Nest Seekers International

Dumbo

Short for “down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass,” this Brooklyn neighborhood has seen a major renaissance and overhaul over the past few years. Nestled between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, Dumbo is marked by its cobblestone streets, warehouse buildings in the midst of condo conversion, and breath-taking views of the Manhattan skyline framed by two of the most famous bridges in America.

Boasting one of the best children’s parks in the city, Dumbo has become known as a place to raise a family. The neighborhood is easily accessible by the A or F subway lines. The neighborhood’s appeal began in the 1970s when it became known as an artist’s haven of deserted streets and cavernous loft spaces. At Jay Street, residents and the area’s rapidly growing digital industry workers can catch the F, A, or C into Manhattan.

Its many loft spaces make it a haven for artists. A popular annual arts festival and the many performance spaces and pieces that take place on any given night throughout the neighborhood have also been attractive to artists. Fulton Ferry, scene of George Washington's evacuation from The Battle of Brooklyn, now features a new pier with historical markers and is dubbed one of “the most romantic views” in the neighborhood. Old Fulton Street features the Eagle Warehouse and Storage Company of Brooklyn, a large beautiful brick structure completed in 1893 which is now a condominium.

On Water Street, the old Empire Stores building built in 1869 looks much like it did when it was at the hub of New York’s shipping business. To the west of DUMBO is the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Vinegar Hill. Today, the Brooklyn Navy Yard is being converted into a business park for the many companies requiring large open spaces. Also in the works are plans for a waterfront park to replace the unused docks along the East River.