The area is undergoing significant rezoning (about 200 blocks), aiming to promote affordable housing, with the city’s first Mandatory Inclusionary Housing Designated Area (MIHA) mapped along key corridors like Atlantic Avenue and Pitkin Avenue.
During the 1940s, the demolition of elevated train lines (moving them underground) and post-war suburban migration changed the demographics, which was followed by decades of disinvestment, redlining, and crime. Current Landscape (As of 2026)
The neighborhood is home to a diverse population and a high percentage of renters. Recent Developments (2025-2026) East New York
Major projects, including the East New York Neighborhood Plan and the "Jewel Streets" initiative, are addressing longstanding flooding and infrastructure issues.
Founded in 1825 by John Pitkin, it was originally intended to be a major manufacturing city to rival Manhattan. The area is undergoing significant rezoning (about 200
Residents and local organizations like the Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation are active in shaping the neighborhood's future, focusing on equity and sustainable development.
Pitkin bought farmland and built a shoe factory, establishing a blue-collar residential community that often served as a commuter neighborhood. Pitkin bought farmland and built a shoe factory,
Once dubbed a "Dead Zone" by local police, the neighborhood has seen dramatic improvements in housing, with the number of units increasing to roughly 44,600 by the late 1990s and continued development into the 2020s.