Catching Up on the Bedford Avenue Building Boom
In recent years, the Orthodox community that has traditionally lived in South Williamsburg has expanded south into parts of Bed Stuy and Clinton Hill. Nowhere is this building boom more obvious than on Bedford Avenue between Willoughby and Flushing, where eight buildings (by our count) are currently under construction or reaching completion. And, by and…
In recent years, the Orthodox community that has traditionally lived in South Williamsburg has expanded south into parts of Bed Stuy and Clinton Hill. Nowhere is this building boom more obvious than on Bedford Avenue between Willoughby and Flushing, where eight buildings (by our count) are currently under construction or reaching completion. And, by and large, they’re pretty fugly. GMAP
12:22, I know what a succah is. My question was about the balcony-less windows. If you walk around that neigborhood you see plenty of buildings with giant cages around every single window in the building. That is what I’m asking about.
large and spacious and no frills doesn’t have to mean no thought is given whatsoever to appearance. i still say it’s partially a regligious thing…you know all that holier than thou stuff…we don’t believe in the vanity of the human world…etc. etc….
#12:18 the balconies are for the people to sit outside – read above – google “succah”
12:10 I assure you that the Williamsburgh Chassidic community will not “move on in a decade or 2” They are here to stay and have invested in numerous religious buildings and schools in the area. They will remain in Williamsbugh long after the hipsters are gone and forgotten.
What about the metal cages/bars built around windows in a ton of buildings in that neighborhood. I understand the succah thing, but that doesn’t explain the plethora of bars/cages built around windows, not balconies/terraces. Does anyone know why they’re there?
Isn’t this the very (etymological) definition of a “ghetto”??
No – we’re not like the Shakers. What the Williamsburg community is building are large spacious no frills apartments because that’s what the prospective tenants need and can afford. They care little about the appearance of the buildings. The balconies are for succahs, as was pointed out in an earlier comment.
Yeah, I think certain sects of Judaism really avoid adornment. With the exception of meticulously combed fur hats. It really varies by the group. I don’t know the specific sect that’s in Williamsburg / Bedstuy. According to Wikipedia, they’re from the Satmar sect.
I teach animation, and once had a young orthodox Jew sit in on one of my classes. He really wanted to get into animation, but his religion wouldn’t allow him to draw figural art. I had to tell him that it would be pretty tough to animate without drawing figural things. Quite a sad moment. I think drawing non-realistic cartoon characters might be a grey area? Anyways, yes, there are definite rules about art and design for some sects of Judaism.
The buildings are fugly and when the community moves on in a decade or two, these monsters will be torn down and replaced by fugly condos.