Dyker Heights

Since the topography of Dyker Heights is riddled with hills and valleys, the area remained woodlands until the mid-1800s when the area was converted into farmland for a wide range of produce. Residential construction began towards the turn of the 19th century as developers realized the neighborhood’s potential as prime location for grand, suburban homes offering beautiful views of New York Bay thanks to its elevated location. Though the original residents were mostly English, since the 1940s the neighborhood has been inhabited primarily by Italian-Americans. As a result, the main commercial drag along 13th avenue is with filled tempting bakeries, butchers, delis, and Italian restaurants. Dyker Heights’ homes are also well known for extravagant Christmas decorations, drawing a special tourist crowd during the holidays. Serviced by the D & M trains, residents are easily whisked away to shopping in Downtown Brooklyn, or Coney Island for a relaxing day at the beach. After nearly a century of unrestricted development that diversified housing in Dyker Heights, concerns over the fate of its historic areas has led to a crack-down on new building and renovation. This neighborhood is an example for and against landmarking buildings – lack of protection allowed for some necessary housing development, but also threatened the feel of the neighborhood. While some of the newer homes are not as quite grandiose as the originals, there is no denying that the neighborhood has retained its affluent suburban atmosphere – there’s even a full-sized public golf course. The median sales price for the neighborhood is around $700K. In keeping with the low-rise feel, there are very few apartment rentals listed. A patient apartment seeker may be able to find a decent deal – the median rental price for a studio is $1000/mo and $1100/mo for a 1Br.