When the Gowanus Expressway opened in 1951, it cut the once-thriving neighborhood of Norwegians, Finnish, Danish, German and Irish immigrants in half and led to a mass exodus of the European population. Hispanic immigrants filled the void in subsequent decades followed by a large influx of Asians. The result? Some of the most authentic ethnic food stores and restaurants in the borough. Both the residential and commercial real estate markets have been on the rise (the industrial zone has a vacancy rate of just 1% and townhouses now fetch over $800,000). Despite the neighborhood’s resurgence, it’s hard to get people to agree about its exact boundaries. Ron Schweiger, the Brooklyn borough historian, estimated that they are from 35th Street in the north to 65th Street in the south, Fort Hamilton Parkway to the east and the waterfront to the west. That sound about right to people? What do say, Sunset Parker? Are there any stand-out local real estate brokers that deserve mention?
Sunset Park: Brighter Days Ahead [AM NY]
Photo by ilonaphotos