What’s Up? Clinton Hill

What’s up? Clinton Hill! This new neighborhood guide explores a popular Brooklyn neighborhood to provide an overview of its history, living options, and activities.

Key Information about Clinton Hill

Check out the following key information about this New York City neighborhood:

Art lines the walkways at Pratt Institute
Art lines the walkways at Pratt Institute

Population

Home to 20,000-plus residents, and mostly residential. Foot traffic stems from the many bars and restaurants, plus the students of Pratt Instituteโ€”but youโ€™ll never have to fight for a spot on the sidewalk.

Adjacent Neighborhoods

Four neighborhoods surround Clinton Hill, including Fort Greene, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights

Public Transit

The C to Clinton-Washington (at Fulton St.);ย G to Clinton-Washington (at Lafayette Ave.), or G to Classon Ave.

Whatโ€™s Here?

This neighborhood has always been home to New Yorkโ€™s elite. Stroll down Clinton Avenue, and youโ€™ll see dozens of beautiful mansionsโ€”yes actual mansions in New York. However, most of the homes are rowhouses, standard apartment buildings, or those ever-coveted brownstones. One of New Yorkโ€™s most diverse neighborhoods, expect to see a mix of families, college students, and young professionals, all walking their dogs along tree-lined streets.

Some of Clinton Hill's trademark brownstones
Some of Clinton Hill’s trademark brownstones

Types of Buildings

Although housing and commercial development have brought some tall shiny buildings to the area, Clinton Hill remains a primarily residential neighborhood. The highest youโ€™re likely to see for homes or businesses is five stories.

History of Clinton Hill

The neighborhood is named for DeWitt Clinton, New York Cityโ€™s sixth mayor, and an actual hill: the central location makes it one of Brooklynโ€™s highest points. Charles Pratt, who chartered the 25-acre campus by the same name, gets credit for the neighborhoodโ€™s ritzy feel, as he was the architect behind several of the mansions on Clinton Avenue (aptly nicknamed โ€œMillionairesโ€™ Rowโ€). Subsequently, the neighborhood has been home to everyone from Walt Whitman to the Notorious B.I.G.

Things to Do

Fort Greene Park (which sits between the two neighborhoods) is great for running, dog-walking, or a picnic. Myrtle Avenue is home to many restaurants, bars, and boutiques: try SoCo Southern Cuisine, Putnam Grill, literary-themed Emerson Bar, and ByMe Boutique.ย 

Don't miss the doughnuts at Dough (305 Franklin Avenue)!
Don’t miss the doughnuts at Dough (305 Franklin Avenue)!

Brooklyn Flea, the trendy vendors market, sets up shop every Saturday from 10-5 on the basketball court of Bishop Laughlin Memorial High School, located at 176 Lafayette Ave. The fair runs the gamut from homemade popsicles and vintage clothing, to upscale eyewear and vinyl records.

Editor’s Note: We updated this article to enhance readability.ย 

lawrence
lawrence
Lawrence part of the RentHop Data Science team with over a decade of experience in the real estate industry. In addition, he is a software developer and quantitative analyst with over 12 years of experience in software development and quantitative modeling. Lawrence merges two of his passions together to help renters across the nation with their home search.

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