While brownstones can be found from Boston to West Virginia along the East Coast, and as far inland as Chicago and Detroit, brownstone-style architecture is synonymous with New York City. Brownstones in NYC have gone from simple turn-of-the-century buildings made of a sturdy building material, to a level of popular culture.
Finding Brownstones in NYC
Brownstones in NYC can be found throughout the different boroughs, especially in small neighborhoods in Brooklyn, such as Bedford-Stuyvesant, Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Prospect Heights and Brooklyn Heights. One of the most historic areas for Brownstones in NYC is the classic Stuyvesant Heights Historic District that has remained virtually unchanged since the 1800s. There are many different organizations that work to preserve these historically significant brownstones in NYC, including the Historic District Council. This organization helps to identify neighborhoods and districts at risk of loosing their cultural and architectural significance.
Another great neighborhood to see Brownstones in NYC is Morningside Heights. This neighborhood is north of The Upper West Side and west and south of Harlem. It is a quaint neighborhood of brownstones and pre-war buildings juxtaposed with new high rise condominiums near the Hudson River and alongside Riverside Park. Real estate in this neighborhood is considered some of the most expensive in New York City, especially when the residence is in a higher location for a better view of the skyline.
Chelsea, is by far, one of the trendiest neighborhoods in New York City. Similar to Morningside Heights, Chelsea is an interesting blend of old and new. There are numerous townhouses, pre-war buildings and classic brownstones in this New York City neighborhood along with pre-war apartment buildings that have been renovated into co-ops and condos. Chelsea is known for its eclectic residents that include young singles, artists, musicians, doctors and lawyers. Apartments in these classic brownstones and older buildings are generally smaller than their newer counterparts and many do not have the views of the newer buildings. When they were built, however, this was hardly an issue as Chelsea was home to many immigrant blue-collar workers that really only used their home as place to sleep between shifts. It was certainly not considered the vibrant, trendy community it has become.
These are just a few of the neighborhoods that have stunning architecture that include Brownstones in NYC. They are certainly worth a walk through to enjoy this classic style.
