Historic Hunterfly Road Houses in Weeksville Reopen After $4M Renovation

The 19th-century homes were part of one of the nation's largest free Black communities before the Civil War.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Four historic wood-frame homes that were part of the 19th-century free Black community of Weeksville in Brooklyn have reopened after undergoing a $4 million renovation. The Hunterfly Road Houses at the Weeksville Heritage Center received $1.2 million in state funding to maintain the homes, support staff and daily tours, and expand literacy and community programs.

Why it matters

The restoration of the Hunterfly Road Houses preserves an important piece of New York City's history, highlighting the story of Weeksville, one of the largest free Black communities in the country before the Civil War. The homes served as a sanctuary offering safety, dignity, and opportunity for Black residents in the face of economic injustice and systemic racism.

The details

The renovation project, led by the city's Departments of Cultural Affairs and Design and Construction, restored the facades, siding, windows, doors, and front porches of the four homes. Roofs, gutters, and leaders were also repaired, and wood brackets along the roofline were removed and replaced to improve structural integrity. A climate-controlled storage room was added in the cellar of one of the homes to help preserve historical artifacts, and plumbing, exterior lighting, fire alarms, and security camera systems were also upgraded.

  • The Hunterfly Road Houses at the Weeksville Heritage Center reopened last week after the renovation.
  • Last month, the center received $1.2 million in state funding to maintain the historic homes, support staff and daily tours, and expand literacy and community programs.

The players

Weeksville Heritage Center

A vital community institution that documents, preserves and interprets the history of free African American communities in Weeksville, Brooklyn and beyond.

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who announced the reopening of the Hunterfly Road Houses.

Dr. Raymond Codrington

The president and CEO of the Weeksville Heritage Center who emphasized the significance of the restoration and its role in preserving history.

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What they’re saying

“Weeksville tells the story of Black New Yorkers who built freedom for themselves in a country that tried to deny them it. It was a sanctuary that offered safety, dignity, and opportunity in the face of economic injustice and systemic racism.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (6sqft.com)

“This restoration was more than facades, windows, and foundations. It was about fortifying memory. It was about ensuring that future generations can stand where we stand and understand that freedom here was lived, organized, and defended. Together, we commit to safeguarding spaces like Weeksville so that truth has a home and sanctuary has an address.”

— Dr. Raymond Codrington, President and CEO of the Weeksville Heritage Center (6sqft.com)

The takeaway

The restoration of the Hunterfly Road Houses in Weeksville, Brooklyn preserves an important piece of New York City's history, highlighting the story of one of the largest free Black communities in the country before the Civil War. This project ensures that the legacy of resilience, self-determination, and community-building in Weeksville will continue to be shared with future generations.