Urban decline
From The Peopling of NYC
Around 1930, Park Slope especially below 7th avenue began to see an urban decline. Owners abandoned their homes and many businesses and landlords neglected their tenants. Property values decreased dramatically.
WHY: This was in effect to the red-lining of the Park Slope area. Prejudice against immigrants climaxed in the 1950s and the government began to map Brooklyn's 66 neighborhoods. They were locating the residence of anyone foreign which included black, Latinos and Jews. Residential ratings were based on these maps and then provided to banks. In the red areas, mortgage lenders refused to make loans on its properties. Park Slope had a large immigrant population and because of that drastic changes began to occur.
On December 16, 1960, a United Airlines DC-8 jet from Chicago to Idlewild airport collided with a TWA Super Constellation propeller plane flying from Columbus to LaGuardia. This crash happened at Sterling Place and 7th Avenue and killed 135 people and damaged many buildings. In effect the governemnt wanted to construct high rising housing projects to perform an urban renewal of Park Slope. Outraged and grief stricken neighbors came together and began to act. They formed organizations to encourage people to the neighborhood and to secure landmark status for many local buildings.
Picture taken from http://psreader.com/article44.html, on April 30th, 2007
Organizations include:
Park Slope Betterment Committee
Founders: Joe Ferris & Everett H. Ortner
Purpose: Committee which was responsible for stabilizing the area, recovering the value of historical homes and recruiting buyers to the neighborhood by organizing tours.
Brownstone Revival Committee of New York(1968)
Chairman-Ken Patton
Founder & 1st President- Everett H. Ortner
Park Slope Betterment Committee joined the Brownstone Revival Committee of New York whose purpose was to preserve the brownstones of old New York neighborhoods. After two years members totaled 2,000 people. In the beginning the committee dealt with the problem of red-lining. They worked with mortgage departments and banks of New York to regulate the prices of brownstones and allow New Yorkers to buy houses at reasonable rates.
Brownstone Revival Coalition:(1996)
The Brownstone Revival Committee was renamed the Brownstone Revival Coalition in 1996. It is now a citywide organization devoted to the promotion and preservation of New York City's communities.
The Fifth Avenue Committee: (1977)
A committee responsible for taking care of low-income tenants. Some of its jobs are: 1) Rehabilitating abandoned buildings for affordable housing, 2) Providing jobs for unemployed residents 3) Organizing the local population and workers 4) Providing educational opportunities
The Park Slope Civic Council:
An organization made up of community volunteers who serve as Trustees. They serve for the general membership of 700 families. It was orginally called the South Brooklyn Board of Trade (1896).
Their purpose is to:
- identify and address issues related to the community
- create projects to improve the area
- Assist in the funding of local non-profit organizations that benefit those living and working in Park Slope through funds raised by the Annual Park Slope Civic Council House Tour.
website: http://www.parkslopeciviccouncil.org/ccmission.htm