Brooklyn is a borough of New York that is well known for it’s gentrified air of old world authenticity and vibrant community cultural life. Geographically, Brooklyn and neighboring Queens (also very LGBT-friendly) are located on the western tip of Long Island, across the East River from Manhattan. There are more than 2.5 million residents in Brooklyn, which is now also established and often referred to as a separate city. According to our Gay Realtor Brooklyn most areas in Brooklyn are completely gay friendly, with many gay-owned businesses and open displays of affection among same-sex couples.
One desirable area to live in is Brooklyn Heights, which is named after its hilltop location that gives people amazing views of Manhattan. Brooklyn Heights is the former home of many artistic geniuses including Carson McCullers, Arthur Miller and Truman Capote. The neighborhood is famous for its beautiful 2000-foot long esplanade that has amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline and that is featured in many movies.
Another great gay area of Brooklyn is Park Slope, also nicknamed “Dyke Slope” that has been popular with lesbians for years. This area has beautiful narrow brownstone mansions, cobblestones and quiet streets with large mature trees. Park Slope is also known for its wonderful shopping along 5th and 7th Avenues and the large dog-friendly 526-acre Prospect Park.
Cobble Hill is an extension of Brooklyn Heights where the streets are lined with19-century era town homes. It has a central hip area, known as Smith Street. It measures about 22 blocks and gets its name, because it used to be a cobble stone disposal site. Homes in the area date back to the 1850s. Here you will see homes in Italianate, Romanesque Revival, Gothic Revival, Queen Ann Style and French Second Empire styles.
Carroll Gardens is an Italian American neighborhood with a large gay population. The main drag is Coot Street, which boasts many wonderful butchers, pizzerias and bakeries. Many of the brownstones here date back to the 1940s and are set back about forty feet from the curb to create large front gardens.
Brooklyn has many wonderful gay hotspots including The Abbey (a hangout with a pool table), Bar 4 (a jazz and martini bar) and Ginger’s (a karaoke bar). Cattyshack in Park Slope is a popular lesbian bar with stand up comedy and performance art. Every year Brooklyn holds a huge gay pride parade that makes its way along 5th Avenue.
Living in any of these neighborhoods is not that cheap. As of the week ending September 4, 2013, the average listing price for a home in Brooklyn Heights is $1,855.092; the average listing price for a home in Cobble Hill is $1,177063; and Carroll Gardens is $1,414,332. New York in general is one of the more expensive places to live in the United States.
To find the most affordable LGBT-friendly neighborhood in the Brooklyn area for you it is a good idea to consult with a Brooklyn gay realtor who knows the region well. For more information about Brooklyn in general visit the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce site at www.ibrooklyn.com.
