BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — A stretch of Stuyvesant Avenue in Bed-Stuy could be renamed after a Spike Lee classic.
Community Board 3 voted this week to co-name Stuyvesant Avenue between Lexington Avenue and Quincy Street "Do the Right Thing Way" after the Spike Lee movie that was filmed on the tree-lined brownstone block.
Most of the classic film — released 25 years ago — was shot on the block, including at 173 Stuyvesant Ave., which was the home of Lee's character Mookie, and 167 Stuyvesant, home of Ruby Dee's character Mother Sister.
Lee on Wednesday celebrated the occasion by posting a photo of himself on Instagram holding a custom street sign on the block where the movie was filmed.
"Good Morning People. Great, Great News Today," Lee said on Instagram. "The City Of New York Has Changed Stuyvesant Street Between Lexington And Quincy In The Brooklyn Hood Of BED-STUY DO OR DIE As Do The Right Thing Way."
Despite Lee's celebrating, the decision to rename the street must still be approved by the City Council, community board chairman Tremaine Wright said.
"The community board is advisory and no name change is instituted as a result of our vote," Wright said in an email.
"All street co-namings are voted upon by the City Council and after an affirmative vote by the Council co-naming changes are made."
News of the co-naming was first reported by Brooklyn Magazine.
While Bed-Stuy Councilman Robert Cornegy supports the co-naming, it could be tricky to get through the Council, he said.
"It’s a bit complicated, because the City Council’s standards for co-naming focus on people and organizations, not works of art," he said.
"Nevertheless, I fully support this effort and will continue to work in every way I can to see the commemoration happen.”
