Williamsburg

Character: Running along the waterfront area of Brooklyn just east of 14th street in Manhattan is Williamsburg. Once an inexpensive artists area, full of illegal lofts and warehouse spaces, Williamsburg has become the artist/hipster mecca - and much more expensive than its former "starving artist" residents could possibly afford.

Home of many art galleries and artist studios, Williamsburg has a creative vibe. The main drag of Bedford Avenue is buzzing at all hours with fashionable artsy folk, mostly in their 20s-30s (with the occasional artsy family).

Many boutiques sell one-of-a-kind artist's wares, and the bars and clubs provide a variety of genres and events at a much cheaper cost than those in Manhattan. The restaurants are great, ranging from Polish fare from neighboring Greenpoint, to vegetarian-friendly to Asian, with many outdoor cafés: have the space for it.

That said, the neighborhood is somewhat gritty, being largely converted from crude warehouses - don't expect a lot of trees or vegetation. Some love it and rarely leave Williamsburg, finding everything they need in the area, while others find the constant buzz and "fashion show" to be too much pressure.

The recent popularization of the area has attracted a steady trickle of the "yuppie" crowd (i.e. people with day jobs and actual paychecks to pay rent with). As a result, the rents have soared.

Demographics: A curious mix of hipsters (the majority), yuppies, Hispanics and Hasidic Jews (the latter two groups especially in the southern part of the neighborhood).

Apartments & Real Estate

Apartments range from do-it-yourself warehouses (basically, you build the walls to your room, and expect a utility-style bathroom) to older homes to newly constructed buildings.

Many are “railroad” or “shotgun” style, which means one room leads into the next- a problem for roommates/privacy. Some buildings' electrical systems have not been updated, so if you work from home and use many appliances, it may be a problem.

Selected Rental Buildings

• 175 Kent Avenue (Williamsburg) [6 available no-fee apts]
  A modern mid-rise elevator building.
• 184 Kent Avenue (Williamsburg) [5 available no-fee apts]
  A doorman building offering a gym.
• 222 Montrose Avenue (Williamsburg)
  A low-rise walk-up building.
• 34 Berry Street (Williamsburg)
  A mid-rise concierge elevator building offering a gym.
• Continental Warehouse (885 Park Avenue, Williamsburg) [7 available no-fee apts]
  A low-rise elevator building offering laundry facilities. The apartments have high ceilings.

See all Williamsburg Rental Apartment Buildings (45 buildings)

Selected No-Fee Rental Listings

See all Williamsburg No-Fee Rental Apartments (20 total)

Condo & Co-op Buildings

• 125 North 10th (125 North 10th Street, Williamsburg)
  A concierge condo building offering a gym, a garage and a children's play area. The apartments have very high ceilings (from 10' 0").
• One Northside Piers (4 North 5th Street, Williamsburg)
  A 29-story glass tower; the first phase of this condo development. The building is located on the waterfront.
• Two Northside Piers (164 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg)
  A modern doorman condo building offering a gym, a garage and a children's play area.

See all Williamsburg Condo Apartment Buildings (42 buildings)

• 170 Bedford Avenue (Williamsburg)
  A low-rise walk-up building.

See our list of Williamsburg Co-op Apartment Buildings (1 building)

Historical Notes

Williamsburg was once an independent city whose main economic engines were oil and sugar refineries built near the East River.

The Williamsburg Bridge, built in 1903, linked the area to Manhattan and helped many Lower East Side Jews escaping the poverty and the appalling living conditions of the neighborhood across the river resettle in the area.

Additional Links

Please note that the site(s) mentioned below are not affiliated with NYBits

• Williamsburg @ Brownstoner - Williamsburg section of the Brooklyn blog.