Bushwick

LOCATION

Northwestern Brooklyn. Bushwick is bounded by (East) Williamsburg to the northwest, Ridgewood to the northeast, Bedford-Stuyvesant to the southwest and various cemeteries to the southeast. The Bushwick - East Williamsburg border has long been a subject of heated arguments. For simplicity's sake, we're going to side with those arguing for Flushing Ave to be declared the border.

CHARACTER AND FEEL

The neighborhood was damaged significantly during the blackout arsons of 1977 - many stores, particularly along Broadway were burned to the ground.

In the 1980's and 1990's the neighborhood was best known for abundant drugs and crime. After 2000, however, the situation has improved and the acute shortage of cheap housing in neighboring "cool" neighborhood of Williamsburg helped jump-start the gentrification process.

Bushwick's western side is semi-industrial and (still) somewhat desolate, although the part close to Knickerbocker Ave has some traditional row houses.

APARTMENTS & REAL ESTATE

Above Flushing Ave, in the vicinity of Morgan Ave L stop, housing is mostly industrial lofts, many of them seemingly raw.

Below Flushing Ave, traditional apartments are available for very reasonable prices.

Renting range (2007):

• Studios: $700+
• 1BR and 2BR $900- $1,500
• Lofts (around 1,200 sq ft): $1,400+
• 3BR: $1,500+

Buying range:

• 2BR around $400,000;
• Townhouses (2-family): $550,000+
• 3-family brownstones: $600,000+

Selected Rental Buildings:

• 1408 Bushwick Avenue (1408 Bushwick Avenue, Bushwick) - Walk-up building.

See all Bushwick Rental Apartment Buildings

Selected No-Fee Rental Listings:

• $1,500 2-Bedroom at 1408 Bushwick Avenue (available May 17, 2008) posted 04/22/08.

See all Bushwick No Fee Rental Apartments (1 total)

Condo Buildings:

• 358 Grove (358 Grove street, Bushwick)
• WY 101 Lofts (101 Wyckoff Avenue, Bushwick) - Pre-war factory building.

See all Bushwick Condo Apartment Buildings

POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS

Bushwick is still a poor neighborhood, as made evident by the abundance of 99 shops, check cashing services and low-end clothing stores along Knickerbocker Avenue. About 20% of the neighborhood's residents live on public assistance. However, two new groups are moving in - the 'hip' crowd moving into former (or current) warehouses around Morgan Avenue L stop and families taking up residence in along Knickerbocker Avenue. Those new residents (particularly, former Manhattan and Williamsburg residents) bring with them the demand for more services and stores.

SAFETY

Bushwick is still a relatively rough neighborhood. In 2005 there were 15 murders, 40 rapes, 467 robberies and 399 felonious assaults reported by the local (83rd) precinct. In 2006, robberies and assaults were down but rapes were up slightly. In general, violent crime has decreased about 73% since 1993.