Brooklyn Life

Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Selling Off an Iconic Bed Stuy Theater

Bed Stuy’s Iconic Slave Theater Sells to Developer, Already Hit With DOB Complaints Bed Stuy’s historic Slave Theater — a bastion of Afro-centric culture and activism since the 1980s — and two adjacent lots were sold to developer Eli Hemway for $18,500,000, according to The Real Deal. Permits have yet to be filed for development…

by Laura Leebove

12/05/2015 0

Bed Stuy’s Iconic Slave Theater Sells to Developer, Already Hit With DOB Complaints
Bed Stuy’s historic Slave Theater — a bastion of Afro-centric culture and activism since the 1980s — and two adjacent lots were sold to developer Eli Hemway for $18,500,000, according to The Real Deal. Permits have yet to be filed for development or renovation at any of the three sites: 1215 Fulton Street, 10 Halsey Street, and 16 Halsey Street.

Gentrifying Crown Heights Is Losing Its Black Community
Crown Heights is changing, and high rents and landlords’ aggressive tactics are pushing out longtime tenants, typically African-Americans and Caribbean immigrants. Familiar businesses — bulletproof bodegas, fried chicken joints, video stores — are being replaced by expensive eateries, cocktail bars and national chains. Property values are rising, with 19th century townhouses now commanding prices in the millions.

The Insider: A Gowanus Wood-Frame House Doubles in Size, Discreetly
The owners of this late-19th-century two-story wood-frame were ready to abandon their dream of adding square footage, after the first architect they consulted produced a design that would have been way beyond their budget. But then they were introduced to Thomas Warnke, whose pared-down philosophy enabled the job to go forward at a price the couple could swallow. Warnke designed a two-story extension at the back, effectively doubling the size of the building.

Gutted, Renovated Bed Stuy Brick House From ‘House Hunters’ Wants $1.195 Million
If this brick two-family at 582 Lexington Avenue looks familiar, it may be because you’ve seen it on HGTV’s House Hunters, where it was once featured. Then again, it may just be because you’ve seen so many houses like it lately — Bed Stuy townhouses gut-renovated by flippers with open-plan living spaces, some exposed brick and stainless steel appliances.

Russian Billionaire to Buy Brooklyn Jewel Barclays Center and Its Nets Basketball Team
Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov is sick of sharing his stake in Barclays Center — and its losing basketball team. Prokhorov will take exclusive ownership of the Prospect Heights arena and home team the Brooklyn Nets, two tipsters have told Crain’s.