West Brighton Projects Project Part 7: southwest corner of Market and Richmond

Quick addition to the ongoing recreation of the neighborhood demolished to clear way for the construction of the West Brighton Houses. I still need to get a few more house pictures to show the rest of the block, but I've got these, so why not just put them up?

Unlike some of the other blocks, this appears to be all residential. It's the usual Staten Island mix of wooden and stucco buildings, some 

single-family, others multi-. I still cannot believe that once upon a time there were urban planners who believed massive towers packed with people and devastated commercial centers was an improvement for the lives of the poor and working class.

1917 Map

1924 Aerial Map

2012 Aerial Map

West Brighton Projects Project Part 6: West side of Broadway, between West Union and Henderson

I remembered that I hadn't finished recreating the neighborhood wiped out to build the West Brighton Houses. Some of it's because I've had a little trouble pulling all the pictures together. In others, like with today's post, it's because I've forgotten to do it. So, without further ado, Broadway between the no-longer-extant West Union Street and Henderson Avenue.

As usual, I'm somewhat fascinated by the closeness of significant commercial buildings to actual houses. Modern building doesn't seem to do this in any way. I guess the goal of suburban development is to keep the two at more of an arm's length, save for the deli or drycleaner you can walk to. It's also, obviously, a result of carcentric planning. Cars allow you to build the something like the old Penney's Plaza on Forest and Barrett and assume the people from West New Brighton will go there. They don't need a major shopping and dining area outside their door. I'm surprised no one seems to be suggesting this sort of old fashioned building as an antidote to heavy traffic. I would much rather walk to a store than have to take the bus or ride a bike any day of the week. Is this sort of pedestrian friendly development even allowed anymore? Seriously, does anyone know?

1917 Map

NYC 1924 Aerial Map

2012 Google Maps

The West Brighton Projects Project: Part Five - Northside of Castleton Avenue between Alaska and Richmond Streets

Just a short blast of buildings today, all commercial (with the usual upstairs apartments), all gone. We continue along Castleton Avenue heading west. The remnants of the avenue's once glorious business days linger on in rundown shops lining the southside of the street, but from these pictures and the past batches, we can see just how impressive it all once was.

The West Brighton Projects Project: Part Four - Richmond Street, Castleton Avenue, State Street, and Market Street

It's been awhile since I've posted (holidays, new contractor), so here's a great big West New Brighton post. Today, it's only a sidewalk between buildings, but once upon a time a street called Richmond Street ran north from Castleton Avenue between Broadway and Alaska Street. State Street cut across Castleton and ran north for another two blocks before ending at West Union Street, itself a lost street.

This block is an interesting one. Starting from the northwest corner, there's a row of multi-unit buildings followed by a bowling alley/restaurant, then another apartment. 

Coming around the corner to Castleton, there's a densely packed block of stores with apartments overhead. It's hard to read all the signs and awnings, but there's an Italian American grocery, a hardware store, a jeweler, and finally a Roulston's. The latter was a widespread grocery chain (about 300 stores in the forties. When its founder died, the family sold off the property).

Looping back around the block, down State Street and around to Market Street, there are two more businesses (the first being a barbershop) and then a run of houses. 

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Above location seen from same vantage point modern day

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