Alicia Boyd: Proud Townhome Owner, Anti-Gentrification Activist

Alicia Boyd and I agree on a lot of things. I've got problems with massive, indiscriminate, City-sponsored people-hemorrhaging gentrification. I don't like the class and race implications either. I don't like racial segregation. But...I'm for rezoning, proper planning, height limits, building new affordable units whatever way we can, extracting all the best for the neighborhood while recognizing that SOMEone has to pay for it. And I'm 100% sure we can get it right when it comes to absurd "poor doors" and unfair credit checks. Get to work electeds! That's your job.

It's a matter of a difference of opinion. But last night wasn't about opinions. It was about drawing out the anti-gentrification forces, people who feel marginalized and fearful and angry, and, I must point out, not just a few utter nutjobs. It's a "movement," and right now they're rebels without a cause, looking for somewhere to place their anger. A public meeting is a great place to do it. The cops can't keep you out, and the press often comes. The elected officials send reps or show up. (No one from Mathieu Eugene's office...I think there was a Christening in Canarsie they had to attend).

And here's one I don't hear a lot. I also think that others deserve a chance to live a life near Prospect Park and the Garden. It's pretty sweet, y'all. Saying no to new residential is basically saying "I got mine, forget about you." And it also means that any hope of new housing for the displaced won't...oh god, here I am again...press forward, Q. You've heard this tune too many times.

MTOPP successfully shut down the Community Board last night. But she can't shut down the Q. No one but me even spoke up in CB9's defense - all the hard work we'd put in to get City Planning to listen and consider our concerns. It was the weakest showing of supposed "leaders" I have ever seen. Karim Camara and reps from every major official, from the Mayor on down, were there and they were absolutely floored, speechless. The guy from Yvette Clarke's followed me out to the parking lot with eyes wide saying "how could you let this happen? this was INSANE!" I told him L'shanah Tova and rode home.

Speaking of homes, have I got a GREAT AIRBnB for you! On Sterling Street! At the home of MTOPP's glorious leader, Alicia Boyd, the firebrand who brought down the Community Board last night. The champion of the dispossessed, the crusader for no new development, has good reason to fear the jackhammers and loss of parking spaces (MTOPP - Movement TO Protect Parking). She makes a pretty penny renting out space in her lovely townhome on Sterling.

Last night people I was amused to read her AirBnB listing, but by this morning it had been taken down. However, you should be able to get in the backdoor by googling "Alicia Boyd" and Airbnb together. The page is still cached on the internets.


BUT, just in case you were curious, I've cut and pasted the public listing. So much to say here...I particularly love her promoting Barkley's (sic" Center. Oh, and the line "I have a great respect for other people's beliefs and behaviors." Hmmm.

My place has it all!!! 

From the Five trains stations Q, B, 2, 5, & S, to cultural institutions which include the Park, Garden, Museum, Zoo, Lake House, Farmers Market, Summer Concerts etc..., to restaurants serving real ethnic cuisine (Italian, India, Caribbean, Mexican, West Indian etc...) at neighborhood prices!, to living in a private house on a beautiful tree line block!

In a tenement city, Townhouse living is a rare and wonder adventure that you can only appreciate by experiencing it. 

So read on....

My Limestone Town House is what has made Brooklyn so famous. The New York Times (March 8, 2013) said this about Lefferts Garden; “…. full of prewar apartments and brownstone and limestone town houses. The proximity to the park, the architecture and the relatively easy access to Manhattan, on the 2, 5, B and Q trains, are among the assets… ‘They (residents) like the sense of community, friendliness of the neighbors, and the mom-and-pop shops that come along with it.’”

This turn of the last century Limestone townhouse, located in Leffart's Gardens, has all the trimmings of elegance, style and comfort. You will find no glass and steel here! There are original parquet floors, with area rugs and large sofas for comfort. All the woodwork is original, haven been done by hand, by laborers, long since past.

There are large crystals, all over the house, reflecting both natural and artificial light to bring not only the beauty of the earth into this house but to help keep the energy clear and tranquil.

This is the house you want to come back to after a long day in the noisy city. Here you take off your shoes and relax. You can feel the healing energy in the environment and can image yourself truly at home! To maximize the natural lighting this house gets from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, are large bay windows, with Italian curtains to add elegance and charm to the warmth created by the woodwork and floors. 

There is a large elegant dining area, with a table that can sit up to 12 people, just in case you want to have a more formal function.*
There is a working fireplace* to add another element of warmth and comfort on those really cold nights. In the summer, the backyard boasts a jacuzzi* built into the deck, surrounded by flowers. 

Want to barbeque?* No problem! There is also a built in barbeque pit for those late night barbeques or just to sit outside on a chilly evening and get warmed by the fire. I do have a cat, but she spends most of her time outside, except in very cold weather. She is fully house broken, and doesn't go on furniture, beds, chairs or couches, thus there aren't any hairs in these settings and she and is very quiet. There is no cat litter in my home, because she goes outside, so there is no odor of cats or cat litter. 

Just a few steps away from my home are several major cultural institutions. Prospect Park, Prospect Park Zoo, The Carousel and the Botanical Gardens are a block away. And right up the hill is the Brooklyn Public Library, The Brooklyn Museum, Grand Army Plaza and on Saturdays, The Farmers Market!

It is also two stops away (three minutes) from Barkley's Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, (who are now in 2nd place!), the Long Island Railroad and four stops (ten minutes) away from Manhattan.
Mass transit is a plus. There is the B, Q and S to C trains on one side and the 2, 5 trains on the other, along with a host of bus service.

My block really embodies the reason why people love Brooklyn. We get great sun, because almost all our homes are two story private houses. We have a strong Block Association, and our neighbors have been described as Down South Hospitality People.

It truly is a lovely block, with friendly neighbors, lovely homes and of course beautiful gardens. It really is one of the main reasons our block won the contest!

When you walked down the street don't be surprised if someone says hi to you and really means it. We are truly a loving community.
Parking is a plus because on one side there are private driveways, which means there are always ample parking space available on the street.

Brooklyn Town Houses are truly the gem of New York City.
Our streets are intimate, sunny and friendly and yet just minutes away from all the action!

*Require additional fees for use


I am a Reiki Master, Developmentalist, Educator, Writer and I run a Non-for profit organization. I work inside my home as an alternative health practitioner. I'm quiet, tranquil and easy to get along with. I have a very sunny disposition and I love to enjoy life. I'm a Taurus Sun, with a Rising Cancer, so I enjoy an elegant environment, but one that is also cosy and inviting. 

I enjoy traveling and meeting people from different cultures and backgrounds. 

I believe in the idea of oneness and I always fine myself in the expression of others. 

I have a very deep sense of myself as a spiritual person, and at the same time I have a great respect for other people's beliefs and behaviors.

I love New York City and believe that Brooklyn truly is the best place to live, if you have to reside in an Urban area in America. We have such a diverse array of people, cultures and activities and we are growing in leaps and bounds. All over Brooklyn there are cafes, lounges, bars and cultural institutions just popping up. And all of these places can be both culturally and spiritually uplifting to the human spirit and I love it all! 

From the free concerts in Prospect Park, to the Eclectic Art Exhibits at the Brooklyn Museum, to the jazz cafes on Flatbush Ave. It is all here in Brooklyn!

In fact, in the summer I find it hard to leave, because everything seems to come to us, so why go anywhere else? And a lot of it is free! In fact the hardest problem I have is choosing which event to go to! Now that we have the New Stadium - Barclay Stadium, I can't wait to see what free goodies we will be exposed to from that Venue.
My favorite thing to do is to go to the Prospect Park, get some some sun, eat a sandwich from the local bodega (Hispanic store) and read a book!

I enjoy international travel and by far my favorite place is Italy, not only because the people are really warm and friendly but the food is absolutely to die for! They really embody the joy and importance of eating healthy and simple. And boy do they like to eat and socialize!
My favorite place to visit spiritually is Bali, for they have encompassed the idea of incorporating a strong sense of spiritual awareness into their daily lives. This is a culture that smiles and so do I!

I also am a gardener. I love to play music in the summer, so that I can sing to my plants as I water them. As a Taurian, I love the Spring, so I always make a great effort to create a wonderful spring garden. It is how I make my contribution to my block, neighborhood and mother nature, by providing beauty into the world of concrete sidewalks and skyscrapers.