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Park Slope has its brownstones, Williamsburg its vinyl siding. To me, it’s more of a, like, bourgeois town over there, a Williamsburg renter says of brownstone Brooklyn, in this NY Times article about how vinyl siding characterizes Williamsburg homes. While it isn’t always beloved, some think vinyl siding is a testament to Williamsburg’s working class tradition, an authentic piece of history in the neighborhood. It’s not the most beautiful thing, but it’s real, said real estate broker and investor Lewis Canfield. It’s authentic. It’s tied to the history of the neighborhood. The siding is also practical and because it receives very little upkeep it remains untouched for decades. A commenter in Greenwood Heights weighs in in this City Room discussion: “To all the haters out there, embrace the love that is vinyl! Certainly more historically authentic to many parts of Brooklyn (and beyond) that re-brownstoning or rebricking a home or adding wood lap back in the picture. Metal? Iinteresting, perhaps standing seam…but while my 1880’s frame, wood lap covered by shingles and vinyl, may never be hip, it is real for my Greenwood Heights neighborhood and my household’s budget.”
Vinyl Siding Holds its Appeal to Some in Brooklyn [NY Times]
Photo by The Lizness


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. maybe on metropolitan? there are a few very cute houses around that part of metropolitan. the location is unfortunate, as that’s a major truck route.

    maspeth looks really odd now, with giant “beaches” that I guess were intended to be parking areas (but didn’t) in front of a few of the condos.

    we have what must be the only major condo project to incorporate gothic cathedral style “flying buttresses” in that large condo on the east side of cooper park. that is just strange strange-looking, though I could see that building being a really pleasant place to live.

  2. Yeah, but my point is, there’s some beauty in the humble architecture too. There used to be some tiny farmhouses on Maspeth and on Catherine? There’s one I am thinking of that was almost entirely covered in ivy. It was brown and had round windows and looked like a dollhouse. Its vinyl siding did not detract from its charm.

  3. while there are some houses with nicely detailed interiors scattered about the area, it’s not anywhere like the concentration that you have on orient. those were nice houses originally built for a different class of person, which I think accounts for the dumbwaiters and pocket doors and such. most of the houses began with far more humble ambitions.