What Happened on Brownstoner This Week: Clinton Hill Crime, Displaced Brooklyn Artists

Speaking of Neighborhoods and Crime

Ever wonder how to pronounce Utrecht, Schermerhorn or other tricky Brooklyn street names? We’ve got you covered on the borough’s eight most tongue-twisting places — so you can confidently talk like a Brooklynite.

Speaking of speaking, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James called for an emergency meeting on gang and gun violence in Clinton Hill this week, inviting community members and concerned parties to talk with local police about the increasing amount crime in the neighborhood.

But the actual meeting on Wednesday was less about Clinton Hill crime and more about the lack of resources available to the 88th Precinct — only 112 officers and three or four squad cars to patrol the neighborhood at night. No mention was made of the drug dealing hot spot around Grand Avenue and Clifton Place, the site of the recent double shooting that prompted Wednesday’s meeting. 

On the Market

Readers had mixed opinions about this Bed Stuy brownstone on the market for $1,999,000, knocking the “so ’80s” track lighting in the kitchen and the “pebbly monstrosity” of one of the bathrooms. It also has what one commenter said is the quintessential brownstone backyard: “Bluestone slate, slightly unkempt, bamboo weave on chain link fence. Do. Not. Change.”

If that price sounds steep, what do you think about this $30,000/month rental on Willow Street in Brooklyn Heights? The circa-1829 Federal-style townhouse just might be the most expensive home for rent in Brooklyn. Ever.

Also on the market this week: A Park Slope co-op with a great patio and a maybe-not-so-great winding staircase, and an oddly shaped Flatbush house with a nice, new-looking kitchen. In Clinton Hill, Brookland Capital purchased the landmarked St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church for $8,800,000.

Swoon-Worthy Interiors

Our Sea Gate renovation continued with the completion of the house’s second bathroom. There’s now a view of the beach inside and out, with a super-fun, kid-friendly shower featuring wave-patterned tiles.

And in this week’s Insider, Cara Greenberg showed us some phenomenal custom cabinetwork in a Boerum Hill brownstone’s kitchen. The Gowanus-based design studio Workstead created the handleless, carved beechwood cabinets.

Artists and Affordability

This week we learned that Brownstoner neighbor Gabriel Koren is being priced out of her studio, prompting discussion about affordable artist workspace in Brooklyn. One commenter suggested that artists encourage their families to buy Brooklyn property, saying that “artists make excellent homeowners” and their family would get a return on the investment. Of course, not everyone has that option.

Even though the amount of construction in Brooklyn is predicted to more than double in the next two years, it won’t get any more affordable. Not enough of the roughly 22,000 new apartments slated be built by 2019 in Brooklyn will be the affordable studios and one-bedrooms most feeling a market pinch.

Drinking in Brooklyn

A large group of BBQ-ing alumni from three Buffalo schools — the University at Buffalo, Buffalo State College, and Daemon College — caused a ruckus at Prospect Park last Saturday for the annual meet-up and informal reunion known as the Ruff Buff BBQ. Police briefly shut down traffic to disperse the crowd.

The Starbucks at 154 North 7th Street in Williamsburg is now selling wine and beer. Commenters almost unanimously disapproved of the alcoholic menu additions, some questioning why anyone would want to drink at a Starbucks with so many other options available in the area.

Collage by Mary Nesrala