Back to the Cities- "Brownstoning"

Most of the 70s was not a happy time for America's major cities - NYC included. There was a general sense amongst many residents and the alleged experts that the era of the big urban center was ending. The suburbs and smaller "satellite cities" were where those who could afford to leave town were headed - away from the crime, poor schools, etc.

But a few visionary homeowners had other ideas. They recognized the greatness of New York, and the beauty of its housing stock - especially brownstones. As my Brooklyn tour guests will recall, brownstone is essentially sandstone with a large iron ore content that gives the material its rich, typically chocolate-brown shade. Thousands of row houses fronted with this material were constructed by the new urban middle class during the 19th Century, most notably in parts of Manhattan and the older sections of Brooklyn. Although many brownstones had been neglected or abandoned in the post-World War II era, these were still magnificent structures with a character you won't often find in a suburban development. In addition, the Brownstone communities were typically close to Manhattan and often possessed a certain bohemian feel. If you were willing to put in a little "sweat equity" you could get a great deal on one - if you could find a bank which would give you a loan.

"Redlining" was the term used to describe a form of discrimination in which lenders (and sometimes insurers) would simply refuse to do business in a certain geographical area. And many of the early pioneers of the "brownstoning" movement, as it was called, encountered great difficulty in securing mortgages and homeowners insurance, despite their good credit and stable incomes. Eventually both government pressure and a recognition that you can't just rule out customers based upon their Zip Codes caused the banks and insurers to change their tone. It was clear that brownstoning was not just a fad, and that brownstone owners were good for the economy. An early advocate for brownstoners was Brooklyn Union Gas (now Keyspan) which sponsored home shows and a series of "Cinderella Projects" where they renovated highly-visible structures on run-down blocks. It made good business sense, and was great PR.

Brownstoning helped to revitalize many Brooklyn areas, including Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, Park Slope and Fort Greene.