Brooklyn's Brownstones, Explained

[@erikvanconover]

Fantastic video, I believe architecture found in the old world will make a comeback. We are all sick of being told glass boxes are luxury living

[@harrisonbrown512]

Thanks for the comment! Yes I agree, modern buildings that use older facades blend more easily into neighborhoods (and look better too!)

[@Rob-metoo527]

It will never happen.We don't have architects, we have kids who can only draw squares and rectangles. They lack imagination

[@jimbo1637]

It breaks my heart thinking about how we used to build cities that looked like this, and now we just build boring glass boxes over and over again...

[@kawaiidere1023]

We don't just build glass buildings, a lot of what we build are cement poured on an empty lot.

[@DakotaFord592]

Omg!!!! This man is beyond stunning!!! I want to put my face next to the arch of his foot!!!!

[@TheAirlock]

That's Capitalism. As demand increases, cost skyrockets with: materials, space, labor, etc.

[@DakotaFord592]

@TheAirlock yes!!! The most beautiful part of a man!!!!!! His feet!!!

[@DakotaFord592]

@TheAirlock it's corruption lol. That is all

[@OmidAfshar]

I will own a brownstone one day

[@danmcclaren5436]

I will develop modern day brownstones one day and sell them like hotcakes

[@magamaga1827]

and then a migrant will rob you in front of it

[@azufresaurio1346]

U don't, they expensive af

[@johnallenbailey1103]

Same here

[@effectivepresenter2046]

In 1988 we bought a Brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, New York at the time the Brownstone was not exactly cheap however today our home is worth millions. Renovations, Landmark Commission, maintenance are a tremendous expense. We LOVE our home, our neighborhood.

[@sensatovideos]

Great video, the fact that so much of brooklyn looks the way it does because of one quarry makes something vast feel a lot more small-scale

[@harrisonbrown512]

Thank you for your comment! I loved your Madrid video, keep up the good work!

[@Morelorrr]

Its such a small piece of Brooklyn 😂

[@FredBarnum]

I just finished watching your video on the history of Brownstones, and I have to say-it was amazing! I loved how you broke down the history in a way that was so easy to follow but still packed with fascinating details. The visuals were spot-on, and I especially enjoyed the history of the quarry that supplied the stone materials. The connection with the stoops and what was going on with the maintenance of the streets and sidewalks at the time period of construction is interesting. It’s clear you put a lot of effort into this, and it really paid off. Thanks for teaching me something new and making it so enjoyable!

[@aerolynx33]

A trend I have seen in Montreal (similar extensive missing middle and gentrification of said housing) is to add a few stories on top, set back a bit to not disturb the street facades. I haven’t seen it as much in NYC, but hopefully it catches on! More apartments in historic districts without damaging the existing buildings would be amazing.

[@jimbo1637]

Most brownstones aren't strong enough to support much additional weight, and replacing the existing structural masonry with a steel frame all while preserving the Landmarked facade is a lengthy and expensive process. When you consider the large setbacks and low heights required to keep penthouse extentions invisible from the street, they rarely pencil out from a developer's point of view. Unfortunately, that means brownstone penthouses are pretty much exclusively on the roofs of single family homes owned by exceptionally wealthy people.

[@stephendunn4073]

​@@jimbo1637to second, this added floors are happening in some neighborhoods in NYC. Like Soho. But as mentioned it's very expensive and not necessarily affordable housing

[@DakotaFord592]

Omg!!!! This man is beyond stunning!!! I want to put my face next to the arch of his foot!!!!

[@DakotaFord592]

@@aerolynx33 i need this white man's feet next to my face!!!!

[@okaycola2]

Genius

[@Becareful153]

Bedford Stuyvesant has beautiful brownstones with big backyards. Could you do Harlem’s next ? Would be interesting to see the difference

[@weiserguevarraatdouglasell3995]

Loving your channel. While Brooklyn has brownstones, Queens has tudors. Next video perhaps? 🤔😁

[@PiratesOnlineFan100]

Here’s your answer - you preserve architectural heritage while aggressively developing new housing in underutilized areas, like Gowanus or other parts of the city that were once industrial districts. Additionally, pair that with a robust and reliable transit network, and you will alleviate the housing crisis while protecting precious architectural marvels such as brownstones. And yes, EVERY brownstone deserves to be saved.

[@edu7979]

so true

[@Jesse615]

This is kind of already happening in Gowanus. But one thing that is starting to come up there are environmental issues caused by the neighborhood being so industrial for such a long time. I think the canal is cleaner than it had been -- when I first moved to Brooklyn 15 years ago, it was commonly known as the Lavender Lake, and on a hot day, emited an odor one could smell for miles around -- but, I'm pretty sure, is still a superfund site.

[@greenmachine5600]

Could add a few new floors to brownstones

[@999000l]

​@@greenmachine5600 actually you can't. NYC zoning restricts you to only being able to add a few hundred sq feet. Many owners extend their ground floor into their garden and some at this as a 3/4 floor on top.

[@charleschaimkohl]

I lived in Brooklyn for 5 years. I moved away because I have a family and I needed to buy a large spacious home. However, I'm still nostalgic to my time that I lived in Brooklyn and I am fascinated by the history

[@TwainB]

Of course is a 👃 living in Brooklyn 😂

[@GeorgeP-uj8xc]

What's interesting about the Nimby point at the end is that these rowhome communities where you find brownstones would be considered very high density development in most American towns. How I wish it were the norm to build this way.

[@harrisonbrown512]

I agree. Replacing single-family zoning with higher density rowhomes and townhouses would certainly help make cities more accessible and affordable. NYC is a whole different beast ...

[@MK-hh1vo]

Very educational! As a native Brooklynite, who grew up a *brick* building in Ocean Hill/Brownsville, my take on brownstones is that *they are so narrow* ! Yes, they're considered elite in 'hoods like Bk hts, Pk Slope, and Clinton Hills, but unless you inhabit the entire building, you're living in a horizontally *narrow* space! If you have the whole building, you have more *vertical* space, but it's still all *narrow* !!!

[@usb-c-aesthete]

We have essentially the same situation in Australia, especially Melbourne and Sydney, though your brownstones are our Victorian terrace houses. Terrible ventilation, barely any insulation, but beautiful, cultural icons, and the most expensive places to live in thanks to white-collar gentrifiers from the 70s onwards. Awesome video by the way, keen for more!

[@Cherylvision]

Really well done. Thanks for no weird background music

[@stephendunn4073]

I think the true solution that we are missing is that we really only have a few cities that are dense. NYC is expensive because its one of a few in America. We need more cities building housing like Chicago, NYC, Boston, Philadelphia built

[@bhalps]

uhhh, Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia are not known for their dynamic growth. Neither is NYC for that matter. Where is all the money coming from to build these ornate structures? How are you going to have family growth when every brownstone is divided into micro units? The solution to demand is more supply, not good vibes and self-congratulatory ideas. The echo chamber of the North East and the West Coast needs to be taken down.

[@jimbo1637]

​​@@bhalps Brownstones are only expensive because there's a limited supply. Structurally, they're brick boxes party walls, extremely cheap to build when you build them in a row. And when the structure is cheap, you can afford a nice facade. Also, for what's it's worth, many people actually prefer the brick faced townhouses to brownstones aesthetically even though they're cheaper to build and maintain.

[@stephendunn4073]

@@bhalps I think you're missing my point. We need more major cities that are true viable destinations. The price pressure on those cities is high because they are unique in the US. They aren't scarred and criss crossed with highways like a Kansas City

[@bhalps]

@@jimbo1637 lol, no, you are so wrong, they are expensive as can be. I'm in construction and land.. They don't really stand the test of time structurally, they just look quaint. A modern brownstone isn't a real brownstone either. Why the materials are vastly different. Concrete is cheaper, cast concrete is way cheaper, steel and glass are way cheaper, wood is even cheaper than that. God bless if you don't get it.

[@bhalps]

@@stephendunn4073 Dude these are inert cities you cite. Cities are already destinations. "The price pressure is high because they are unique" - you're proving my point, they don't have enough of an item (housing supply) in the cities to meet the demand (demand) of all the people. Wax poetic all you want. Solution, build more housing to meet demand. Not a solution, wax poetic about architecture that is from a bygone guided age.

[@DeeK.M]

❤Love Our Paid Off Brownstone In Bushwick, Brooklyn NY🍂🗽🍁🌆💞The Architecture In Parkslope, Borough Hall, Strivers Row, BedStuy Are Timeless & Classic!!

[@Raer25]

I dream of buying one of those 😍😭

[@richardmcnally2056]

Thank you! All my life I've wondered what those gorgeous stoops are all about and now, finally, at seventy-six, I know.

[@damongraham1398]

Bronx born but moved out in the 80's. Not on topic but when I build my first Bastion in D&D it will be a New York style brownstone set in Waterdeep. I really enjoyed this video. Keep up the good work.

[@das0716]

Voltaire once wrote: "All that is very well, but let us cultivate our brownstones" ... paraphrasing slightly....

[@OfCourseitsJulie]

Interesting info and great pictures, but the annoying clicking sound effect makes this hard to watch..

[@harrisonbrown512]

Thank you for the comment, I really do appreciate the feedback. FWIW I do plan to tone down the sound effects a bit on the next one!

[@999000l]

I enjoyed your video. Thanks. One reason a lot of brownstones are replacing brownstone with a matching cement is at the brownstone quarries are not what they used to be and the cost of brownstone is quite high.

[@DeeK.M]

❤Brooklyn Heights & Cobble Hill Is Magnificent

[@grsnider]

The area above the steps aren’t called “porches”, but stoops. I think porches are usually enclosed.

[@Figmic766]

Never knew about the horses 🥲but Edith Wharton can eat her words! My Brooklyn strolls won't be the same now

[@livingnoise6399]

Crazy how we used to actually build houses for people to live in.

[@ttopero]

I appreciate the history & culture lesson. One thing I noticed that there was no discussion about the density of the areas with these brownstones, which are often in the mid rise, high-er density categories than the traditional sing family house. Since this video was more about the material and history rather than design, interior layout or other livability attributes (aside from poor durability & efficiency), it’s hard to draw a conclusion. My own biases says that smaller, affordable buildings for locals is better than high density, massive structures that only corporations can build & own. Allowing an iterative growth of density would be a decent compromise, where a modern multi family building of 5-7 floors could replace two brownstones while keeping some proportion & scale of the context of the area, allowing local independent developers and operators to be part of the neighborhood.

[@ertcg8885]

As a brownstone owner I can tell you gentrification have saved these buildings, ours was built at the late 1800 by a Dutch women. The conditions of the building was only hints of ghost of its original glory. We have spent Ms to restore it structurally and salvage whatever we could. I believe some people do not realizing the amount of research we do, the investment it takes to restore these buildings and to modernize the internal infrastructure. 😓

[@MarcoMasseria]

Those buildings are beautiful but the prices are simply insane. Writing from rural Uruguay.

[@akimyerzikov]

Very interesting. The only thing is, when a photo appears on the screen, the sound of the photo appearing is very loud and annoying 😉

[@lichi1244eva]

My dream is to buy a brownstone!!😍

[@KCH55]

I think they could do historical recreations, salvage and reuse materials. And make these building more efficient. If need more housing make sure the any new building maintains the characteristics, especially the exterior architecture, reuse as much possible. History isn't just the past, it's a living history.

[@CubeAtlantic]

Brownstones are unique lookin' & probably even relaxed, tbqh.

[@zji4195]

I went to Pratt

[@leofriedwald9901]

Good video. I grew up in B’klyn, nothin else is like those old brownstowns. I just wish you hadn’t used the word “iconic”.

[@dimmadometv]

build more brownstones

[@squidwartztortellini8812]

and art deco building too

[@DakotaFord592]

Omg!!!! This man is beyond stunning!!! I want to put my face next to the arch of his foot!!!!

[@swagstoshifty]

Trautschold strikes again

[@TheAirlock]

01:15 Looks like Henry Street, Brroklyn.

[@bennygoodmanisgod]

9:29 it’s very simple. Build beautiful again! All these modernist eyesores are ruining the charm and character of what made NYC so unique. Why should only rich people in beautiful neighborhoods with traditional styles of architecture while us regulars have to settle for glorified commie blocks?

[@Hannari-xt6nr]

When in thing that my great grandfather inherited a large one in Manhattan (of all places) in the 1960s and he destroyed it and sold the land to a local entrepreneur, for a misery, because he needed the money. Now in place of this house stands Bloomingdale on Third. This house today would be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

[@TuggzDem]

Wish I could own one in my lifetime I was born to late 😢 maybe ill get rich in the future

[@bhalps]

Sadly brownstones and historic preservation are also what make NYC so expensive.

[@DovZeev]

I have a crush on this guy ❤

[@tebec3624]

They are beautiful but if I ever got my hands on one that was crumbling, I would try to modernize it OUTSIDE and IN! It's a waste of money to keep "preserving" a crumbling building that 3 or 4 families could move into right away and pay rent.

[@charmedprince]

That clicking sound is annoying! in what's supposed to be an informative video. Clicked out at 2:39 mark sorry babe

[@jjjsss3869]

To the narrator: But are you really a New Yorker? Where were you born? Where did you grow up?

[@MsOudlover]

I would only add that Brooklyn History is the early history of this country. Stoop is a dutch word reflecting the layers of immigrants to the USA, even before it was the USA. To edit this rich history is to edit American history... leave the brownstone intact, leave the neighborhoods in tack.

[@InconspicuousOwl]

Jojo Lorenzo!!!!!!❤🎉

[@TaunoErik]

Nero Wolfe!

[@deeluxe]

I live in a BedStuy brownstone. It’s beautiful but definitely has its flaws.

[@ottolaakso1944]

Preserve the brownstones, build pencil towers on top of them. Win win!

[@squidwartztortellini8812]

yep especially art deco tower

[@johnpye-d2n]

BS, we do not need to destroy history for more housing in the city. We need more jobs in the suburbs. We can build a strip mall with a thousand car parking lot, but not an office park???? BS

[@reeeech9245]

Part 2: 100 years from now, Projects are highly sought after. Once poor and broken down demand a high monthly rent of $25,000!

[@AB-nb2ic]

This video is like a game of 3 Truths And A Lie 😂😂😂😂

[@albertrinehart7868]

Keep the first floors as a regular brownstone and build apartment buildings on top of

[@FirstnameLastname-oy3bc]

Repping book club I see

[@AB-nb2ic]

You can put a dishwasher and washer/dryer in ANYTHING, including an RV. Who told you the lie that Brownstones lack appliances?

[@rayg3583]

These are not problems. NYC Gov needs to leave brownstones alone. If they are in historic districts, don't touch them. These brownstones went from rich to poor people and back to rich people. I see no problem with that. The rich were displaced by poor people. And now the poor people are displaced by rich people. It's a market cycle. I don't see why the City Gov should forcibly take down single family homes that give character to a neighborhood and put up huge low-income apartment buildings and overpopulate an area. This is what happened in the 50s and 60s and those apartment buildings and inhabitants destroyed neighborhoods throughout the city. From upper Manhattan to Brooklyn to the Bronx. This was evident in the 70s and 80s when NYC was rocked with crime and quality of life issues. You are seeing something similar today on a smaller scale with the influx of illegal immigrants and NYC taking over housing to house them. These areas are experiencing high crime and quality of life issues.

[@RocketGruntJesus]

The rich weren't displaced. They left because the city during that time was bankrupt opportunities where drying up and they moved to the suburbs. They had the ability to do that while everybody else had to deal with it and the blight that came. I agree that you shouldn't tear them down though. But acting like people with money are the victims of anything especially when during the time period you speak of urban renwal was the governments idea of revitalizing "underdeveloped" areas that ended up displacing those people into those ugly apartment buildings you speak of. Then the rich left and you got the 70s 80s and early 90s nyc.

[@daveweiss5647]

Preserve your historic architecture! Once it is gone it is gone forever... and modern architecture is garbage.

[@TinaRouse-s1y]

Why the clicking noise as if using a remote to change pictures. Really bad production choice for an otherwise excellent video. Seriously distracting and very much ruined my experience of this work.

[@tyeteames7192]

Should you ever create another video. Stop using " A CLICK " for every frame. It is truly maddening.

[@Calgothits]

Tartaria

[@DBLG65]

I've been living in a Brooklyn Brownstone for 60 years. I'm tired of it. I don't like being attached to another building. Noisy, too small I'm ready to leave Brooklyn. It's entertaining when you're young. Not so much when you get old.

[@AlDellaFera]

That clicking when the shot changes is really annoying. It made me stop watching. Please get rid of it

[@RussellAlami]

Brownstones look beautiful Modern buildings = UGLY

[@steeven23]

keep the facades but renovate the interiors to modern taste, that's my answer!

[@squidwartztortellini8812]

i'm not from us but if i have the money, i will build brownstones as there are no such thing here.

[@raphael5165]

*Gentrification, gentrification, gentrification. It's always the same story...* 😮‍💨

[@AB-nb2ic]

Dude, you need to stop. Brownstones Do Not equal wealth and sophistication, nor are they mostly 1-2 family homes, nor are they unique to Brooklyn. There are also plenty of Brownstones in Harlem, many are 4 family, and some are even SRO's where you just rent a room and share the kitchen and bathroom with strangers. Others are empty, boarded up, or occupied by squatters and (otherwise) homeless people. A one family Brownstone in a good neighbor isn't cheap, and they do fit the image you're describing, but there's s whole variety.

[@MGMattGZ]

harlem

[@RickySmithNow]

absolutely insufferable thumbnail and concept 👎🏽 (0 stars)

[@ashofaphoenix]

Nice video. I am a macroeconomist and if it were up to me I'd tear down every single one of these buildings and put up tall apartments. The median rental cost of a 1 bedroom apartment in Manhattan is 4100$, 3600$ in Brooklyn. That price will continue to rise. New York desperately needs to become ANTI NIMBYIST as it benefits majority of their residents. I think majority of New Yorkers would be fine with Brown Stones disappear if a construction boom caused rents to fall significantly. Its only because NYC residents associate New Construction wit gentrification that these buildings are so prized. What majority of the city does not realize is that the "luxury" apartments that cost 6k in Manhattan are 2k apartments in every other major U.S. cities except SF. There is no reason that apartments that host only 2 families or 10 people should exist in a city with the type of vacancy rates NYC has. Replacing them with units that house 100s of people is key to meaningfully reducing housing supply issues.

[@XandateOfHeaven]

I would suggest Brownstones are a poor target for redevelopment. Firstly, neighborhoods with brownstones are already very dense. Secondly, tall buildings aren't always the most efficient, the taller you build the more of the footprint you need to dedicate to elevators. This has been a problem in Toronto which has lots of tall condos but is less dense than Brooklyn. A 600 foot building is either unlivable because of a lack of elevators, or isn't as dense as you'd expect. On top of that taller buildings need to be spaced out more so you get sunlight. For comparison, Co-Op City in the Bronx which is all towers is less dense than Clinton Hill in Brooklyn which is all Brownstones.

[@andrewb9302]

Neighborhoods are built by the people who live there and not developers. Stop trying to interfere where you have no business

[@usernameryan5982]

@@XandateOfHeaven Hi, I recommend you watch the video by Paige Saunders called "Which is the highest density?'. It goes through and refutes the myth you're speaking of.

[@XandateOfHeaven]

@@usernameryan5982 I did watch the video as you suggested. What I will say is that if we just make the same buildings, with the same setbacks, the same space between buildings, etc then obviously taller buildings are going to be more dense. I do not dispute this. When I say towers aren't necessarily as efficient I'm talking about in the context in which they are often built, within the context of New York zoning laws where air rights are an issue, and lastly just general livability. This is why I compared Co-Op City to Clinton Hill. Co-op City has spaced out enough buildings that it's not a canyon of skyscrapers, which makes it a better place to live, and is more typical of how highrises are built. New York zoning laws generally require taller buildings to dedicate more of their lot to open space, and then air rights from one lot can be bought and sold to others. Obviously we could get rid of this spacing, and we'd have more density. My point is that Clinton Hill is already plenty dense if it's 1.5 times as dense as Coop City, and there is much lower hanging fruit than trying to demolish all the historic buildings. You CAN make a 600 foot building with only one elevator. You CAN build skyscrapers packed close together. The point is that you can increase density without having such a detrimental impact on quality of life.

[@Becareful153]

@@usernameryan5982no, these buildings are prized because Home owners are only paying mortgage + the increasing value these brownstones have.. if you’re a home owner you could easily get up to millions for a brownstone

[@BleekAdrian]

The way gentrifiers/colonizers describe NYC is like a museum tour guide

[@zas3496]

Had to stop the video because of the clicking sound.

[@frankjones5770]

I hope you are a nyer talking trash. Even if the streets are dirty. You can’t say it unless you are lol

[@michaelcesa5026]

You’re “clicker with every change in pictures was very disconcerting. I was unable to complete what I thought was a relatively interesting report on brownstones…….. I suggest you cut it out if you can.

[@DisposableSupervillainHenchman]

Good lord. Another Brooklyn hipster low-T guy with lesbian attire explaining NYC architecture. How enthralling.

[@natecouincil570]

gay

[@seanrod96]

You watched it 🤷🏻‍♂️