BROOKLYN, NY \u2014 Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today the completion of a $4 million restoration of the historic Hunterfly Road Houses at the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n
Construction began in fall 2024 and wrapped in February 2026 \u2013 two months ahead of schedule \u2013 preserving four wood-frame homes built in the 19th century that stand as the last remaining structures of one of the nation\u2019s largest free Black communities before the Civil War.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeeksville tells the story of Black New Yorkers who built freedom for themselves in a country that\u00a0tried to\u00a0deny them it,\u201d said\u00a0Mayor\u00a0Mamdani.\u00a0\u201cIt was a sanctuary that offered safety, dignity, and opportunity in the face of economic injustice and systemic racism.\u00a0It was nearly erased by\u00a0urban renewal. By restoring the\u00a0Hunterfly\u00a0Road Houses, we are preserving not\u00a0just\u00a0historic buildings\u00a0but a\u00a0living\u00a0legacy of resilience and self-determination.\u201d<\/p>\n
“Weeksville is a treasured part of our city’s cultural community, an organization that both preserves an important part of our city’s Black story and keeps it alive, relevant, and vital for future generations,” said\u00a0DCLA Deputy Commissioner Alton Murray. “Together with our partners at DDC, DCLA is proud of our support for this important project to restore the historic\u00a0Hunterfly\u00a0Road Houses\u00a0so they can continue to anchor Weeksville’s extraordinary mission and tell a key part of our city’s Black history.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project was designed and completed with the greatest respect for the legacy of this community and this important part of the City\u2019s African American history,\u201d said\u00a0Department of Design and Construction Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle. \u201cWe are proud to have finished the restoration two months ahead of schedule, and to be able to celebrate the completion of this project for the center, the largest African American cultural institution in Brooklyn, during Black History Month.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe restoration of the\u00a0Hunterfly\u00a0Road Houses\u00a0is a major milestone for Weeksville and for Brooklyn\u2019s cultural landscape,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Raymond Codrington, President and CEO of Weeksville Heritage Center. \u201cWe are deeply grateful to our partners at the City of New York, including the Mayor\u2019s Office, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Brooklyn Borough President\u2019s Office, the New York City Council, and the Department of Design and Construction, for making this work possible and helping ensure these historic homes are preserved for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI am proud to celebrate the restoration of the\u00a0Hunterfly\u00a0Road Houses\u00a0at the\u202fWeeksville Heritage Center. Weeksville stands as a testament to Black self-determination, resilience, and cultural excellence in the face of systemic exclusion,” said\u202fNYC\u202fChief Equity Officer and NYC Mayor\u2019s Office of Equity & Racial Justice Commissioner\u00a0Afua\u00a0Atta-Mensah.\u202f\u201cWe must ensure that preservation and growth move forward together, strengthening rather than displacing the communities that shaped our city. This restoration safeguards more than historic structures; it preserves a legacy of freedom, community-building, and possibility that continues to shape and inspire New York City\u2019s future.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0Hunterfly\u00a0Road Houses\u00a0in Weeksville are a cornerstone of Brooklyn\u2019s African American history,\u201d said\u00a0Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. \u201cThis restoration ensures that Weeksville Heritage Center can continue educating and empowering Brooklynites while preserving the legacy of one of the largest free Black communities. Thank you to DCLA and DDC for working to safeguard this vital part of our borough\u2019s history.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe completion of the 18-month project to renovate the historic\u00a0Hunterfly\u00a0Road Houses\u00a0\u2013 the cornerstone of the Weeksville Heritage Center site \u2013 is worthy of celebration,\u201d said\u00a0Assemblymember Latrice Walker.\u00a0\u201cKudos to everyone involved in this\u00a0monumental effort, including the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the NYC Department of Design and Construction for their leadership. Thank you to the City of New York for funding the renovation to the tune of $4 million. I have been a big supporter of President and CEO Dr. Raymond Codrington who has been at the helm since 2021. My office directed $2 million in capital funds to help them continue their vital work. And Gov. Kathy Hochul announced earlier this month a $1 million investment for the Weeksville Heritage Center. The city and state are on one accord, committed not only to preserve the history of the Weeksville Heritage Center, but to also make it a destination for contemporary Black art and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Hunterfly Road Houses are the only African American historic site in the Northeast located on its original site. The community of Weeksville, in present-day Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant, was founded in 1848 by James Weeks, a formerly enslaved man from Virginia who purchased the land with a group of free Black men. By the 1850s, Weeksville had grown to more than 500 residents, becoming a haven for Black New Yorkers seeking opportunity and safety. It also served as a refuge during periods of racist violence, including the 1863 Draft Riots in Manhattan.<\/p>\n