749 Brook Ave
Ca. 1970 original

Casitas are inspired by vernacular housing from Puerto Rico's countryside. The typology originated during the 1920s and 30s, and consisted in balloon-frame structures that were made from scrap materials and were easy to disassemble. Casita Rincón Criollo, also known known as La Casita de Chema, was built in the late 1970s by José Manuel "Chema" Soto, when he and his neighbors reclaimed an abandoned, garbage-filled lot on the corner of 158th Street and Brook Avenue. It soon became a place to gather, garden, hold community events and pass down musical and cultural traditions. From 1987 to 1997, La Casita de Chema was part of the city's GreenThumb community garden program, until the City's Department of Housing, Preservation and Development (HPD) announced the lot would be auctioned for the development of low- income housing. Thanks to the efforts of community organizations, the structure was reassembled on its current location at Brook Avenue. This new iteration, although smaller than its predecessor, maintained the same layout, with a large front porch adorned by a diagonal cross balaustrade. The lot was also replanted with fruit trees and gardens of flowers and vegetables. La Casita is managed by community members, and welcomes people of all ages, becoming a powerful tool for community organizing and activism. It was listed on the State Register in 2023, and is being considered for the National Register of Historic Places.