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Subject: [NYKINGS] Re: Van Brunt Street
Date: 25 Jun 2001 11:31:06 -0600

My ancestorys, the Hunolds and McFeeleys lived on Van Brunt Street. It was a solidly middle class neighborhood in a major port area, due to the unique "hook" of land it was named for. Unfortunately, it deteriorated into a crime and drug ridden urban blight in the 60s and is pretty much the same today, although there is interest in re-gentrifying the neighborhood. The reason why it's taken so long is because the BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) built in the early 60s cuts it off from the rest of Brooklyn now and there is no major subway stop in that section.

You can get a picture of the house (or whatever was built over it) from the Municipal Archives in NYC. The photos are from 1839 - 1941. Here's the link and excerpt:

http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/doris/html/index.html#TaxPhotos


Tax Photographs.
-Department of Taxes, 1939-1941: photograph of every building in the five Boroughs.

Known as the "Tax Photographs," these black and white pictures were taken by the City's Department of Taxes (now called Department of Finance) as part of its real property appraisal system. There is one photograph for each building in the five Boroughs; vacant land was not photographed.

If you would like to order a photograph of any house or building, please use the following order form. You may download the form and edit it in overstrike mode or print it blank and fill it out manually. If you do not know the block and lot number of the property, provide the street address and a brief description; e.g. 4-story brownstone.

The cost is $25 for an 8"x10" print and $35 for an 11"x"14" print. You may also visit the Archives to view the photographs on microfilm free of charge. Please call 212 788-8580 if you have any questions.
TAX PHOTOS ORDER FORM

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