Originally named Boswijk by the first inhabitants – the Dutch – during the early to late 17th century, Bushwick became established within New Netherland – New York City. The community was secured by the Dutch West India Company from the Lenape people and was later chartered by Peter Stuyvesant in 1661. Most of the population consisted of the Dutch, the French, and several Huguenots. It wasn’t until the English took over that the community was renamed Bushwick.

Bushwick used to consist of the areas from Green Point, Williamsburg, Bushwick Green, and Bushwick Crossroads. The area was mostly known for farming tobacco and food. Factories began to sprout, manufacturing several goods such as oil, sugar, and chemicals. Other industries, such as manufacturing brick works, coal yards, lime, and plaster, began rising as well. It wasn’t until the mid 1800s that the new population was predominantly German. Bushwick then became known for their brewery industry that operated within a 14 block radius. In 1976, the brewery industry closed.

After World War II, the demographics changed immensely. What was 90% white (generally Italian and German) in 1960, dropped to less than 40%. The area began to be heavily populated with working-class Puerto Ricans, African Americans, and other Caribbean American citizens. By the mid-2000s, the area began undergoing the process of “gentrification.” Started by the Bushwick Initiative, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) aimed to “improve” the lives of the residents through housing and quality-of-life programs. These including focusing on deteriorating housing conditions, cracking down on drug dealing organizations,  and increasing economic developments. In turn, the neighborhood became safer and more focused on commercialization. The community became known as a “low-rent” area thus inciting new tenants – such as those we see in the process of gentrification.

In an attempt to gain insight on how the older generation has viewed Bushwick’s drastic change, we were not able to even find original inhabitants – possibly due to the times we went (during working hours) or possibly we generated our focus more on the renovated and “millennial”-oriented areas. This is interesting to point out, though, that the main areas of Bushwick are mainly inhabited by young people. I do not even clearly remember seeing any senior citizens or those of an older generation.

Kings County Brewery Collective

Now, the area has become extremely focused in the arts and has attracted a wide population of young professionals. With crime rates low and affordable housing, Bushwick has become a center for reinvention and commercialization. Warehouse lofts, brownstones, and limestone-brick townhouses have been converted by these young professionals and continue to be renovated.  Although the original breweries closed in 1976, Bushwick still hosts numerous of breweries – such as Kings County Brewers Collective, Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, and Queens Brewery. Art has become one of the biggest focus in building community as well as tourism. Bushwick has then become a prime example of “gentrification.”

By: Claire Ng