Brownstones — a style of townhouse known for bay windows, wide stoops and ornamental entryways — are quintessential to Brooklyn's landscape.
The brownstones were first built across the city during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and today they are a highly sought-after commodity for their architectural significance and rarity.
And on Oct. 21, you can tour some of Bed-Stuy’s most historic brownstones and meet their owners at the 45th Annual House Tour hosted by The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant.
But it's more than just an architecture tour: The Brownstoners was founded in 1978 by Black Bed-Stuy residents who were concerned by the number of Black homeowners leaving the neighborhood.
Bed-Stuy, which boasts the largest number of brownstones in Brooklyn, has been home to a thriving Black community since the 1930s. The goal of The Brownstoners is to showcase the beauty and potential of brownstones to persuade owners to rethink leaving Bed-Stuy, Renee Turner-Gregory, president of The Brownstoners, said.
“Black folks were moving out to Queens and Long Island because of issues that presented themselves here in Bedford-Stuyvesant,” Turner-Gregory said of the group's origins. Those issues included a rise in crime and a lack of access to resources needed to maintain their homes, she said.
“Brownstones are very difficult to maintain. Most of them were built in the late 1800s. Everything is either old or needs to be done again," Turner-Gregory said.
The issues driving Black homeowners out of Bed-Stuy have become more complex over time. Deed theft, which is when a homeowner is duped into transferring ownership of their home to another party, has "brutally hit" Bed-Stuy, Turner-Gregory said.
Improper estate planning is another issue that has contributed to the loss of Black homeowners in the area, Turner-Gregory said.
“Many of the homes that were sold to new homeowners were lost due to the fact that our older population did not prepare for the turning over of their properties to family members," said Turner-Gregory.
Before the tour, The Brownstoners will host a home ownership panel discussing issues including deed theft, wills, trusts and home inspections, to equip attendees with the information and resources needed to protect and maintain their homes.
What separates The Brownstoners' tour from other historic home tours is the fact that the homeowners are present in the homes at the time of the tour.
“It makes a big difference because, as people come through, they get to talk to the homeowners; they get to hear their stories,” said Turner-Gregory. “They get to ask about the work that they've done. They get to exchange information about contractors, plumbers, electricians and interiors. It makes it really personal."
The Brownstoners are also known for their on-the-ground work to fight tax liens, which are legal claims the government makes against homes when residents fail to pay taxes. Turner-Gregory said the group has visited thousands of homes over the years to combat this issue.
Turner-Gregory said many people assume they cannot afford to live in Bed-Stuy, or neighborhoods like it, simply because they are not educated on their options. Tomorrow's tour hopes to change that.
“It’s not always a rich versus not rich, Black versus not Black issue,” said Turner-Gregory. “A lot of my new neighbors are not rich; they just came up with other ways to finance their prosperities. And that’s what we want people to know about."
The tour will begin at 9:00am on Oct. 21 at Boys & Girls High School at 1700 Fulton St. with the panel. Then, the self-guided tour of the homes will begin at 11:00am. Buses will be provided for those who do not wish to walk or drive.
Tickets for the tour start at $30, and all sales for the tour will go towards the Bernard McDonald/George Glee Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, which supports students entering historically Black colleges and universities.
