BROOKLYN

Crown Heights Neighborhood Guide

Crown Heights is a central Brooklyn neighborhood rich in diversity and with easy access to some of the boroughs most beloved cultural and recreational institutions. The Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Brooklyn Museum, Prospect Park, Barclays Center, and Brooklyn Children’s Museum are all within the boundaries or right on the border of the area. Three historic districts within Crown Heights offer an opulent display of varied and striking architecture. The neighborhood is divided into north and south by Eastern Parkway, a tree lined thoroughfare designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted of Central Park and Prospect Park fame. Franklin, Rogers, Nostrand, and Bedford Avenues are the area’s commercial hubs and play host to a rising number of trendy restaurants and small businesses. Residents describe the community as relaxed with a familial feel; block parties, tree-lined streets, and stoop sitting are common in the Crown Heights neighborhood.
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Crown Heights Real Estate Stats

MEDIAN SALE PRICE

$925K

MEDIAN RENTAL PRICE

$2,300

An Abbreviated History of Crown Heights

Originally the land on which the Lenape people lived, present-day Crown Heights saw its first European settlers in the 1660s. It was subsequently used as farmland and then developed into residential neighborhoods as transportation options became plentiful. By the early 1900s it became one of Brooklyn’s most exclusive neighborhoods, with opulent mansions, brownstones, and an array of cultural institutions dotting the area and serving the predominantly white and Jewish residents. The neighborhood saw an influx of Caribbean and African-American newcomers beginning in the 1920s. Racial tensions and inequality during the mid 20th century contributed to shifts in the population from 70% white in the 1960 census to 70% black in the 1970 census. Three days of riots and violent clashes erupted in 1991 after a Hasidic driver accidentally struck and killed a Black child in Crown Heights. Racial tensions were ameliorated in subsequent years through neighborhood programs designed to open dialogue and understanding between the Black and Hasidic communities. Today the neighborhood is an eclectic mix of Caribbean, Orthodox Lubavitcher Hasidim, African-American, and an increasing population of white, hispanic, and asian residents. The cultural diversity in Crown Heights today contributes to its appeal and beauty, along with tree-lined streets, a stunning array of architectural types, and delicious new and long standing restaurants and cafes. 

NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARIES

  • Washington Avenue to the West
  • Atlantic Avenue to the North
  • Ralph Avenue to the East
  • Empire Boulevard to the South
Franklin Avenue 2 3 4 5
Nostrand Avenue 3
Kingston Avenue 3
Utica Avenue 3 4
Sterling Stree 2 5

Residents Love This Neighborhood Because

  • Endless history 
  • Locals are always out on the streets
  • Extremely neighborly
  • Beautiful architecture
  • Lively, excellent restaurants all along Franklin avenue

What to expect

Cafés

+35
Colleges / Universities

2
Community Gardens

2
Hospitals

1
Libraries

3
Parks

8

Playgrounds

12

Restaurants

+50

Yoga Studios

4

Crown Heights Landmarks and Cultural Institutions:

A NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR

Get to know the neighborhood by visiting its most notable landmarks and sites. From museums and sculptures, to parks, markets, and hidden neighborhood gems, you’ll find everything you need to know about the neighborhood’s most unique and historical attractions.

Grant Statue

The Grant Statue stands in honor of Major General Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States and American hero who led the Union Armies to victory over the confederacy in the American Civil War. The statue was commissioned by the Union Club of Brooklyn and was revealed to the public on April 27, 1896.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Known as one of New York City’s most alluring parks, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens were designed by the sons of the Prospect and Central Park designer Frederick Law Olmsted. Brothers Frederick Jr. and John Charles Olmsted worked to create a beautiful open space within Crown Heights. In 1912, Harold Caparn, the landscape architect, created the vision of the garden that remains displayed today. Blooming with over 14,000 plant varieties, this lush spread of 52 acres offers bountiful bouquets of flowers and plant life. The natural setting offers soothing sights and smells captured by natural greenery, Japanese gardens, and an annual Cherry Blossom Festival. 

Brooklyn Museum

The spacious grounds of the Brooklyn Museum offer curated galleries of art and artifacts dating back to the earliest civilization that occupied Brooklyn and the same land where the museum still stands. Exhibits range from the indigenous people, the Lenape Delaware tribes, and the colonial settlers and cultural legacies that have progressed over centuries. The museum offers art classes, private events, and modern installations that capture the work of Andy Warhol, Christian Dior, and African, Asian, and European artisans.

Studebaker Building and Automobile Row

The Studebaker Building once stood as an Automobile showroom back at the beginning of the 20th century when the American Automobile Industry was booming. The building is one of the last standing pieces of architecture from “Automobile Row”, which is what Bedford Avenue between Empire Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue was known for back in the day. Automobile Row was granted its name because of the accumulation of showrooms, dealerships, garages, and car owner businesses in the area.

Prospect Park

The area that is now known as Prospect Park was originally used as farmland. Throughout the mid-1800s, Brooklyn went through drastic changes causing many people to migrate into the area. Because of its growing population, there grew a need for a beautiful park where residents could enjoy the scenic greenery amidst a bustling city. Due to the increasing desire for a park in the area, designers Olmsted and Vaux created the layout of the 585 acres of Prospect Park. There were many subsequent additions to the park including the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza which was designed by John Duncan in 1892, as well as the Beaux-Arts Boathouse designed by Helmle, Huberty, and Hudswell in 1905.

Architecture in Crown Heights

Georgian/Federal

Renaissance/Baroque Revival

Romanesque Revival

Modern/Art Deco/Art Moderne

Colonial Revival

Notable New Yorkers

Who Have Lived in Crown Heights

ANTHONY MACKIE

Actor

CHRIS ROCK

Comedian

JOAN RIVERS

Comedian and Actress

UCHÉ BLACKSTOCK

Physician and Author

LEROY BATTLE

WWII Pilot and Jazz Musician

SABAAH FOLAYAN

Filmmaker and Activist

ABRAHAM BEAME

104th Mayor of NYC

LINDA WEISER FRIEDMAN

Author and Academic

Popular Food & Drink

OXALIS

791 Washington Avenue

THE ISLANDS

671 Washington Avenue

RAS PLANT BASED

739 Franklin Avenue

Chavelas

736 Franklin Avenue

Zaca Cafe

426 Marcus Garvey Blvd

Nostrand Social

706 Nostrand Avenue

Izzy BBQ

397 Troy Avenue

Colina Cuervo

759 Nostrand Avenue

All Notable New Yorker photos courtesy of Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons. Photo of Chris Rock by David Shankbone; Photo of Joan Rivers by The Historic Images Outlet; Photo of Uche Blackstock by Heather Sten; Photo of Abraham Beame by Unknown photographer

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