A Look at Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn | Block by Block | The New York Times

The sprawling Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant is famous for its African-American heritage and beautiful brownstone architecture.
Produced by: Samantha Stark and Andrew Blackwell
Read the story here: nyti.ms/1t2vsiQ
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A Look at Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn | Block by Block | The New York Times
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[@PeppinoSalieri]

eh, this video wouldn't have been made if it weren't gentrified.

[@jasonyoung4529]

Yeah that's because in the past you would get shot

[@adamb6483]

people still get shot

[@sorzin2289]

Jason Young Like people don't get shot anywhere else.

[@fro-taildaddy9927]

Gentrification is a good thing.

[@Alan-jz5ls]

@@fro-taildaddy9927 in what sense

[@Tashitoohot]

Bedstuy do or die? Everybody hates Chris?

[@srjubileu1736]

de todo mundo odeia o Chris

[@ocsjc13]

Do or die bedstuy? Biggie?

[@kitkat43255]

one word: gentrification....

[@northstar6832]

+kaitlin Bedstuy was gorgeous before gentrification.

[@Miltap4848]

and so safe too.

[@poopmcscoopface]

you've never lived there stfu

[@semajd5995]

kaitlin yup that's the place where it's happening the most...Brooklyn on a whole is getting like that

[@murk1876]

NyYankees1985 start killing them

[@kaciadam911]

This video looks more like real estate pitch

[@yrnq4009]

Live from Bedford-Stuyvesant the livest one representing BK to the fullest

[@Sadwilly]

Gats i pull it

[@sohype6827]

Marcy meeee

[@toml8227]

Hi, I am going to New York in November, I am first-timer in NY. I am staying in Jefferson Ave. Do you think It is safe area?

[@gm4l450]

Smh from a African American community to whatever it is now

[@ocsjc13]

Racist

[@rayarena879]

I wonder how long it's going to take for the area to be completely rezoned and the families living in the 21 housing projects in the area to be pushed out? It's very sad, but that's what happens when an area is discovered by the real estate sharks and the yuppies with their wherewithal start contacting their government officials to change things. For instance, I remember watching a program on TV where they interviewed a black man from another city who had a junk/scrap business that he had inherited from his father. It had been in the family for decades and this is how the family made their livelihood. Then the neighborhood started becoming yuppiefied and the new well-to-do, snooty neighbors had the place legally rezoned and he had to close his business, because some of the yuppies found it unsightly.

[@dorisleyba5916]

+Rayarena Sorry, but your late, it began at least a decade ago. It started slowly, the turning point, perhaps you didnt hear about, was when Spike Lee's father had the cops called on him by the "new neighbors", because he was sitting in front of HIS house.

[@rayarena879]

+Doris Leyba Very sad and absolutely outrageous! So, someone sits on the stoop of his own house and the "new neighbors" call the police on him? If NYC keeps on at this rate, its going to collapse. Where are the working class and poor going to live? Who is going to provide the services for the city [i.e. low paying manual labor] if people who do this type of work are going to be pushed out and can't afford to live here with their meager salaries? Is NYC going to loose its flavor when it becomes a city of impeccably manicured homes and streets where there is no diversity? The diversity is what makes this city so great, the poor neighborhoods, the well-to-do neigbhorhoods, places like Harlem that gave us so much culture, jazz, rap, great writers, artists and creators. Lord, this city is going to become an insustainable and worst of all, boring city!

[@dorisleyba5916]

+Rayarena Exactly, this is not an accident or the Fault of the people living there, here everywhere....its a design. History has proven that this works in order to remove people from who have been placed there, establish a home for decades if not centuries. Particularly Projects, here in NYC if Projects wasnt a lucrative entity for the city, they wouldov been torn down. Think Tanks work hard at perfecting things.

[@Miltap4848]

Our Supreme Court Justice is from the projects in the Bronx ! Success, and failure, can happen anywhere.

[@dorisleyba5916]

So did Ottis Neals Linden Projects ENY BK, Renown Painter, Sculptor, Printmaker but they both, as I, lived in the projects when ALL PROJECTS WERE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE and out of over 300 NYCHA Developments Blacks ARE THE MINORITIES even in the WELFARE SYSTEM. So if your gonna pick out names be willing to type in some more info to support your case.

[@itsokitsok5020]

That is one of the biggest lies you can possibly say. Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn New York at one point was one of the most dangerous places you could have been in even in the day time. From the late seventies to the late eighties if you could have financially afford to live someone else, Then Bedford-Stuyvesant would have been your absolute last choice to be, trust me. I live at 33 halsey street between Bedford Ave and Nostrand Ave Brooklyn New York. Then I went Up-state to Spring Valley NY. THANK GOD what a relief. So dangerous back then. And this was way before the crack epidemic. The buildings was always beautiful architecturally wise. that had nothing to do with the people who was living there who were mostly my peoples,black people. The architect of the buildings had to do with the European settlers that came in the 1800s that built it. They built it in a style in which they wish used to back from their own homeland. As a proud black person we should always give ourselves credit for what we do, However we should try to take credit for something we didn't do. The beautification of those neighborhoods when they were 1st built was not because of us and that's just the truth.

[@KadieBlue]

Nothing but the truth. Black people (Our people) can be delusional at times.

[@evanmcdonald5075]

Back in the 60's there were riots in the city and white people disappeared

[@TheNewYorkerRailfan]

Wow, this is my old Brooklyn neighborhood where I was raised! Brings back so many memories. Awesome video! I'm glad the area is safer and that It's doing better these days. It's so cultural.

[@lugergr]

Ahora donde vives?

[@unfabulouslyfabulous]

Reducing crime, beautifying the neighborhood, opening more local businesses, and improving quality of life is one good thing but the gentrification by real estate sharks pushing out long term residents and hipsters with their big money and total disregard for community involvement is another terrible thing

[@MultiRabe]

RIP Biggie Smalls

[@Vortex_one]

People love these neighborhoods but forget who gives these neighborhoods that culture? Minorities. Blacks and Hispanics gave it that vibe that history. Now its becoming more commercialized.

[@blacksharkswimmer3729]

These rap artists had a chance to buy these buildings and rent to our own ppl but too busy clubbing and stuntin

[@elyzavalerio52]

yes

[@ChrisJProductionz]

Black shark swimmer Jay-Z

[@davidbowman6239]

I'm from Bedford Stuyvesant born and raised and lived there for 20 plus years.

[@Yandel21ableify]

Did you meet Biggie Smalls?

[@SavetheRepublic]

Hipsters turning hoods into homes.

[@Chanelcjm]

Can we do an update on this please. The people moving into bedstuy now have no clue of the history and importance this neighborhood carries. Thank you!

[@bydefault7795]

As my grandmother used to say, "You can never go home again." That's how life works.

[@TheBigAppleNYC]

Bedford-Stuyvesant has always been a beautiful place. Just walking up and down Bedford Avenue you notice great changes.

[@martinsFILMS13]

No mention of "Do The Right Thing" ?

[@STUDYALLAH365]

Marcin 13 The majority of if not all that movie was actually filmed in Fort Greene. I guess I get the point though because it's supposed to be Bed Stuy in the movie 😂

[@martinsFILMS13]

According to the Wikipedia page for "Do the Right Thing" "The film was shot entirely on Stuyvesant Avenue between Quincy Street and Lexington Avenue in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brookly"

[@Solrac1424]

An open invitation to all gentrifiers...

[@lukaxxlunchpailguyxxdoncic9293]

I finally learned how to pronounce Stuyvesant the right way.

[@jermainehnbhwalls822]

JAY Z FROM BEDSTUY AND Biggie, not from bedstuy. He's from Clinton Hill...busta is from flatbush/ Long Island ..... fabulous from bedstuy maino from bedstuy

[@YAHSWarrior7777]

Y’all should see Bedstuy now.😑 The gentrification is REAL. It’s gotten very expensive here; they’re trying to run us out.🙎🏽‍♀️ If you want the magic that was Bedstuy back; cease with trying to put the people that make Bedstuy wonderful out. Shalum.

[@nickarnold2235]

Jay Z's hood

[@wistful4684]

Forrest Gump laughing at your own joke, sad

[@cellbiologyshorts9105]

So sad and ironic that the guy chronicling the vibrancy of Bed-Stuy is part of what is killing it

[@ocsjc13]

What u mean

[@cellbiologyshorts9105]

@@ocsjc13 He has moved there to write about the people that made the place what it was, but he is exactly what is ruining it.

[@jeffreyhawthornegoines8727]

This, and Bushwick, form my old neighborhood. The video here is a lovely and elegant look at multiculturality within a post post modern context. One can smell the new vegan and gluten free cuisines of the new restaurants, artfully yet minimally decorated with slight cross cultural accents. How delightful, indeed! Somehow, the smell of cheap fried food, the noisy L and M, the smell of the cigarettes, and the teeming of life had more heart than this

[@coryland21]

Has anyone here ever watched the show Everybody Hates Chris?, because that whole show is based off of here. And that show and the video I just watched contradicts each other.

[@KazuyaMishima91]

That's because the show was set in the 80s

[@marginelouis6674]

that's the only reason?

[@stevieb8750]

Well the show was set in the 1980s, long before Bed Stuy was revitalized into what it is nowadays.

[@jrod132]

Pen Island yes but Rock actually grew up in the 70s

[@jrod132]

finley rodriguez set in the 80s but Rock actually grew up in the 70s

[@OlyaSimonova]

I used to live in the middle of BedStuy and really loved to walk down different streets and see how every one is different

[@truthserum6808]

Bed-Stuy is not really the hood anymore. You either gotta be rich or poor to live there - no middle class anymore. In 2000, avg home price was $200K; in 2023 avg is $1.5M. Except for the projects and a few blocks, Bed-Stuy is completely gentrified. The demographics have changed substantially as well…In 2000, it was 90% Black, 8% Hispanic & 2% White and Asian. In 2023, it’s 45% Black, 32% White, 20% Hispanic and 3% Asian.

[@transray1756]

Agree with everything the up and coming guy said except for looking up to former drug dealers, being from Bed Stuy, way better mentors, RIP Mickens. B&G all the way.

[@johndifrancisco3642]

It looks beautiful! I love the Brownstones. It is not what I expected at all.

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

And this is where I lived in including with my mom, my dad, and my sisters and that is Bed-Stuy! : )

[@NoteAndroid]

Wow, it has been a long time since I stop by. I used to think travel from Manhattan to Bed Stuy was just way too long especially coming back to Manhattan due to lack of express trains. So my friends all left there and moved to Manhattan. But it sure looks great in this vid. It came a looong way to get to where it is now. So glad to see the improvements.

[@claressaugbaja3670]

This was really cool to see

[@xmuta]

claressa burel - Why? Blacks are being pushed out by whites. How is that good?

[@sweetsadi27]

What's cool about It? It's not telling us nothing we don't already know about our community.

[@kasdimfer5156]

@@xmuta That means less crime and less poverty.

[@douglasw1545]

Gentrification always means the neighborhood is getting better

[@RBzee112]

Bed-Stuy born and raised!

[@KosovoReport]

Same thing that's happening to Besonhurst is happening to Bed-stuy

[@dino8970]

All the Italians are gone (Most)

[@scrat4378]

Correct me if I'm wrong but Bensonhurst is majority Russian or ethnic East European now.

[@remypereira3096]

Bensonhurst is no where near the level of gentrification comparing to Bed-Stuy and btw Bed-Stuy is easier 2 go from there 2 Manhattan

[@mizzobjectiveone3819]

WHERE are the Italians now? They're not in Bensonhurst, and I barely run into any in Rhode island Italian neighborhoods. It kind of makes me sad, because a vibrancy of the population is disappearing.

[@VictoriaInahuazo]

KosovoReport Ummm no.....just different groups of white people moving to Bensonhurst (and are oftentimes immigrants from Eastern Europe too....oh and don’t forget about the Chinese lol)

[@kaizerwtw]

Everybody hates Chris?

[@kushkarma7081]

bedford Stuyvesant the livest one

[@mr2quick824]

Skyzoo

[@MarkPemble]

"Like it could be Portland or something"

[@HandlewasNo]

This video isnt accurate I didnt notice any crack smoke or crack sales

[@Revengex19999]

Video was shot in 2016 not 1989 ….

[@Max-mj4bc]

101 MacDonough St

[@blackchewy8435]

Come together hold the line don't sell if you own.

[@ChristopherFreeman-di2mi]

Home of that boy biggie

[@juliochingaling5824]

Great video. Very different ftom the 60s and 70s. I was raised on Stuyvesant ave and Hart st. Went to PS81, JHS 57 and then Boys high. I miss Brooklyn. Priceless .

[@sway_9803]

Song at 2:29?

[@kimberlyvegas9281]

they left out all the good hang out spots

[@kylamallory3605]

fr

[@ronmosely8355]

the average Brownstone rent for one bedroom is now roughly 1600.00 per month, not including gas and electric! How is that compared to other cities in the USA??

[@JEGOJAMS]

I recently visited Biggie's childhood home and it was all hipsters. I was so confused

[@nkrinsky14]

Real rich that the guy at the end saying he hopes bed stuy keeps its flavor is a realtor. Profiting off of gentrification while bemoaning it to the cameras

[@LP-rp2yn]

I used to live in Malcolm X and Vernon in 1994 it was bad taking the J train in Kosciusko station but like they say you got to keep going no matter what.

[@kennethscarborough2742]

I love and lived in bedstuy for years I watched the change every one I knew has sold there homes I still live on the same block since 92 I love my area but not don't know the people who live around here now it's sad

[@jcjcjcjc-nk6wn]

I just found out bed stuy is half named after my small town here in England, Bedford. Really cool to know !

[@tyieshamcdonald5295]

I’m from Bedford Stuyvesant born and raised I love Brooklyn

[@jayybren]

a guy from bed stuy wearing toronto blue jays everything lol

[@KINGCABA-if4nk]

The houses looks beautiful it nice to seem affluent blk us community 😊

[@basketballmontages3919]

0:11 that is where gummo was recorded(:

[@lilharlemcutie]

I used to live off Ralph and bed stuy

[@dorisleyba5916]

Gone, euroamerican now, and pushing out the good people who lived there forever by bringing in the Drug "MOLLY", DISPENSED from 1 Store, now how did that store manage to not get taken down? hmmmm?

[@Ukrainianification]

You can’t stop progress.

[@breakthroughs]

I grew up in crown heights lived there all my life...then in 1992 I moved to Bedford Stuyvesant and I've watched the entire neighborhood change I lived on Bainbridge Street and Malcolm x Blvd I've seen every type of construction going on in early 2000 and I knew something good and bad was happening to the area people came with a lot of money and brought all of the properties and by 2001 started building right away... and now you can't even live there it's just too expensive...crown heights the same thing too expensive... downtown Brooklyn anything by the bridge a lot of tall buildings and the rental property way too expensive... but I still love Brooklyn and still my home

[@robertnieves1239]

i lived in do or die, at that time. Lafayette Gardens projects at 411 apt 10g, YES I'M BOBBY. I had draw paintings of my life in my bedroom on the wall, paint i had brought from pratt institute. i wish i just had taken it pictures before i left for the army, i wish that who lives there now would just look out the window and take a picture of that clock. the dime tower. and send me a subway map.

[@teanmace]

Just another neighborhood.

[@jorgescott2444]

My friends who grew up with me in this Bedford -Stayvensant area say it has improved a lot. Back then in the 1980`s this area had one of the highest crime rates and heroine abusers. I remember going out with my friends to the movie and we did not know if we were going to come back home or not, not even the police wanted to patrol this area , this is how dangerous this place was. LOL.

[@waso778]

Brooklyn Breukelen. Stuyvesant Dutch. Most people don't know Dutch orgin.

[@Miltap4848]

Yikes. The crime wave from this place eventually took down my beloved Brownsville !!

[@treybands881]

I'm from Brownsville too

[@dorisleyba5916]

Its called, and you should know this by now, the New York City Gentrification, you are aware there are now million dollar homes, coffee shop (Black Owned), Condos and Coops. Gov. funded Solar Paneling.

[@hypermoose5794]

Everybody hates chris

[@daedaetinez6406]

Yo I heard Superman 💪🏻don’t got to Bed Sty!! 🤣 or is that Brownsville or both? 🤔

[@passionfruitpassionfruit2034]

Do or die bed sty lived here briefly in late 90 s felt unsafe so moved to sheepshead bay

[@passionfruitpassionfruit2034]

I left my heart ❤️ in Brooklyn so many fond memories would love to buy a brownstone but read they r expensive to maintain

[@86os-n6b]

Pigsty NY

[@rob870170]

Not a single one of them mentioned all the bums, rats, and roaches.

[@patrickhill82]

Bed stuy is like bronzeville in chicago

[@georgesingh8306]

Those houses are there more than a century old, the original owners are long gone?

[@Moonsabie]

New York State sure does not like New Jersey state getting a part of Manhattan. so it seems form the air. berlin ring sprawl it is not.

[@gonstotwriter]

A few decades ago this place was one of the most dangerous 'hoods in America.

[@narasimhashelar6745]

This is probably where the scenes for the Movie "The Intern" were shot.

[@s73v1n2]

Speaking of air space.. that gap makes a lot of air space @ 1:15 LOL

[@beverlyjames1946]

i live on suyvesant between putnam and jefferson cool right is saw it in the video of where i live

[@martinwadia300]

alot of folks from bed stuy are moving to brownsville now

[@Dalila141]

Quincy St my home 😢

[@redrouge4775]

Anyone else watch everybody hates Chris

[@jam_jor]

0:38 Why don’t they show Radio Raheem’s “Hate” fist?

[@cindysalt6328]

I love Bed Stuy🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

[@camnovi]

What is the title and artist that raps the tune on 2:55. It starts with a count down.

[@edwardvelez6764]

I went to Boys H.S. in the 70's Thank you for the video

[@danityvanityinsanity]

It gives off a cool funky vibe! This area was kinda made famous by the early 80’s rappers and Bboys!😃👍✨💖✨

[@classicepisodesofcrimewatc9971]

90s rappers. Biggie, Lil Kim. Then later in the 2000s folks like Maino.

[@ahmedhammadi7606]

Maybe certain blocks are doing better but the projects are worse then ever

[@C--A]

Bedford-Stuyvesant is seeing lots of new businesses (a lot black owned) and tons of new apartments, some available to low income families. Housing projects unfortunately everywhere in New York - Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens. They're so big with ten's of thousands of residents that they all can't get knocked down at once. It will take several decades to gradually knock them down, find good better accommodation for the residents.

[@murica296]

They left out Fulton Street.

[@aliciayoung9546]

I think I like it. I may Relocate🤔

[@mortlow6688]

Bill Cosby lives there =D

[@georgesingh8306]

What about gun shooting?

[@Jillian60]

@ 0:51 When I moved there in early 2000s, I tried to get community to plant trees on my street...it was a No....15 Years Later...BedStuy got Gentrified...And they finally planted the Trees on my street....Now it’s too expensive to live there. Gentrification.

[@RickDeckardMemories]

Nice, lovingly and artfully made video... with some obviously delusional statements from people on the screen. The fact about concentration of several public housing ghettos is followed by "some of the greatest people come out of public housing"... WHAT??? I don't live there, but I've been a Yellow Cab driver since 1993, so I kind of work there, at least couple of times a week. Undeniably, BIG IMPROVEMENT in 20-25 years. Obviously, all 100% due to gentrification and the ethnic/racial demographic changes. "Old residents are concerned about newcomers because not sure how invested the newcomers will be ... the old residents were always invested" WHAT WHAT???? WHO WAS ALWAYS INVESTED? Crime situation is getting better, and tremendous improvement in 20-25 years, but still some of the most dangerous area in whole NYC - the same NYT which posted this video has an interactive "crime map" project, just go there and see for yourself. Whatever improvement in safety is due to great NYPD work and gentrification, since whites aren't restricted by that ghetto "no snitching" mentality as much as some others (wink wink). Higher crime levels compared to elsewhere in NYC will, of course, continue, because of public housing ghettos, which by definition concentrate poverty. But if you're white I will stop my cab to pick you up on Broadway even at night, and that is a huge difference from 20-25 years ago, when for me at least it was a "no-go" area. Can anyone remember the 50-something year old crack whores regularly walking around Myrtle and Bway at night? ))) Jesus Christ, that was a sight! Not anymore, thank god! ))

[@peterfowler4723]

there are various well known and prosperous entertainers that grew up in public housing. stretching beyond the realm of entertainment, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, former New York City Congressman Gary Ackerman, and Xerox CEO Ursula Burns are all products of public housing

[@RickDeckardMemories]

+Peter Fowler Great examples, indeed! Would you characterize these people as representative of the ghetto projects? And if yes, have you forgotten to take your medication today? ))))))

[@peterfowler4723]

+dmitriy40 all you're doing is stereotyping. you'll find crime anywhere that has widespread poverty, however most public housing residents are working people and elderly people, seeking nothing more than safe and decent housing that will allow them to live self sufficient lives.

[@peterfowler4723]

Miltap4848 now I know you're not suggesting white people are exempt from violent behavior? either way, Ursula Burns, Aprille Ericsson-Jackson and Andre Harrell are all black, are all products of public housing and have all accomplished more than you could ever hope to in life

[@RickDeckardMemories]

+Peter Fowler I like how you think about "self sufficient lives" in a Government subsidized housing. I hope my taxes help some of the amazing people that you hold in such great esteem to be self sufficient. Hahahahahahahahaha Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahaha

[@tkso.philly3879]

GENTRIFICATION!!!---

[@alexvasilev4811]

Where is whites?!

[@odanilooliveira]

Everybody hates Chris

[@vernonnilesjr7910]

that is a tall brotha about 7ft.

[@acquanellaogbemudia9930]

Awesome thanks for sharing

[@jasonyoung4529]

I'm sick of people crying about gentrification. Look I get it. It's terrible. Especially for older people living there. But you have to understand that we live in an every changing world. What's here today will be gone tomorrow. Also this wasn't something that occurred over night. Talk to people in real estate. If it weren't for the crack epidemic in the 80s, this process would have occurred 20 years ago. Anywhere in NYC that is close in proximity to manhattan is prime real estate. History has proven this, there was a depression period, but now people are moving back to the city (especially wealthy citizens). The key is to always be ready. It's just like when the recession hit. A smart investor would play it safe and not go to crazy in a bull market because a bull is always followed by a bust. In the United States, especially in big cities, neighborhoods go through boom and bust periods. Lower manhattan was full of poor european immigrants for decades. Nowadays, none of those immigrants could ever afford to move back there. It's not evil it's just a natural process. The problem is most people are only focused on what goes on in there small sphere. They don't realize that this is a wider event going on throughout the country. What are developers who are in the business to make money supposed to do? Just let anyone get their property for any price. If people are willing to pay millions for property that was once worth only a 100-200k, then why wouldn't they. We live in an unfair and capitalistic society. You have to play the game or get played. My suggestion to people who own homes there and believe they can't afford it, is to sell your home. I understand you've lived there for years, but you won't be able to afford 15-20k in taxes annually.

[@dorisleyba5916]

This country was built on the policy of Gentrification thru Genocide, a policy means its repeated, gentrification is only a different name.

[@blackaf1energy741]

Thats my hood

[@cudreeti]

Is it a two way street?