The little Coal Shop building at 393 Hoyt Street before (photo courtesy of Google Maps)
Yet another sad demolition is currently taking place in Carroll Gardens, and this one really stings.
The sweet two story brick building at 393 Hoyt Street was once a former coal shop owned by a Mr. D'Agostino, who supplied the neighborhood at a time when coal was still used as a source of heating in many surrounding brownstones.
The sweet two story brick building at 393 Hoyt Street was once a former coal shop owned by a Mr. D'Agostino, who supplied the neighborhood at a time when coal was still used as a source of heating in many surrounding brownstones.
In recent years, the storefront was occupied by 'Brooklyn Workshop Gallery', home of the Workshop Gallery Artists Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Martine Bisagni and Amani Ansari.
Bisagni and Ansari fell in love with the sun-drenched space the moment she saw it. Over time, they renovated it with repurposed materials that were found or donated. In time, the small back yard was turned into a charming green oasis, where children and adults could explore and create.
To pay tribute to the buildings history, Bisagni and Ansari always kept a few black coal lumps in the window.
In other words, the little house was well loved and its past respected.
The community atelier focused on cultural events and neighborhood outreach through lectures, art shows, concerts and free classes. It also hosted popular "Free Art Saturdays" for children and their families.
To pay tribute to the buildings history, Bisagni and Ansari always kept a few black coal lumps in the window.
In other words, the little house was well loved and its past respected.
In January 2018, 393 Hoyt Street sold $1,2 million according to Street Easy, Shortly afterwards, Brooklyn Workshop Gallery vacated the 'little coal shop'.
By the summer, demolition permits had been filed. In the last month, that work has started, though a stop work order has temporarily halted it.
No word yet on what will be built in its place, but the empty lot may be included in any future development
It is so sad to walk by, as a small section of the little coal house was still standing as we walked past on Sunday.
What do you say, dear Reader?
A look back in time at the interior of 393 Hoyt Street when it was home to the gallery:
What do you say, dear Reader?
A look back in time at the interior of 393 Hoyt Street when it was home to the gallery:
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8 comments:
A lot that was lightly used a few times a month will now be home to families. What is better than that?
I loved the gallery there.
These losses are happening because the majority of then property owners in Carroll Gardens resisted landmarking back in the 1970s. While a larger historic district might not have included this little coal shop on Hoyt, it certainly would have protected a larger swath of the neighborhood than the current miniscule historic district. The old Italian-American homeowners back then did not want the city dictating how they could remodel their buildings, which resulted in many unfortunate "remuddles" (permastone fronts, aluminum windows, etc.) They never thought real estate values in the area would appreciate, so now we must witness wholesale teardowns to make way for bigger, bulkier modern buildings that are usually far uglier than what they replace.
I find this so very sad.
This is great news. The city has a housing shortage and desperately needs housing. The city's first priority should be to push housing through the constant NIMBY gauntlet.
@ adfadfadasdfa do you seriously think this will be housing for people who are in need?
I am friends with Martine, and miss her gallery, so much. Is was a warm, inviting space that helped support artists aand culture.
I do not know why people need to tear down beautiful, functional and historic structures to build cold, shoddy buildings.
Greed is a terrible thing.
... Speriamo che ci vivano più famiglie di quelle a cui quel pezzo di Carroll Gardens è stato rubato! Cosa c'è di meglio? il grande Mr DAgostino i suoi fratelli e sorelle,la loro memoria, tra le pareti di una Meravigliosa casa d arte!...spero che questa gente non abbia troppi specchi in casa per guardarsi negli occhi...
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