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My Brooklyn Neighborhood

intermediate

My Brooklyn Neighborhood

with alexQ

4. Intermediate

Alex lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn for 10 years. In this stream she will share some great facts about her old, beloved neighborhood.

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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Have you heard of Williamsburg, Brooklyn?

A quick history of Williamsburg

During the early 19th century some of the biggest industrial firms in the U.S started here, such as Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. Along the waterfront factories, breweries, docks, shipyards, refineries, and mills were built. At one point during this period Williamsburg contained 10% of the wealth in the United States.

In 1855, the City of Williamsburg became a part of Brooklyn. In 1898 Brooklyn became a part of New York City.

After the Williamsburg Bridge opened in 1903, a lot of people settled here. Williamsburg became the most densely populated area in NYC, which in itself was the most densely populated city in America.

The main character in the novel "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is a young girl who grows up in the tenements of Williamsburg during this time.

Starting in the 1960s, coinciding with the decline of heavy industry, Williamsburg saw an increase in unemployment and the area became chiefly known for its crime, gang activity, and illegal drug use.

Those who were able to move out often did. Leaving many abandoned spaces behind.

In the 1970s, artists were the first to actively move to Williamsburg.

This continued through the 1980s and 1990s. The community was small at first, but by 1996 Williamsburg had accumulated an artist population of about 3,000.

I moved to Williamsburg at the tail end of this movement, right before gentrification changed the neighborhood completely.

Rents were still low and great apartments easy to find.

Small town feeling and the waterfront

Diversity

The Arts

Convenient transportation

1 stop on the L to Manhattan's East Village.

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What does gentrification mean?

gentrification

👉 a process in which a poor area (as of a city) experiences an influx of middle-class or wealthy people who renovate and rebuild homes and businesses and which often results in an increase in property values and the displacement of earlier, usually poorer residents.

Gentrification of the area experienced a dramatic shift of scale when NYC re-zoned the waterfront in 2005.

The waterfront neighborhoods, once characterized by manufacturing and other light industry interspersed with smaller residential buildings, were re-zoned primarily for residential use. Apartment towers were built and the price of land has since skyrocketed.

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When did artists start moving to Williamsburg?

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For many decades Williamsburg was a place full of ____.

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Williamsburg often felt like a ____ when I lived there.

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The changes that have happened in Williamsburg are a prime example of ____.

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Those who started to gentrify Williamsburg are often referred to under the term ____.

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What was NOT a reason why I moved to Williamsburg?

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Full Video Duration: 28 minutes
Aired: almost 2 years ago

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

A quick history of Williamsburg

In 1855, the City of Williamsburg became a part of Brooklyn. In 1898 Brooklyn became a part of New York City.

The main character in the novel "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" is a young girl who grows up in the tenements of Williamsburg during this time.

Starting in the 1960s, coinciding with the decline of heavy industry, Williamsburg saw an increase in unemployment and the area became chiefly known for its crime, gang activity, and illegal drug use.

In the 1970s, artists were the first to actively move to Williamsburg.

I moved to Williamsburg at the tail end of this movement, right before gentrification changed the neighborhood completely.

Small town feeling and the waterfront

Diversity

The Arts

Convenient transportation

gentrification

Gentrification of the area experienced a dramatic shift of scale when NYC re-zoned the waterfront in 2005.

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