Brownstoner
{{Short description|American website and magazine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
Brownstoner began as "a Brooklyn-based website"{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/18/nyregion/the-community-newspaper-queen-of-queens.html|title=The Community Newspaper Queen, of Queens|author=Corey Kilgannon |date=October 18, 2017}} and in 2017 added a printed edition. It is currently owned by Schneps Communications, a local operator of other newspapers and digital publications.
History
=Weblog=
Originally titled Brownstoner Magazine, it began as a blog{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/magazine/mag-20KeyScofflaw-t.html
|title=The Supersizer of Brooklyn
|author=Andrew Rice |date=March 18, 2011}} in 2004.{{cite web
|website=The New York Times
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/30/realestate/queens-the-new-frontier-for-a-brooklyn-blogger.html
|title=Queens: The New Frontier for a Brooklyn Blogger
|author=Vera Haller |date=June 28, 2013}} A sister site named Queens Brownstoner was begun in 2013 by Brownstoner founder{{cite web |website=The New York Times
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/realestate/25cov.html
|title=And the Blog Goes On |author=Samantha Storey
|date=January 23, 2009 |accessdate=March 25, 2019}} Jonathan Butler, who also launched the Brooklyn Flea[http://www.BrooklynFlea.com Brooklyn Flea] and Smorgasburg.[http://www.smorgasburg.com smorgasburg]
One of Brownstoner's bloggers is a lay historian who writes weekly about Brooklyn architecture,{{cite news |newspaper=The New York Times
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/nyregion/blogger-keeps-focus-on-brooklyn-architecture-but-now-mostly-from-upstate.html
|title=Blogger Keeps Focus on Brooklyn Architecture, but Now Mostly From Upstate
|author=Sharon Otterman |date=February 24, 2014}} contributes to the site's award feature, and also does a post each month on upstate New York architecture."Writing under the pen name Montrose Morris"{{cite magazine
|website=The New York Observer
|url=https://observer.com/2012/09/goodbye-montrose-morris-brooklyn-will-not-be-the-same-without-you
|title=Goodbye Montrose Morris, Brooklyn Will Not Be the Same Without You
|author=Matt Chaban |date=September 5, 2012}}
=BlankSlate=
Brownstoner was acquired by BlankSlate in 2015 after 10 years and over 42,000 blog posts.{{cite web
|url=https://www.brownstoner.com/announcement/brownstoner-has-been-acquired-by-blankslate
|title=Brownstoner Has Been Acquired by BlankSlate
|author=Cate Corcoran |date=March 16, 2015}} BlankSlate was founded by Kael Goodman as a digital marketing agency; Brownstoner was a client.
=Schneps Communications=
Schneps Communications acquired Brownstoner from BlankSlate in 2017.{{cite web
|url=https://www.brownstoner.com/announcement/brownstoner-schneps-communications-blankslate-acquisition
|title=Big News: Brownstoner Has a New Owner|date=9 February 2017}} Schneps also publishes Brokelyn, The Brooklyn Home Reporter, The Brooklyn Spectator and The Queens Courier.
Building of the day award
Brownstoners Building of the Day' award recognizes architectural notability.{{cite web |website=Brownstoner.com (Brownstoner Magazine)
|url=https://www.brownstoner.com/architecture/building-of-the-day-649-677-east-91st-street
|title=Building of the Day: 649-677 East 91st Street
|author=Suzanne Spellen |date=September 23, 2013}}"Listing of the day" is how Butler's Queens Brownstoner lists that publication's awards
Coverage
Brownstoner writes about the past and the present, and has covered topics including:
- A 1650s building believed to be the oldest existing building in New York State
- The laying out of the NYC street grid
- Effects of the development of the NYC train system's three component divisions on the growth of housing
- Areas that remained farmland even as parts of Brooklyn were growing into a city
- Noting a web site that listed more than 100 "micro-neighborhoods" in Brooklyn
- Covering smaller two-family houses developed by Fred Trump, who was better known for his larger buildings.
The site averages 15 to 20 posts per day on various local subjects of interest. Brownstoner founder Butler conceded that much of his eclectic material comes from tips."Bean & Bean .. new location .. wasn’t even on their Web site .. (someone) sent me a photo"