Ditmas Park

A secret the locals treasure

By S. Tia Brown | Special to amNewYork

July 13, 2006

The Belt Parkway isn't the only route to suburbia.

Next time you need a breath of fresh air try the B train.

It may seem unlikely but behind the hustle and bustle of Flatbush Avenue lies a utopian enclave visited by few -- and the locals love it that way.

In 1902 Lewis H. Pounds, a developer, and Arlington Isham, an architect, set out to create a community defined by class, not cultural background. The result was Ditmas Park.

The tree-lined neighborhood comrpises about 16 blocks, which contain 175 Victorian-styled homes, many of which look like mansions.

Over the years, the neighborhood has maintained its architectural integrity by declaring many of the homes landmarks.

More than 100 years later, Ditmas Park is still Flatbush's best kept secret.

Surrounded by Midwood and Kensington, it's rare to see a "for sale" sign in anyone's yard. Many of the homes have maintained original ownership and have been passed down from generation to generation.

More important, the neighborhood still holds close the ideals of its creators: a community inhabited by upwardly mobile professional families.

Find it
The core Ditmas Park area is bordered by East 16th Street and Ocean Avenue and Dorchester Road and Newkirk Avenue.

The Buzz
The locals are very excited about a new restaurant/bar opening called The Farm (1108 Cortelyou Rd.). This new ultra-chic facility is rumored to be the first city-like hotspot to pop up in this community.

The basics
-Schools: P.S. District 22 (P.S. 139, 217 and 249; I.S. 62 and 240), Erasmus Hall High School, High School for Science and Math
-Transportation: B and Q trains; 23 and 68 buses
-Post Office: 2273 Church Avenue
-Banks: Chase, 1 Newkirk Plaza
-Fire House: Engine 281, Ladder 147, 1210 Cortelyou Rd.
-Police: 67th Precinct: 2820 Snyder Ave., 718-287-3211