BROADWAY TRIANGLE DEMOGRAPHICS STUDY

The Hasidic Apex

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT

BUSHWICK

GREENPOINT/WILLIAMSBURG

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TRACT 509

WALTON STMARCY AVE

HEYWARD ST

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Institutional

Residential

Commercial

Mixed

Vacant

Industrial

Parking

Transportation

Open Space WALTON STMARCY AVE

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The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) only consulted two community groups when looking to construct affordable housing in the vacant lots in the formerly manufacturing area - one organization was associated with the Hasidic community. Amid concerns that the proposed development was designed specifically for the Hasidic community (with low rise buildings for the sabbath) the black and Hispanic communities sued the city.

A CONTROVERSIAL ROLE

Of the 84,000 yiddish speakers in New York City, 95% of them are in Brooklyn.

Tract 509 has an extremely high concentration of yiddish speakers.

The Hasidic Population

The Ghost The Black Population

65%Black

20%Hispanic

11%White

,, 61%White

27%Hispanic

5%Black 65%

Hispanic

20%Black

9%White

The Hispanic Population

MANUFACTURING

WILLIAMSBURG

BUSHWICK

BED-STUY

1849-1851

1880s

1898

1903

1945

1957

1960s

1997

2000

Manufacturing began to come to the city of Williamsburgh in the form of giants such as P�zer Pharmaceuticals, which made their home at the corner of Flushing Ave and Union Ave, on the southwest tip of the Broadway Triangle.

Waves of Jewish emigration from Western Europe to the United States furtherconcentrates the Hasidic population in Williamsburg.

The City of Brooklyn is annexed into New York City.

The Williamsburg Bridge opens. Due to the ease of access, Jewish immigrants from all over Europe (many of them Hasidic) move from the Lower East Side into Williamsburg. The population of Williamsburg doubles before 1920.

Massive emigration of Hasidic Jewish population from Eastern Europe following World War II to Williamsburg.

Construction of Brooklyn Queens Expressway cuts gash through Williamsburg.

Puerto Rican workers emigrate to Williamsburg for manufacturing jobs.In 1961, Williamsburg held 93,000 jobs in manufacturing in large-scale factories such as P�zer and Domino.

Large manufacturing moves out of Williamsburg in favor of smaller manufacturers and “live-work” spaces. In 1997, manufacturing jobsnumbered only 12,000.

White artists move into Williamsburg. Clashes ensue over bike lanes, volunteer Hasidic police forces, and Puerto Rican Neighbors. The neighborhood continues to live with this demographic dynamic.

TIMELINEHasidism, Manufacturing, and the Broadway Triangle

1949 The Marcy Houses are completed in Bed-Stuy, directly across Flushing Ave. from the Broadway Triangle.

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Narratives:

BroadwayTriangle

Hasidic Manufacturing Municipal PopulationIncrease

PuertoRican

1989

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After disinvestment, areas around the Broadway Triangle are declared Urban Renewal Areas, meaning the city potentially has eminent domain.

2006 HPD decides to do something about the Broadway Triangle, and attempts to propose a plan for the development of a�ordable housing. However, they failto consult black and Hispanic nonpro�ts in the area.

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“Hipster”

2008 P�zer closes and leaves Williamsburg, but refuses to give up their landto the city for the creation of housing through eminent domain. Instead,P�zer searches for a buyer to build housing themselves.

2011 After a controversial proposal that seemed to propose building a�ordablehousing directed at one racial/ethnic group, the City was sued, and all development on the Broadway Triangle has been halted.

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DEMOGRAPHICS AND HISTORY

1

YIDDISH SPEAKERS

TRACT 509: PHYSICAL ELEMENTS

1% 3%

18%

66%

Source: 2011 American Community Survey, 5 year estimates

Source: 2010 US Census

Sources: urbanomnibus.net, orthodox-jews.comSources: NYC Oasis Map, NYC PLUTO Data

New York City Brooklyn BK CD 1 Tract 509