Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY
About Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Nestled between Park Slope and Bay Ridge along New York Harbor in South Brooklyn, Sunset Park embodies the quintessential Brooklyn neighborhood. Sunset Park’s waterfront at Industry City is changing rapidly as warehouses are converted to trendy art studios, boutiques and breweries, but the rest of the neighborhood has retained its down-to-earth character. It is home to Brooklyn Chinatown and a huge Mexican community as well.
As far as green space goes, the neighborhood’s pretty, namesake park offers sweeping views of Manhattan and Verrazzano Bridge. There isn’t much nightlife around, but Sunset Park is known for having the best tacos and noodles in Brooklyn.
The History of Sunset Park
Sunset Park was originally Lenape farmland before falling under Dutch and British control in the 1600s. The thriving waterfront near modern-day Industry City led to a population boom in the late 1800s, when the namesake park was built on a hill overlooking New York Harbor. The neighborhood has seen many waves of immigrants over the years, most recently from Mexico, Ecuador, and China. New waterfront offices and shops at Industry City and the Brooklyn Army Terminal have recently revived the industrial areas west of the BQE.
Sunset Park Demographics
In 2018, there were about 132,875 people in Sunset Park. Sunset Park is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in New York City and is home to large Chinese and Hispanic populations. The neighborhood is only slightly below citywide averages in terms of median income and poverty rates, however, people here are less likely to hold a Bachelor’s degree than in other neighborhoods. Many people in the area are 25-44 years old and many households consist of families with teenagers.
Transportation in Sunset Park
Sunset Park offers many options for transit riders. Commuters can hop on the D and N express trains for a 20-minute ride into Downtown Manhattan, or catch the ferry at the Brooklyn Army Terminal for a picturesque ride to Red Hook, Downtown Brooklyn, and Wall Street with views of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. The B63 and B70 buses can bring you throughout Sunset Park along 5th and 8th Avenues.
Housing in Sunset Park
Sunset Park boasts many traditional Brooklyn row houses along its hilly tree-lined streets, with most buildings housing 2-3 apartments (including many small garden-level apartments). Most housing was built before 1939, however there has been some new condo construction in recent years, mostly concentrated along 4th Avenue.
Neighborhood Life in Sunset Park
Sunset Park is a vibrant, multicultural neighborhood whose streets are always teeming with locals jockeying to buy from popular street vendors. It is very common to see families picnicking and playing pick-up soccer on the lawns of Sunset Park, which has some of the most spectacular views in NYC. Most businesses here cater to working families - for a more exciting nightlife, head to neighboring Park Slope.
Similar Neighborhoods to Sunset Park
Sunset Park real estate trends
The population of Sunset Park has exploded in the last decade while the available housing stock has remained the same, leading to rising property prices and rents. The median sale price of a 2 bedroom home in Sunset Park is 900k Dollars and a 2 bedroom rental median price is 2,500 Dollars a month. Industry City, with its new hip shops and restaurants, is expected to accelerate this trend. Sunset Park has an average amount of new construction.Taller buildings are mostly concentrated along 4th Avenue, whereas new 2-3 story buildings are scattered evenly throughout the neighborhood.
The Truth You Should Know About Sunset Park, Brooklyn
How safe is Sunset Park, Brooklyn?
Crime in Sunset Park is about average for NYC. The avenues tend to be well lit and filled with people at night, however, the streets west of the BQE and along the waterfront can feel desolate after dark.
Are the Schools in Sunset Park Good?
Sunset Park is served by Districts 15 and 20 and the schools are generally rated average. PS 172 is a top-rated k-5 school near Greenwood Heights, however, Sunset Park High School falls below the state average in key measures of college and career readiness.
Crowding is an issue and most schools are currently over capacity, however a new elementary school, P.S. 557, will open in 2022 on 4th Avenue at 43rd St. Two other elementary schools are also in the pipeline.
Popular Eateries in Sunset Park, Brooklyn?
Sunset Park has become a destination for authentic and inexpensive cuisine thanks to its large Chinese and Mexican communities. @grid
Tacos Matamoros
Mexican
4508 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232Tacos El Bronco Taco Truck
Mexican
37th St and 5th Ave Brooklyn NY 11232Yun Nan Flavor Garden
Chinese
5121 8th Ave Brooklyn NY 11232Kai Feng Fu
Szechuan
4801 8th Ave Brooklyn NY 11232East Harbor Seafood Palace
Dim Sum
714 65th St Brooklyn NY 11232Food Hall at Industry
World Food Court
268 36th St Brooklyn NY 11232
What to do in Sunset Park, Brooklyn?
Enjoy an elote or agua fresca while taking in the views from Sunset Park.
Channel your inner Lebowski at Melody Lanes Bowling Alley on 5th Avenue, whose quirky bar is one of the best-kept secrets in Brooklyn.
Visit Greenwood Cemetery, designed by legendary Frederick Law Olmstead and home to the highest point in Brooklyn.
Play a game of soccer at the new fields at Bush Terminal.
Head over to Brooklyn Army Terminal for harbor views, antique trains, and a dose of military history.
Enroll your family in one of the many youth programs at the Sunset Park Recreation Center, home to the Sunset Park Swimming Pool.
Is Sunset Park, Brooklyn Dog Friendly?
Not so much. Dog ownership is low in Sunset Park and the nearest dog park is at Owl’s Head Park just over the border in Bay Ridge, which could be quite far if you live in the eastern part of Sunset Park. There are a couple of pet supply stores in the neighborhood, including Just Food for Dogs in Industry City.
Is Sunset Park, Brooklyn Good for Cycling?
Sunset Park has some of the steepest hills in Brooklyn but is nonetheless home to an active bicycling community, and riders will find bike lanes along 43rd, 44th, 57th, and 58th sts. The protected bike lane under construction on 4th Avenue will be a great boon to cyclists looking for an easy way to travel towards Downtown Brooklyn, while the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway will give riders a chance to bike safely between waterfront parks. There are several great bike shops in the neighborhood including Mr. C’s cycles and I & M Bicycles.
5 Things to Know Before Moving to Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Homes near the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot may experience noise and pollution from idling buses.
The nearby Belt Parkway is one of the most congested roadways in the country.
The elevated BQE can be heard from blocks away, and nearby homes may experience vibrations due to passing trucks.
Some homes near the waterfront may fall in a flood zone.
Industry City is a large industrial park along the Sunset Park waterfront that is home to some of the newest businesses in South Brooklyn. This large development has brought new jobs and new crowds to this once empty stretch of waterfront, and is poised to get even bigger in the coming years.