CTA Architects Restores Hunterfly Road Houses, Last Remnants of Brooklyn's Weeksville Community
In Brooklyn, the Weeksville Heritage Center has successfully finished a $4 million renovation of the Hunterfly Road Houses, which are three homes dating back to the mid-1800s and represent Weeksville, the second-largest free Black community in antebellum America (1812–61). This initiative, overseen by the city's Department of Design and Construction, received funding from the Mayor's Office, the Brooklyn Borough President, and the NYC Council. The external restoration, which included work on facades, windows, and roofs, was managed by CTA Architects. Enhancements also featured exterior lighting and a climate-controlled archival room. Mayor Zohran Mamdani participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 27, while Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $2 million operational investment twelve days prior. Dr. Raymond Codrington emphasized the project's importance in the context of ongoing attacks on Black history.
Key facts
- The Hunterfly Road Houses are three wood-frame homes from the mid-1800s, the last remnants of Weeksville.
- Weeksville was the second-largest free Black community in antebellum United States (1812–61).
- The $4 million restoration was funded by the Mayor's Office, Brooklyn Borough President, and NYC Council.
- CTA Architects, New York state's first architecture B Corp, served as restoration architect.
- The restoration included facades, windows, doors, porches, siding, and two roofs.
- A climate-controlled archival room was created in the cellar of the fourth house.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the ribbon cutting on February 27.
- Governor Kathy Hochul announced a $2 million investment in the center.
- The center joined NYC's Cultural Institution Group in 2019, providing annual funding and free rent.
- Post-restoration goals include increasing visitation and vocational training for preservationists.
Entities
Artists
- Dr. Raymond Codrington
- Zohran Mamdani
- Kathy Hochul
- Robert Moses
- Ekemini Ekpo
Institutions
- Weeksville Heritage Center
- CTA Architects
- Mayor's Office
- Brooklyn Borough President
- New York City Council
- Department of Design and Construction
- Department of Cultural Affairs
- Cultural Institution Group
- Kingsborough Houses NYCHA
Locations
- Brooklyn
- New York City
- Crown Heights
- Weeksville
- Hunterfly Road