Preserving Bedford Stuyvesant

vaguynny

I have always loved the architecture of Bedford Stuyvesant. When I was a kid and came here to visit my grandaunt I thought the area was beautiful even with all the crime at the time. I have now been living in Bedford Stuyvesant for one year now and I was fortunate to find a house on a landmarked block in Stuyvesant Heights. I really love the area and I think architecturally it of one of the best places in New York City. With all that said I find that many people that own homes in Bedford Stuyvesant seem disrespect or not to care or about preserving the classic architecture of this great neighborhood. Maybe people don’t know what they are doing to there homes. Many homes have cheap home depot doors and painted brownstones that are loud and in color. I saw a house that was painted neon electric blue with lion statues in front like something out of Vegas. I have seen cheap windows that are the wrong size for the frames. But the thing that gets me more than anything is when people make illegal driveways and put cars in front of there house. Bedford Stuyvesant is urban not suburban there should be no driveways in front of grand rows of brownstones. Many people have no idea how much they are running the value of there property buy doing these types of things. Landmark seems to be taking a long time to get Bedford Village/Corners designated and extend the Stuyvesant Heights historic District. Is there anyone out there that is in favor for the neighborhood coming up with its own set of standers to preserve the beautiful architecture of Bedford Stuyvesant before it is two late. I am an architectural historian and I would love to get feed back on this topic. Many of the other brownstone areas in Brooklyn seem to now know the importance of preserving these great old houses I think it is time for Bedford Stuyvesant to step it up. I really think we have a great diamond here we just need to clean it off a little.