The most expensive real estate are row houses, some of which sell above $10million. Next are prestigious coop apartments like 2 Montague Terrace and 1 Pierrepont Street, also in the millions. Overall supply is tight, demand high and many people are priced out of the Heights.
The Height's waterfront was a topic to either be avoided (abandoned piers, parking lots and storage sheds) or passionately discussed (future use) as long as I can remember. It appears that plans to develop the Brooklyn Bridge Park will proceed, despite the economic downturn and the city's projected budget shortfall. I believe it when I see it! The plan calls for an 85-acre project with 76 acres of protected parkland supported by 8.2 acres of commercial development (marinas etc.). It will stretch from the Dumbo waterfront, where a park already exists, to the end of Atlantic Avenue. You find current information on the websites of the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Development Corporation.
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Boundaries: The Heights stretches from Atlantic Avenue to Fulton Street and from the East River to Court Street. Adjacent neighborhoods: Dumbo, Downtown Brooklyn, Cobble Hill Subway stops: No neighborhood in New York City is better served by subways than the Heights. You can take the M, R, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Court Street. Ferry: The East River Commuter Ferry on Fulton Ferry Landing takes you to Pier 11 on Wall Street. It is operated by NY Water Taxi. |
History: Before Dutch farmers settled this bluff above the East River in the mid 17th century, the area was called Ihpetonga, the "high sandy bank" by the Canarsie Indians. The Dutch established an active farming area here supplying Manhattan with produce. After the defeat in the Battle of Long Island George Washington and his troops retreated to the Heights. Washington was able to save remnants of the army by transferring them in dense fog to Lower Manhattan. Later the farms were subdivided into smaller plots and rich merchants established their mansions here. Hezekiah Pierpont, a rich merchant and landowner in the Heights, advertised the area in 1823 as "a home in the country with all the convenience of the city." Robert Fulton's regular steamboat service between Manhattan and Brooklyn in 1814 lead to further construction as did the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883. The many beautiful brownstone row houses filled the gaps between the mansions. In the late 19th century the Heights was one of the most upscale neighborhood in New York City.
The Heights became less exclusive with the construction of the IRT subway in 1908. This is when high society moved to the Upper East Side and the Heights' large Victorian mansions were subdivided into smaller apartments. Writers and artists were attracted to the neighborhood and many hotels were built, such as the Bossert, the Leverich Towers, the Margaret and the huge St. George. After World War II people moved to the newly established outer suburbs and the Heights fell on hard times. Only in the late 1960s did a revival start and by the early 1980s the Heights were back to its old glory.
If you walk through the North Heights you wonder about the streets being named Cranberry, Pineapple, Orange, Poplar and Willow Streets. The story goes that until the mid 19th century these streets bore the names of prominent local families. A certain Miss Middagh, an influential member of the Brooklyn society, disliked these names, some of the descendents were her neighbors. She arranged that these street signs were torn down and substituted with placards bearing botanical names. A tug of war ensued, the original signs were replaced by the authorities, but she again changed them. In the end the authorities gave in and accepted her signs as official. But one street in the North Heights street retains its original name: Middagh Street!
Schools: P.S.8 is the public school here (Pre-K to 5). Amongst the private schools both Packer Collegiate Institute, founded in 1845 and St.Ann's School are amongst the best New York City has to offer. Other excellent private schools are Brooklyn Heights Montessori School and the Brooklyn Friends School, founded by Quakers in 1867.
St. Francis College on Joralemon Street is a private, co-ed, 4 year college, founded in 1859 by Franciscan Brothers. Approx. 2000 full-time students.
Neighborhood Blogs & Web Sites we like:
Brooklyn Heights Blog - neighborhood blogger
Shopping: Montague Street is the main shopping venue, leading from Court Street down to the picturesque Promenade. A very pretty setting. You find everything you need here. If this were in Europe it would have been made a pedestrian street long ago. Not here - the automobile rules supreme in our country!
The Brooklyn Borough Hall Greenmarket is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from early spring to late autumn. Great place to buy your fruits, veggies, cheese and eggs from Upstate producers.
Eating Out: Brooklyn Heights is a very traditional and in terms of real estate a very expensive neighborhood. Fewer younger people than in lively BoCoCa or historic Park Slope. May be this is the reason that there are fewer restaurants here.
I list a couple of restaurants in the neighborhood, which have received good reviews by Zagat, New York Times or New York Magazine. For the latest restaurant and food news you might want to check New York Magazine's blog, Grub Street or some of the neighborhood blogs listed above.
Top Restaurants:
Henry's End, American, 44 Henry St. (Cranberry St.), Tel: 718-834-1776
Noodle Pudding, Italian, 38 Henry St. (bet. Cranberry & Middagh Sts.), Tel:718-625-3737
Queen, 84 Court St. (bet. Livingston & Schermerhorn Sts.), Tel: 718-596-5955
A few good, yet affordable places:
ChipShop, British (nostalgia), 129 Atlantic Ave. (bet. Clinton & Henry Sts.), Tel: 718-855-7775
Teresa's, Polish, 80 Montague St. (Hicks St.), Tel: 718-797-3996
Clark's Restaurant, 80 Clark St (Henry Street), Tel: 718-855-5484, I am totally biased on this one, my old hangout. Great brunches like in the good old Greek coffee shops, which sadly enough have been replaced by Starbucks in most neighborhoods.
Pizzerias - check sliceny.com for the latest pizzeria reviews:
Fascati Pizza 80 Henry Street, Tel: 718-237-1278, consistently great pizzas, why wait in line at Grimaldi's?
Monty Q's 158 Montague St. (Clinton St.), Tel: 718-246-2000, decor: nil, price/quality: the best! Takeouts!
Coffee Shops, Sweets & Sandwiches:
Heights Café, 84 Montague St. (Hicks Street), Tel: 718-625-5555, great outdoors, good brunches and light meals, sidewalk seating: the place to see and be seen.