The stately Renaissance Revival mansion that quietly sits in the middle of Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood at 375 Stuyvesant Avenue is an unassuming structure that has been among the earthy layouts of brick and brownstone façades in the area since it was built around 1914. Originally known as the home of brewer Otto Seidenberger, it became more widely known as the residence of Dr. Josephine English, a pioneering gynecologist who became the first Black woman to open a private practice in New York. But now community members worry that the historic edifice, which is part of the Stuyvesant Heights Historic District, is on the verge of being sold and a dilemma has surfaced over its future and the impact a sale will have on the neighborhood around it.
“I’ve just seen many different things there,” Rick Richardson, who has had a connection to 375 Stuyvesant — a place he calls “The People’s Mansion” — for more than 20 years, said. He mentioned that he’s done odd jobs in the building to help maintain it and has participated in community events and parties there over the years.
“In keeping with Dr. English’s wishes,” Richardson said, “the space is needed for the community. So many things are being torn down, and our children won’t know about this. … We are just the caretakers for the next generation of places like the People’s Mansion at 375 Stuyvesant.”
“Dr. English was entrusted with helping bring life into this world, like with Malcolm X’s daughters,” Richardson remembered, noting the historical figures connected to her legacy. “Her contemporaries were, you know, James Baldwin and Paul Robeson, people who were change-makers. She acquired property at a time when women in general couldn’t even open a bank account, which speaks volumes about her strength and character. I mean, this is not just another building.”
When Dr. English died in 2011, she left the house to her three sons but reportedly specified that part of the property be used as a community center for the neighborhood. Over the years, the building has become an important cultural and community center for local organizers, with many events taking place there. But now many are afraid it could fall into developers’ hands.
After initially fearing that the building might be sold through a court order, Bedford-Stuyvesant residents and activists attending a meeting at the site on Nov. 22, learned that members of Dr. English’s family no longer want to continue the fight to own it.
Two of Dr. English’s three heirs have submitted a petition to the Kings County courts asking to sell the estate, citing mismanagement by the third heir. The petition to sell the property was filed based on claims by two of her sons, who alleged that the third son was negligent in failing to pay overdue property taxes that had accumulated over the years.
Because of unpaid taxes, the property was seized and sold at auction, according to NYC Finance Department records. Dr. English’s heirs challenged the sale in court but lost. At this point, activists fear that anyone interested in buying the property and gaining control of it could do so.
“So now we’re trying to mobilize,” Shanna Sabio, the co-founding director of the community design and development organization GrowHouse NYC, told the AmNews. GrowHouse NYC have been the leading advocate in a push to purchase the property. They already launched a GoFundMe campaign for funds to cover legal fees, stabilize and preserve the building, and ensure the continuation of existing programming.
Estimates value the house — a 9-bedroom, 4-bathroom, 10,000-square-foot mansion — between $2 million and $4 million. GrowHouse NYC wants to acquire the property, along with two others once owned by Dr. English in the Fort Greene neighborhood, and hold and manage them all through the BLAC Land Trust to prevent them from being sold on the market.
“So, it’s not just about getting 7000 signatures — which is great,” Sabio said, “but about converting that support into actual dollars and accountability from elected officials who might have some funds in their budgets to put toward a purchase. That’s basically where we are. We’re against the clock, and we’re also in contact with the family’s attorneys to see what a down payment might look like.”
Michael Henry Adams photos
Designed by Petit, Kirby, and Green, this Neo-Renaissance style house is one of three on its block Credit: Michael Henry Adams 
Beamed and wainscoted, in addition to a remarkable tiled fireplace, the dining room boasts a welcoming window seat and a built-in sideboard Credit: Michael Henry Adams 
Composed of Moravian tiles along with figurative corbels, the dining room chimneypiece is a tour de force Credit: Michael Henry Adams 
During the Ford Family’s tenure, the leaded glass bookcases flanking the living room mantelpiece displayed elegant porcelain Credit: Michael Henry Adams
Activists are trying to secure the funds to buy the building by seeking support from city and state officials, philanthropic foundations, and community donors. Local politicians have offered assistance to keep the property in community hands.
“Saving the historic English Mansion at 375 Stuyvesant Avenue is a priority for me because it preserves Dr. English’s legacy, and reflects the cultural, architectural, and civic heritage of Bedford-Stuyvesant,” said State Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman, who represents the district. “My office is actively working with state agencies, community partners, and advocates to identify the pathways and funding mechanisms that can support community acquisition and long-term stewardship of this beloved property.”
“The most powerful way for us to protect 375 Stuyvesant Avenue is by staying engaged and unified,” Zinerman continued. “When residents lift their voices, work alongside preservation partners, and help tell the story of this home’s significance, we strengthen every pathway toward community ownership. Together, we can ensure this landmark remains a source of pride and purpose for future generations.”
City Council Member Chi Ossé’s office added that they are also reviewing the ongoing situation.
“We are in consistent communication with the family of Dr. English, community stakeholders, and intend to meet with the Attorney General’s office to seek further support,” Ossé said. “While we are still determining the best course of action, if the community identifies a viable path to purchase the property, our office will fully support that effort.”
Sabio told the AmNews that GrowHouse had also received promises of support from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office. A representative at James’ office told this paper that, “At this point, our office is only monitoring this situation at this location.”
Still, support from political representatives won’t be available until the next fiscal year, and activists want to have funds accessible immediately to prevent the buildings’ sale on the open market where it could fall into the hands of developers, and to start investing in repairs and restoration.
People interested in supporting the ongoing GoFundMe campaign or willing to volunteer their accounting, fundraising, or social media skills to help acquire and restore 375 Stuyvesant are encouraged to contact GrowHouse NYC via their website at https://www.growhousenyc.org/ or email shanna@growhousenyc.org.