Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn
Encyclopedia
Greenwood Heights is a neighborhood in the New York City
borough
of Brooklyn
that takes part of its name from the neighborhood proximity to the Green-Wood Cemetery
. The much-debated borders are, roughly, the Prospect Expressway to the north, Third Avenue to the west, Eighth Avenue to the east and 36th Street to the south (southern boundary of The Green-Wood Cemetery
).
A mixed neighborhood of working class
Polish American
and Italian American
families, South American and Mexican immigrants, and middle class
Brooklynites who have relocated from other higher-priced neighborhoods, Greenwood Heights' architectural mix of wood frame
and brick homes gives the area an eclectic look and feel, different from its neighbors Park Slope
to the north and Sunset Park
to the south.
Recent new real estate development, curbed with the rezoning of the area in November 2005, has brought an influx of luxury condominium apartments into a residential area that was mainly made up of 1- and 2-family homes. Post-rezoning, while new development sites have occurred, there has been a new trend of home renovations (many of them "gut renovations"), taking many of the neglected circa 1900 wood frame homes and restoring them to their turn of the century
historical look.
One of the sites of the sprawling Battle of Brooklyn (Battle of Long Island
) in August of 1776, the area is steeped in a rich history from its identity as a pivotal battle site in the American Revolutionary War
to famous residents of Green-Wood Cemetery
and its history of families working the once vibrant Brooklyn waterfront.
Greenwood Heights is a part of Brooklyn Community Board 7
along with Windsor Terrace
, Sunset Park
and South Park Slope
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
that takes part of its name from the neighborhood proximity to the Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
. The much-debated borders are, roughly, the Prospect Expressway to the north, Third Avenue to the west, Eighth Avenue to the east and 36th Street to the south (southern boundary of The Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
).
A mixed neighborhood of working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
Polish American
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
and Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
families, South American and Mexican immigrants, and middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
Brooklynites who have relocated from other higher-priced neighborhoods, Greenwood Heights' architectural mix of wood frame
Framing (construction)
Framing, in construction known as light-frame construction, is a building technique based around structural members, usually called studs, which provide a stable frame to which interior and exterior wall coverings are attached, and covered by a roof comprising horizontal ceiling joists and sloping...
and brick homes gives the area an eclectic look and feel, different from its neighbors Park Slope
Park Slope, Brooklyn
Park Slope is a neighborhood in western Brooklyn, New York City's most populous borough. Park Slope is roughly bounded by Prospect Park West to the east, Fourth Avenue to the west, Flatbush Avenue to the north, and 15th Street to the south, though other definitions are sometimes offered. Generally...
to the north and Sunset Park
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Sunset Park is a neighborhood in the western section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Greenwood Heights to the north, Borough Park to the east, Bay Ridge to the south, and Upper New York Bay to the west...
to the south.
Recent new real estate development, curbed with the rezoning of the area in November 2005, has brought an influx of luxury condominium apartments into a residential area that was mainly made up of 1- and 2-family homes. Post-rezoning, while new development sites have occurred, there has been a new trend of home renovations (many of them "gut renovations"), taking many of the neglected circa 1900 wood frame homes and restoring them to their turn of the century
Turn of the century
Turn of the century, in its broadest sense, refers to the transition from one century to another. The term is most often used to indicate a non-specific time period either before or after the beginning of a century....
historical look.
One of the sites of the sprawling Battle of Brooklyn (Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776, was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the United States Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire conflict, and the...
) in August of 1776, the area is steeped in a rich history from its identity as a pivotal battle site in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
to famous residents of Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
and its history of families working the once vibrant Brooklyn waterfront.
Greenwood Heights is a part of Brooklyn Community Board 7
Brooklyn Community Board 7
Brooklyn Community Board 7 is a local governmental body in the New York City borough of Brooklyn that encompasses the neighborhoods of Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, Greenwood Heights and South Park Slope...
along with Windsor Terrace
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
Windsor Terrace is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It is bounded by Prospect Park to the northeast and Green-Wood Cemetery, a National Historic Landmark, to the southwest. Its southeastern boundary is Caton Avenue, while to the northwest it is bordered by Prospect Park West...
, Sunset Park
Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Sunset Park is a neighborhood in the western section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Greenwood Heights to the north, Borough Park to the east, Bay Ridge to the south, and Upper New York Bay to the west...
and South Park Slope
South Park Slope
South Park Slope, Brooklyn is a neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. It is sandwiched between Greenwood Heights and Park Slope, bordered by 15th Street to the north, the Prospect Expressway to the south, Fourth Avenue to the west, and Prospect Park West and Green-Wood Cemetery to the east...
.