[Every two weeks, our friends at real estate research hotbed PropertyShark drop by to share some of the wealth from their data-filled maps of New York City. From air rights to FEMA flood zones, Shark Bites examines familiar neighborhoods in unfamiliar ways. Missed the first Shark Bites two weeks back? Read up, then dig in...]
The Year Built Map, which shows construction dates for buildings across NYC neighborhoods, offers plenty of avenues for analysis, but I thought I'd highlight Bed-Stuy for a couple of reasons. First, I've looked at a lot of brownstones there and have always been struck by how beautiful they are inside and out. From facade detail to woodwork, it's all there. They really built them nice back then. And it's striking to see that Bed-Stuy has a much larger and denser collection of pre-1900 buildings than anywhere else in NYC, even larger than Park Slope, Harlem, or the West Village.
But I also notice that only a teeny portion (just a couple of blocks) is protected by landmark designation. Compare this to the West Village, which is protected practically in its entirety. Last year Massey Knakal sold about 30 vacant lots in Bed-Stuy, and from Curbed we know that developers are popping up condo-plexes all over the neighborhood. Bed-Stuy may soon be enjoying diversity of a whole different kind: architectural styles.
· Year Built Map [Property Shark]