Fort Greene / Downtown Brooklyn

Fort Greene, also, Downtown Brooklyn. . , Fort Greene , After George Washington evacuated his army to Manhattan in 1776, the British imprisoned captured patriots aboard 11 decrepit ships in Wallabout Bay, adjacent to the present Brooklyn Navy Yard Industrial Park. The horrific conditions in these makeshift prisons cost the lives of 11,500 patriots. Their remains are buried in Fort Greene Park, which was named after Revolutionary War General Nathaniel Greene. Their crypt rests below a majestic Doric column designed by Stanford White and dedicated in 1908., But today Fort Greene is bustling with life. Fort Greene Historic District (1978) boasts fine row houses of 19th Century Greek Revival Italianate and French Second Empire style houses. Nearby is the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), a cultural complex offering diverse, innovative experiences in the arts., A mainstay of New York City's artistic life since 1859 and a highlight of Fort Greene since 1908, BAM is the centerpiece of its own cultural Historic District (designated 1978)., With extensive residential growth, including housing in the landmarked former Williamsburgh Bank Building, expanded shopping malls, a renovated Long Island Rail Road terminal and New York State office building, Fort Greene is thriving as never before. The neighborhood's ambitious, multi-ethnic residents continue to energize businesses, arts and culture making the brownstone-oriented neighborhood "hot-to hip-hop" in its continued growth.,

"You have neighborhoods in Brooklyn, you know? You really don't have them to the same degree in Manhattan." Spike Lee

, Downtown Brooklyn , is a cluster of extraordinary neighborhoods, 1. Fulton Landing , The Fulton Ferry Landing sets a residential neighborhood and commercial waterfront against world-class views of the Brooklyn Bridge, lower Manhattan, and New York Harbor., Historic Fulton Ferry Pier, Brooklyn Bridge Anchorage, Empire State Park and Barge Music compete with the landing's restaurant row and surrounding historic structures., 2. DUMBO , "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass", Local artists named the neighborhood in the 1980s, as they began flocking to this industrial relic., Blends a gritty industrial past with urban chic: Belgian block streets, old train rails, former warehouses., Bustling with the creative vibrancy of artists, theaters, restaurants, boutiques and two waterfront parks, Brooklyn's DUMBO amazes with breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline., 4. Vinegar Hill , Remains a rare living example of an early 19th-century commercial and residential waterfront neighborhood., Set on Belgian block streets, the storefonts and townhouses reveal a rich history of self-reliance., To attract Irish immigrants, the neighborhood was named after Ireland's 1798 failed Battle of Vinegar Hill., Later the area became home to Brooklyn Navy Yard workers., 4. Brooklyn Heights , Colonized by the Dutch in the mid-1600s, Brooklyn Heights emerged as a "country retreat" for wealthy merchants and bankers 200 years later., Crowds flock to the world-famous Promenade for its panoramic views of New York Harbor., Replete with 19th century brownstones, Federal-style frame buildings and architecturally significant churches, Brooklyn Heights became the first New York City Historic District and a national landmark., 5. Brooklyn Civic Center , Brooklyn Hall, formerly Brooklyn City Hall and one of America's finest structures, dominates this center of government., The imposing landmarked United States Post Office and Court House establish this as a center for City, State and Federal judicial system., Statues of Henry Ward Beecher, Christopher Columbus, Robert Kennedy and the city's unique Brooklyn War Memorial glorify Cadman Plaza Park., 6. MetroTech , Stands out as Brooklyn's vibrant corporate, academic, retail and government center., The Commons and adjacent cafes offer art exhibits, concerts and civic events., Built around The Commons, a 3½ acre tree-filled park near the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, the 10-block MetroTech area is visited daily by over 75,000 people., 7. Cobble Hill , The Dutch granted settlers patents to farm this land in the 1640s., From his outpost at Cobble Hill Fort, George Washington observed defeat of his troops in the Battle of Brooklyn., Alfred T. White's modeled tenements and cottages, 1870s affordable housing for working men, contrast strongly to the brownstones of Cobble Hill., Attracted by the 1950s preservation movements, multi-cultural residents moved into the Greek Revival and Italianate row houses., 8. Fulton Street , Welcoming 100,000 shoppers daily, the area is served by 14 subway and 11 bus lines with over 7,500 parking spaces. It continues to offer New Yorkers a variety of shopping experiences., Established as New York City's first pedestrian mall, the Fulton Street Mall continues to be one of Brooklyn's busiest Shopping districts., Fulton Street is strategically located in the center of Downtown Brooklyn., 9. Boerum Hill , It's 44 block of restaurants, chic boutiques and Atlantic Avenue antique shops., Offering one of New York's most distinctive friendly, small-scale atmospheres., The 19th century brownstone row houses and red-brick homes qualified Boerum Hill as a designated New York City Historic District and placed it on the National Register of Historic Places., Close to Atlantic Avenue centers of transportation, shopping and entertainment, the neighborhood is enhanced by a vibrant international music and art scene., 10. Carroll Gardens , Colorful 33-foot gardens and trees are set against 19th century row houses in this neighborhood., Settled by Irish Americans, replaced by Italian Americans, the area had been known as South Brooklyn., In the 1960s, renamed for Charles Carroll, a Revolutionary War hero from Maryland who sent troops to fight in the Battle of Brooklyn., 11. Fort Greene , A juxtaposition of rich history and bustling modernity, this 18th century enclave now fosters an exciting 21st-century lifestyle., With its diverse population and stability, Fort Green invites visitors to experience the local architecture, shops, restaurants, and trend-setting international entertainment., 12. Clinton Hill , Elegant Romanesque mansions built by kings of industry brush against simple pre-Civil War era frame houses., Students from resident colleges add a cultural and intellectual mix to this New York City Historic District (designated 1981)., Apartment housing opened the neighborhood to more diversity.