Find the Right New York Neighborhood to Invest
Finding your way around New York City is very easy because there is a very clear idea behind the city’s layout of streets and avenues. With the exception of Lower Manhattan (below 14th Street), which was inhabited and developed before the rest of the city, you’ll see that streets are numbered and run from East to West. Avenues run from North to South and are marked with numbers or letters. Some avenues also have names, which are easy to remember: Park, Lexington, Madison, Broadway, Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue), Varick St. (7th), Central Park West (8th), Columbus (9th avenue), and Amsterdam (10th).
It is often said that New York is a city of multiple personalities. All neighborhoods bear strikingly different characteristics , which contribute to the varying lifestyles of their residents. When looking for your first New York City apartment to invest in or rent, you will feel the most comfortable if you find the neighborhood that matches your own personality and lifestyle.
MANHATTAN neighborhoods:
Financial District Read
Chinatown & Little Italy Read
SOHO, TriBeca, Nolita Read
Lower East Side & East Village Read
Greenwich Village, West Village Read
Chelsea Read
The Meatpacking District Read
Gramercy Square, Union Square & the Flatiron District Read
Midtown Manhattan Read
Upper East Side Read
Upper West Side Read
BROOKLYN neighborhoods:
Brooklyn Heights Read
Park Slope Read
DUMBO Read
BoCoCa Read
Carroll Gardens Read
Cobble Hill Read
Boerum Hill Read
Windsor Terrace Read
Prospect Hights Read
Fort Greene Read
Clinton Hill Read
Midwood Read
Williamsburg Read
BRONX neighborhoods:
Riverdale Read
Financial District
Occupying the southern tip of the island of Manhattan roughly below City Park Hall, this area is the financial heart of New York City and, arguably, the world. It boasts several beautiful buildings and historical sites such as the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street, Trinity Church, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Old Custom’s House, and many others.
The area is historically non-residential, with only about 30,000 permanent residents; a population that explodes to 300,000 during the work day. Drawn by the unparalleled convenience, though, for those who work downtown, the Financial District has become more residential and some of the area’s hi-rises have been converted from office into residential space. As a result, many businesses have emerged to service the community, so that today there are many more drug stores, restaurants, dry cleaners, and delis than there used to be.
For more sophisticated shopping and entertainment, you can go to the South Street Seaport, which is within walking distance from the Financial District and offers breathtaking views of the Hudson River, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Currently, the areas close to or especially facing Ground Zero are relatively inexpensive, but can be expected to rise in value once the area is rebuilt. As a result, many foreign investors choose to invest in this neighborhood in hopes for future appreciation of their investment.
Chinatown & Little Italy
New York City’s Chinatown is the country’s most famous, containing the highest concentration of Chinese inhabitants in the western hemisphere – at least 150,000 Chinese residents in a roughly 2 mile-square area. Chinatown is also probably the most eclectic area of Manhattan. With its booming fish and fruit markets and colorful souvenir shops, Chinatown impresses visitors as an exotic and very lively marketplace. For residents, it offers an affordable lifestyle with cheap and ethnic eateries, inexpensive shopping and convenient transportation. Most buildings are turn-of-the-century residential walk-ups and cast-iron buildings, but there are also a few recently built and/or modernized apartment buildings with elevators and additional amenities.
Over the recent years Chinatown has expanded and spilled over into other neighborhoods, and now borders on Delancey Street to the north, East Broadway to the east, Broadway to the west, and Chamber’s Street to the south.
Little Italy, for instance, has essentially been taken over by Chinatown, and now remains only somewhat distinguished by its architecture and touristy restaurants but lacking its former atmosphere.
SOHO, TriBeca, Nolita
These neighborhoods, with their rich history as manufacturing and distribution hubs, have been utterly transformed into very attractive, trendy residential areas with unmatched charm and architecture – and the prices to match.
TriBeCa
TriBeCa (Triangle Below Canal) is the historical site of the Washington market, which used to be the major food product distribution hub. Misleadingly, the area is more trapezoidal than triangular in shape, and stretches from Broome to Barclay Street and from Broadway to the Hudson River. During the 1970s the area’s abandoned spaces were transformed by young artists and families, and these days it ranks among the nation’s most affluent neighborhoods. Its a great investment option for lower risk investor since gentrification is already complete in this area. Sometimes you can still find great investment deals in this popular area.
Those who can afford it will find former warehouses and store-and-loft buildings that have been transformed into modern offices and fantastic luxury condos. Another draw is the high quality of the schools: both the acclaimed elementary school PS 234 and the Stuyvesant High School, one of New York City's prized Specialized Science High Schools, lie in the area. Busy during the day and very quiet at night, the area boasts famous restaurants and nightclubs. Most of TriBeCa’s residents commute daily to either Midtown or the Financial District, which are both just a short ride away.
SoHo
SoHo (South of Houston) was a center for textile industry following the Civil War; its cast-iron warehouses housed textile and other light manufactured goods. By the mid-20th century the area lost its value to the industry and was only narrowly saved by preservationists from destruction to build an expressway. The neighborhood developed from these depressed industrial roots into its present affluent status through what is now even called the "SoHo effect”: young artists and families move into the huge lofts with large windows and low rents left by industry, creating an attractive and unique area that gradually gentrifies as its desirability grows. Nowadays, the cobble-stone streets, cozy cafes and trendy boutiques attract many tourists and shoppers, and buyers will be hard pressed to find anything under $1 million. 19th century cast-iron warehouses are being rebuilt into condo and co-op buildings and offer a luxury lifestyle in the heart of Manhattan.
SoHo runs roughly from Houston Street in the north to Lafayette Street in the east, Canal Street in the south, and Varick Street on the west.
Nolita
Nolita (North of Little Italy) lies east of SoHo and north of Little Italy, and used to be the destination and the favored neighborhood of Italian immigrants. Nowadays, Nolita has lost most of its Italian atmosphere along with Little Italy itself, although it has retained a number of European restaurants and bakeries. The neighborhood is home to old-time residents as well as artists and young professionals, with a particularly large number of residents working in the film industry. Nolita has never quite become as trendy as SoHo or TriBeCa, but its residents enjoy the slightly lower rents and smaller crowds. The neighborhood certainly has its share of expensive restaurants and up-scale shops. Buildings here are a combination of SoHo-style cast-iron lofts and Lower East Side walk-up tenements.
Lower East Side & East Village
In the early 20th century this area saw a boom in tenement buildings construction to house New York’s millions of immigrants. In those days, this neighborhood was the most densely populated area in the world. Today, however, the Lower East Side is characterized by its young residents (under 30), abundant apartment houses (high-rises, walk-ups and occasional brownstones), a dynamic social scene and a hip lifestyle. The neighborhood’s immigrant character, both past and present, has created a deliciously varied culinary scene. Famous eateries include Katz’s Deli, a testament to the area’s previously strong Jewish character.
Above Houston Street lies the East Village. Once just considered the Lower East Side’s northwest corner, the neighborhood gentrified with the usual settlers of musicians and artists more quickly above Houston Street than below, and a unique neighborhood was born. The area is not just trendy but boasts an inviting neighborhood atmosphere. A large part of the East Village is called "Alphabet city,” with avenue names running from A to D. Tompkins Square Park is at the heart of it, and it is the venue for the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival (the famous Avenue B residence) and a popular recreation spot for local residents, students and tourists alike. Many of the clubs in the area formed the launching platform for groups such as the Strokes, the Beastie Boys, and the Ramones. Those looking for true artistic bohemia, though, might be disappointed by the area’s gentrification and should consider looking to Brooklyn.
Greenwich Village, West Villag
Once the center of Bohemian culture and home to all sorts of artists and political movements, Greenwich Village still exudes an air of creative and intellectual freedom despite its high rents. The Village, as it is often simply referred to, is filled with sense of community and pride for the historic significance of every building and street. It has a unique feel, drawing from its history as a separate village from the rest of the New York settlement, which is mostly easy to find in its unique non-grid street layouts. Perhaps best known for being the home of New York University and Washington Square Park, the area is also home to the historic Jefferson Market Library, Christopher Street, Stonewall Inn, Winston Churchill Square, as well as numerous sites popular for their affiliation with celebrities, books and movies.
Living in the Village will enable you to enjoy the serenity of narrow streets, elegant little squares and gardens, and turn-of-the-century townhouses and brick walk-ups. Unique architecture and the virtual absence of chain stores create an illusion that you are in a different city; however, a short stroll will bring you to either to the shopping Mecca of SoHo, to the galleries of Chelsea, the trendy clubs and restaurants of the Meatpacking district, or to the busy thoroughfares of Midtown.
Greenwich Village is bounded by Broadway on the east, the Hudson River on the west, Houston Street on the south, and 14th Street on the north, with Sixth Avenue demarking the approximate begin of West Village.
Chelsea
Occupying a large area to the West of the Sixth Avenue between the 14th and 34th Streets, Chelsea is a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures and one of the most desirable residential areas in the city. The area is famous for its acceptance of the gay-community, and has recently been attracting a large number of professionals, despite the so-so quality of the schools.
The neighborhood is primarily residential, with a mix of refurbished commercial warehouses and apartment buildings ranging from elegant townhouses to modern high-rises and lofts. The architecture is mostly urban, and the atmosphere is highly sophisticated due to the bustling arts scene, fine dining and clothing boutiques.
Together with The Meatpacking District this area is home to numerous art galleries, which sometimes line entire streets. The Meatpacking District has undergone a major transformation since 1990, becoming the most glamorous scene for fashion and nightlife with some of New York’s hottest clubs. The fact that these posh attractions are situated against a still-active meatpacking industry only adds to the area’s gritty hipness.
Gramercy Square, Union Square & the Flatiron District
The area encompasses 14th Street in the South and Madison Square Park in the North, and divides Lower Manhattan from Midtown.
Gramercy
Gramercy is a much desired neighborhood with a number of beautiful historic buildings mostly concentrated around the private Gramercy Park, to which only nearby residents receive a key. Its residents value the safe and quiet atmosphere of the area, the exclusivity of organizations like The Players’ Club, The Poetry Society of America and the National Arts Club, as well as the abundance of great restaurants and cultural attractions. The Player’s Club, for instance, was established in 1888 by the brother of President Lincoln's assassin, Edwin Booth, and on its member list once stood Mark Twain and Arthur Miller. Most buildings here are single-family townhouses and brownstones; however, in recent years, there has been construction of new condo and coop high-rises that have made this highly desirable residential area more accessible for newcomers – but without that coveted golden key. Gramercy is roughly bound by 14th Street, Third Avenue, 23rd Street, and Park Avenue South
Union Square
Union Square is home to the city’s busiest farmers’ market (Union Square Green market), offering a tremendous fruit and vegetable variety four days a week, and a place for artisans to sell their unique handcrafts, art, jewelry, etc. The square is a magnet for protests and public gatherings, from the 1861 protest of the fall of Fort Sumter to public mourning after 9/11. The area is a balanced mix of commercial and residential buildings and a popular destination for those seeking trendy bars and restaurants.
Flatiron District
The Flatiron District, named after the renowned triangular Flatiron building (at one time the tallest structure in the word), occupies a sort of no-man’s-land between the true neighborhoods of Midtown and East Village. This unique situation has its benefits, as the area is in a centrally located and primarily commercial, but without some of the bustle of Midtown. There are also beautiful apartments located in the typical Flatiron buildings with huge windows and moldings on the building facades.
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown is what non-New Yorkers usually think of when imagining New York City. Simply put, it is the busiest commercial district in the United States. Although this impression is accurate, Midtown also houses a large number of tenement buildings and modern high-rises. New residential developments are popping up all the time, and it has become a very convenient place to live.
To the West of 8th Avenue lies Hell’s Kitchen, whose locals are resisting calls to refer to it as the more marketable Clinton. Its proximity to Broadway and its abundance of affordable housing make this area very popular among aspiring actors, students and young people in general. For a long time zoning laws protected the low-rise character of the buildings here and prevented development in the area. The laws changed in the 1970s, allowing the building of a number of modern condo high-rises, which are now intermixed with pre-war brick walk-ups and refurbished industrials lofts. The area has a strong mix of ethnic and small local restaurants - including Ethiopian, Afghan, Peruvian - centered around Ninth Avenue, on which the Ninth Avenue Association's International Food Festival has been performing since 1974.
On the opposite side of the island, along the East River, Midtown East (also known as Turtle Bay) is also largely residential. The neighborhood has everyone from old money to blue-collar workers, with the diversity in lodgings to match. It includes the upscale neighborhoods of Sutton Place and Beekman Place, as well as the more affordable Murray Hill. Midtown East is home to the United Nations headquarters and to St. Patrick’s Cathedral – the largest decorated neo-gothic cathedral in the United States.
In between Midtown West and Midtown East lies the more centrally located Theatre District. This area is home to world-renowned theaters (on- and off-Broadway), Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Madison Square Garden, several museums along 53rd Street (including the Museum of Modern Art), shopping malls, and a number of architectural masterpieces such as the Empire State Building, the Chrysler building and Grand Central Terminal. The recent addition of the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle reinforced the significance of this area as an entertainment destination for New York residents and visitors.
Upper East Side
Laying to the East of Central Park, the Upper East Side is generally considered the most expensive residential area in the country, and has more of a conservative business atmosphere than the Upper West Side. However, you might find that the rental rates here are actually lower than those in the more trendy downtown neighborhoods. This is mainly the result of the fact that subway transportation is less convenient here compared to the Upper West Side, causing prices and general living expenses to fall a bit as one moves east of Third Avenue. However, there is a main subway line that runs down Lexington Avenue that will take you from the most northern tip of the island to the most southern tip.
The area is still known for being the "Silk Stocking District,” packed with the most elegant marble-faced townhouses built by wealthy magnates like the Astors and the Tiffanys in 1880-1900s. It offers the highest concentration of museums outside of Washington, D.C. It is here that you will find The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. In addition, it is also safe to say that if you are fond of fine dining or haute couture, the Upper East Side will satisfy even the most demanding tastes.
Upper West Side
This neighborhood, north of 59th Street (Columbus Circle) and to the west of Central Park, is very popular among individuals that are seeking a comfortable and healthy environment. Traditionally considered the liberal and intellectual heart of Manhattan, the Upper West Side (UWS) remains home to some of the most prominent museums, music halls, and perhaps the most prestigious and definitely the oldest school in the city - the Trinity School.
The close proximity to Central and Riverside Parks, the children-oriented attractions and many great schools make Upper West Side a very attractive option for families with children. The area also includes the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the American Museum of Natural History, the Children’s Museum, and Symphony Space. Another famous landmark is Tom’s Restaurant, immediately recognizable from the sitcom "Seinfeld”.
The Upper West Side is predominantly residential; hi-rises line the major thoroughfares, and low, 4-5 stories townhouses (old and new) are typically seen along the side streets. The prices are sky-high, but are still reasonable compared to comparable apartments in the Upper East Side.
BROOKLYN, Brooklyn Heights
Considered to be the nation’s first suburb, Brooklyn Heights is Brooklyn’s crown jewel and most posh (and expensive) neighborhood. Only a five minute subway ride to downtown Manhattan, this prime location is perfect for those who desire the convenience and amenities of living in Manhattan but with lower prices and room to raise a family. And while the subway (an ample nine lines run through the area) may be packed with suits during rush hour, Brooklyn Heights is hardly just Manhattan lite – the neighborhood possesses its own distinct character and neighborly charm. The streets are lined with a splendid mix of brownstones, Greek and Gothic Revival, and Federal-style houses, giving the neighborhood an atmosphere of historic New York that is only enhanced by knowledge of the area’s literary history, which includes one-time residency by Thomas Wolfe, W. H. Auden, Arthur Miller, and currently by Norman Mailer.
Brooklyn Heights runs between Atlantic Avenue and Clinton Street up to the East River, where the Promenade provides the best view in the city of the spectacular Manhattan skyline, all in the vicinity of three playgrounds and marvelous townhouses. Construction is set to begin this year for an 85-acre park on the shore of the East River, including beaches, playgrounds, and restored natural habitats, all of which is guaranteed to make the area even more desirable than ever.
BROOKLYN, Park Slope
As suggested by its name, Park Slope’s most coveted asset is its eastern border: the enormous 526-acre Prospect Park, an oasis in the middle of urban Brooklyn designed by the Central Park architects that includes a 60-acre lake and a nearly century old botanical garden that helped to make Park Slope one of Natural Home’s 2006 top 10 best "eco-neighborhoods,” in addition to the neighborhood’s generous supply of farmer’s markets, green space and public transportation. The neighborhood has an abundance of townhouses filled with families and young singles attracted to its friendly atmosphere and diversity, contributing to its recent boom of Zagat-listed restaurants and general trendiness.
Park Slope has historically been understood to be the downward sloping area west of Prospect Park, with borders at Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Expressway, and 3rd Avenue. As locals succinctly put it, "if it don’t slope, it’s not the Slope.” Most of the recent development in Park Slope then, has ironically taken place in what locals would characterize as Gowanus, a quainter, more industrial neighborhood to the west of Park Slope. Given its huge desirability and the strict preservation of green space, look for most of Park Slope’s development to take place here and on its northern border on Flatbush, where a greater array of subways and amenities make it perhaps more attractive.
BROOKLYN, DUMBO
DUMBO, the popular acronym for the less scenic sounding "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass,” is a rapidly changing neighborhood that stretches in one section between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges and another from the area east of the Manhattan Bridge to the Vinegar Hill area. Historically an artists’ haven because of low rents, the area has recently started to become gentrified as prices rise in other areas. Nonetheless, it has managed to maintain its artistic, experimental spirit (although not necessarily the poor artists themselves). The area’s cardboard factories and empty warehouses of years past have been transformed into fantastic lofts and creative spaces where independent manufacturers or artists craft furniture or design clothes.
Situated directly on the East River, DUMBO boasts spectacular views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge, which can be viewed publicly from Fulton Ferry and Empire-Fulton State Park, both named after Robert Fulton, who introduced steamboat service to the site in 1814 from a pier that is still preserved here. This, combined with the aforementioned iconic warehouse architecture, has made the area into a set for The Sopranos, Law & Order, and Sex in the City. DUMBO’s quiet streets are hugely appealing to families, and the neighborhood is set to become more so with the imminent expansion of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, complete with children’s playground. DUMBO offers an eclectic and enticing dining scene, such as Pete’s Downtown Restaurant and Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, as well as specialty shops such as Jacques Torres Chocolate.
BROOKLYN, BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens)
Although many locals resist attempts to refer to the three neighborhoods as the more trendy-sounding BoCoCa, these areas’ close proximity and similar character make a combination tempting. They were all first heavily developed in the late 19th century to serve the burgeoning Brooklyn maritime commercial industry, and since the 1960s have transformed into a lovely, upscale historic area filled with unique shops, restaurants, and broad, tree-lined streets with brownstones and row-houses that make this area one of the best places to live in Brooklyn. Most of the action takes place on three major routes that transverse the entire area, each with its own character: Smith Street, known for its restaurants, night life, and French influence; Court Street, with a wealth of Italian shops; and Atlantic Avenue, studded with antique stores and Middle Eastern cuisine and specialty shops.
BROOKLYN, Carroll Gardens
Visitors to Carroll Gardens find a vibrant, eclectic neighborhood alive with character derived from the area’s history of immigration from Ireland, Norway, and Italy. Named after the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, Charles Carroll, this area is distinguished by magnificent brownstones and their 30-40 feet long front lawns, the best examples of which can be found in the Carroll Gardens Historic District, a block-sized area located between Carroll Street, President Street, Hoyt Street and Smith Street.
Carroll Gardens has an undeniable Italian character complete with the chance to hear the language spoken on the streets, although the one-time dominance is fading as more outsiders move into the area. Al Capone was married in 1918 in the St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, and the nearby Gowanus Canal is rumored to have been the burying place of many of the mob’s victims. Such doings are now far in the past of this upscale neighborhood, in which its Italian character means primarily shops and great restaurants. Carroll Gardens borders Cobble Hill at Degraw Steet and Boerum Hill at Warren Street and extends south to Hamilton Avenue and Red Hook.
BROOKLYN, Cobble Hill
Cobble Hill lies adjacent with Brooklyn Heights and Boerum Hill and north of Carroll Gardens, with borders on Atlantic Avenue, Smith Street, Degraw Street, and Hicks Street, to the north, east, south and west, respectively. This prime location allows for a quick commute into Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, with slightly lower prices than those found in Brooklyn Heights. Attractions include Cobble Hill Park, designed with 19th-century materials such as blue stone, cast iron, and herringbone-patterned brick walkways, as well as its exceptional schools, including the Brooklyn School for Global Studies and the School for International Studies. Well known for its unique family owned restaurants and shops with names such as Stinky Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens offers a sophisticated and convenient lifestyle.
BROOKLYN, Boerum Hill
Between Smith Street and Third Avenue, Degraw Street and Atlantic Avenue and centrally located near Downtown Brooklyn, Boerum Hill has slowly transformed itself from a blighted district in the 1960s to a chic area sporting French bistros and trendy restaurants, although a few undeveloped patches still exist juxtaposed directly against graciously renovated homes. The extensive presence of Middle Eastern shops, mosques, and culture on Atlantic Avenue, taken together with the Brooklyn High School of Arts and the neighborhood’s annual "greening day” pay tribute to the area’s diverse past and present. Those looking for deals should look towards Gowanus, where the number of trees falls and the number of warehouses rises.
BROOKLYN, Windsor Terrace
Hiding in the shadows of its pricier neighbor Park Slope, Windsor Terrace is a slightly secluded and decidedly residential piece of authentic Brooklyn. Having largely escaped the skyrocketing prices of neighboring districts, this neighborhood has preserved its traditionally Irish and Italian character while in recent years adding more Hispanic (and yuppie) families. Residents have deep roots, with many homes having remained in the same families for generations, making available apartments scarce. The area has just begun to be discovered, attracting buyers with its small town atmosphere and rows of porch-fronted one-family homes, which can allow families to attain their dreams of home ownership that would be otherwise unattainable in pricier areas.
Windsor Terrace stretches between Green-Wood Cemetery and Prospect Park east to west (at its widest eight blocks) and Prospect Park West to Fort Hamilton Parkway north to south, with the nicest apartments found near Prospect Park, a magnificent 526-acre space complete with a botanical garden and children’s ball games in the summer. Those, however, who are drawn to the area’s feel of seclusion will have to be ready to pay the price: the commute to Midtown Manhattan lasts a crowded 35 to 40 minutes on the F line, on which both of the area’s two subway stations lie, and the neighborhood has few big retailers or especially noteworthy restaurants.
BROOKLYN, Clinton Hill
Clinton Hill is a small, fashionable, and wealthy neighborhood located to the east of Fort Greene, west of Bedford-Stuyvesant, north of Atlantic Avenue and south of Wallabout Bay. Its prosperty and affluence has deep roots; by the 1840s it was already a fashionable neighborhood, and the late 1880-90s oversaw the construction of many mansions, including four by millionare Charles Pratt, who built a mansion for himself and three of his sons as wedding presents. The Pratt Institute of Art, a world-famous art and design school, also bears his name, and is located along with St. Joseph’s College in this district. Students from these institutions, as well as a diverse mix of those with Italian, African, and Caribbean backgrounds live in the area.
Besides mansions, Clinton Hill contains magnificent brownstones and churches. Residents justly take great care and pride in their neighborhood and its historic district, as demonstrated by the Society for Clinton Hill, "a 30 year-old organization dedicated to preserving our wonderful neighborhood, its architectural history and structures, its friendly environment, and the safety and progress of all our residents.” Clinton Hill is about 40 minutes to Manhattan, with convenient car access over the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.
BROOKLYN, Prospect Heights
Those who can no longer afford the skyrocketing prices of Park Slope have been discovering neighboring Prospect Heights, a small, triangular neighborhood with borders on Fort Green and Crown Heights. While lacking the posh restaurants and scene of Park Slope, Prospect Heights also borders on Prospect Park, giving residents the same close access to this landmark’s wide spaces and Botanical Garden (read more under Park Slope). Although at times criticized for its lack of a distinctive culture – a charge levied more often in the last 5 years as young, mostly white refugees from more expensive areas flood in – Prospect Heights has a Caribbean character, and hosts a portion of the West Indian Day Parade, New York City’s largest parade. The neighborhood is also home to the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Grand Army Plaza, with its Saturday farmer's market. Homes in the area are mostly brownstone residential buildings that rarely exceed five stories, with some multi-unit apartment buildings.
Aptly named, Prospect Heights is one of Brooklyn’s highest neighborhoods and contains Mount Prospect, an approximately 8-acre park that was formerly a Continental Army lookout post. Views of Brooklyn and Manhattan are especially spectacular from the top floors of some buildings. Some of those views might be threatened by the Atlantic Yards development project, an enormous 22 acre project that will include a new stadium for the New York Jets as well as office and residential space. Construction began in February 2007, despite continued litigation over concerns of eminent domain abuses and over its possible destruction of Brooklyn’s character. The project has caused prices in Prospect Heights to rise, but will also increase the area’s importance and especially congestion, as no new major public transportation will be added to deal with the increased flows.
BROOKLYN, Fort Greene
Fort Greene is one of those neighborhoods that manage to combine it all without the outrageous prices of others – for now, at least. Architecturally it impresses with rows of the coveted brownstones, mid-19th century Italianate and Eastlake homes, tree-lined streets, and two beautiful churches, St. Michael and St. Edward. Thirty acre Fort Greene Park, the first urban park in the United States, founded at the urging of Walt Whitman by the designers of Central and Prospect parks, Frederick Law Olmstead & Culvert Vaux, is equipped with tennis courts and playgrounds and offers a popular gathering place for concerts and other events. The area is culturally packed with institutions such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Music School, the Brooklyn Technical High School (one of New York City’s most competitive public schools), and the Paul Robeson Theater, as well as the world-famous Pratt Institute located only a few blocks away in Clinton Hill.
Fort Greene has weathered gentrification well, preserving an eclectic racial and socioeconomic mix whose diversity has been preserved despite rising rent prices - and whose rarity in the city is a major draw for newcomers. This diversity has a long history, with Fort Greene being the site of Brooklyn’s first school for African-Americans and the site of much abolitionist work. To top it all off, the neighborhood is not only extremely well served by subway lines, but lies concurrent to Downtown Brooklyn, which is emerging as an alternative to Manhattan in its own right. More specifically, Fort Greene encompasses the area north of Atlantic Avenue, south of Nassau Street, and between Flatbush Avenue and Washington Avenue.
BROOKLYN, Midwood
The neighborhood of Midwood extends from the Brooklyn College campus of the City University of New York in the north to Kings Highway to the south, and from Ocean Parkway to Flatbush Avenue from west to east. It is a fantastic area to raise a family, with a secluded country-suburban feel created by the rows of shingled two-story houses with driveways and front lawns with flowers and over 18,000 shade trees. Midwood schools are top-notch: Midwood High School is distinguished for its numerous Intel science talent search awards; Murrow High School admits outstanding achievers from all over Brooklyn, with a special preference for Midwood residents; and Brooklyn College, which also includes the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, has a community membership project which allows residents to take advantage of its library, athletic, and fine arts facilities.
Midwood has a healthy share of famous one-time residents, including Woody Allen, Arthur Miller, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Marisa Tomei, and three US Senators. The area boasts vibrant racial diversity, with an established Orthodox and burgeoning Sephardic Jewish population, as well as new immigrants from the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, and India. As a result Midwood contains more than a dozen yeshivas, numerous kosher restaurants and shops that observe the Jewish Sabbath, and a large mosque. The selection, while diverse, may be found insufficient by those who enjoy the more refined cuisine found in Park Slope or Manhattan. For those who can’t live without certain amenities, Midtown is 45 minutes away on the Q express.
BROOKLYN, Williamsburg
Trendy hipsters. Burgeoning artists. Working class ethnic communities. Williamsburg, located on the northern part of Brooklyn between Flushing Avenue, Bushwick, and Kent Avenue, is a neighborhood in flux, full of contradictions. The area has historically been known for its high crime and working class, ethnic neighborhoods, which were primarily settled after the opening of the Williamsburg Bridge to Manhattan, which made Williamsburg for a time the most densely populated neighborhood in the country. Beginning in the 1970s, and accelerating in the 90s, artists and musicians began entering the area to take advantage of low rents and warehouses converted into lofts, so that today Williamsburg is considered the hippest place in New York. The area has produced innumerable indie bands such as Interpol or Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and is the best place in New York to hear live music from new groups. There is a tremendous amount of development, with both warehouses and current apartments alike being converted into new, often luxury, offerings. The North side area and Greenpoint Waterfront was just rezoned in 2005, primarily for mixed use high rises with residential space.
All of this change has created a neighborhood with an enormous social and ethnic diversity. Unfortunately, the area’s long time (less affluent) residents often resent the forced evictions and higher prices that newcomers have brought with them. These tend to be professionals or wealthier artists, making the area no longer ideal for poor struggling artists. Despite the controversy, Williamsburg is as varied and interesting a neighborhood as one can find. To the south one finds mostly Yiddish-speaking Hasidim; to the north Polish, Italians, and (increasingly) yuppies; to the east Italians, African-Americans, and Hispanics; and around Bedford Avenue Williamsburg’s hipster core. Furthermore, residents are able to enjoy this diversity one short metro stop from Manhattan.
BRONX, Riverdale
Located on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, the neighborhood of Riverdale is the most affluent in the Bronx - to the extent that many Bronx locals do not even consider it a true part of the borough. Here, bordered by Yonkers, Westchester County, Van Corltandt Park and Harlem River, it is true that residents could not be further removed from the television-inspired portrayal of Bronx violence and grime. The area is simply breathtaking, filled with stately Georgian- and Tudor-revival mansions and homes along winding tree-lined lanes near views over the Hudson River. Multi-story apartment buildings, co-ops, and condos tend to be more plentiful further from the river, where numerous mid- and high-rise condominiums were recently constructed. This choice neighborhood has been home to dozens of influential Americans, including Ella Fitzgerald, John F. Kennedy, Mark Twain, and Lou Gehrig.
Riverdale offers its residents an excellent quality of life. Elite education is available at all levels, with excellent private and public high schools, such as Horace Mann and the Bronx High School of Science, and the two Roman Catholic colleges of Manhattan College and the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Wave Hill on the Hudson River contains a botanical garden and outdoor art gallery with views of the river. The area between the Hudson River from 252nd to 254th Streets and Independence Avenue and Riverdale Park, and Fieldston, a private, leafy community, were both designated New York City historic districts in 1990 and 2006, respectively. Riverdale hosts significant Irish American and Jewish communities. Transportation is heavily car-based, although the Grand Central Terminal is reachable in around 22 minutes with the MTA No. 1 train, and access to Westchester County and New Jersey is especially convenient.
