Sheepshead Bay

By Alan Krawitz | Special to amNewYork

June 1, 2006

Sheepshead Bay is celebrated for its seafood, excellent fishing and family-friendly environment. With a rich history, the area remains a must-see for nostalgia buffs, with institutions such as Lundy's seafood restaurant.

The community in southeastern Brooklyn is changing rapidly, spurred by the arrival of immigrants from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere who have helped spark a condo development boom.

Some residents complain that the new construction has diminished the neighborhood's 19th-century fishing village charm.

"All these condo complexes are obstructing views of the water," said Barbara Berradelli, a member of the Sheepshead Bay/ Plum Beach Civic Association. "Now, people will have to pay for the privilege of having a water view."

Kathy Pontone, who has lived in Sheepshead Bay her whole life and who owns Bright Horizons Realty, also sees a change in the feel of the neighborhood.

"Many of the Queen Anne-style houses of the 1880s are gone," Pontone said.

"The whole area has been changing in the last four to five years to people who prefer living in condos and co-ops as opposed to houses."

Find it
Sheepshead Bay is bordered by Avenue U to the north, Knapp Street to the east, Emmons Avenue to the south and Ocean Parkway in the west.

Real estate: To buy/rent
Older Victorians and Queen Anne-style houses are increasingly giving way to condos and co-ops. One high-profile development is the La Mer Villas at the Marina on Emmons Avenue. It is reported that some of these 2- and 3-bedroom units are selling for upwards of $1 million. Two other condo complexes -- the Palm Shore Condos, 75 units in Sheepshead Bay, and the Oceana Condos in Brighton Beach -- are also under construction.

Here's what it will cost you:

To rent
-Studio: $725 a month
-1-bedroom: $900 a month
-2-bedroom: $1,200-1,300 a month
-3-bedroom: $1,500-1,800 a month

To buy
-Studio: $90,000
-1-bedroom: $150,000-175,000