Last Wall, by Meryl Meisler
Historian and teacher Adam J. Schwartz invites you to tour Bushwick’s most infamous sites with him:
“One of NYC’s oldest communities, Bushwick is also a cross section of urban planning successes and failures. Municipal neglect during the 1960′s and 70′s led to the community’s abandonment and devastation by arson. Since that time, everything has changed in our city. Today’s Bushwick is the product of 30 years worth of carefully crafted public policy that laid the groundwork for growth and private investment. The current challenge for policy makers is to balance the community’s success by keeping Bushwick affordable in the face of gentrification. This tour captures the sites and stories that illustrate the last 30 years in Bushwick.”
Adam worked on last year’s Up From Flames exhibit at the Brooklyn Historical Society, and has given other walking tours in Bushwick. There is a $13 fee for participating, and it helps support the Brooklyn Center for the Urban Environment. Founded in 1978, BCUE is “dedicated to educating individuals about the built and natural environments of New York City.”
Sunday, October 19, 1-3:30pm
Meet at the corner of Gates and Wyckoff, just outside the Myrtle-Wyckoff LM station.
Visit BCUE for more info or contact Ruth Edebohls at 718-788-8500 x 217.
MoyJoy October 7th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
FINALLY!!!!! I will make it to this one!!!! *knock on wood*
Juan October 7th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Wow that photo brings back memories. That’s how it was (in 1981, I was about to turn 6) when my parents and I first moved in the seven story Hope Gardens buildings (formerly the P-60 projects). I lived through most of the changes in that neighborhood since then.
Thanks for posting the pic.
Tony October 7th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I remember walking through that area in the photo. My grandmother and aunt still live in the large project building shown in the background of the picture.
Man October 8th, 2008 at 1:33 am
So many memories. Great photos by Meisler.
mopar October 8th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Juan and Tony, where exactly is the area shown in the photo?
See you at the tour!
Tony October 8th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Mopar, the photo I believe is Knickerbocker ave by Linden Street.
Juan October 8th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
@ Mopar & Tony
Actually, across the street from “Wilson Pizzaria”(currently) on Wilson Ave and by, or corner of, *Gates Ave (*where the photo was taken, by the looks of its angle).
Meryl Meisler October 10th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
The photo is the view looking at Gates Avenue between Wilson and Knickerbocker. I was standing in the rear entrance of I.S. 291.
Juan October 11th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Oh OK. Roland Hayes (I.S. 291) my old JHS.
(-;
John Dereszewski October 11th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Thanks for the great picture, Meryl. You caught the last remnant of what had been a block of nearly total desolation.
Perhaps the most striking feature in this immediate area that I recall was the solid row of completely abandoned three story yellow brick buildings that dominated the north side of Wilson Ave. between Menahan and Grove. During my DM days, that view, which was clearly visible from my office window at 335 Central Ave., was, to say the least, extremely depressing. So, it is great to see how things have changed for the better.
I hope as many of you as possible can join Adam on this terrific tour. I will also try to tag along.
Claire Cuno October 16th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Is the walking tour still on for this Sunday? I hope so.