Flatbush

City opens Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Flatbush

All photos © Alexander Severin unless otherwise noted

February 10, 2026

City opens Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in Flatbush

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Brooklyn's largest recreation center officially opened its doors in East Flatbush this week. Located within Nostrand Playground, the Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center measures 74,000 square feet and includes an indoor pool, basketball court, full gym, a media lab, outdoor spaces, and more. Designed by Studio Gang, the firm behind the Gilder Center at the Museum of Natural History and Brooklyn residential tower 11 Hoyt, the building features large arched windows, a curving brick facade, and a green roof.
see it here
Victorian Flatbush gains two new historic districts

The Ditmas Park West Historic District. Credit: Landmarks Preservation Commission

November 25, 2025

Victorian Flatbush gains two new historic districts

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New York City's newest historic districts are two well-preserved areas of homes in suburban Flatbush. On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate the Beverley Square West and Ditmas Park West Historic Districts, which together include 247 freestanding homes built between 1894 and 1910, showcasing early 20th-century suburban architecture in the Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles, or a mixture of the two. The most recent iteration of the districts includes minor boundary adjustments that exclude homes that do not share the same historic integrity as the rest of the district.
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The best new apartment buildings near Prospect Park

Photo of Prospect Park by Steven Pisano on Flickr

November 17, 2025

The best new apartment buildings near Prospect Park

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With its 585 acres of woodlands, waterways, and meadows, Prospect Park is a serene escape in the heart of Brooklyn. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the 1860s, the public park is one of Brooklyn's most beautiful places to wander and connect with nature. As more renters and buyers prioritize access to green space, new residential developments have been popping up in neighborhoods around the park. For those looking to live near Brooklyn's Backyard, we rounded up the best new apartment buildings located within a mile of Prospect Park.
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This $599K Ditmas Park co-op has a ‘secret’ private park

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

October 30, 2025

This $599K Ditmas Park co-op has a ‘secret’ private park

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This bright top-floor co-op at 570 Westminster Road, asking $599,000, has pre-war details and a creative layout that makes the most of its floor plan. The building may not have every modern amenity, but residents get a rare urban oasis in the form of a secret private garden with winding paths, shade trees, a gazebo, and seating.
take the elevator to the top floor
For $3.4M, this Ditmas Park Victorian with a wraparound porch and a two-car garage brings breathing space to city living

Photos courtesy of Allyson Lubow

August 13, 2025

For $3.4M, this Ditmas Park Victorian with a wraparound porch and a two-car garage brings breathing space to city living

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The first thing you'll notice about the rambling Victorian house at 320 East 18th Street in Ditmas Park will likely be the wide, welcoming front porch. Asking $3,400,000, this Brooklyn home was built in 1899 and has been beautifully preserved and updated for 21st-century living. In addition to the porch, the 4,000-square-foot house has a two-car garage, a finished basement, and large, light-filled rooms on three floors.
take a look around
Spend summer days on the wide front porch of this historic $6.5M Flatbush home

Photos courtesy of Allyson Lubow Photography

June 18, 2025

Spend summer days on the wide front porch of this historic $6.5M Flatbush home

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From an enviable corner lot in Brooklyn's historic Flatbush neighborhood, this Colonial Revival mansion at 1221 Albemarle Road is the embodiment of an invitation, promising lazy summer days and an all-season refuge that has stood since 1904. Designed by architect William C. Lauritzen, the six-bedroom home, asking $6,500,000, has retained the best of its original interior details, while a careful restoration has bestowed what amounts to a clean slate for the 21st century.
experience this rare city mansion
Two areas of historic suburban Flatbush could be landmarked

Proposed Beverley Square West Historic District. Photo credit: NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 17, 2025

Two areas of historic suburban Flatbush could be landmarked

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Two well-preserved areas of historic suburban Flatbush could become New York City’s newest landmarked districts. The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to calendar the proposed Beverley Square West and Ditmas Park West Historic Districts, which together include 247 freestanding homes built between 1894 and 1910. The houses exemplify early 20th-century suburban architecture in Flatbush, like Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, or a mixture of the two.
Find out more
Historic Flatbush megamansion with a dazzling renovation gets a mini price cut to $12.5M

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

May 14, 2025

Historic Flatbush megamansion with a dazzling renovation gets a mini price cut to $12.5M

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In 2022, 6sqft covered this impossibly grand free-standing mansion at 1305 Albemarle Road in Prospect Park South, listed for a whopping $12,950,000. The historic neighborhood had already attracted plenty of buzz when actress Michelle Williams purchased a house down the street. But this landmarked manse, also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, raised the bar for drama, with 22 rooms and more than 11,000 square feet, including a huge ballroom. It was purchased for $3 million in 2016, snapped up after only three days on the market. An inside-and-out renovation clearly spared no expense; the ballroom was enhanced to include a suite of luxury bedrooms, a vintage bar, and an entertainment space. But a $13 million ask may be too rich even for a Brooklyn estate the size of a small city; the Flatbush jewel has been relisted at $12,495,000. Still stunning–and still for sale–for $455,000 less.
historic mansion tour, this way
This $3M Ditmas Park neo-Tudor was built for Mary Pickford in 1916

Photos courtesy of Allyson Lubow Photography

May 9, 2025

This $3M Ditmas Park neo-Tudor was built for Mary Pickford in 1916

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Even among the grand historic homes in the Flatbush, Brooklyn neighborhood of Ditmas Park West, the 5,000-square-foot neo-Tudor at 1320 Ditmas Avenue is one of the most dramatic. Built in 1916 for silent film star Mary Pickford, the well-preserved property, asking $2,995,000, has been renovated for a new century without sacrificing its old-world character.
tour this storied brooklyn estate
For $2.5M, this laid-back Ditmas Park home is historic, lovely and livable
Photo credit: Chris Austin
December 24, 2024

For $2.5M, this laid-back Ditmas Park home is historic, lovely and livable

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A sprawling front porch is the first welcome gesture you'll see at the townhouse at 465 Argyle Road—and there are many more to come. Set among the historic homes in Brooklyn's Ditmas Park neighborhood, the spacious residence has kept its early 20th century charm while adding 21st-century livability and modern comforts with many years of considered renovation.
get a closer look
New signs along Flatbush Avenue honor Brooklyn’s African heritage

Photo courtesy of the NYC Department of Transportation on Flickr

August 19, 2024

New signs along Flatbush Avenue honor Brooklyn’s African heritage

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New cultural signs honoring Brooklyn's rich African heritage have been installed along Flatbush Avenue. The signs mark the beginning of the Black History + Heritage Corridors project, which connects the Lefferts Historic House and the Flatbush African Burial Ground and celebrates the history and culture of Brooklynites of African descent.
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This $3M Ditmas Park Victorian surprises with bold and delightful interiors

Photos courtesy of Joel Pitra of DD Reps and Douglas Elliman

August 15, 2024

This $3M Ditmas Park Victorian surprises with bold and delightful interiors

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From the outside, the dove-gray Victorian house at 231 Argyle Road in Ditmas Park has all the historic charm for which the Brooklyn neighborhood is known. A wraparound porch shaded by a roof and vines, a verdant front yard with trees and flowering bushes, and a driveway and garage make it an enviable urban refuge even from the curb. Inside, the single-family home, asking $3,000,000, continues to impress, but with a clever and colorful modern design that elegantly complements the historic architecture.
take the townhouse tour
Four years after start of Covid, Green-Wood Cemetery opens community art memorial honoring New Yorkers

Photos courtesy of Erik McGregor

May 3, 2024

Four years after start of Covid, Green-Wood Cemetery opens community art memorial honoring New Yorkers

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Four years after the start of the pandemic, a new memorial at Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery remembers the lives lost to Covid-19 and those still affected by the pandemic. Created by Naming the Lost Memorials (NTLM) and City Lore, "A Big, Slow, Majestic Covid Memorial" features tributes created by 22 community groups from across New York City. The memorial, stretching 200 feet across the cemetery's historic wrought-iron fence near the main entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street, is on view through June 3.
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Prospect Park reopens Fallkill Waterfall trail after nearly 30 years

All photos courtesy of Caroline Ourso

October 26, 2023

Prospect Park reopens Fallkill Waterfall trail after nearly 30 years

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New Yorkers can now access a waterfall in Prospect Park without having to hop a fence for the first time in decades. The Prospect Park Alliance on Thursday opened Fallkill Trail, a new woodland pathway leading to the scenic Fallkill Waterfall that has been behind fencing since 1995. The new trail was created by staff and volunteers from Prospect Park Alliance who worked to remove invasive plants, plant native species, haul logs, grade paths, and form the trail.
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Work begins on Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Rec Center in Brooklyn

Rendering of the Shirley Chisholm Recreational Center in East Flatbush. Credit: New York City Department of Design and Construction

October 17, 2023

Work begins on Studio Gang-designed Shirley Chisholm Rec Center in Brooklyn

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A new recreation center that will serve as a hub for learning, fitness, and recreation is coming to East Flatbush. City officials on Monday broke ground on the $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center, a new facility named after the late congresswoman and Brooklyn native who was the first Black woman ever elected to Congress. Located in Nostrand Playground, the roughly 62,000-square-foot center will feature a public plaza, indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, walking track, commercial teaching kitchen, and a media lab.
learn more about the rec center
East Flatbush’s new library is light-filled and inviting

Images courtesy of the Brooklyn Public Library

June 9, 2023

East Flatbush’s new library is light-filled and inviting

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A renovation of the East Flatbush Library has transformed it into a light-filled and modern space that will inspire visitors of all ages. After undergoing a complete renovation by architecture firm LevenBetts, the East Flatbush Library reopened to visitors this week. Located at 9612 Church Street, the revitalized library has achieved LEED silver status and features an innovative facade, windows, and skylights which fill the previously dimly-lit facility with abundant natural light.
See more here
Green-Wood Cemetery’s $34M welcome center that wraps around historic greenhouse breaks ground

All renderings courtesy of Architecture Research Office (ARO) 

May 24, 2023

Green-Wood Cemetery’s $34M welcome center that wraps around historic greenhouse breaks ground

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Construction has begun on a new welcome center that will teach visitors about Green-Wood Cemetery's rich history. Located across from the cemetery's main entrance on 25th Street and Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn, the new $34 million Education and Welcome Center will feature two exhibition galleries for Green-Wood's art and archival collections, host educational events and programs, and serve as a hub for scholarly research, staff offices, and meeting and event spaces. The new building, which will be built around the historic Weir Greenhouse, will be completed by June 2025.
Find out more
Apply for 22 mixed-income apartments in the heart of Flatbush, from $1,576/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

May 12, 2023

Apply for 22 mixed-income apartments in the heart of Flatbush, from $1,576/month

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Applications are being accepted for 22 mixed-income units at a new residential development in Brooklyn. Located at 1457 Flatbush Avenue, the development offers residents spacious and modern apartments with an expansive amenity suite. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $57,429 for a single person and $156,130 for a household of three, can apply for the units, which range from $1,576/month studios to $3,126/month one-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
Community-created memorial honoring New Yorkers lost to Covid on view at Green-Wood Cemetery

All photos courtesy of Green-Wood Cemetery

May 4, 2023

Community-created memorial honoring New Yorkers lost to Covid on view at Green-Wood Cemetery

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A massive new public art memorial at Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery honors lives lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. Curated by Naming The Lost Memorials and City Lore, the "The Many Losses from Covid-19" memorial is made up of personalized tributes to the 79,000 New Yorkers lost to the virus, as well as those suffering from long Covid. Created by 20 local community groups, the month-long display will be located alongside the cemetery's historic wrought-iron fence near the main entrance at Fifth Avenue and 25th Street.
Find out more
This $2M Ditmas Park two-family home is historic and updated, with four-car parking and a yard

Photo Credit: Allyson Lubow

March 1, 2023

This $2M Ditmas Park two-family home is historic and updated, with four-car parking and a yard

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This two-family house at 986 Ocean Avenue in Ditmas Park is updated and ready for living and rental income as a triplex with an upper duplex unit, all while retaining its early-20th-century charm. Asking $1,999,000, the 4,305-square-foot home is in the heart of Victorian Flatbush, surrounded by the neighborhood's lovely architecture as well as its restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. With plenty of covetable yard space, the home has the added bonus of space for four cars, with two driveway parking spots and a two-car garage.
Get a closer look
Everything’s big in this $3.75M Ditmas Park home, from the porch to the yard, driveway and garage

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow

January 20, 2023

Everything’s big in this $3.75M Ditmas Park home, from the porch to the yard, driveway and garage

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This three-story house on a corner lot in historic Ditmas Park offers a perfect way to enjoy a lush yard, a sprawling wrap-around porch, a long driveway, and a spacious garage while living in the middle of bustling Brooklyn. Inside, you'll find 7,480 square feet of living space with eight bedrooms and a finished basement, all with historic details beautifully preserved and renovated for 21st-century living. Built in 1909, the Flatbush townhouse is asking $3,750,000.
Take a closer look
Tours of Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre are back

Photo courtesy of Whitney Cox

January 13, 2023

Tours of Brooklyn’s historic Kings Theatre are back

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Tours of Brooklyn's historic Kings Theatre are back. Over the course of the 75-minute tour, guests will be transported nearly 100 years into the past, learning about the opulent theater's history and striking architecture. Highlights include insight into the theater's baroque stylings and a closer look at the Robert Morgan Wonder Organ. Tours will be hosted on February 18 at 1 p.m., March 11 at 1 p.m., and for the first time, a weekday tour on Tuesday, March 21 at 7 p.m.
Learn more here
Lottery opens for 45 mixed-income rentals a block from Green-Wood Cemetery, from $1,473/month

Image courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 23, 2022

Lottery opens for 45 mixed-income rentals a block from Green-Wood Cemetery, from $1,473/month

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A housing lottery opened this week for 45 mixed-income units at a new residential development in Brooklyn. Located at 875 4th Avenue in Greenwood, the luxury rental rises eight stories and has 150 apartments. New Yorkers earning 80 and 130 percent of the area median income, or between $53,863 for a single person and $187,330 for a household of five people, can apply for the apartments, priced from $1,473/month studios to $2,975/month two bedrooms.
See more here
NYC designates Flatbush block with distinctive ‘Kinko houses’ as historic district

Photo of Parkside Avenue courtesy of LPC

December 14, 2022

NYC designates Flatbush block with distinctive ‘Kinko houses’ as historic district

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Brooklyn gained another historic district this week. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Melrose Parkside Historic District, which includes a collection of 38 intact single and two-family homes built by two renowned Brooklyn architects, Benjamin Driesler and Axel S. Hedman. Located on Parkside Avenue between Flatbush and Bedford Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, the row of homes has a "distinctive appearance and sense of place," deriving from the two architects' use of "then popular Neoclassical vocabulary in their designs to harmonize three different types of residences," according to the commission.
Find out more
10 things you didn’t know about Green-Wood Cemetery

Photo by Eden, Janine and Jim on Flickr

October 6, 2022

10 things you didn’t know about Green-Wood Cemetery

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What do Jean-Michel Basquiat, F.A.O Schwarz, Horace Greeley, Samuel Morse, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Boss Tweed, Peter Cooper, Leonard Bernstein, and Susan Smith McKinney-Steward have in common? All these notable New Yorkers are spending eternity in Brooklyn, specifically Green-Wood Cemetery, the stunning 478-acre "rural cemetery" that’s home to 560,000 “permanent residents” (and about as many truly spectacular mausoleums.) Since the best secrets are the ones you take to the grave, come dig up the dirt on Green-Wood, and read on for 10 things you didn’t know about Brooklyn’s most sensational cemetery.
Take it to the grave!
For $3M, this colorful storybook cottage in Prospect Park South has two sunrooms

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

September 8, 2022

For $3M, this colorful storybook cottage in Prospect Park South has two sunrooms

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The surrounding Prospect Park South neighborhood is filled with charming freestanding Victorian homes, and the buttercup-yellow beauty at 215 Marlborough Road is certainly among them. Lovingly preserved and updated, historic and turnkey, the three-story, 3,400-square-foot home, asking $2,995,000, is a dream come true for anyone seeking a confection of colorful details. With a pitched roof, gothic arches, arched windows, two sun porches, and landscaped gardens anchored by a mature hydrangea bush, its storybook charm is undeniable. On the practical side, a wide driveway, a two-car garage, and timeless, updated interiors mean an easy move-in.
Take the tour
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