growth, more cafes and night clubs have cropped up too. Buses are a necessary part of life in the area if one doesn’t own a car. You can get around fairly quickly from an A train stop to the side streets and the buses head to other surrounding areas as well, such as Williamsburg, Flatbush, Downtown (Borough Hall), and Bushwick. The commute to Tribeca is a brief fifteen or twenty minutes on an A train. The prices of the brownstones have skyrocketed since the Barclay Center opened up. I was not too happy about that being opened since I lived within a fifteen minute walk from where the Barclay Center was built. I had to move anyway to get a real apartment – you know, one with all the areas being my own – and I had to get all my belongings out of storage so I could continue my life and have room to create arts and crafts. Life is full of trade-offs. Now I have rent stabilization but I live an express bus ride from Bedford Stuyvesant. I will always treasure that I was able to be there at such a pivotal time when it was rapidly changing and becoming the beautiful place that it is today. It is a good thing to dream and even a more wonderful experience to see your dreams become a reality.