Bay Ridge Apartments & Rentals

Bay Ridge apartments bridge the divide between city and suburb. This South Brooklyn neighborhood is safe without being boring. You can jog through pleasant waterfront parks here and just as easily hop a train into the city. It may take you a little longer to get to town, but what you lose in time you save in rent. Bay Ridge sits south of Sunset Park and west of Dyker Heights. Some consider the Fort Hamilton section of Bay Ridge to be a separate neighborhood, but this is debatable.

Dutch settlers originally called the area Yellow Hook, after the color of the soil. A yellow fever outbreak turned that name inauspicious, though. Renamed Bay Ridge, the town saw an influx of wealthy people who built large summer homes with spectacular views. When the subway reached the neighborhood in 1915, the area drew commuters. Then the Verrazano Bridge went up in 1964, connecting Bay Ridge to Staten Island. At first the residents objected. Now, it's an iconic landmark. Bay Ridge is still primarily blue-collar, with Italian, Irish, and Arab communities. It's got good public schools, plenty of housing options, and more creative restaurants and bars than you might expect.

For a neighborhood that's not in the thick of things, Bay Ridge does an excellent job of providing entertaining places to eat and shop. It claims to have more than 100 bars! Live music of all varieties projects from venues along Third and Fifth Avenues. Grab a beer, or get a bite at restaurants ranging from the Middle Eastern Bab Al Yemen to the Polish Polonica.

There's a Century 21 department store in Bay Ridge, plus all of the other services a resident requires. You can find pharmacies, groceries, and pet stores here. Owl's Head Park (also called Bliss Park) collects 27-acres wonderful for walking. There's also a state-of-the-art skate park, a playground, and basketball courts.

The balance of Bay Ridge is between comfort and convenience. You're looking at a 40-minute commute to Union Square on the R train, but rents are affordable and the neighborhood is friendly. For just $1,725, you can rent a two-bedroom place. There are single-family homes, co-ops, and apartments to choose from. There's also an MTA express bus route to Manhattan, which many find more comfortable than the subway.

Saturday Night Fever's Tony Manero lived in Bay Ridge, and that might help you picture the place. It's mostly middle class families and the elderly, but there are enough young people around. Many choose to live their whole lives in Bay Ridge. Historically, the neighborhood was Irish, Italian, and Norwegian, but different ethnic groups have come lately, including Russians, Arabs, and Chinese.

Old Fort Hamilton holds the Harbor Defense Museum, New York City's only Army Museum. Admission is free. The 69^th Street pier frequently gets filled with sports fisherman trying their luck and enjoying the view. The Brooklyn Public Library operates a Bay Ridge branch. There is a US Post Office along Fifth Avenue. Brooklyn Community Board No. 10 handles Bay Ridge issues.

The Bay Ridge zip code is 11209.