Homecrest, Brooklyn

Homecrest is a neighborhood situated in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. It borders Kings Highway to the north, Avenue X to the south, and Coney Island Avenue to the west. Homecrest uses the ZIP Code, 11229. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 15. [ [http://www.nyc.gov/html/cau/html/cb/cb_brooklyn.shtml Brooklyn Community Boards] , New York City. Accessed December 31, 2007.]

Demography

The community was formerly home to a large Italian population. In more recent years it has seen a large influx of people from Asia, especially China, as well asIsrael, Syria, Russia, other former Eastern-block nations. In more recent years Avenue 'U' (Ocean Pkwy. to Ocean Ave.) has transformed itself into its own small Chinatown, as evidenced by the number of Asian Fruit Markets, Chinese Restaurant's, Beauty and Nail Salons, Computer and general General Electronic dealers.

In recent years many Condominium's have sprung up, as well as Medical Centers. Many of the private residential two-story homes within the community have been renovated into mini-mansion's, some estimated at a half-million to a million dollars in estimated value. Just South Of Avenue 'V' you will find many one-story bungalow type homes, as well as rows of one-story brick homes with community backyards and driveways.

Education

Local Schools include St. Edmunds Preparatory Academy Roman Catholic, Nefesh Academy For Girls Yeshiva, and Prospect Park Girls Yeshiva which serve the student youth of the local Jewish Community. There is Windmill Montessori School. There are a number of Public Schools such as W. Cunningham Jr. High. Touro College Graduate School Of Education and Psychology is located on Coney Island just South of Kings Highway (above Walgreen Drugs). Touro College also has other campuses (such as "Computer") nearby along Kings Highway. A 'Stanley Kaplan' is located at E. 16th. and Kings Highway.

Transportation

The Community is serviced by the BMT Brighton Line, with stations located at Kings Highway, Avenue U and Neck Road. The B29 Express and other NYC Transit Bus routes service the area.

Emergency services

Homecrest Health Center, a branch of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, is located at 1601 Avenue S, at E. 16th St. It is a Public Health Facility.
Coney Island Hospital (Ocean Pkwy. at Avenue 'Y') is the nearest Emergency Trauma Center and Out-patient facility serving the community.

Religious Groups

There is an ever growing population of members of the Jewish faith in the community, served by quite a few Orthodox and Sephardic Temples. St. Edmunds Roman Catholic Parish serves the community, as does The First Baptist Church Of Sheepshead Bay, The Homescrest Presbyterian Church, and other congregation's of various denomination serving the growing Asian population.

hopping

"Lester's" Clothing shops, located on Avenue 'U' at Coney Island Avenue has been a long-time staple in the community. Along Avenue 'U' you will find a number of other clothing shops, computer and electronic retailer's, a hardware, 99 Cent Shops, a number of fruit and vegetable stores, Realty Agents, Major Bank Branches, Hair and Nail Salons, a donut shop, pizzeria's, an Italian Bakery, as well as a few of the major chain drug stores. Along Coney Island Avenue you will find auto dealers, auto repair shops, service stations, 2 lumber dealers, major bank branches, and long-time community staple "Jack Loconsolo" Paint Store. A Walgreens drug outlet can be found at the Southwest corner of Kings Highway and Coney Island Avenue. "Roy's Sheepshead Bay Cycle Shop" is popular with bicyclists and is also located along Coney Island Avenue.

Parks

William E. Kelly Memorial Park is a NYC P&R Park located along Avenue 'S', E. 14th.-15th. St.'s. It is a large community park featuring Tennis Courts, and a Kids Playground. Basketball and Handball Courts. Tennis Lessons are available from semi-pro instructors on-site (may be a Fee).

Kelly Playground is another NYC Parks & Recreation Playground along with a basketball and handball courts, and can be found on East 16th. Street and Ave. 'S'. Students from the adjacent Public Schools, as well as local Yeshiva Schools, often utilize the playground when school is in session. Back in the 1960s through 1970s the playground featured a popular roller hockey rink.

Mellett Playground is a NYC Parks & Recreation Playground located along Avenue 'V, E. 13th.-14th. St.'s. It is A smaller community park featuring basketball hoops, a handball court as well as a kids playground area. Back in the 1970s, it was a late-night hangout for rowdy local youth. The attendant's park house was destroyed by fire set by vandals. A vocal group of community residents organized and formed the 'Mellett Park Civic Association'. Under the direction of resident Kenneth Wright, they fought bureaucratic red tape to have the old fire ravaged parkhouse refurbished, as well as the rest of the playground. In the mornings many Asian members of the community use the park to practice Tai-Chi.

In film

*A Bronx Tale (1993), Starring Robert DeNiro and Chazz Palminteri- Majority of The Street scenes filmed along Neck Road By The BMT Neck Road Subway Station, along Avenue's 'V' and 'W.' Film cars, props, lighting, the classic transit bus DeNiro drove, and other gear were stored in Mellett Park during the filming.
*Scenes from the Upcoming (2009 Release) Film 'Brooklyn's Finest' were recently filmed in the area of East 13th.-14th. St.'s, Kings Highway to Avenue 'R.'

ee also

*List of Brooklyn neighborhoods

References

External links

* [http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/B051/ William E. Kelly Memorial Park] , New York City Department of Parks and Recreation