2. The neighborhood’s streets are made of Belgian Blocks, not cobblestones
Vinegar Hill primarily consists of Federal and Greek Revival-style homes amid industrial buildings. The Vinegar Hill Historic District, one of the smallest in New York City, has enabled the preservation of much of the historic properties, as well as the area’s picturesque streets. Adding to the quaintness, many of the streets including Hudson Avenue, Plymouth Street, Water Street, and Front Street are paved in belgian blocks (not cobblestones as many call them).
Belgian blocks are rectangular quarried stones used for paving roads, in contrast to cobblestones which are more natural in shape and less uniform in size. Belgian block streets are common in Dumbo and Red Hook, and it is estimated that there are only about 15 miles of Belgian blocks remaining across all of New York City, concentrated mainly at South Street Seaport.