561 Vermont Street

The easternmost neighborhood of Brooklyn, East New York is enormous, extending from Atlantic Avenue on its northern edge to Jamaica Bay, and stretching from Brownsville and Canarsie on its western edge to Queens (specifically Howard Beach) to its east. The neighborhood was long one of the city’s more troubled areas, especially in the late ’80s. It has, however, made remarkable strides, with crime rates dropping dramatically over the past two decades thanks to community efforts and the financial commitment of successive city governments. Some of the clearest evidence of progress can be seen around Spring Creek Towers (formerly Starrett City) and in the revitalization of Atlantic Avenue. While East New York’s founder hoped it would rival Manhattan, the neighborhood didn’t take off in the 19th century. That has left residents today, however, with a neighborhood with many parks, a generally low-lying scale, and real estate deals that are rare in Brooklyn.