Is there a story behind all the street lamps on 1100's Prospect Place?

franj · July 2013

I biked through here one night and noticed there seemed to be a lot of street lights for just that block, wondering if there's a story behind that?

I'm new to the area, so forgive me if this is a common feature around here.

xlizellx · August 2013

I've wondered the same thing for years.

laudanum · August 2013

I'm sure someone knows more that I do but people call it the 'Superblock' as it was an urban renewal project some time back. If you look there's a lot more that those 70's street lights; there are traffic calming structures, cement planters, brick crosswalks etc.

nothinlikeabklyngirl · August 2013

That block and the corresponding block of St. Marks were indeed part of the Superblock project done by Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation in the late '60s. Read more about it:

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2011/05/walkabout-savin-4/

http://www.pcf-p.com/a/p/6611/s.html

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1299&dat=19691211&id=0ewjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K4wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5036,4513110

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1969/11/22/1969_11_22_048_TNY_CARDS_000294284