Dyker Heights' Asian-American Influx
Bloomberg has a story about how the latest census numbers shows that a census tract in Dyker Heights saw one of the city’s biggest increases in ethic diversity over the past decade, contributing to New York’s standing as the most ethically diverse city in the country. The trend citywide—which was particularly pronounced in some areas,…
Bloomberg has a story about how the latest census numbers shows that a census tract in Dyker Heights saw one of the city’s biggest increases in ethic diversity over the past decade, contributing to New York’s standing as the most ethically diverse city in the country. The trend citywide—which was particularly pronounced in some areas, like the Dyker Heights census tract profiled in the story—involves a marked (31.8 percent percent) increase in the number of Asian residents in 2010 as compared to a decade ago. The article cites one broker who specializes in the Dyker Heights, long an Italian-American stronghold, who says that Asians have accounted for about half the home sales in the neighborhood since 2007. Another broker, meanwhile, says the majority of Asians who have moved to the neighborhood are professionals and not first-generation immigrants, and that they’re attracted to the area’s schools and housing stock.
Brooklyn Enclave Helps NY Top LA as U.S. Diversity Capital [Bloomberg]
This thread is hysterical!! Thanks for many laughs. BTW, I live in DH, and I’m uni-lingual. But I am getting surrounded by Lebanese and Chinese (as well as a bunch of Italians), so who knows….maybe I will be multi-lingual soon!
Dude, I have relatives in Dyker Heights. Count me in. 🙂
“Yes, ugly doors being all but unknown in most traditionally Italian neighborhoods.”
Leucas, I think you might be the only person on this thread that has ever been to Dyker Heights.
Dyker Heights is incredibly diverse as a neighborhood. However, while the avenues can be integrated, the streets are not. It’s a series of separate communities rubbing shoulders. Plenty of Jews (it borders Boro Park for crying out loud), Hispanics, Italians, Arabs, and Chinese. Nearly 100% of the residents are multi-lingual. As far as desiring to conduct business in the language of their ancestors–it may be weird, but it’s very Dyker Heights. Every community is viscerally proud of their heritage and a large percentage of signs are not in English. Island communities where everyone is in costume. The fact that they exist in Brooklyn seems a somewhat insignificant detail. Nobody cares about what is “real” Brooklyn or not. But pretty, it ain’t. Maple Lanes and nail salons are the only places of integration.
Yes, my gaydar is not perfect, although it’s pretty good. However, I’ve never made insensitive to gay, or straight people remarks and then found out that person is, or is not gay, and had to tap dance my way out of being socially stupid.
fair enough, i guess. have you ever assumed someone was gay who turned out to be straight and vice versa?
*rob*
Actually, rob, I don’t think I have, at least not since I’ve been an adult in NYC. I’m very careful not to offend, since I’ve been on the receiving end enough times, and I generally keep quiet and suss out the situation before opening my mouth. Besides, I’m pretty shy in real life, and don’t feel the need to be out there proving something.
As a first generation immigrant, I should say I’d be very, very impressed if the second and third generations felt comfortable discussing real estate transactions in the language of ancestors.
perhaps if they are dealing with chinese businesses, then yeah why wouldnt they hire chinese speaking people?
and montrose, so youve never made a cultural blunder? i find that hard to believe…
*rob*
Good point, kensingtonka. Reminds me of movies where people go up to someone Asian and start speaking in bad Mandarin, or Japanese, and the person says, “Dude, I’m from Encino.” People make such ridiculous blunders when it comes to race and ethnicity. It would be funny, if it wasn’t so lame.