Bensonhurst, Brooklyn

86 Street

Bensonhurst is a neighborhood located in the southwestern part of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.

Geography

Sons of Israel Synagogue

Sometimes erroneously thought to include all or parts of such neighborhoods as Bath Beach, Dyker Heights, and Borough Park, or to be defined by the streets where the concentration of Italian residents is most dense, Bensonhurst actually has a clearly defined border, with Gravesend to the southeast, Midwood to the east, Borough Park to the north, Dyker Heights to the west, and Bath Beach to the southwest. Starting at the neighborhood's southern tip at the corner of Stillwell Avenue and 86th Street, the border runs north along Stillwell Avenue to Avenue P, east to McDonald Avenue, north to 60th Street, northwest to Fort Hamilton Parkway, southwest to Bay Ridge Avenue, southeast to 14th avenue, south to 86th Street, and southeast back to Stillwell Avenue.

Bensonhurst is served by two branches of the New York City Subway system: the D elevated subway line, also called the BMT West End Line, at 62nd Street, 71st Street, 79th Street, 18th Avenue, 20th Avenue, Bay Parkway, and 25th Avenue Stations; and the N open-cut line, (also called the BMT Sea Beach Line), at Fort Hamilton Parkway, New Utrecht Avenue, 18th Avenue, 20th Avenue, and Bay Parkway Stations.The D elevated and the N open-cut lines also have a free transfer in the neighborhood at the 62nd Street D Station and the New Utrecht Avenue N Station. Bensonhurst is patrolled by the NYPD's 62nd Precinct.

History

Bensonhurst derives its name from Arthur W. Benson, the former president of Brooklyn Gas, who in 1835 began buying farmland that formerly belonged to the Polhemus family. Between 1835 and 1850 Benson divided the farmland into generous lots that were sold in the following decades as part of the newly created suburb of Bensonhurst by the Sea (current day Bath Beach section), which was annexed into the 30th Ward of Brooklyn in the 1890s.

The U.S. Post Office-Parkville Station located at 6618 20th Ave., was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Demographics

In the early 20th century, many Italians and Jews moved into the neighborhood, and prior to World War II the neighborhood was about equally Jewish and Italian. In the 1950s, there was an influx of immigrants from southern Italy and most of the Jewish population left the neighborhood, leaving the area predominantly Italian. Bensonhurst is heavily Italian-American, and is usually considered the main "Little Italy" of Brooklyn. The Italian-speaking community remains over 20,000 strong, according to the census of 2000. However, the Italian-speaking community is becoming "increasingly elderly and isolated, with the small, tight-knit enclave in the city slowly disappearing as they give way to demographic changes." Its main thoroughfare, 18th Avenue (also known as Cristoforo Colombo Boulevard) between roughly 60th Street and Shore Parkway, is lined with predominantly small, Italian family-owned businesses—many of which have remained in the same family for several generations. 86th Street is another popular local thoroughfare, lined by the arches of the elevated BMT West End Subway Line. The 18th Avenue Station was popularized in opening credits of Welcome Back, Kotter.

In 2000, an influx of Chinese and Former Soviet Union immigrants began to arrive. Many neighbors are of Albanian, Arab and Mexican origin.

Brooklyn's "Little Italy"

18 Avenue and Bay Ridge Parkway

Bensonhurst was stereotyped as a haven for Mafia members (Gus Farace, a reputed mob associate suspected of murdering a federal drug-enforcement agent, was found shot to death in a parked car there on November 17, 1989, and two years later the neighborhood provided the setting for the mob-themed film Out for Justice starring Steven Seagal & is known as the hometown of notorious soap opera [General Hospital] mobster, Sonny Cortinthos.), many of whom are believed to maintain residences in Dyker Heights, a nearby neighborhood.

On April 13, 1986, while approaching his car after leaving a meeting at the Veterans & Friends Social Club on 86th St. in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Frank DeCicco was killed by a car bomb explosion. Lucchese crime family soldier Frank "Frankie Hearts" Bellino, who was with DeCicco, lost several toes. However, the intended target, John Gotti, was not there. Turncoats and informants would later reveal that the order for the hit came from Genovese crime family boss Vincent Gigante, who did not like Gotti or approve of his killing Paul Castellano without approval from the Commission, and conspired in his murder with Lucchese crime family leaders Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso.

Currently the neighborhood is undergoing a transformation; many of the original houses dating back over 90 years ago are being torn down and replaced by three-story brick apartment buildings and multi-family condominiums, sometimes referred to as "Fedders Houses" for their distinctive air conditioner sleeves.

Visitors from throughout the New York City metropolitan area flock to the neighborhood each year in late August or early September to take part in the colorful Festa di Santa Rosalia (commonly known simply as The Feast to locals), held on 18th Avenue from Bay Ridge Parkway (75th Street) to 66th Street. "The Feast" is presented by Bensonhurst resident and skilled self promoter Franco Corrado, as well as the Santa Rosalia Society on 18th Avenue. Born in Rome, Italy, in 1955, Corrado has been an active social member of the Italian-American community for the past 20 years. St. Rosalia is the patron saint of the city of Palermo and is sometimes venerated as the patron for the entire island of Sicily (a sizable portion of Bensonhurst's Italian American residents are of Sicilian heritage). The annual end-of-summer celebration attracts thousands.

Immediately after Italy's victory at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a large portion of Bensonhurst's Italian American community, as well as several thousand participants from all over the tri-state area, participated in a large victory celebration. Several local cafés and businesses paid for a city permit to close 18th Avenue to commercial traffic. It was held on the same route as the St. Rosalia Feast, but stretched from 65th street to nearly 80th Street. The celebration began as soon as the Italian team won, until about 7:00 p.m.

Chinatown, Bensonhurst (唐人街, 本森社区)

Chinese-American residents and Chinese immigrants have opened many restaurants and shops along 18th Avenue, Bay Parkway and 86th Street as well as buying up properties.

Currently they have not fully developed as a Chinatown yet and there are still mixtures of different ethnic groups, however the increasing Chinese population is slowly resulting into developing a tertiary Chinese enclave or third Chinatown of Brooklyn after the Sunset Park 8th Avenue Chinatown and Homcrest Avenue U Chinatown.

With the clusters of Chinese residents and businesses growing on 18th Avenue, Bay Parkway, 86th Street, and other portions of Bensonhurst it could very likely result in several mini Chinatowns within Bensonhurst.

The Chinese translation terms Bensonhurst as 本森社区, 86th street as 八十六街 and 18th Avenue as 第十八大道.

Homecrest Community Services

In 2004, Homecrest Community Services opened a satellite Senior Citizens facility in Bensonhurst to service the growing Chinese population in the neighborhood and it was the first Asian-operated senior service facility to open in the neighborhood. The headquarter of Homecrest Community Services, which opened in 1997 is located in Avenue T in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn just around the Avenue U Chinatown. They are a non-profit IRS 501C(3) providing social services to the growing Chinese population in southern Brooklyn. They are funded by the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, NYC Department For the Aging, State of New York, New York City Council, legislators and Brooklyn Borough President. There are other corporations, foundations, and individuals that also help fund the program. They have memberships with the Asian American Federation, the Federation of Protesta Welfare Agencies. Inc., Council of Senior Centers and Services of New York City, Inc. and the Greater Southern Brooklyn Health Coalition. They also have connections with diverse variety of community-based organizations, health care providers and government agencies serving southern Brooklyn.

Homecrest Community Services is one of the earliest Chinese sponsored social service programs to be available in Brooklyn's more recent newer emerged Chinese communities, which are still in their early developing stages, but growing rapidly in Homecrest and Bensonhurst areas of Brooklyn. It also shares a similar background to Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association when it developed as the first Chinese community service in Manhattan's Chinatown at a time period when it was in its earliest developing stages as a Chinese community during the late 19th century to the early 20th century.

Public Transportation

The D train, which runs on the BMT West End Line above 86th street, provides a direct connection to Grand Street in Manhattan while the N train, which runs on the BMT Sea Beach Line near 63rd Street, provides a direct connection to Canal Street. This provides convenient commutes into Manhattan's Chinatown for the growing Bensonhurst Chinese population. The Sea Beach Line has a station at Eighth Avenue in Brooklyn's Chinatown and a transfer to the West End Line is available at New Utrecht Avenue / 62nd Street.

Tarnished Past

Murder of Yusuf Hawkins

When people in New York hear the word "Bensonhurst", depending on what generation they belong to, they will remember and associate it with a tarnished past. On August 23, 1989, a 16-year-old African-American named Yusuf Hawkins was shot and killed in Bensonhurst, after he and three friends had been attacked by a group of mostly Italian-American youths. At least four neighborhood residents were tried and convicted of charges related to the assault and murder.

In connection with the Hawkins murder several trials ensued which were prosecuted by a team of veteran homicide prosecutors including James Kohler, Edward Boyar, Paul Burns, Steven Schwartz and Douglas Nadjari. Reverend Al Sharpton led several protest marches through the streets of Bensonhurst. On January 12, 1991, before one such march, neighborhood resident Michael Riccardi tried to kill Sharpton by stabbing him in the chest. Riccardi later remorsefully said that he "thought the act would make me a hero in my community." Sharpton recovered from his wounds, and later asked the judge for leniency when Riccardi was sentenced. The two subsequently reconciled.

Education

Brooklyn Studio School

New York City Department of Education serves Bensonhurst.

Colleges and Universities

• Bramson ORT College

Zoned schools include:

• P.S. 48 The Mapleton School
• P.S. 186 Dr Irving A Gladstone School
• PS. 101 The Verrazano School
• P.S. 205 The Clarion School
• P.S. 128 Bensonhurst School
• I.S. 96 Seth Low
• I.S. 281 Joseph B. Cavallaro
• I.S. 227 Edward B. Shallow

High schools include:

• John Dewey High School
• New Utrecht High School
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt High School

In popular culture

Over two decades ago the class – and eventually racial – tensions in the neighborhood no doubt contributed to several notable films and television programs being set there, particularly when the subject matter reflected these tensions. Of note are the Spike Lee film Jungle Fever and the cult classic movie The Warriors about rival gangs. Though much lighter in tone, the television series Welcome Back Kotter, featuring a mixed-race cast, was also set in Bensonhurst.

• Mirabelli's Famous Cream Soda and the Sbarro pizza chain restaurants have their roots in the neighborhood.
• The Honeymooners is set in Bensonhurst, though it gives a street address that is in Bushwick.
• Batman villain Harley Quinn has been established as being from Bensonhurst, going home to visit her family for Christmas in Gotham City Sirens #7.
• In the Ang Lee film Taking Woodstock, it is established that Eli Teischberg and his family knew Michael Lang, the organizer of the Woodstock music and art festival, from their childhood in Bensonhurst.
• Bensonhurst is mentioned in the 2002 Spike Lee film 25th Hour during Edward Norton's monologue in which he criticises contemporary New York City.
• Several characters from the soap opera General Hospital, most notably Sonny Corinthos grew up in Bensonhurst.
• Bensonhurst is mentioned in the 2010 film White Irish Drinkers when 2 Italians come into an Irish bar. They are told that they don't serve their kind and to go back to Bensonhurst.
• The [French Connection (film)] famous for it's car chase scene with [Hackman]took place along 86th St.
• [11223]am American Reality TV Series about a divided group of friends has also been filmed in parts of Bensonhurst.
• [Wives](of New York) has filmed in Bensonhurst at the local Boxing Joint, Evolution Boxing, where Drita D'Avano is trained by Anthony Pezzolanti.
• No Love In The City (2008)directed by Marius Balchunas of [Elder Son], had a critical scene filmed in Bensonhurst on the famed 86th Street.
• [Of Bensonhurst]directed by famed [Morrissey]was also filmed around Bensonhurst and won a spirit award.
• [Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry] was filmed externally, Both Chuck and Larry worked at the Bensonhurst Fire House.
• B-Hurst The Movie (2008) was filmed in and around Bensonhurst.

Notable natives and residents

Notable current and former residents of Bensonhurst include:

• Steve Augeri (born 1959), musician.
• Rich Aurilia, baseball player San Francisco Giants
• Scott Baio, actor
• Abe Burrows, playwright, writer of Guys and Dolls and Can-Can
• Kerry Butler, actress
• Victor Calderone, club music dj and producer
• Alberto Constantine Luigi DiDonato, scholar and a gentleman once did a lightrail dance for luck
• Vincent D'Onofrio, actor Law & Order: Criminal Intent
• Vic Damone, singer
• Millie Deegan (1919–2002), professional baseball player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
• Joey Fatone, singer (member of boy band 'N Sync)
• Jerry Ferrara, actor Entourage
• Daniel Franzese, actor (film Mean Girls)
• Harvey Fierstein, actor, playwright and screenwriter
• Marshall Flaum (1925–2010), documentary filmmaker.
• John Franco, baseball player New York Mets
• Daniel Glass, music producer
• Gary David Goldberg, television producer
• Elliott Gould, actor
• Philip Habib, diplomat
• Barbra Streisand, singer, actress
• Buddy Hackett, comedian
• Kenny Hickey, Johnny Kelly, and Peter Steele (rock band Type O negative)
• Richard Jeni, comedian
• Curly Howard, of the Three Stooges
• Moe Howard, of the Three Stooges
• Shemp Howard, of the Three Stooges
• Gabe Kaplan, actor, comedian, and professional poker player
• Larry King, talk show host
• Artie Kornfeld, Songwriter, Music Producer, Creator of Woodstock Music & Arts Festival 1969

Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax

• Sandy Koufax, baseball player, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Herbie Kronowitz, boxer
• Adam Lazzara, lead singer of local band "Taking Back Sunday"
• Paul Lo Duca, baseball player
• Paul Malignaggi (born 1980), professional boxer
• Tony Mamaluke, former ECW star
• Robert Merrill, operatic baritone
• Man Parrish, music producer and artist
• Rhea Perlman, actress
• Leah Remini, actress
• Carl Sagan, astronomer/teacher/author
• Steve Schirripa, actor in HBO's The Sopranos
• Tony Sirico, actor in HBO's The Sopranos
• Ralph Snyderman,physician, scientist, administrator
• Ray Suarez, news correspondent
• Anthony J. Terlato, Winemaker, Horatio Alger Award Winner, "Father of Pinot Grigio" in the U.S.

Organized crime

A number of high-profile organized crime figures hail from Bensonhurst including Anthony Casso, Paul Castellano, Mikey DiLeonardo, Anthony Gaggi, Carlo Gambino, John Gambino, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, Gregory Scarpa and Carmine Sessa.

Notable landmarks

• Magen David Synagogue
• The Historical New Utrecht Church (serving the community since 1677) It is the fourth oldest Reformed Church in America.

--sources: New Utrecht Church

• Lenny's Pizza (Made famous by John Travolta in the opening sequence) is still standing tall.

See also

• Chinatowns in the United States
• Chinatown, Brooklyn
• Chinatown, Manhattan
• Chinatown, Flushing
• List of Italian American neighborhoods
• Little Italy, Manhattan
• Little Italy, Bronx

External links

• A History of Bensonhurst – A History of the Neighborhood
• Brooklyn's Ethnic Neighborhoods – An ethnic picture of New York