Community organizations fight to stop sale of historic Black-owned mansion in Bed-Stuy, keep it as community space
Advocates say it represents decades of care and culture.
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A historic mansion in Bedford-Stuyvesant, once home to Dr. Josephine English, a community doctor and OBGYN, is facing a court-ordered sale - but community leaders say they are determined to keep it in community hands.
The Stuyvesant Mansion has hosted community gardens, summer camps, after-school programs and senior activities.
Advocates say it represents decades of care and culture.
“We don’t want to find out what the developers want. We want to develop this ourselves,” said Shanna Sabio, of Grow House NYC.
Sabio said the group’s vision is to honor her legacy.
“What we’re looking to create here is a hub, a community cultural hub that will showcase Black culture in all of its forms, including art, technology, craftsmanship, and design. This would be the space for that, and it would be in keeping with Dr. English’s legacy.”
Residents say the mansion is personal.
“I went to school here. You feel more confident, like this is your neighborhood,” said building steward Karyn Wych.
The challenge is steep.
After meeting with the local council member Chi Osse, organizers learned the property carries a $5 million price tag.
Grow House NYC and the BLAC Land Trust are working with other land trusts and asking for community support.
“Continuing her legacy, where she always wanted these spaces to be for the community, she wanted it to be spaces of education where folks could get together and learn in fun ways, not just book learning, but fun learning,” Sabio said.
A community forum is scheduled at the Mansion at 375 Stuyvesant Ave. at 4 p.m. on Nov. 22.
"It's worth fighting for, there are not a lot of third spaces, especially free ones for people of all ages in New York, and this has served the neighborhood for so long," Sabio said.
