Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
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Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bound by 65th Street on the north, Interstate 278 on the east, and the Belt Parkway-Shore Road on the west. The portion below 86th Street is a subsection called Fort Hamilton. A small area east of I-278, bounded by 7th Avenue, is also part of Bay Ridge. Bay Ridge is patrolled by the NYPD's 68th [1] Precinct. It is served by Engine 241, Engine 242, and Ladder 109 of the New York City Fire Department.
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[edit] Life
Bay Ridge is a largely middle class neighborhood. With its strong family presence, it is not uncommon to see third or fourth generation families living in the region. Bay Ridge has a sizable Irish, Italian, Greek and Scandinavian population, but like other areas in South/Southwest Brooklyn, it has recently seen a large influx of Polish and Russian immigrants, and a smaller amount of Chinese. Most of its population is Christian, there is also small Jewish minority. In recent decades, a large variety of Middle Eastern immigrants have moved to Bay Ridge. Bay Ridge also has many international restaurants and bars, especially along 3rd and 5th Avenue, its main commercial strips. Many refer to the community as "Brooklyn's Gold Coast."
Bay Ridge also has a high elderly population. It has been called a NORC or a naturally-occurring retirement community because many of its families have grown-up in the neighborhood while their children move away. In 2006, it was reported that 20% of the population of Bay Ridge is 60 or over.[2]The neighborhood is served by a variety of local newspapers, including The Home Reporter-Sunset News, The Spectator, The Bay Ridge Paper, The Bay Ridge Courier and The Bay Ridge Eagle .
Fort Hamilton, an active military base near the Verrazano Bridge, houses one of the neighborhood's few cultural attractions, The Harbor Defense Museum.[3] Another popular neighborhood attraction is the 69th Street Pier, at Bay Ridge Ave. (aka 69th Street) and Shore Road. It features a sculpture that emits a beam of light as a memorial to those who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks of September 11. This popular pier is a favorite to the local fishermen who fish for local fish there daily. Years ago a ferry to Staten Island operated from this pier for a nickel fare. Very close to the pier is Owl's Head Park. This park was once the home of Sentor Murphy of the City of Brooklyn and it was also The Bliss Estate. It is a 27 acre walking park that has a state of the art skate park, children's play ground and basketball courts. Most of all, the best view of the Narrows off the West Hill.
[edit] Demographics
As of the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 69,840 people living in Bay Ridge. The demographics were 78.2% White, 11.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.1% Asian, 1.6% African American and 0.2% Native American. Of those, the top 5 ancestories were 16.6% Irish, 16.5% Italian, 10.8% Arab, 5.4% Chinese and 5.4% Greek. As the population of immigrants increases, these percentages change. Also, there is a large demographic of undocumented immigrants, therefore the percentages presented are only estimations.
[edit] Politics
Bay Ridge is a politically polarized community. Traditionally, Bay Ridge leans Republican and is recognized as politically Conservative; Mike Long, Chairman of the Conservative Party of New York, resides there. However, it has been known to elect Democrats to office as well, such as Councilman Vincent J. Gentile, Congressman Michael E. McMahon, Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny and Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer. The neighborhood is also home to the Brooklyn Democrats for Change, an active liberal organization. Bay Ridge is represented in the New York State Senate by Marty Golden, a Republican. The neighborhood is served by Brooklyn Community Board 10.
Development is a passionate issue for Bay Ridge residents, as in recent years they saw many of the decades-old two-family houses being demolished, replaced by condominiums known colloquially as "Fedder Homes", after the branded air-conditioners poking out from the buildings' facades. In 2005, local community leaders and community activists from across the political spectrum united to issue rezoning laws.
[edit] History
Bay Ridge was originally known as Yellow Hook for the hue of the yellowish soil observed by the original Dutch settlers. [4]This name was changed in 1853 after yellow fever struck the area and residents realized what an ill fit it was given the circumstances.[5][6] The new name was given due to the proximity of the neighborhood to New York Bay, excellent views of which were visible from the ridge that has now become Ridge Boulevard. These views attracted wealthy people, who built extravagant summer homes along Shore Road overlooking the water, many of which are still standing today and worth multiple-millions of dollars. Once the 4th Avenue Subway (now the R line) was extended in 1915, however, many Manhattan workers looking for quieter surroundings began to flow in, transforming the area into a middle-class neighborhood.
During the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, many Norwegian and Danish sailors emigrated to Brooklyn, many specifically to Bay Ridge. Lapskaus Boulevard was the nickname of 8th Avenue, located in an historically Norwegian working class neighborhood of Bay Ridge. Nordic heritage is still apparent in some sections of the neighborhood. For instance, there is an annual Norwegian Constitution Day Parade, also known as the Syttende Mai Parade, featuring hundreds of people in folk dress who parade along Fifth Avenue. The parade ends in Leif Ericson Park where "Miss Norway" is crowned near the statue of Leif Ericson. The statue was donated by Crown Prince Olav, Prince of Norway on behalf of the nation of Norway in 1939.[7][8]
Construction of The Verrazano Bridge, which connects Bay Ridge to Staten Island, was completed in 1964. Though now a totemic structure beloved by many, it was bitterly opposed by residents upon the announcement of its construction, for it would require the demolition of many homes. In a rare loss for local activists, the challenges failed: the bridge was built and the homes destroyed. The area of the neighborhood around Ovington Avenue (aka 70th Street) was once known as "Ovington Village"; it was ultimately swallowed up as Bay Ridge. Also destroyed was Fort Lafayette, part of New York City's defense system along with Fort Hamilton and Fort Wadsworth in Staten Island, replaced by the base of the bridge's east tower.[9]
On August 8, 2007, a tornado hit this area, specifically 68th and 69th streets between 3rd and 4th avenues.[10] Eleven houses had to be vacated after they suffered significant damage, and many of the trees on the two blocks toppled, landing on cars and stoops. The 4th Avenue Presbyterian Church had its very large stained glass window blown out. As the tornado lifted, it peeled the roof of a nearby Nissan dealership and deforested 40% of Leif Ericson Park. The tornado has been rated an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds between 111 and 135 MPH. [11]
[edit] Transportation
The area is served by the R train of the Fourth Avenue line of the New York City Subway, with stations at Bay Ridge Avenue, 77th Street, 86th Street and 95th Street.
Additionally, there are two MTA express buses which serve the Bay Ridge to Manhattan commute: the X27 serving lower Manhattan to 57th Street and the X37 serving 23rd Street to 57th Street. Many Bay Ridge commuters opt for the relative comfort and convenience of the express buses. Bay Ridge is readily accessible by car, encircled by the Belt Parkway and Gowanus Expressway.
[edit] Landmarks and Points of Interest
- Step Streets are streets that are composed entirely of steep steps. As a rule they were placed on hills that were too steep to build a road, yet in a rare concession to pedestrians, it was determined to allow them access to the streets denied to motor transportation", at 74th and 76th Streets, recalling the Montmartre section of Paris.[12]
- Owl's Head Park (also known as Bliss Park), in the neighborhood's northwest corner, was previously the private estate of the Bliss Family, the namesake for nearby Bliss Terrace. Before them, the property was owned by Henry C. Murphy, a United States Senator for whom the nearby Senator Street is named. Remnants of their estate were still visible into the 1970s when they were finally demolished, having fallen into considerable disrepair. The park has a dog run and a the first concrete skatepark built in Brooklyn.
- 69th Street Pier at 69th St. just off Shore Road, is the community's key seaside recreation spot. Sports fishermen travel across the Borough and from the outer Borough's to fish the waters of "The Bay Ridge Anchorage", and along the seawall promenade which runs from the Pier to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, and points East. Years prior to the construction of the bridge, commuter ferry service was operated between this Bay Ridge Pier and the St. George Ferry Terminal in Staten Island.
- Farrell House which has been at 125 95th St. since the early twentieth century, is one of many old mansions in Bay Ridge, and is now an official landmark. An accompanying structure, thought to have been used as a barn, was unable to be saved and was demolished. Legend has it the house was turned so that its "widow's walk", a balcony that traditionally faces the sea so women left at home could watch for their husbands' ships, would no longer face The Narrows.[13]
[edit] References in Popular Culture
- The 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever was set there, as well as nearby Bensonhurst and Sunset Park.
- Steven Seagal has many scenes in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights in the action film Out for Justice which takes place in these neighborhoods, and is home to one of the movies actors, Sonny Hurst, who plays "Tattoo" in the infamous scene in the pool hall where he gets his teeth knocked out with an eight ball.
- The novel and film adaptation of 25th Hour is partially set in Bay Ridge.
- The runaway subway train in Spiderman 2 was destined for Bay Ridge; although the "R", the only Bay Ridge-bound train, does not go above ground.
- Parts of the show Rescue Me are set in the neighborhood.
- Peggy Olson, the copywriter on AMC's Mad Men, is from Bay Ridge. In the second episode of Season One, she declared, "I'm from Bay Ridge. We have manners."
- Parts of the 2007 film Brooklyn Rules were set and filmed in Bay Ridge.
- During September 2007, Owls Head Park and nearby Shore Road, were location shoots for the movie, What Happens in Vegas..., starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher.
- "The Narrows (2009 film)", starring Kevin Zegers and Sophia Bush is set in Bay Ridge.
[edit] Education
[edit] Primary and secondary schools
New York City Department of Education operates area public schools. Educational institutions in Bay Ridge include; P.S. 102,P.S. 170, P.S. 185 (Walter Kassenbrock Elementary School), P.S. 104 (called the Fort Hamilton School), I.S. 30 (also known as Mary White Ovington), Holy Angels Catholic Academy Bay Ridge Preparatory School, Fort Hamilton High School, High School of Telecommunications, Poly Prep Country Day School, Visitation Academy, Adelphi Academy, Fontbonne Hall Academy, St. Patrick Elementary School, D. and G. Kaloidis Parochial School, and Xaverian High School. Fort Hamilton High School was erected in the 1940s on the grounds of the former Crescent Athletic Club, an upper crust country club. The High School of Telecommunications was previously known as Bay Ridge High School, which was once an all-girls school.
[edit] Public libraries
Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) operates the Bay Ridge Library. The Bay Ridge Reading Club first organized the library in 1880. It opened on its present site in 1896 and became a BPL branch in 1901. The current two facility opened in 1960. In 2004 it received a $2.1 million renovation, including new furniture and shelving, new lighting equipment, a new roof, and 27 additional public access computers.[14]
[edit] Notable natives and residents
Famous personalities out of Bay Ridge include:
- Jason Calacanis, popular technology entrepreneur and founder of Silicon Alley Reporter is from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
- Maria Bartiromo, CNBC anchor, grew up in Bay Ridge, where her family owned an Italian restaurant.[15]
- Ed Bishop, actor, best known for his portrayal of Cmdr. Straker in the TV series, UFO.
- Justin Brannan, Musician, grew up on Shore Road.
- C. C. DeVille, Guitarist of the 1980s glam band Poison grew up in Bay Ridge, attending P.S. 102, McKinley JHS, and Fort Hamilton H.S.
- Chuck Connors, actor of The Rifleman fame grew up on Senator Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues and also 54th Street and 6th Avenue in Sunset Park. He also attended Adelphi Academy.[16]
- Ronni Raygun Thomas - cult filmmaker and artist
- Paul Nielsen - Architect, designed new addition at the Guggenheim Museum
- Hubert Selby - author of Last Exit To Brooklyn and Requiem for a Dream'
[edit] References
- ^ NYPD 68th Precinct, NYPD.
- ^ "Counting Graying Heads." The New York Times. January 1, 2006 p6(Local)
- ^ Harbor Defense Museum of Fort Hamilton
- ^ Forgotten New York
- ^ Owl's Head Park - Historical Sign
- ^ If You're Thinking of Living In/Red Hook; Isolated Brooklyn Area Starts to Awaken, The New York Times, June 10, 2001
- ^ Leif Ericson Park & Square (New York City Department of Parks & Recreation)
- ^ 17th of May Parade (Norwegian-American 17th May Committee of Greater New York)
- ^ The definitive history of the building of the bridge is Gay Talese's The Bridge
- ^ Photos and a story of the aftermath of the Bay Ridge tornado
- ^ That Wind That Left Part of Brooklyn Upside Down?
- ^ Step Streets, accessed February 26, 2007
- ^ An extensive history of the Farrell House
- ^ "Bay Ridge." Brooklyn Public Library. Retrieved on September 23, 2009.
- ^ Thomas Jr., Thomas. "Questions Grow About a Top CNBC Anchor", The New York Times, February 12, 2007. Accessed October 13, 2007
- ^ " Chuck Connors, Actor, 71, Dies; Starred as Television's 'Rifleman'" "Despite his western image, Connors was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn." The New York Times, November 11, 1992. Accessed October 9, 2007.
[edit] Other Sources
- Rygg, Andrew Nilsen Norwegians in New York, 1825— 1925 (Brooklyn, New York: Norwegian News Co. 1941)
[edit] External links
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