The brownstone-lined streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant hold rich history — with an uncertain future as the neighborhood transforms day by day.
One central Brooklyn block, MacDonough Street, lands the cover of this week’s New York magazine, telling the stories of neighbors both new and old.
Tracing the history of the corridor from Patchen Avenue to Malcolm X Boulevard, the deep dive goes door-to-door to take a look at what it means to be a resident on MacDonough, with everything from block parties to million-dollar home sales.
The cover shows the neighborhood’s transformation through its mix of neighbors, and a total of 62 former and current residents share the histories of their homes.
Many remember a time when the street was infested with rodents and now-renovated brownstones were abandoned buildings.
There’s Brother Spears, who grew up on the block after his parents bought their house for $35,000 in 1978.
Recent home sales on MacDonough reached up to $1.56 million, according to the magazine.
Tenants and owners reminisced of the days when stoop culture was prevalent, with everyone keeping an eye out for each other.
Several talked of the fears of a changing community.
“Now this block’s very different. Everybody stays to themselves,” Spears told the magazine.
“Before we had more unity. It was more everybody communicating with one another, helping each other out. It’s not like that no more.”
Others, like Brooke Vermillion, part of the new wave of homeowners, say they were drawn to the neighborhood for the small-town feel it still embodies.
From ghost stories and skelly tutorials to tales of predatory lending and changing demographics, residents share their fondest memories of MacDonough and hopes for the future.
“There’s nothing I would change about the block,” one homeowner said. “Nothing.”