Williamsburg Neighborhood Review - Brooklyn Moving Guide

You'll find famous Williamsburg, Brooklyn, wedge between Greenpoint and the Brooklyn Navy Yard along the East River.

In this Williamsburg neighborhood review, we'll look into public transportation, restaurants, average apartment rent, and home sale prices.

While Williamsburg was not the first neighborhood that displaced artists escaped to (see DUMBO), it certainly became the very definition of hipster life in the early 2000s and made Brooklyn synonymous with PBR, the beard and bun combo, plaid shirts, and artisanal anything.

Williamsburg has come a long way from even those days as hipsterdom becomes priced-out or institutionalized.

These days you'll find luxury developments, Whole Foods, Starbucks, highly-rated restaurants, major music/concert venues, the hottest brunch spots, and a slew of beautiful high-end hotels near McCarren Park.

While some art galleries remain in Williamsburg, the vast majority have either closed down or moved into East Williamsburg/Bushwick, where a good chunk of the artist/artisan community has moved to.

That said, Williamsburg is still the very definition of energy in Brooklyn.

People move here for the close proximity to the city (including views of the city), the events that take place spring and summer, and the year-round nightlife and great dining and entertainment options.

The reasons people are visiting and moving here are namely places Brooklyn Bowl, Schimanski, Music Hall of Williamsburg, the Brooklyn Brewery, and National Sawdust.

The local hotels like The Wythe Hotel, The William Vale Hotel, and the Williamsburg Hotel also contribute to the happening nightlife.

The revamped parks along the river which include the McCarren Park, East River State Park, Bushwick Inlet Park, and Domino Park provide lots of R-and-R for the Brooklynite.

Despite heavy gentrification and commercialization of the area, Williamsburg has managed to retain much of its hispanic and Hasidic communities.

Fun Fact: Willis Carrier, an engineer from Buffalo, NY, invented air conditioning in 1902 for a print shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

What Celebrities Live in the Williamsburg Neighborhood

Public Transportation

The L train is the very lifeblood that is pumped into the Williamsburg area from the city, and the reason why the spillover has extended to areas like East Williamsburg, Bushwick, and now Ridgewood, Queens.

As the L train prepares to shut down the tunnel into the city, people are scrambling towards the J/M/Z line.

The G may be helpful to some who might be able to take it to downtown Brooklyn or Long Island City and transfer to the city.

There are ferries that do go directly from Williamsburg to different points of Manhattan. The neighborhood is also very bike-friendly with dedicated bike "greenways" along Kent and bike lanes elsewhere.

The neighborhood's close proximity to the Williamsburg Bridge also makes a biking commute into the city very convenient.

Average Rent Prices

If you're looking to move, while there might be some deals out there, they are very rare and difficult to find in Williamsburg.

You'll find high prices even in the unrenovated older buildings in South Williamsburg.

You're not paying for space in this neighborhood. You're paying for lifestyle and the proximity to Manhattan.

Brand new developments or beautiful loft conversions will fetch some of the highest prices in Brooklyn.

Williamsburg is not even a good deal for many Manhattanites at this point. Note that true lofts are extremely rare in Williamsburg these days.

However, because of the extreme saturation of housing and development in the area, there may be more options.

Apartments Available in Williamsburg Neighborhood

Public & Charter Schools

Williamsburg falls into District 14, which provides a huge number of choices, some which are highly rated.

There are a few notable schools in the area like P.S. 132 The Conselyea School, P.S. 196 Ten Eyck, and P.S. 319, which all have Pre-K programs.

Williamsburg also houses one of the best high schools in the city--the Brooklyn Latin School, which provides an academically rigorous curriculum and competitive atmosphere and also brags a 99% graduation rate.

A few other schools to note are Brooklyn Preparatory High School and Brooklyn Arbor School, which remains a favorite among parents who are believers in the school's founders.

Restaurants

If you’re looking for the next Instagram-able gluten-free meal to enjoy within the confines of a rustic industrial hangout, then look no further!

In Williamsburg you can take your pick of unique cuisines that are sure not to disappoint - whether it’s New York City’s #1 Zagat-rated steakhouse (Peter Luger), some good ole’ Southern fried chicken and biscuits (The Commodore) or a French bistro adorned with an indoor “garden” room and roof deck (Juliette).

These are just a few honorable mentions, but the choices really are endless in Williamsburg. Some of the borough's best eating spots reside here.

In the warmer months, the Williamsburg Smorgasburg is literally a foodie’s heaven on earth, with over 100+ food vendors within a block radius serving different cuisines.

Located on the Williamsburg waterfront, customers get to enjoy the luxury of trying the many tastings Brooklyn while taking in the awesome views of the Manhattan skyline.

Be sure to bring cash (vendors only accept cash) and a huge appetite!

How Safe is the Williamsburg Neighborhood?

Latest Updates

L Train is Shutting Down for the Repairs in 2019

Posted: 10/01/2019

With the MTA announcing that trackwork on the L train line connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan will commence in April 2019 (for 15 months), all everyone can talk about is the upcoming impending disaster.

The L train (Canarsie Tunnel) tunnel were seriously damaged by flooding and salt water due to Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and has steadily been deteriorating causing a huge concern.

Hundreds of thousands of commuters use the L line daily to get to the city either for work or play.

The major and MTA have pledged to up shuttle bus and ferry services to help mitigate the worst, but most riders are not optimistic.

If you've been using the L train recently, you've already been privy to special weekend shutdowns and shuttle bus alternatives.

Ride-sharing apps and the J/M/Z line will probably be doing most of the heavy lifting during this period.

The temporary doom of the L train has also a lot of real estate investors, buyers, and sellers making speculations about the market in Williamsburg.

However, the shutdown will ultimately be felt by those not only in Williamsburg but also East Williamsburg, Bushwick, Stuyvesant Heights, Brownsville, and Canarsie.

L Train Shutdown Averted

Posted 1/8/2019

With news of the impending shutdown, many Brooklynites particularly in the Williamsburg, East Williamsburg, and Bushwick areas scrambled to change their living situation.

Inevitably, this shift also affected real estate rental and sales. Many landlords offered incentives they may not have otherwise felt they needed to.

Many homeowners decided to sell quickly in these areas when they realized that their commute times might double or triple.

However, last minute interventions were made by Governor Andrew Cuomo to avert the full blunt force of the L shutdown.

New repair methodologies explored from Europe will now allow the MTA to make repairs one tube at a time, with service predominantly being affected on nights and weekends.

However, this news is little consolation for those who have already made dramatic moves--some into the city, while others, completely out of the five boroughs.