Everything about Brooklyn Heights Brooklyn totally explained
Brooklyn Heights is a
neighborhood within the
New York City borough of
Brooklyn; originally designated through popular reference as 'Brooklyn Village', it has, since 1834, become a prominent area of the Brooklyn borough. As of 2000, the Brooklyn Heights sustained a population of 22,493 people. The neighborhood is part of
Brooklyn Community Board 2.
Geography
Brooklyn Heights stretches from Old Fulton Street near the
Brooklyn Bridge south to
Atlantic Avenue and from the
East River east to Court Street and
Cadman Plaza. Adjacent neighborhoods are:
DUMBO,
Downtown Brooklyn,
Cobble Hill and
Boerum Hill. It is directly across the
East River from Manhattan, and easily accessible to
Downtown and multiple subway lines.
The neighborhood is largely composed of block after block of picturesque
rowhouses and a few mansions. A great range of architectural styles are represented, including a few Federal-style houses from the early 19th century in the northern part of the neighborhood, brick
Greek Revival and
Gothic Revival houses, and
Italianate brownstones. A number of houses, particularly along Pierrepont Street and Pierrepont Place are authentic
mansions. Brooklyn Heights was the first neighborhood protected by the 1965 Landmarks Preservation Law of
New York City.
Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims is in Brooklyn Heights.
History
Brooklyn Heights occupies a bluff that rises sharply from the river's edge and gradually recedes on the landward side. Before the Dutch settled on
Long Island in the middle of the seventeenth century, this promontory was called Ihpetonga ("the high sandy bank") by the native
Lenape Native Americans.
The area was heavily fortified prior to the largest battle of the
American Revolutionary War - The
Battle of Long Island (also known as The Battle of Brooklyn). After British troops landed on Long Island and advanced towards
Continental Army lines, General
George Washington withdrew his troops here after heavy losses, but was able to make a skillful retreat across the
East River to
Manhattan without the loss of any troops or his remaining supplies.
Brooklyn Heights is historically descended from its precursor
Town of Brooklyn and became New York's first
commuter town in the early 19th century when a new
steam ferry service provided reliable service to Wall Street.
The executive offices of the
Brooklyn Dodgers were, for many years, located in the Heights, near the intersection of Montague and Court Streets. A plaque on the office building that replaced the Dodgers' old headquarters identifies it as the site where
Jackie Robinson signed his major league contract.
The Promenade, actually an
esplanade, cantilevered over the
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is a favorite spot among locals, offering magnificent vistas of the
Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline across the
East River, as well as views of the
Brooklyn Bridge and the
Manhattan Bridge. It is a popular tourist destination for the
Macy's July 4th fireworks, and for the unobstructed views of the skyline.
Robert Moses originally proposed to build the BQE through the heart of Brooklyn Heights. Opposition to this plan led to the designation of the
Brooklyn Heights Historic District as a historic district on November 23, 1965 - the first such district in New York City, and the re-routing of the expressway to the side of the bluff, allowing creation of the Promenade.
Brooklyn Heights, being a historic district has very few high-rise buildings. Among these buildings are 75 Livingston Street,
Hotel St. George, the Concord Village co-op development on Adams Street (though that's considered
Downtown Brooklyn by some), and the Montague-court building. Because of the lack of high-rise buildings, Brooklyn Heights has a small town atmosphere.
Situated so close to the foot of
Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights is serviced by numerous subway lines, specifically the
A,
C,
F,
M,
R,
2,
3,
4, and
5.
Jehovah's Witnesses have their world headquarters in the north heights just north of the BQE, and have a pronounced presence in the area. The organization has restored a number of historic buildings to house their staff, including the former
Bossert Hotel, once the seasonal home of many Dodgers players, on Montague Street.
Saint Francis College, founded in 1858 by the
Franciscan Brothers on Baltic Street, moved to its current location on Remsen Street in 1960. It was the first private boys' school in the Brooklyn
Catholic diocese, and later became a college in 1885.
Notable residents
Famous residents over the years have included:
- W. H. Auden (1907-1973), poet.
- Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887), clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist.
- Gabriel Byrne (1950-), actor.
- Truman Capote (1924-1984), Author.
- Heath Ledger (1979-2008, Boerum Hill), actor.
- Norman Mailer (1923-2007), novelist.
- Barack Obama
- John Podhoretz (1961-), commentator.
- Vasant Rai (1942-1985), musician.
- John A. Roebling (1806-1869), civil engineer and designer of the Brooklyn Bridge.
- Washington Roebling (1837-1926), civil engineer best known for his work on the Brooklyn Bridge.
- Walt Whitman (1819-1892), poet.
- Thomas Wolfe (1900-1938), novelist.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Brooklyn Heights Brooklyn'.
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