Gut Renovation

Gut Renovation tells the inside story of the rezoning, demolition and repurposing of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Friedrich details the heart-rending loss of a thriving community of working class residents and artists, as well as the loss of many beautiful old industrial buildings that accommodated hundreds of small businesses, manufacturers, and artists’ studios, including the eccentric communal loft that was her home for 20 years. Along the way, Friedrich slyly skewers the city planners, ad men, developers and architects, as well as the new homeowners they attract with their offers of tax-free luxury living “with a bohemian twist.”