Brooklyn Community District 2 (BKCD2) consists of Downtown Brooklyn and the surrounding residential neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Fulton Ferry, DUMBO, and Vinegar Hill along the western and northern waterfront; Boerum Hill to the south; Fort Greene and Clinton Hill to the east, and the 300-acre Brooklyn Navy Yard manufacturing district on the northeast border.
Downtown Brooklyn is the third-largest Central Business District in New York City, and the civic center of Kings County (Borough of Brooklyn), which is the most populous county in New York State. If Brooklyn were an independent city, it would be the fourth largest in the United States after New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago; and larger than Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, and Washington D.C. combined.
Most of the neighborhoods in BKCD2 were first developed in the 19th century as low-density row houses and low-scale commercial streets. The construction of high-rise buildings accelerated after the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883 and the introduction of elevated rail and streetcar lines. In the early 20th century, multiple subway lines opened in Downtown Brooklyn, which spurred further development of taller residential and commercial buildings until the Great Depression.
Since the 2004 rezoning of Downtown Brooklyn, an explosion of high rise development has once again dramatically changed the housing mix and skyline, including the 2022 completion of the 93-story Brooklyn Tower, which is the first “supertall” building in Brooklyn, and the tallest building on Long Island.
BKCD2 shares borders and interests with BKCD6 and BKCD8 to the south, BKCD3 to the east, BKCD1 to the north, and MCD1 and MCD3 along the East River waterfront including Governors Island.
According to the 2020 census, BKCD2 experienced one of NYC’s largest population growths in the preceding decade, with 31% growth in total residents (now 130,021), including a 33% increase in residents under the age of 18 (20,037 total). Annual average median income also rose to $100,000 and the District saw 35% growth in total occupied housing units (61,221), however median rent also increased 90%.
Districtwide statistics suggest a high quality of life, however aggregate data obscures the reality of many neighborhoods. For example, a comparison of data drawn from two neighboring census tracts indicates a median household income (MHI) of $232,302 on the north side of York Street toward DUMBO and Vinegar Hill, versus $19,065 on the south side of York Street bordering the Farragut NYCHA complex.
Elected Representatives:
- Congressional Districts 7, 8, and 10
- State Senate Districts 25 and 26
- State Assembly Districts 44, 52, 57, and 61
- City Council Districts 1, 33, 35, and 39
City Agencies:
- DSNY Sanitation District BKN02 (coterminous)
- NYPD Precincts 84, 88, and 78 (in the special district surrounding the 19,000-capacity Barclays Center arena)
- FDNY Fire Battalions 31, 32, and 57
- DOE School Districts 13, 14, and 15
- Health Center Districts 15, 36, and 38
Civic & Community Facilities:
- Over 100 acres of mapped parkland and public space
- 81 Cultural Organizations
- 10 (24%) of Brooklyn’s 41 Designated Historic Districts
- 9 (39%) of Brooklyn’s 23 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
- 7 City, County, State, and Federal Courthouses and the Brooklyn Borough Jail
- 6 Public Libraries including the Center for Brooklyn History and the L10 Arts & Cultural Center
Municipal Infrastructure:
- 1.5 miles (12%) of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE)
- 85 Parking Lots & Garages
- 30 City Office Buildings
- 14 DSNY Solid Waste Drop-Off Facilities
- 11 MTA subway lines and the Long Island Railroad
- 11 Rail Yards
- 11 City Maintenance Facilities
- 7 Ports & Ferry Landings
- 4 Wastewater Treatment Sites
- 2 Telecommunications Facilities
- 1 Recycling Facility
- The 300-acre Brooklyn Navy Yard manufacturing district is a waterfront National Historic District which houses over 500 businesses employing 11,000 workers, including the largest U.S. film and television production studio outside of Hollywood.
Health & Human Services:
- 26 Hospitals & Clinics
- 21 Legal Service Organizations
- 16 Mental Health Centers
- 11 Senior Service Centers
- 9 Chemical Dependency Organizations
- 9 Organizations Serving People with Disabilities
- 9 Housing & Homeless Services Organizations
- 9 Food Distribution Sites
- 7 Workforce Development Centers
- 4 Residential Health Facilities
- 3 NYCHA Cornerstone Community Centers
Youth & Education Facilities:
- 62 Daycare and Pre-K
- 64 K-12 Schools
- 22 After-School Centers
- 52 Youth Literacy & Job Training Centers
- 16 Vocational Schools
- 9 Higher Education Institutions