East Williamsburg

Perhaps no neighborhood’s boundaries are more contested than those of East Williamsburg. Even the name itself holds little authority, with many residents claiming to live in Bushwick or Williamsburg. Add to that mix, real estate brokers throwing around terms like MoBo (Morgan Ave. and Bogart St.) and EWIP (East Williamsburg Industrial Park). As if things weren’t confusing enough. Much of the debate stems from the recent dynamic changes in the nature of the neighborhood. Originally designated by the city as “North Bushwick,” East Williamsburg was originally an industrial district with workers residing either on the Williamsburg or Bushwick border. In the 90’s, Williamsburg’s new hip identity and the L train, combined with a decline in industrial activity, made the area an easy choice for the Burg’s spillover. The current neighborhood demographic is a patchwork mix of Puerto Rican middle class families with strong ties to the area, and the recent influx of artists and young professionals seeking more space for their money. De-commissioned warehouses were converted into residential lofts and artist studios. The neighborhood still remains in transition; though it has begun to take on the feel of parts of Williamsburg, most of EW still remains either undeveloped or industrial. Recently improved L train service may speed the changes along. The real estate listings for East Williamsburg reflect its divided nature – luxury condos coexist with unfinished industrial lofts. Because of this, average rental and sales prices may not accurately reflect the range of possibilities. In this spirit, 1Br’s in East Williamsburg embrace a huge range from near $1000/mo to over $3000/mo. In other words, if you’re willing to cook with a hot plate, you can probably get something really cheap. The median residential sale price is $500-600K.