Up until 1898, Brooklyn and Manhattan were independent cities with their own government, own separate municipal entities and cultural institutions. They also had their own shopping districts, entertainment areas and transportation hubs. In Brooklyn, they were all in the same general area, with the various functions and institutions practically next door to each other, today we call the entire area Downtown Brooklyn. Our tour highlights the layers of history in the area: residential, African American, mercantile, government, and more. The fine architecture that remains includes individual landmarks, but no larger historic district. Rezoning downtown, which was originally implemented for office buildings, has instead produced taller and taller apartment towers, changing the streetscape irreparably. We’ll look at what remains, what’s in danger, and what the future holds.

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