Bushwick's Bohemia: Art and Revitalization in Gentrifying Brooklyn

Bushwick, once considered a symbol of urban blight, has undergone a remarkable transformation. Today, it is a vibrant and thriving neighborhood known for its art scene, cafes, boutiques, restaurants, and street murals. This book explores the redevelopment, evolution, and gentrification of Bushwick, highlighting the role of artists and creative industries in shaping its unique culture and economy. It also documents community efforts to counter displacement and development, showcasing the complex and competing forces at play in shaping the neighborhood's future.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 19 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the late 1970s and 1980s, Bushwick was viewed as a symbol of urban blight and decline. However, today, the neighborhood is bustling with life, color, creativity, and commerce. Cozy and cool cafes, small boutiques, trendy restaurants, vibrant street murals, and art galleries now adorn the northern part of Brooklyn, stoking its growing reputation as one of the more desirable places to live, work in, and visit.

In his book, Mario Hernandez offers a detailed portrayal of the redevelopment, evolution, and subsequent gentrification of the Brooklyn neighborhood over the past few decades. Drawing on interviews, developer reports, and historical and civic records, the author focuses closely on the artists and creative industries that moved to Bushwick and, over time, shaped the Bohemian art scene in the neighborhood and contributed to the growth of its vibrant urban economy. The book connects the emergence and ongoing development of the neighborhoods art scene to neoliberal policies and city planning efforts that have also facilitated and led to the increasing displacement of long-time Black and Latinx residents. It also documents community efforts to counteract forces of displacement and development, revealing the complex, competing, and collective efforts to shape Bushwick and its future.

Culture and capital collide, converge, and contribute to rapid and radical change in Bushwick's bohemia, making this an important read for those interested in urban life, gentrification, and social issues.

Weight: 332g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367645861