The neighborhood that I would like to pursue, the area I’d like to explore, and the community I’d like to investigate is Williamsburg. More specifically the Northwest quadrant of Williamsburg, from about north 1^st up to north 13^th street and from Kent to Driggs avenue. I have many reasons why I’d like to better my knowledge of this area, a few being the following. One, I already spend a large portion of my time within the community. Two, I feel embedded into the culture that you find all around the Williamsburg area. Three, I know there is still so much to learn about the community in which I think I know so much about.

In 2011 the consensus for Brooklyn was at 127,398 people. Over the last three years I would expect that number to have gone up to over 140,000 residents. The community itself is based on 2.179 square miles, most of which consist of waterfront views overlooking the water and downtown Manhattan. The split between male to female occupancy is split right down the middle, 50/50. The median age for females is 25 while the median for males is 28. And along the lines of ethnicity, the break down looks a little something like this; 50% white, 11% black, 27% Hispanic, 3% Asian, and 7% other. The building mix within the confinements of Williamsburg is as follows; 28% new buildings, 13% walk up, 11% luxury high-rise, 8% loft building, and 7% pre war. Over the last five years, the community has seen a 10% increase in new as well as luxury high-rise buildings.

I’m a fan of art. Music, sculptures, paintings, food, performing arts. I like going out and seeing things that people have created. I grew up in the suburbs confined to a primarily white Jewish community. When I had the opportunity to shove off for college I started to explore. When I made my way into Manhattan the grinding gears of the subway drew me more and more towards Brooklyn. After I had visited a friend who lived on Kent Avenue and then went to my first performance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg I was sold on everything it had to offer. Later that year I attended my first art show, a little boutique right off of Driggs. A bunch of bearded hipsters, and short hair having women packed into a small gallery to compare and contrast works of art by a Miami based artist, Alex Yanes, who was doing a pop up in the area. I remember feeling so out of place, yet at the same time feeling right at home. I’ve now been roaming those very streets for close to four years, finding new dive bars to hang out at, new artists to see, and new spots to dine on some of the best cuisine New York has to offer. My time spent has been nothing short of propitious. It’s nice seeing the New York Skyline from another perspective…

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