Killing Williamsburg

Please read this group's description before posting - - NO GRAFFITI

Williamsburg was once a unique Brooklyn waterfront neighborhood and an industrial stronghold along the East River with working docks and factories. It later became increasingly abandoned as the area was split apart by the building of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway and the general decline throughout New York City in popultion and industry after the 1950s.

Soon after the area was rezoned and residential property was cleared for industrial space in the 1960s - 70s as part of a 'urban renewal' plan.

This same area became a mecca for creative people escaping rising rents in other areas of the city in the mid 1990s and soon the neighborhood became revitialized.

Williamsburg was recently rezoned again by the city giving permission for the development of large and expensive residential buildings. This latest rezoning has given way to rapid change in Williamsburg, often at the expense of landmark preservation, economic diversity, aesthetics and sense of community.

This group is an attempt to chronicle the rapid chage of Williamsburg as low level, moderately priced residential and light industrial structures are torn down and replaced with new buildings.

This group welcomes images of Williamsburg that will provide a record of these changes as well as pictures of sites worthy of preservation.