Flatbush remained primarily a Dutch town with rural character until the latter half of the 19th century, when increasing rail and road connectivity to other parts of New York made it an attractive suburb. A stream of Irish and some German immigrants first arrived to the area, in the 1860s. Flatbush built a Town Hall in 1875 but only remained an independent town until it consolidated into the City of Greater New York in 1898 and was further connected to the rest of the city by the New York City Subway in the early 20th century. Flatbush’s population really took off in the 1890s and was largely built out by 1915. A significant amount of single family homes and rowhouses were rebuilt with larger apartments in the 1920s and 30s. After WW II Flatbush underwent tremendous demographic shifts, becoming home to increasing numbers of immigrants from the Caribbean, Asia, and Puerto Rico and saw a large influx of African Americans. This was especially the case along the Nostrand Avenue corridor where the subway offered access to job opportunities, while middle-class African Americans bought up row houses to the west. Modern day Nostrand hosts New York’s largest Haitian Community. The population of the neighborhood shifted from 89% white in 1970 to 30% white in 1980 accelerated by racists blockbusting practices. Parts of the neighborhood in the west and to the south of Prospect Park remain stable thanks to the large detached SF homes that attracted a sizable number of wealthier homeowners. By the mid-1980s Flatbush however, had numerous abandoned buildings and the eastern parts of Flatbush were particularly affected by poverty and the crack epidemic. Yet by the late 20th century and 21st century Flatbush began to change its poor reputation as more affluent renters and buyers were attracted by its cheaper prices, attractive housing stock, and convenient walkability and accessibility to Manhattan and other parts of Brooklyn.
The Ditmas Park subdistrict is used to describe several neighborhoods comprising the larger area of Victorian Flatbush. It is an eight-block historic district consists of 2,000 to 2,500 residential restrictions built between 1902 and 1914. Prospect Park South also contains a large Historic District of freestanding homes exceeding 3,500 square feet. South & West Midwood is on the southern edge of Flatbush and is mostly filled with early 20th century structures including a mix of single family homes. attached brick rowhouses and large apartment buildings. While Flatbush has certainly gentrified is retains a good number of affordable stabilized rentals and reasonably priced for-sale options. Given its good walkability, access to Prospect Park, quality schools, and general safety, its a good value in Brooklyn.
Click here to view my Flatbush Album and here to view my Little Carribean album
URBAN STRENGTHS:
* Very large and dense Brooklyn neighborhood containing around 150K people at 65K per square mile.
* Overall good sidewalk and ADA curb cut infrastructure but a good number of intersections (say 40%) are out of date.
* Solid access to Dwtn Brooklyn, Lower Manhattan and Midtown only 30-45 Mins by subway.
* Good bike infrastructure as well with plenty of dedicated bike lanes and a solid bike sharing system but the southern edge of the neighborhood is without dedicated bike stations.
* Goo diversity indicators especially economic but also solid racial diversity as about 1/2 the population is Black with large White, Hispanic, & Asian populations and a good # of families live here.
* Decent range of rentals although listed rentals are very expensive. Studios lease btwn 1.8K-2.8K, 1 beds lease btwn 1.8K-3.6K, 2-beds btwn 2.5-5K, and plenty of 3-beds leasing btwn 2.8K-5K. Good amount of the rental supply is dedicated affordable rentals or rent stabilized as 4/5s of rental product lease under 2K. Most expensive rents are the northern edge. Rents in the southern half of Flatbush are pretty modest for Brooklyn.
* Solid schools with generally well rated public schools and good age diversity. Schools along the eastern edge of Flatbush in the more Caribbean section are not as well rated. Good number of private and charter schools as well.
* Great architectural diversity including your typically Brooklyn mi of large 1920 apartments and late 19th century rowhouse. But also many large single family homes in the subdistricts of Midwood, Ditkas Park, and Prospect Park South. East of Nostrand Ave there is an even more eclectic mix of 2-story Italianate rowhouses, brick duplexes, and more modest SF homes.
* As the neighborhood gentrified there is more and more quality urban infill especially in Prospect Park South but also increasingly along Flatbush Ave.
* Solid Tree canopy throughout the district, especially in the Single Family subdistricts.
* Good pedestrian activity but a touch sleepier than other Brooklyn neighborhood’s due to the large SF areas.
* Great park amenities for those on the Northern edge of Flatbush with good access to Prospect Park and the countless sport fields on the Parade grounds. However park amenities are a bit sparse for residents of Flatbush living more than a 10 minute walk to Prospect Park limited to a handful of playgrounds, basketball courts, a YMCA and small parks.
* Solid cultural amenities but a bit underwhelming compared to other nearby neighborhood. Large # of restaurants, bars, and cafes, a couple art galleries, several performing arts theaters (including the historic King Theater), and a couple night clubs.
* Solid retail amenities including several supermarkets and a handful of ethnic grocerias, 2 targets, several brand named clothing stores, plenty drug stores and hardware stores, a decent # of boutiques/clothing/gift stores, a couple bookstores, several home goods and furniture stores, plenty of gyms and dessert joints, a couple libraries post offices, several churches, NYC Hospital sits on the NE corner of Flatbush and many doctor’s offices.
URBAN WEAKNESSES:
* Flatbush is generally a pretty safe community but with some gritty and sketchier areas starting at Ocean after and moving east ward towards Flatbush Avenue and Nostrand Ave. Coney Island Ave the western border is pretty gritty and autocentric at times but doesn’t feel dangerous. Neighborhood certainly seems safer than it was a decade ago due to continued gentrification pressure.
* Flatbush still suffers from some negative perception from those who are stuck in the 1990s and early 2000s when Flatbush was legitimately a more dangerous place.
* A handful of autocentric spots and more industrial uses along the eastern edges of Flatbush but not terrible.
* Streetscaping on Flatbush’s business districts is functional but feels dated and gritty.
* For sale housing are expensive but much more reasonable that many other Brooklyn neighborhoods. There are some moderately priced studios selling btwn 300K-450K, plenty of moderately priced 1-beds selling btwn 250K-750K, Really good diversity of 2-beds condos ranging btwn 250K-1.2M with good representation in each price range. 3-beds btwn 450K- 2M including a good mix of condos, attached homes, and rowhouses. 4 beds range anywhere btwn 600K and 2M. Plenty of 5 bed options too thanks to all the SF homes. Top of the market is 3.5M.
* Limited live music options
Evaluating our Urban Communities [with a focus on America] 