NYC / Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn, aka Kings County, is first among firsts. It is the largest borough of New York City by population, and the second-most-densely-populated county in the United States (after New York County, aka Manhattan). All by itself, Brooklyn would be the third-largest city in the United States, after Los Angeles and Chicago.

Geographically, Brooklyn is one of the smallest counties in New York State. Yet, dozens of distinct neighborhoods are crammed into its 71 square miles.

So much for statistics. Breuckelen began in 1646 as a Dutch settlement on the eastern shore of the East River, named for a village in the Netherlands. Less than two decades later, the British took over; after another two decades the British created Kings County as a distinct political entity. Over the next two centuries, independent villages and cities within Kings County divided and recombined to form a City of Brooklyn. Finally, in 1894, a slim majority of the country’s third-largest city voted to become a part of New York City, effective January 1, 1898.

Brooklyn’s architectural diversity belies the borough’s small geographic footprint. Along the East River and Upper Bay shores are the expected piers, warehouses and factory buildings. Facing Manhattan, a skyscraper-studded downtown blooms where the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges converge. South shore “Beach” communities, once resorts and suburbs, are now residential. And of course central Brooklyn is primarily residential. The landlocked neighborhoods around Prospect Park have some of New York City’s most beautiful homes.

Brooklyn Photo Galleries

NYC / Brooklyn / 1 John Street

1 John Street, in John Street Park, is a residential condominium overlooking the East River. Name:  1 John StreetLocation:  1 John StreetYear Completed:  2015Architect:  Alloy DesignStyle:  PostmodernCity Realty: Carter HorsleyEXPLORE NOW

NYC / Brooklyn / 11 Hoyt Street

11 Hoyt Street in Downtown Brooklyn is a residential condo skyscraper with a unique wavy white façade of precast concrete panels and drive-through motor court. Designed by Studio Gang architects.EXPLORE NOW

NYC / Brooklyn / City Point

City Point is a three-tower development in Downtown Brooklyn. City Point Tower I, aka 7 Dekalb, opened in 2015 with retail space and affordable housing. City Point Tower II, akaEXPLORE NOW

NYC / Brooklyn / Engine Company 253

The City of Brooklyn built this fire station in Bensonhurst just two years before the borough merged with New York City. The station, at 2425 86th Street, originally housed EngineEXPLORE NOW

NYC / Brooklyn / Park Slope Historic District

Park Slope Historic District is a huge swath of mostly residential buildings, roughly two blocks deep by 24 blocks long, across the entire northwest border of Prospect Park. The originalEXPLORE NOW

NYC / Brooklyn / The Eagle

The Eagle, 86 Fleet Place at Myrtle Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, is a curved-corner glass apartment tower with balconies. Goldstein Hill & West designed the 2017 structure, developed by RedEXPLORE NOW

NYC / Brooklyn / Toren

Toren, at 150 Myrtle Avenue, has a distinctive black-and-white metal and glass facade. The downtown Brooklyn condo tower was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Name:  TorenLocation:  150 Myrtle AvenueYearEXPLORE NOW

Much more to come!

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