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October 17, 2008

Race, Class and Gentrification in Ditmas Park

Jan Rosenberg, a 20-year veteran of Ditmas Park (having left "trendy Park Slope" before it achieved true trendiness) and founder of "Friends of Cortelyou", offers an insider's view of gentrification in a publication called New Geography. The neighborhood, she says, has the "largest concentration of Victorian houses in America," and contains "the only block in New York with subway stations at each end." (Fact check, anyone?) The neighborhood suffered white (and black) flight in the 1960s, ultimately resulting in economic and racial diversity in the surrounding apartment buildings, but she says the two sections rarely interacted, and downtown DP remained a ghost town. Then, local folks got together to sell co-ops (the writer became a broker herself) and coax businesses to set up shop there. "As I write this, the owner of a successful Manhattan restaurant is looking closely at Cortelyou, hoping to open in a 'real neighborhood' where customers support local businesses. No one knows yet where the economy is headed, or what this means for our neighborhood. But we now have a vibrant neighborhood. This is no longer just a location where the houses are a comparative bargain. It’s an area with an identity." We've seen many a successful new business sprout up on Cortelyou, though others (most recently this hardware store) have fallen prey to the souring economy, and housing prices sure have leapt in the area. What's your take on Ditmas Park's changes?
Gentrification from the Inside Out in Brooklyn's Ditmas Park [New Geography]
Photo by Flatbush Gardener.

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I think he means subway stations -- unlike subway stops. I had subway stops on either end of my block when I lived on 23rd btw 7th and 8th for example.

It's a fine line, for sure.

Posted by: Ringo at October 17, 2008 9:39 AM

No, I think it's stations on the same line. The Q/B stations at Beverley and Cortelyou are separated by a single block of E.16th st.

Posted by: Frederick Law Homestead at October 17, 2008 9:43 AM

that's a seriously pretty looking block

-rob

Posted by: PitbullNYC at October 17, 2008 9:44 AM

Ditmas Park has some incredible homes.

I'm not sure I could live there without a car, but it sure is a nice looking neighborhood.

Posted by: northsloperenter at October 17, 2008 9:53 AM

I'm over here every week for soccer. Several of those streets between Caton and Beverly Road adjacent to the soccer fields boast absolutely gorgeous homes, but from what I can see a lack of local business that'll attract buyers for these places.

Posted by: Fjorder at October 17, 2008 9:56 AM

I’ve walked many neighborhoods of our great city and I’m always amazed by the vast differences in architectural styles. Ditmas Park has some of the finest examples of Victorian architecture in the City. The many styles of Victorian are well represented in the neighborhood. The majority of the homes are Queen Anne, but there is also Italinate and some late Gothic Revival and to my pleasant surprise a Stick Style, which was stunning with its enormous overhang.

All the classic characteristics of Victorian are on display. You can glimpse gabled roofs, turrets, bay windows, balconies, richly stained glass, dormers, and columned wrap around porches.

The homes and streets that are preserved are a time capsule into an era when industry brought so many new innovations to architecture creating a very distinct and unique style

Posted by: bayridgegirl at October 17, 2008 11:26 AM

Having a car is not necessary in Victorian Flatbush although there is plenty of parking if you do have one or two. The Q and B trains are very accessible and reliable. Riding into the city from Newkirk, Cortelyou, Beverley or Church Avenue stations only adds five to ten minutes more than the commute from Park Slope's 7th Avenue station on the same line. The express bus service into the city is always an option as well. There are about four different lines that run down Cortelyou alone.

There are, as the article states, two different train stops within one block. The local train can not even pick up speed before it pulls out of one station and into the next. As far as the claims of having the largest concentration of Victorian homes in America, I am sure that there are other contenders.

Posted by: Chaka at October 17, 2008 2:19 PM

Why is it easier to be in northslope than in Ditmas Park without a car? It's denser in northslope... but "stuff" is just as far away.

If you live on, say, Union between 7th and 8th. You're pretty far from anything. If you could park near you apt, a car would come in handy there too. (In Ditmas Park, you can actually park directly in front of your house 90% of the time... OK, I made that percentage up... but it's close.)

Posted by: tybur6 at October 17, 2008 2:31 PM

'As far as the claims of having the largest concentration of Victorian homes in America, I am sure that there are other contenders.'

Cape May.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at October 17, 2008 2:52 PM

I would even think that certain areas of Queens are contenders as well. Although, many of the hoes in the older Queens neighborhoods have been remodeled to the point that their Victorian beginnings are no longer recognized.

Posted by: Chaka at October 17, 2008 3:27 PM

"Although, many of the hoes in the older Queens neighborhoods have been remodeled"

You mean the tramps have all had plastic surgery?

Posted by: Biff Champion at October 17, 2008 3:33 PM

OMG! That would of course be "many of the hoMes in the older Queens neighborhoods."

Posted by: Chaka at October 17, 2008 4:07 PM

Chaka, I knew what you meant. Seems I've poked fun at you today a couple of times - no harm at all intended and I'm glad you're such a good sport. Have a great weekend. :-)

Posted by: Biff Champion at October 17, 2008 4:43 PM

"Why is it easier to be in northslope than in Ditmas Park without a car? It's denser in northslope... but "stuff" is just as far away."

I don't know Ditmas Park that well, but in the north slope I've got 3 grocery stores, a liquor store, dry cleaner, laundromat, my dentist, 10-15 little stores, and about 10 restaurants within a 10 minute walk, plus Target and the rest of that shopping center about 10-15 minutes away (I live just off 5th on one of the named streets).

Not only that, but most of these are close together so that I can drop off some laundry, pick up a bottle of wine, and get something for dinner all in one 15-20 minute trip.

My brief impression of Ditmas Park was that doing a series of errands like that wouldn't be as convenient.

Posted by: northsloperenter at October 17, 2008 6:22 PM

"If you live on, say, Union between 7th and 8th. You're pretty far from anything."

You are kidding, right?

- http://smalltownbrooklyn.com/parkslopeN/northsouth/7thave/7thave2.htm#union2

Posted by: SnarkSlope at October 17, 2008 6:28 PM

Northsloperenter: if you live in Ditmas Park you'd have all of those things within a 10-minute walk except for Target and "that shopping center" (maybe Newkirk Plaza counts?), although we don't have the restaurant selection you have. But if you stick around for awhile you'll find lots of little gems in DP.

Posted by: sixyearsandcounting at October 17, 2008 6:51 PM

Well, before I my next move (10-14 months from now), I'll be sure to spend a bit more time getting to know Ditmas Park. Perhaps it is more convenient than I'm giving it credit for.

If I feel like I could be happy there without a car, that would definitely move it up on my list of desirable neighborhoods.

Unless, of course, I decide I do want to own a car -- in which Ditmas Park is definitely a place I will look at carefully.

Posted by: northsloperenter at October 17, 2008 7:23 PM

You have a good weekend also Biff. Northsloperenter, Ditmas Park is definitely worth a look when you are ready. As previously stated you can do laundry, pick-up dry cleaning, shop at one of two Organic Markets, two regular supermarkets or the farmers market. There are even CSA's with participants in the area. You can pick up a bottle of wine, have a drink with friends in a neighborhood bar, we have both the gentrified and the old school types or have dinner at any one of the new restaurants. There are two places right on Cortelyou where you can have a cup of coffee or a bowl of soup and then sit on a comfortable couch and read a book. We are also walking distance from a number of really good takeout ethnic eateries. Turkish, Pakistani, Jamaican, Tibetan, Southern (Soul), Mexican and soon to come Middle Eastern. Many of these establishments have expanded or added dining so that you can eat in. We don't have a good Chinese takeout though.

Also being in the middle of Brooklyn, it is very convenient to venture further south into Midwood or even Brighton Beach and Sheepshead Bay for great shopping and good food.

I should get a check from the Ditmas Park Chamber of Commerce for this post. If only one existed.

Posted by: Chaka at October 17, 2008 9:28 PM

« When Noah Baumbach Was Young Energy Scammers Plaguing Brooklyn? »

October 17, 2008

Race, Class and Gentrification in Ditmas Park

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