Welcome to Clinton Hill, a small and charming residential neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Located in the northwest region of Brooklyn, Clinton Hill is a densely-populated area with a median age of approximately 33. It is bounded by the neighborhoods of Bedford-Stuyvesant to the east, Prospect Heights to the south, Fort Greene to the west, and Brooklyn Navy Yard to the north. As with most neighborhoods in Brooklyn, this region was first settled by the Dutch, who chose to develop this land for its high elevation and topography, which slopes down towards the East River, providing great views of the water. With a maximum elevation of 95 feet, higher than any other surrounding neighborhood, this area came to be known as Clinton Hill. By 1850, Clinton Hill was a popular residential neighborhood and vacation spot for the wealthy. Following the American Civil War, this area experienced a developmental boom. The construction of numerous rowhouses encouraged more affluent New Yorkers to settle in Clinton Hill. Once referred to as Brooklyn’s Gold Coast due to the mansions lining Clinton Avenue, Clinton Hill was once home to influential businessmen like Charles Pratt, a pioneer of the U.S. petroleum industry who founded the Pratt Institute in 1887. Development continued well into the 1900s as apartment buildings with more modestly priced homes started to be built along Clinton Avenue, replacing some of the impressive mansions that once stood there.
Clinton Hill today remains one of the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn and offers a unique mixture of apartment buildings, brownstones, brick rowhouses, and freestanding mansions built between 1870 and 1890. The Clinton Hill Historic District consists of over 1,000 contributing buildings built between 1840 and 1930. These structures display contemporary and revival architecture that was popular during that time. Much of this neighborhood’s historic district is comprised of Beaux-Arts and Italianate rowhouses, as well as Gothic Revival churches and freestanding homes. Clinton Hill experienced a wave of wealthy families and working professionals moving back into this area beginning in the 2000s. Home to both the Pratt Institute and St. Joseph’s College, Clinton Hill attracts college students and faculty members that are seeking affordable apartments near campus. Dekalb Avenue serves as the main thoroughfare into Clinton Hill, running east and west through the heart of this neighborhood. Cozy cafes and eateries blanket Clinton Hill. However, the majority of bars, restaurants, and retail stores in this neighborhood can be found along Fulton Street and Myrtle Avenue.
An ideal neighborhood for New York City commuters, Clinton Hill is served by the IND Fulton Street Line and the IND Crosstown Line of the New York City Subway, with stops along Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street. There are also numerous MTA bus routes and bus stations to get you where you need to go. A walker’s paradise, Clinton Hill boasts tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly streets, which make getting around on foot not only easy but enjoyable.