Brighton Beach

By Miranda Siegel | Special to amNewYork

April 19, 2007

It's not uncommon to approach a shop clerk in Brighton Beach and be greeted, before anything else, in Russian.

The neighborhood is defined by a wave of immigrants from the Soviet Union in the late 1970s. Many of the immigrants were Russian Jews from Odessa who modeled the new terrain after their hometown, with the Atlantic Ocean standing in for the Black Sea. Georgians, Poles and Ukrainians, among others, have greatly influenced its culture as well.

Many advertisements and shop signs bear the Cyrillic alphabet, street vendors sell imported goods, and furriers and supper clubs abound.

In the past 10 years, immigrants from Mexico, China and Pakistan have populated the area north of Oceanview Avenue.

Despite the influx of these immigrant groups, the neighborhood has largely retained its Odessa flavor.

The oceanfront is a huge draw for newer residents. "People are naturally drawn to the water," explained Bernard Fisher, head broker of Fisher Realty and a lifelong Brighton Beach resident. "You can't overemphasize what it means to be so close to the beach. In the summer, you don't have to drive out to Long Island. Everything's already here."

Find it
Brighton Beach is defined by Neptune Avenue to the north, Ocean Parkway to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and Corbin Place to the east.

Real Estate
The past decade has seen Little Odessa transformed by developers looking to cash in on its beachfront location. Luxury high-rises have sprung up along the boardwalk and several houses north of Brighton Beach Avenue are being razed or remodeled to make way for condos. Wealthy Russians have snapped up most of the beachfront property in Oceana, Muss Development's 12-building condominium complex completed three years ago.

To Rent
$800 a month for a 500-square-foot studio
$950 a month for a 700-square-foot one-bedroom
$1,350 a month for a 950-square-foot two-bedroom

To Buy
Co-ops
$130,000 to buy a 500 square-foot studio
$200,000 to buy an 725 square-foot one-bedroom
$340,000 to buy a 950 square-foot two-bedroom

Condos