Flatbush / Ditmas Park

There are a lot of cool-looking old houses in Flatbush, but this neighborhood really feels like a working class Long Island suburb. The area is mostly filled with families - and it's a good place for them, as there isn't really a whole lot of nightlife. Some of the streets are very congested (like, say, Flatbush Avenue), but a lot of the residential streets don't have much traffic at all.

Anyone who moves to New York to experience the city as they see it on TV is not going to want to move here. Parts of this neighborhood are really rundown and the opposite of uplifting. On the other hand, the residential spots with the sprawling old houses have actual lawns - not something you see around this city all too often.

Nightlife is practically non-existent in Flatbush, and decent places to eat and grocery shop are few and far between. Not the place I'd pick to live my life.

Flatbush is a nice area to grow up in. There are some many people and different cultures all around you. It always seems like something is going on and there's never a dull moment. Some nice quiet family place would be around Ditmas Ave, Foster Ave, and Coney Island Ave there you'll find alot of family living and nice house especially the blockes between Ocean and Coney Island. Albamere has some of the biggest houses that you'll probably find in brookyn, there mini mansions and the block is peaceful and serene. Brooklyn College calls this neighbor home so you got alot of college kids around. It does have a Afro-Caribbean vibe where alot of culture can be found. Flatbush Ave is littered with great places to get authentic caribbean cuisine, and fresh baked bread, and their plenty of choices for vegetarians. Alot of singles are starting to move in so if could be a nice hot spot for new college grads.

Flatbush is located in central Brooklyn including well-known institutions such as Brooklyn College, the Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church, and Ebbets Field (the last Brooklyn home of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team and long since demolished). Flatbush also includes Prospect Park’s most southern portion.

The residential neighborhoods of Flatbush extend to the south from the Old Brooklyn City Line and north of the southern edges of Prospect Park. There are charming Georgian revival houses on the south side of the area which were one of New York City’s first housing developments to include attached garages. Flatbush consists of primarily one and two family houses and a tremendous amount of apartment complexes. It is considered one of the most ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse locations in New York City.

Notable residents of Flatbush have included Barbara Streisand, Busta Rhymes (rapper), Mary Tyler Moore, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Supreme Court Justice). The community boasts culture and a traditionally diverse population. There are large communities of ethnic Italians, Jews, and West Indians populating the neighborhood. There is also a prominent and growing Caribbean community in the area.

Due to the culture-rich population, many ethnic stores and restaurants have held on tight to heritage. You can acquire just about any type of food you desire in the neighborhood of Flatbush.

Flatbush is one of the oldest and most famous neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New York, spanning to include the southernmost part of Prospect Park. Flatbush encompasses 6 neighborhoods. An interesting history and a dynamic present, this neighborhood is filled with great dining, shopping, living, and ambiance. A great place for both visitors and residents, Flatbush fails to disappoint.

As with other sections of Brooklyn, Flatbush has seen a change in its demographic composition since its beginning, with the Dutch Farmers who referred to the area as the “wooden lands.” Today, Flatbush is comprised of a mainly Afro-Carribean populations, with residents hailing from Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, and other island nations. Packed with the American Dream, these immigrants brought and have maintained their vibrant culture, as native languages of French and others are still used by many here.

Historically, Flatbush has been a diverse neighborhood. As with the neighborhood of East Flatbush, this originally mainly Jewish and Italian neighborhood saw an increase of West Indian immigrants during the 1980s, as its more affluent residents fled to other more prominent sections of Brooklyn. This working class neighborhood then began to see an increase in crime and drugs as did most neighborhoods in Brooklyn during this era. Due to community organizing, building repair, and focus, Flatbush has since seen a drastic decrease in crime and a renaissance of the affluent culture it once held.

A major perk to the neighborhood commercially is that most businesses are family owned, adding a unique flare to the neighborhoods offerings. Today, as the neighborhood increases diversity both culturally and monetarily, the streets of Flatbush have something to offer anyone either looking to hold onto their culture or looking to adapt.

The Real Estate in Flatbush is amongst Brooklyn’s most expensive, selling for as high as $1.7 million. The price of smaller apartments is significantly, but the neighborhood compensates greatly for the high prices.

Transportation: Flatbush is serviced by the B and Q trains on Avenue H. Public buses B6, B8, B35, B41, B44 and B49 also service the neighborhood.

Dining:
Flatbush Farm - 76 St. Marks Ave.
Peppa's Jerk Chicken Restaurant - 738 Flatbush Ave.
Well Lounge - 329 Flatbush Ave.
Vegetarian Palate - 258 Flatbush Ave.

Shopping
Wealthy Hostage - 1924 Church Ave.
Hooti Couture - 321 Flatbush Ave.
Harriet’s Alter Ego - 293 Flatbush Ave.

Like the eastern end of this neighborhood, Flatbush is also chock full of Caribbean immigrants who’ve installed plenty of island-friendly restaurants. The residents here are mostly Black and West Indian, and many of them are middle class, though the majority seems to fall in the working class slot. I don’t care if it was once the home of Shaggy or Busta Rhymes, I have absolutely no interest in going to this neighborhood, and I won’t make any recommendations for it. I have a friend who is from this neighborhood, and it may sound funny, but his brother was once robbed by a gang of eighth graders – not something I would want to happen to me.