New York City Neighborhood Tour: East New York Brooklyn Explained

The easternmost neighborhood in Brooklyn has an urban feel that belies its waterfront locale. It has yet to see the much talked about gentrification that’s transforming other parts of the borough.
John Pitkin dreamed of transforming farmland into a bustling port city when he purchased and founded East New York in 1825. His plans were complicated by an economic downturn, and he was forced to sell much of the land. Over time, manufacturing jobs did draw workers, but their fortunes fell when industry began to leave the city. Since the 1980s, the area has been on the rise thanks to both legislative changes and the commitment of its dedicated residents.
The Gateway Center mall, busy commercial streets and small businesses all serve the area, with short residential blocks between. Physically it’s close to parts of Bushwick and Crown Heights, but with respect to gentrification, it’s miles behind, leaving room for unpretentious family-owned restaurants, barbershops and more.
East New York is a residential neighborhood in the eastern section of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City, United States. Its boundaries, starting from the north and moving clockwise, are roughly the Cemetery Belt and the Queens borough line to the north; the Queens borough line to the east; Jamaica Bay to the south, and the Bay Ridge Branch railroad tracks and Van Sinderen Avenue to the west. Linden Boulevard, Pennsylvania Avenue, and Atlantic Avenue are the primary thoroughfares through East New York.
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[@IQTrip]

Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this video, make sure to hit the like button! See you in the next video! 😊

[@eddihaskell]

For Crime Fans -- Murder Inc. in the 1930's was run out of a candy store on Saratoga Avenue and Livonia called "Midnight Rosies". It is now a bodega. Over 800 gangland hits were said to ordered on the pay phone on the corner . The movie Goodfellas was partially filmed there, the real Goodfellas took place in East New York.

[@IQTrip]

Hey Eddi! Thanks for sharing this I’m sure others will find this interesting for sure!

[@angusfischer2210]

My community isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Nice video

[@IQTrip]

Hi Angus! I totally agree and hope that came across in my video of the area. Thank you for your comment!

[@nanapleze]

E.N.Y Was farm land....! George Gershwin lived in e.n.y. this was a Jewish neighborhood until the late 60s. Forturnoff was located on Livonia & Pennsylvania ave.! Lived there most of my life. Be good, be safe. Also Gov Cuomo family and Owened Property on Liberty ave 🥰 Love East New York, one of the best neighborhoods you can live in. 😍❤🥳😍❤🥳

[@IQTrip]

Hi Nana! Yes I read that about the area too so much history in the area! I love your perspective of the area I enjoyed my time there so I’m glad the feeling is mutual!

[@bakerd99]

Used to live right in that area on Pitkin Avenue when it was a one-way street back in the early 70s. The crime was very high, Sex Boys gang down the street, winos hanging out fighting each other, spaced out drug addicts, used syringes on the ground, and lots of burned up abandoned buildings. Now it looks different, it's quiet, a lot less people walking around and new development.

[@IQTrip]

Thanks for sharing this with me! Glad to hear the area has turned around so much. Could definitely attest that new development is taking place for better or worse but I was happy to see the neighborhood in a positive light compared to how it’s sometimes described.

[@bakerd99]

@@IQTrip Agreed.

[@JuanRosado-uh4pd]

My formative years were spent in East New York Brooklyn. Ultimately we moved to East Williamsburg Brooklyn.

[@IQTrip]

Thanks for sharing Juan! Tons of character in both neighborhoods so I’m sure you learned a lot!

[@neboul]

Good video. I love that you show another vision of that neighborhood.

[@IQTrip]

Thank you Neboul! Yeah I’m always surprised when certain places are only shown in one way so I’m hoping others see it differently too! 😊

[@MannyExploresVlog]

Good to see another side of this neighborhood, all I hear is about the negativity, it looks pretty residential.

[@IQTrip]

Hey Manny! Yeah I was confused why everything I read was always on the negative side too! Not that I’d want to just hang out here at 3am but during the day most of the area was just quiet and residential for sure!

[@KloseDatBaxkdoor]

@@IQTrip You got unlucky. U aint come on the right block. And even then not at the right time

[@IQTrip]

@@KloseDatBaxkdoor hey Jay! What part was unlucky?

[@Justanadmin]

9:00 Also further down Liberty Ave by the Euclid Ave. A train station, got a shopping district as well

[@IQTrip]

Thanks for sharing

[@jjlhawk]

Great video Isaac. Worked in that area for 15 years. Good to see it it better shape then it used to be. Thanks for sharing

[@IQTrip]

Thanks John! I’m glad it’s in a better spot than you remember it! People here were very warm and nice so it was pleasant to visit!

[@lizzyboo567]

I use to get my hair done over there. It can be a bad area but generally Everything you say is true just be aware of your surroundings don’t go down specific blocks that looks sketchy and you should be fine

[@IQTrip]

Hi! I’m glad I got some of it right! 😂 Yeah the neighborhood reminds of a lot in Brooklyn where some streets are safe and others you just need to keep an eye out on. I’m just glad my trip was a pleasant one!

[@beth5633]

Your videos are so great, I am a big New York fan, really hope to come to visit one day.

[@IQTrip]

That means a lot thank you Bette! I’m biased since I was born here but NY is pretty cool! Hope you get to visit too!

[@KatieSalib]

Pink Houses ? 7-5 precinct? A lot of history with these 2 places

[@IQTrip]

Thanks for pointing that out! Plan to do a part 2 in the future so I’ll def include!

[@TheAllnPttrsn]

Thank you for shedding light on East New York, Brooklyn. It really gets a bad rap as if it’s the most dangerous place in Brooklyn. Hell, I’ll even say of NYC (that should go to the Bronx). However, crime happens everywhere. In the 80’s and 90’s it was very dangerous. It’s not like that anymore- what was once junk yards are now homes. I was learning to drive before and during the creation of gateway mall. Trust and believe Brownsville is worst than ENY. Newer homes are replacing old dilapidated ones. You will see on van siclen and Stanley and around the area the projects are being transformed to look different. East New York is getting itself together. Hopefully, not to be gentrified! Do a part 2 this year in the summer of pitkin Ave from Euclid to Atkins and then go to the homes around gateway mall in east New York, Brooklyn. And yes, cypress hills, cityline, spring creek, gateway etc. is all part of east New York, Brooklyn. You can’t separate yourself from us.

[@IQTrip]

Thanks for the kind words! Yeah I will say there are some rough spots in East NY, but there are rough spots in many neighborhoods. I just don’t like the narrative that it’s so bad because so many good people are here and that gets overlooked. I’m healing from a back injury but once that’s healed, I’ll definitely be heading back for a part 2!

[@TheAllnPttrsn]

@@IQTrip Great. I like to see the neighborhood I was born and raised in get talked about in a positive manner. There are some blocks where you will be like damn they need to fix these homes or tear them down and rebuild, and then there are other blocks where you will be like now that’s nice. If you walk along glenmore passing those same blocks you will see how they are changing for the better. Also, new lots block is a dirty area where crime is rampant and needs to clean up. Pitkin is a commercial hub so it looks dirtier than the side blocks. Pitkin needs a serious facelift besides just the new recent apartment buildings they built around atkins avenue. There are at least 2 more currently being built as we type. One around Warwick and pitkin and another a couple of blocks away. 7 more years and we will see a huge change. The 75 precinct is even cleaner looking.

[@VLADAxLikeDUh]

The building at 3:28 looks super cool behind you

[@IQTrip]

It sure sticks out like a sore thumb right? Wasn’t sure if it was an apartment building or what? 😂

[@VLADAxLikeDUh]

The cat was like… why you disturb me?

[@IQTrip]

Lmao I’m surprised It let me finish the video after that 😂

[@lray173]

raised in brownsville and eny..........all i got to say if you make it in these hoods, you can make it anywhere. i got my phd in life 25 times over!

[@IQTrip]

Very true words those two are tough neighborhoods but pressure does make diamonds so you might be on to something!

[@Justanadmin]

9:45 You’re showing the Brownsville side of the Rockaway Parkway L train bound tracks

[@IQTrip]

Thanks for sharing

[@phantastik3389]

Also. Pitkin Av has everything you need! I used shop there all the time.

[@IQTrip]

Very true about Pitkin! I walked around there a lot and saw a lot of great store options!

[@limomangeno]

I did alot of work back in 98 to 2017...funeral work ,hearst driver and limo work...I worked out of funeral parlors all over Bklyn....went to Cypress Cemetery and really all the Jewish ones off the JRPky....My Ex went to St.Michaels academy over there...

[@IQTrip]

Hey Geno! Wow so you definitely have some history with the area! I wanted to give the area a chance since I've only seen negative things said about the area so I was happy to have a good experience around there.

[@VLADAxLikeDUh]

Good video baba! 🎉

[@IQTrip]

Thank you baba! 😊

[@eddihaskell]

I have a question. I grew up in East New York. Where the heck are there escalators like that? I remember walking up steps everywhere. My older sister taught me how to jump the turnstiles on the New Lots Line when I was 8 years old (I grew up in Boulevard Houses) and I used to sneak off and visit Manhattan on my own by not paying for the subway. No one ever knew. My parents would have killed me. I liked to go to Macy's. But I don't remember taking any escolars in East New York!

[@IQTrip]

😂 I was coming from the Broadway Junction stop near Brownsville heading into East NY

[@richcollins4208]

ENY has potential to be great place for black people in Brooklyn those who go with the trenches rhetoric aint outside, ENY has done a 180 since the 90's and for good reasons. Canarsie and ENY are good places in east Brooklyn, now that Brownsville is a different story, aint no hope for the ville, you want the worst in Brooklyn period? Brownsville is number 1 and undefeated and aint never gon change.

[@IQTrip]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Rich! Totally agree ENY gets a bad rep but I’m hopeful things could turn around in Brownsville too. Neighborhoods like Williamsburg and Bushwick were also pretty rough in the 90’s but can be unrecognizable today.

[@ollimekatl]

Moved to the outskirts of ENY on Pennsylvania Ave a year and a half ago. I stay home most of the time and go out in groups. Unless it’s the store down the street. Even then i keep my eyes peeled. Moved from East Oakland here so in reality, it’s not much different except that NY is ten times as big.

[@IQTrip]

Hi there! Keeping your eyes peeled is probably the number one advice I give to anyone in a new neighborhood so I’m glad you’re already doing just that! Compared to other parts of BK, ENY is pretty residential so that could be off putting but I think in a few years it’ll really start to shine.

[@ollimekatl]

@@IQTrip It is actually pretty quiet in my space so I like it. But you’re right, a little too residential, not much to choose as far as food and no such thing as an entertainment venue around here.

[@IQTrip]

@@ollimekatl All very well said. The thing I like the most about BK is that you're never super far from other interesting neighborhoods as well as being generally about a 30min train form the city as well. A saving grace is that if you plan to move to another part of BK or NYC, you'll have ENY to compare it to in terms of food and entertainment. Thanks again for sharing!

[@ollimekatl]

@@IQTrip Than you as well bud. I’ve visited other neighborhoods and am definitely eyeing a few of them for the future. I have a buddy living in the Forest Park neighborhood and it’s one I’m considering. Take care fellow traveler.

[@IQTrip]

@@ollimekatl Great choice! I grew up in Kew Gardens and played basketball at Forest Park back in the day. Without too much bias, I'd recommend Forest Park/Forest Hills over ENY.

[@cynthiachavis9678]

Ppl need to know all sts and ave a lot has change ppl been gone 50yrs plus

[@IQTrip]

Hi Cynthia! Yes I’ve heard from a lot of people with memories of the past in the area so it’s been amazing to hear!

[@lisavollaro]

My daughter lives on blake ave

[@IQTrip]

Cool!

[@marthaalvarez8872]

Nice

[@IQTrip]

Thank you Martha!

[@phantastik3389]

You in the hood bro! I used to live on sutter ave near the L train! I believe it still hood. But theyre some good people trying to get away from there!

[@IQTrip]

Haha so I’ve heard! I’ve lived in NY all my life so I’ve seen first hand even in a “ bad area” there are good people just going about their day. Of course being there at night is a different story but walking around I felt comfortable.

This doesn’t look like a safe place to visit!

[@IQTrip]

That’s a fair thought but I felt comfortable personally walking around during the day time. Thanks for sharing!