Brownsville

I moved to Brownsville because the apartment I found (on Grafton Street) was relatively close to the train, in what I thought was a quiet, residential area and dirt cheap considering what I was paying in Crown Heights. The apartment itself had all the amenities and I was sold on the idea of an up-and-coming neighborhood I could grow with. The reality was quite different. There are no bars, restaurants or nightlife here - its not a matter of adding some, its that the poverty is so entrenched. Even if your personal living space is nice, you will be a hostage in it. This is a depressing, ugly place. There is no art here or culture, per se. That is not a disrespect to the people who live there, its just the reality. Don't believe the realtors - they are absolutely lying. There is no "development boom" right around the bend. And there will be no great neighbors or up and coming social scene. Just block after block of poor, discouraged, depressed people who don't talk to you except to treat you as an annoyance. Lastly, my apartment was robbed while I was at work one day. My roommates and I felt it wasn't the neighbors and that it was maybe the uber-skeevy landlord or the super, who both told us about a string of other robberies that nobody we asked had heard about. In short, there are too many other neighborhoods to choose from in NYC to move here. Don't believe what you read on the realtor websites or what the realtors tell you. I don't have any children to say anything about the schools but what I read in the papers do not pacify me. I would NEVER move here with a family, NO MATTER WHAT. Do your own due diligence and thoroughly research Brownsville, and move somewhere else.

an average place

Located in east Brooklyn, Brownsville is a tiny area of about one square mile. Interesting fact: Brownsville had the first birth control clinic in the nation. Today, Brownsville is well known for pretty negative reasons. With eighteen public housing projects that house about a quarter of the town's population, Brownsville has the largest concentration of public housing developments in the United States. The rest of the town's population mainly lives in low cost housing developments. Since this is such a low income area, Brownsville has one of the highest crime rates in New York City. While the city is working to improve the town's safety rating, progress has been slow. The city is also promoting change by allowing developers to bring more businesses to the area. However, it will take much more time before Brownsville is up to par with the rest of the city. The main reason why people choose to live in Brownsville is that it is cheap. While $1,500 can usually get you a one-bedroom apartment in most of the outer boroughs, it can get you a three-bedroom in Brownsville. Two subway lines run through Brownsville, and it only takes about a half hour to get to midtown Manhattan.

Brownsville is located in southeastern Brooklyn and is named for Charles S. Brown who built over 250 homes in the neighborhood back in 1865. Since then, considerable improvements to the area have taken place - especially in recent years. Private developers are doing some serious work in this community and giving it a complete overhaul. Some vacant sites that have been around for years are now being transformed into attractive community gardens.

Brownsville’s main drag is Pitkin Avenue and there is much transportation available to the neighborhood’s residents. Subway stations at Sutter Avenue-Rutland Road, Saratoga Avenue, Rockaway Avenue, and Junius Street all exist. There is also an A and C line station at Broadway Junction and L Stations at Atlantic Avenue. The Long Island Railroad also services the area with its station at East New York (Broadway Junction). Numerous bus lines also service Brownsville.

Although Brownsville is being constantly renovated, it is still not the best place to live. Lots of crime, gangs, and thuggery still exist in the area. Cosmetic rejuvenation can occur, but the City needs to get to the root of the problem.

Fine restaurants are limited and shopping is done best elsewhere. There are the necessities that are provided for in Brownsville, but if you are looking for boutiques and café’s, you need to travel outside of this neighborhood. The New York Fish and Chips Corp on Rockaway Avenue has good reviews, but if you want real fish and chips travel more seaward. Most shops and diners are located along Rockaway and you are sure to find some sort of grub, and if you don’t care about the atmosphere you will be in luck.