What's Up With Downtown Brooklyn? (Rewind)
Summary
This episode explores the dramatic transformation of Downtown Brooklyn from a 19th-century civic and retail hub to a modern residential skyline. Hosts Greg Young and Tom Myers discuss the area’s Gilded Age prosperity, the impact of the 1898 consolidation, and mid-century urban renewal projects like Cadman Plaza. They contrast preserved landmarks, such as Borough Hall and Gauge & Tollner’s, with the recent surge of skyscrapers that have reshaped the neighborhood’s identity.
Topics discussed
Intro: ADHD treatment and Bowery Boys Halloween event
Downtown Brooklyn's modern transformation and skyline
Geography and the four quadrants of Downtown Brooklyn
Brooklyn's history as an independent city and growth
Fulton Street shopping, elevated trains, and Gauguin & Tollner
1898 Consolidation and Brooklyn's industrial boom
Demolition of the Fulton Ferry and early skyscrapers
Robert Moses, Cadman Plaza, and the Civic Center
Post-war decline, Fulton Mall, and the Dodgers' departure
MetroTech development and recent residential rezoning
Outro: Patreon support and credits
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