protestsLocal politicians like Councilman Chi Osse and state Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman, along with some residents, lobbied for the landmarking of Willoughby Avenue and Hart Street between Nostrand and Marcy avenues to protect the neighborhood’s history.
“Rapid development and the ensuing gentrification have eroded the architecture and history of Bed Stuy, and communities are fighting back to preserve our neighborhood’s legacy,” said state Sen. Jabari Brisport in a statement.
“Many current residents of Willoughby-Hart Historic District represent the latest of multiple generations of families from the neighborhood,” the commission’s release stated. Lifetime Willoughby Street resident Michael Williams, 67, supported the landmark designation, calling his street, “one of the best blocks” in Bed-Stuy.But Orthodox homeowners were up in arms when the agency calendared the vote in May, saying they need to be able to expand their houses to accommodate their numerous children, and landmarking will severely limit their options.