Brooklyn Borough Hall Is Falling Into Disrepair
Help us protect one of NYC's most significant historic landmarks.
Brooklyn Borough Hall, once a proud symbol of civic identity, is now in a state of alarming decay. The marble columns are cracked and rust-streaked, the stairs are covered in graffiti and grinding damage from skateboarding, and the fencing around the plaza is broken and rusted. Staining, vandalism, and years of neglect reflect a total lack of maintenance, and there's no public plan in place to fix it. Without immediate action, this historic landmark faces irreversible damage.
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Decades of Neglect Have Taken a Visible Toll
Brooklyn Borough Hall is deteriorating before our eyes. Once a proud symbol of Brooklyn's civic identity, this historic structure now suffers from widespread damage, neglect, and a lack of ongoing maintenance. Despite its landmark status and continued use as a government building, no visible restoration plan is in place.
Major issues include:
Metal bands have severely eroded and rusted over time, leaving deep rust stains on the marble and accelerating surface deterioration.
The steps are covered in graffiti and show extensive grinding damage from skateboarding, reflecting frequent misuse and absence of protective measures.
Years of grime, pollution, and water infiltration have darkened the marble facade, with patches of mildew and biological growth spreading across the surface.
The decorative iron fencing around the plaza is visibly rusted, bent, and broken. Several posts are dislodged or missing, creating a visual blight and public safety issue.
Litter regularly accumulates on the steps and plaza, and many planters are filled with dead or unmaintained vegetation, reflecting an uncared for landscape.
These are not isolated problems; they reflect systemic neglect. Without immediate intervention, Brooklyn Borough Hall's condition will continue to deteriorate, putting one of New York City's most iconic civic buildings at risk of irreversible damage.
Why It Matters
Brooklyn Borough Hall is more than a historic building; it is a symbol of civic pride, a cornerstone of the borough's identity, and a rare architectural treasure in New York City.
Completed in 1848, the building was designed by architect Gamaliel King in the Greek Revival style, symbolizing the democratic ideals of a once-independent Brooklyn. Before it became part of New York City in 1898, this structure served as Brooklyn's city hall for over fifty years. Today, it continues to function as the seat of the Brooklyn Borough President and hosts official civic functions, public events, and legal proceedings.
Borough Hall is one of the finest surviving examples of 19th-century civic architecture in New York. It is one of the few public buildings in the city still clad in its original Tuckahoe marble, a now scarce material that once graced numerous iconic structures, including Federal Hall and the Washington Square Arch.
Maintaining civic buildings, such as Borough Hall, is crucial because they preserve our shared history, foster civic pride, and reflect our commitment to public institutions. Their presence anchors neighborhood identity, supports education, and inspires future generations to value community, architecture, and democratic space.
Its historic, architectural, and civic value is unquestionable. But its current state of neglect sends the unmistakable message: Brooklyn's past and its public spaces are not worth preserving.
We wholeheartedly disagree. We believe Brooklyn Borough Hall deserves to stand tall, not as a monument to neglect, but as a symbol of stewardship, pride, and resilience. Preserving Borough Hall isn't just about saving a building. It's about respecting the borough's history, honoring its role in shaping the city, and ensuring that future generations have a visible, dignified connection to Brooklyn's civic roots.
Brooklyn Borough Hall building deserves care, not corrosion. It should represent Brooklyn's pride, not its abandonment.
Sign the Petition
Brooklyn Borough Hall, the historic heart of the borough, is falling into severe disrepair and the city has no public plan to fix it.
Cracked marble columns, rust-stained facades, grinding damage from skateboarding, broken fencing, graffiti, and trash buildup reflect years of neglect. This is unacceptable for a landmarked government building that still serves as the seat of Brooklyn's borough government.
The once-bright Tuckahoe marble facade is now discolored by rust, grime, wax, and biological growth. The columns are cracked and stained, the stairs are scarred by skateboarding and graffiti, and the plaza fencing is rusted, bent, and broken. Litter piles up. Planters are dead. This landmarked civic building, still in daily use, looks abandoned.

And yet, there is no public restoration plan. No maintenance schedule. No accountability.
We are calling on the following city entities to take immediate, public, and accountable action:
  • The New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)
  • The Brooklyn Borough President's Office
  • The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC)
We demand that they:
Conduct Assessment
Conduct a full structural assessment of the building, including its facade, steps, and plaza.
Develop Plan
Develop and publicly release a restoration plan with a clear timeline and dedicated funding.
Establish Maintenance
Establish a routine maintenance and cleaning program, including graffiti removal and skate deterrents.
Restore Fencing
Fully restore the broken iron fencing and replace any missing or damaged components.
Revitalize Landscaping
Revitalize the landscaping and ensure the site reflects the dignity of a public civic space.
This petition is organized by Friends of Brooklyn Borough Hall, a community-driven group advocating for the protection and restoration of one of New York City's most historic public landmarks.
Add your voice. Demand action. Help preserve Borough Hall before the damage becomes irreversible.
Get Involved
We can't preserve Brooklyn Borough Hall without public pressure — and that starts with you.
Here's how you can help:
Sign and share the petition
Your signature matters. Share it with friends, neighbors, and community groups to help us build momentum.
Contact your representatives
Email or call the Brooklyn Borough President, your City Council member, or the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Let them know that Borough Hall's condition is unacceptable.
Document what you see
If you spot new damage, graffiti, or signs of neglect, take a photo and send it to us. Every image helps build the case for urgent repair.
Even small actions make a difference. Together, we can demand the care and respect this landmark deserves.
About Us
Friends of Brooklyn Borough Hall is a grassroots preservation and advocacy group committed to protecting one of New York City's most significant civic landmarks.
We are residents, preservationists, historians, and public space advocates who believe that Brooklyn Borough Hall deserves better than rusted columns, chipped steps, and decades of neglect. This building is not only a historic icon, but also an active seat of government, a symbol of Brooklyn's identity, and a public space designed to serve and inspire.
Our mission is to raise awareness about the deteriorating condition of Brooklyn Borough Hall, hold city officials accountable for its upkeep, and advocate for meaningful restoration and long-term maintenance. Through community engagement, public pressure, and education, we aim to ensure that this landmark is not only saved but respected.
Brooklyn's civic architecture should reflect Brooklyn's pride. We're here to make sure it does.