Search Results for: brooklyn history

March 27, 2015

$2.2M Brooklyn Heights Loft with Gothic-Style Stained Glass Windows Is Simply Heavenly

No matter what your spiritual beliefs, we think it’s safe to argue that throughout history churches have represented some of the most beautiful architecture in the world, and the historic Presbyterian Church at 99 Clinton Street in Brooklyn Heights is no exception. Within its rich, mid-nineteenth-century stone exterior you will find this thoughtfully converted two-bedroom duplex loft, blessed with double-height ceilings, original wide-plank hardwood floors, exposed beams, and a series of stunning stained glass windows that will make living here feel like your own little piece of heaven.
Check out the gorgeous windows
March 4, 2015

The History of Symphony Space: From the Astor Market to the Leonard Nimoy Thalia

We were saddened here at 6sqft to hear about the passing last week of Leonard Nimoy, an extraordinary actor, director, poet, singer, and photographer, known worldwide for his role as Mr. Spock in "Star Trek." Closer to home, though, Nimoy was also known as a dedicated philanthropist who adored the Upper West Side's Symphony Space. In fact, in 2002 the multi-disciplinary performing arts organization renamed its historic Thalia Theater the Leonard Nimoy Thalia to reflect their patron's generosity. Just like the storied career of Nimoy, Symphony Space has its own eclectic past, from its beginnings as a food market funded by Vincent Astor to the Crystal Palace skating rink and, finally, to a neighborhood institution frequented by the likes of Stephen Colbert and Cynthia Nixon.
Learn about this history of Symphony Space here
February 27, 2015

Heartbeat Urban Drum to Become a ‘Heartseat;’ 53 New Citi Bike Stations for Brooklyn

Stereotank’s heart-shaped urban drum in Times Square known as Heartbeat will turn into a “heartseat.” [Inhabitat] A Kickstarter campaign is raising funds for a documentary film about Horn & Hardart’s iconic Automat. [Gothamist] Mapping the 53 new Citi Bike stations coming to Williamsburg and Greenpoint. [BK Paper] A small shop in Ridgewood, Queens is the reason NYC […]

February 8, 2015

MADE IN BROOKLYN: A Rep for Authenticity and Excellence That’s Well-Earned–and Far from New

The story behind cheese-aging facility Crown Finish Caves in Crown Heights tells of an enormous amount of risk and dedication to making something on a small scale; to doing one thing well. It also once again stirs the hive of buzz around today’s Brooklyn. Article after article raises the idea that Brooklyn’s moment as the new hot spot for excellence in food, culture and authentic, hand-crafted goods, is in some quarters regarded as trite and trendy hype with little substance to it. For some, the underground cheese caves are just one more example: Cheese caves. How Brooklyn. Thirty feet below street level, in the lagering tunnels of a former brewery beneath the Monti Building in Crown Heights, Benton Brown and Susan Boyle spent several years renovating and creating “Brooklyn’s premier cheese-aging facility” complete with state-of-the-art humidity control and cooling systems. The couple created the 70-foot space with advice from the world’s top cheese experts; Crown Finish Caves opened in 2014. On an article in Cheese Notes, a commenter raves: “If I were a mouse, I would move to Crown Heights.”
More excellence and authenticity this way
February 4, 2015

Brooklyn’s Most Expensive Listing Ever: A $40 Million Mansion with a Mayoral Past

There's no shortage of beauty inside, out, or around this stunning Brooklyn Heights mansion which has just hit the market for a record $40 million—the most expensive residential property ever listed in the borough. While that amount may make our mere mortal hearts skip a beat, the price tag is certainly warranted when you consider the following: It encompasses 17,500 square feet, there are 15 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and more than 9,000 square feet of garden and outdoor space, and it boasts enough original details to make even the biggest history buff's head spin. As the listing so aptly states, "Much like a long awaited centennial celebration, a residential sale of this magnitude comes around very seldom, and when it does, quite often history is made."
Tour the spectacular $40M home here
February 3, 2015

Hillary Clinton’s Campaign Headquarters May Be in Brooklyn; Behind the Scenes of the Loew’s Kings Theatre Restoration

When and if Hillary Clinton announces her presidential bid, her campaign headquarters may be in Brooklyn, which seems to be the new hot spot for the democratic party. [Brooklyn Magazine] For the best U.S. architecture per square mile, head to… Dallas? [CityLab] Tour Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s Harlem townhouse. [Architectural Digest] A new project […]

February 2, 2015

Brooklyn Paramount Theatre Will Reopen as a Gilded Public Performance Venue

Back in the summer we uncovered the history of the Brooklyn Paramount Theatre, which has been home to Long Island University's gymnasium since 1963. But now, the day before the Loew's Kings Theatre, a fellow historic movie house in Brooklyn, is set to reopen to the public, we've learned that the Paramount will follow suite. Brooklyn Daily reports that the Flushing Avenue theatre in Downtown Brooklyn will once again show live performances to the public, thanks to a deal between LIU and an affiliate of the Barclays Center, which will bring 1,500 seats back to the venue (down from the original 4,000) and showcase musical and comedy performances and boxing matches, all with an emphasis on emerging artists. The remainder of the space will still serve as a practice gym for LIU athletics.
More details ahead
December 15, 2014

Daily Link Fix: A History of the Rockettes; Journalists and Researchers Have Different Ideas of Gentrification

Did you  know the Rockettes were originally the Missouri Rockets? Read this full history of the leggy holiday dancers. [Bowery Boys] A neighborhood guide to the Latino and Chinese cultures of Sunset Park. [Brooklyn Based] There seems to be a disparity between what journalists report as gentrification and what research actually finds. [City Lab] This […]

November 8, 2014

Neighborhood Revival: Brooklyn’s Columbia Street on a Comeback

It’s not a shocker that some Brooklyn neighborhoods are outselling their Manhattan counterparts. What’s a bit of a surprise is that the Columbia Street Waterfront District, a quirky 22-block enclave wedged between Red Hook and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, is one of them. Until recently, Columbia Street was known as a far-flung and largely forgotten strip that fell victim to Robert Moses’s highway expansion project—the BQE—which, when built on a below-ground slice of Hicks Street in 1957, severed the area from the rest of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, breaking up what was then “South Brooklyn” into distinct neighborhoods.
More on Columbia Street's Comeback
October 16, 2014

A History of New York in 101 Objects: 6sqft Edition

As urbanists we tend to define the city by locations and the historic events that unfolded at them. But what about getting even more specific and looking at New York's past through tangible objects? That's exactly what New York Times urban affairs correspondent Sam Roberts has assembled in a new book, A History of New York in 101 Objects. And a corresponding exhibit at the New York Historical Society puts Roberts' choices, along with objects from the Society's collection, on view. We were so intrigued by this idea that we decided to put together a 6sqft version of the list. From preservationists to architects to real estate brokers, we've asked ten people to give us the ten objects that they feel best define New York City's history. There are definitely some favorites that emerged like cobblestones, Metrocards, and pizza, as well as an eclectic mix of items that speak to our participants' personal connections to New York.
See the lists here
October 16, 2014

The Hardest Part About Living in this Perfect Brooklyn Heights Loft is Spelling the Name of Your Street

S-C-H-E-R-M-E-R-H-O-R-N. A village in the Dutch province of North Holland. The name of one of President Andrew Jackson’s Indian Commissioners responsible for removing the Cherokee and Chickasaw Indians beyond the Mississippi River (later known as the Trail of Tears). And the street where you will find this impeccable corner loft in Brooklyn Heights.
See why this Brooklyn Heights corner loft is letter perfect
October 15, 2014

An Abridged History of New York City’s Most Popular Bridges

According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), Manhattan boasts about 20 bridges that connect the Big Apple to neighboring areas—many of which have various degrees of landmark status, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, the High Bridge, the University Heights Bridge and the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. We often use these marvels without giving them much thought beyond the grandiose size and maybe their engineering, so to give you a little trivia to impress your friends with the next time you cross one these storied bridges, we're offering up a handy primer on seven of the city's most famous.
A quick primer on the city's top bridges
September 19, 2014

Brooklyn Loft in a Former Die Casting Factory Gets an Eye-Popping Upgrade by SABO Project

We've looked at a number of industrial renovations in the past, but this gut renovation recently completed by SABO Project definitely tops our list as one of the most inventive. The 'Doehler' loft is located within a 1913 building and was first renovated during the 80s. At the time, industrial chic wasn't quite as admired as it is today, and the developer opted to hide all of the structure's original details, encasing the columns and ceilings in lackluster drywall. When SABO took on the project last year, they knew that the home's historic roots as a former die casting factory was the magic of the space, and with that, they stripped the entire loft and constructed modern features that could complement the old.
Explore the incredible home here
September 16, 2014

REVEALED: East River Skyway Will Bring Brooklyn Commuters to Manhattan in Under Four Minutes

There's no stopping the Brooklyn development boom, but getting to and from the borough from Manhattan will increasingly become a nightmare with thousands of new residential units hitting the market in the coming years. If you've commuted from Brooklyn to Manhattan (and vice versa) you know that the subway system is already taxed. But as more and more homes are added throughout the borough, it's surprising that no plans have been made to alleviate the transportation stress that will soon come with it. Until now. Today, Dan Levy, the president and CEO of CityRealty*, will present his proposal for the 'East River Skyway', an aerial gondola system that would run along the Brooklyn waterfront and into Manhattan, bringing commuters over the river in just 3.5 minutes.
Find out more about the proposed project
September 16, 2014

$1.5M Brooklyn Heights Triplex in Landmarked Eagle Warehouse Gets a Modern Update

Carriage houses, stables, factories…in a city short on space you have to get creative when looking for residential development opportunities. And this former warehouse at 28 Old Fulton Street in Brooklyn Heights is a perfect example of how a little vision can go a long way. When Brooklyn architect Frank Freeman completed the Eagle Warehouse and Storage Company building in 1894 it served as a place to store furniture and silverware. However, at the time, even warehouses were designed with a simplicity steeped in grace and beauty, often lacking in their modern-day counterparts. One look at the main entrance’s bold Roman arch adorned with the company name in large bronze lettering and there is no mistaking the care Mr. Freeman took with his “warehouse project”.
Read on to see what the future held for this warehouse
September 2, 2014

This Cobble Hill Apartment with Lofted Bedroom is a True Brooklyn Gem

There’s something about this $1.5 million loft at 44 Cheever Place that truly captures the best of Brooklyn living. Residing in a converted former Catholic schoolhouse, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo has more than just a rich history. The quintessential loft also has an open floor plan, soaring ceilings, exposed brick walls and hardwood floors. Yet, its most impressive features may be a lofted second bedroom and well-concealed storage.
Take a look inside, here
August 20, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Find Out What It’s Like To Inspect A Tenement; The Story Behind Your Favorite Brooklyn Heights Restaurants

If You’re Not In Brooklyn, You Can’t Be “Brooklyn Made”: This is for all the posers out there capitalizing on the made-in-Brooklyn trend. AM NY reports that the Brooklyn Commerce will now be certifying big and small companies in King County that are “Brooklyn born and made.” Restaurants in the Heights History: Brooklyn Heights Blog […]

May 13, 2014

If These Walls Could Talk: The Former Home of Two Brooklyn Mayors Goes on the Market

A large part of the appeal of New York City is the historical nature of the buildings. However, how many buildings can boast that they were once own by not one, but two mayors? Well, the 4-story townhome at 405 Clinton Avenue has those bragging rights, and it’s on the market for a new owner. The townhouse was initially designed in 1889 by William Bunker Tubby, the architect responsible for Pratt Institute’s library. He designed it for Charles A. Schieren, one of Brooklyn’s last mayors. It’s rumored that the home was also the residence of Brooklyn’s jazz-Age mayor Jimmy Walker, many decades before its current owners purchased it in 2009. After paying $1.75 million for the landmarked building, owner Sean Wilsey and his wife Daphne Beal gutted the entire place, adding roughly 100 new windows and a patio among other things.
Check out more photos of this gorgeous renovation here
April 29, 2014

Explore the Homes of Brooklyn’s Most Interesting Residents on This Year’s Fort Greene House Tour

Fort Greene is easily one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in all of Brooklyn. With tree-lined streets and plenty of historic homes and churches throughout, just strolling its blocks will usually send you into a state of architectural splendor. This weekend is your chance to take a look inside these incredible spaces. Sponsored by the Fort Greene Association, this ambitious self-guided walking tour offers unique insights into the neighborhood's thriving new cultural district, as well as its coveted homes. See an assortment of townhouses and private residences, including a quirky brownstone featured in an episode of HBO’s hit series Girls!
Find out where to get tickets here
June 10, 2025

How to celebrate Juneteenth 2025 in NYC

More than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, freedom finally reached the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Celebrated by Black Americans for over 100 years and only recently made a public holiday, Juneteenth commemorates that historic moment, seen as an occasion to honor resilience, uplift communities, and spotlight Black culture. This year, the festivities take on added significance as the holiday marks its 160th anniversary. Ahead, discover ways to celebrate Juneteenth in NYC, from free festivals in public parks to programming at some of the city's top museums.
Find ways to celebrate