520 East 21st Street #4F

About Ditmas Park

At the turn of the 20th century, Ditmas Park was no more than a tract of farmland owned by the Ditmarsen family. But its proximity to Church Avenue's commercial stretch and Prospect Park made it a smart bet for early real estate developers, who envisioned the area as city suburb. Today, Ditmas Park's spacious old homes, inviting front porches, and manicured lawns are in high demand among those looking for a slower pace of life within New York City limits.

The neighborhood is conveniently serviced by the Q express train, which will get commuters to Midtown in 40 minutes or less. Driveways and private garages are also not-infrequent features of the housing stock here. Although the area is best known for the spacious homes of its historic district, prewar co-ops and apartment buildings abound east of Ocean Avenue. Over on Cortelyou Road, Tibetan cafes share space with train stations, and flower shops turn into hip bars after dark.