Boerum Hill:
Historic Brooklyn mixed with modern influences.
In the 1800s, Boerum Hill was settled as a Manhattan suburb, where families enjoyed small-town living in the shadow of the emerging city. The neighborhood has gone through periods of prosperity and strife, but in the 1970s and 1980s New Yorkers began to revitalize Boerum Hill. Neighborhood pioneers refurbished townhouses, and new dining destinations on Smith Street have made it a desirable and fashionable Brooklyn neighborhood.
What to Expect:
A laid-back outer-borough lifestyle and an easy commute into Manhattan.
Living near Boerum Hill’s many transit options make commuting to other places easy. With the Atlantic Terminal and connection to the Long Island Railroad at the northeastern tip of Boerum Hill, you’ll never find yourself without transportation.
Those who work in Manhattan but want to come home to a peaceful atmosphere enjoy Boerum Hill’s convenient location. Its wide, tree-lined streets provide a breath of fresh air from the usual, crowded streets of the city.
The Lifestyle:
Carefree outdoor strolls, stress-free shopping, and laid-back dining scene.
In Boerum Hill, you can expect a slower-paced, peaceful lifestyle. Residents enjoy pleasant days outdoors on their stoops or at the park.
Still, you're never short of things to do. Over the past few decades, shop owners and restaurateurs have found homes for their businesses in Boerum Hill.
A variety of restaurants have popped up recently. Smith Street is lined with restaurants and bars like Saul, Char No. 4, and Clover Club, and has become a destination for Brooklyn foodies.
Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill has become a popular destination for boutique shopping. Big names like Jonathan Adler and Nunu Chocolates have their flagship stores here, and specialty stores like Cheryl Kleinman Cakes and Acorn give this wide street a more intimate feel.
What Not to Expect:
The abundant entertainment options found in Manhattan.
Though Boerum Hill is a desirable area with plenty to do and and see, those that crave the bustling city atmosphere might find the neighborhood to be too quiet.
Instead, you’ll have have entire blocks to walk in silence. It might be a peaceful change from the usual chaos of Manhattan.
The Market:
Expensive. Mostly brownstones and spacious brick homes.
Recently, brownstones and townhouses in Boerum Hill have been among the most expensive in Brooklyn. Residents love the desirable location and elegant architecture in this small neighborhood.
You'll Fall in Love With:
The historic district’s old-world feel in modern Brooklyn.
Boerum Hill might give you the feeling of being in a different decade. Some areas are a historical landmark, and residents have taken great care to preserve their beloved neighborhood.
Exquisite building facades harken back to the days of horses and buggies, but are now in the middle of a prosperous and popular neighborhood.
Even though Boerum Hill maintains strong ties with its roots, it’s a neighborhood that welcomes newcomers with open arms, and even a good meal. We’ll raise a glass to that.
Cobble Hill:
Historic appeal with a diverse backstory.
Cobble Hill was originally settled by Dutch farmers in the mid-1600s, and remains impressively preserved to this day, in large part thanks to The New York City Landmarks and Protection Commission. Despite its longstanding historical status, Cobble Hill’s cultural shifts and influences are among the most diverse in the borough, spanning overlapping influxes of Italian, Native American, Dutch, Swedish, and English residents. Generations-old meat markets, barbershops, and brownstones provide equal reasons for long-time residents and newcomers to love calling it home.
What to Expect:
An upscale, heart-of-Brooklyn residential experience with slightly lower costs of living than nearby neighborhoods.
Cobble Hill features some of the most notable public schools in the borough, including PS 29, Brooklyn School for Global Studies, and The School for International Studies.
Meanwhile, critically acclaimed businesses, bookshops, and historical programs lend the area a bohemian vibe and cultural enrichment opportunities at every turn.
The Lifestyle:
The best of vintage Brooklyn with present day amenities. Even trendy shops and businesses are modelled after neighborhood staples that have stood the test of time.
Life in Cobble Hill is largely defined by pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and gathering spots. Biking, outdoor brunches, and casual strolls down Court Street provide equal opportunities for shopping, dining, and enjoying the sunshine.
Likewise, local business owners pride themselves on inviting street fronts and windows that encourage passersby to linger between casual brunches, afterwork bar hops, and trips to the park.
What Not to Expect:
A quick commute to Upper Manhattan or other outer boroughs, or a late-night party scene close to home.
Eclectic businesses and a laid-back vibe lend Cobble Hill plenty of character, but much like neighboring Boerum Hill and Brooklyn Heights, life here can also feel far-removed from the trendy happenings and events further down Atlantic Avenue and closer to the city.
The Market:
A competitive brownstone market and converted apartments. A small number of new high-rise buildings.
Many new homeowners choose to reinvest in the neighborhood from the ground up, often restoring and refurbishing the picturesque front porches and building fronts upon first moving in.
Thanks to the well-preserved architecture and well-maintained street front parking, available brownstones are extremely competitive. Newer units along Hicks Street and Strong Place also come at a premium, but offer more floor plan flexibly for first-time buyers and singles.
You'll Fall in Love With:
The stroll-friendly streets and sense of history and privacy.
Cobble Hill owes its increasingly “it” status as much to its roots as newcomers’ commitment to supporting them. From experimental art spaces to top-notch designers, up-and-coming businesses, artists, and makers seek it out as a place to not only start but thrive for the long-run.
