New York apartment seekers in search of the next “it” neighborhood are pretty open-minded. They’ll endure long subway rides and un-trendy vibes just to score a great apartment or home at an enticing price. But that intrepid spirit probably isn’t enough to bring an influx of hipsters to Dyker Heights – unless they’re looking for a tidy, suburban enclave with no direct subway line to Manhattan.
Still, Dyker Heights is an interesting slice of NYC real estate, amplified by the high-wattage Christmas lights display that turns the place into “Dyker Lights” every December. The well-known (but not too well-known) tourist attraction brings thousands of holiday cheer seekers to Dyker Heights every December.
The blazing extravaganza marries Dyker Heights’ pride-of-ownership with Christmas fever. What better way to show off the trove of neat, remodeled single and two-family homes that make Dyker Heights special than setting them ablaze in lights?
Where Is Dyker Heights?
Dyker Heights is located in southwest Brooklyn between Bath Beach, Bay Ridge, Borough Park, and Bensonhurst. It’s about 2.5 square rectangular miles and has about 55,000 residents, a majority of them Italian-American with an increasing number of Chinese residents.
The neighborhood is bordered by Fort Hamilton Parkway and the Gowanus Expressway to the west, and 16th Avenue to the east. Bay Ridge Avenue to the north is called 69th Street by Dyker Heights natives.
Dyker Heights has always been a unique and a somewhat exclusive little area, dating back to its origins in 1895 when real estate mogul Walter Johnson developed this waterview community. The main appeal then was its woodlands and views of Gravesend Bay. It began as a set of about 150 mansions situated on a hill, at the heart of the development on 11th Avenue and 82nd Street. About half of the original 150 mansions remain and have since been restored.
These days, what sets Dyker Heights apart from other Brooklyn neighborhoods is the fervent push to keep Dyker Heights at a low profile – with the exception of “Mansion Row” on 11th Avenue from 86th Street to 79th Street. The Saitta House at 1135 84th Street, for instance, has earned a spot on both the State and National Register of Historic Places. It was built by Simone Saitta, a wealthy Manhattan fruit wholesaler who specialized in artichokes.
Inventory in Dyker Heights is quite limited. According to the StreetEasy Data Dashboard, just 72 homes were listed for sale in October 2022. The median asking price was $1.4M, over 40% higher than the borough median of $995K. Renters can score a more reasonable deal here, where the median rent is $1,950 for a one-bedroom.
What Else Will You Find There?
The heart of Dyker Heights is Dyker Beach Park and Dyker Beach Golf Course. These attractive open spaces put a premium on the homes surrounding them. With a push by local residents to restrict development, especially any tall buildings that would upset the suburban nature of Dyker Heights, any new housing opportunities tend to mirror existing homes. (See a sampling of listings in the carousel below.)
Dyker Heights Homes for Sale Article continues below
The flavor of Dyker Heights is Italian – and we mean flavor. If you aren’t Italian, one foot into Faicco’s Italian Specialties at 6511 11th Ave. will make you an honorary Italian. Same goes for B&A Pork Store at 7818 13th Ave. or Grandma’s Bakery at 7208 13th Ave. between 72nd and 73rd Street. These shops, along with the churches and Catholic schools, give Dyker Heights its character and charm. It’s a far cry from the commercial nature other Italian enclaves around NYC, like Mulberry Street in Manhattan’s Little Italy and Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.
The NYC subway system stops short of Dyker Heights; the D, M, and R trains on New Utrecht Ave. are about as close as you’ll get. However, there are direct bus routes to Dyker Heights, including the B70.
Christmas in Dyker Heights
There’s no shortage of press coverage when Dyker Heights morphs into Dyker Lights. The popular Christmas cacophony grew into a ConEdison maelstrom in the 1980s, and has continued with the outsized lore of two notable light-meisters: Lucy Spata at 1152 84th Street, and Alfred Polizzotto at 1145 84th Street.
There is nothing amateur about these decorations. In fact, most of the residents now rely on professional decorators to help them string lights, erect 15-foot Santas and, basically, turn Dyker Heights into “where Christmas meets Las Vegas.” The bill for some of these winter wonderlands? Upwards of $30,000, according to local lore. If you don’t believe us, take a tour! This tour by A Slice of Brooklyn sells out every year. The 3.5-hour bus tour leaves from Manhattan and goes for $55 a pop.
The holidays are a far different atmosphere than the rest of the year in Dyker Heights. In warm weather, those with lawns keep them well manicured and watered, with flowing fountains. There’s no shortage of outdoor furniture and barbecues, all the better to hang around with friends and neighbors. Dyker Heights is a community for all seasons, even if it will never lure Brooklyn hipsters away from Prospect Heights or Williamsburg.
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