Dyker Heights Brooklyn

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy Solutions

The purpose of federal bankruptcy legislation, sometimes known as Title 11 of the United States Code or the “Bankruptcy Code,” is to provide an opportunity for financial reorganization or a fresh start for legitimate debtors who are unable to fulfill their obligations.

Foreclosure Solutions

As you are undoubtedly aware, many homeowners are in arrears on their mortgages as a result of the 2020 recession brought on by the coronavirus. At first, most lenders had been understanding and would have granted a brief suspension of the late payments.

Debt Negotiations & Settlements

Clients regularly hire the Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C. to represent them in negotiations with banks, mortgage holders, credit card issuers, auto financing providers, landlords, tax authorities, and other creditors.

Mortgage Loan Modifications

The most common strategy used by our firm to prevent a house in severe mortgage arrears from going into foreclosure is a mortgage modification. Mortgage modification and other potential Retention Options are the potential goals of most homeowners in foreclosure because most people experiencing serious hardships with their mortgages are looking for “Retention Options

Credit Card Solutions

For consumers, credit card debt and other unsecured personal loans are the most common types of debt. There are a few legal options for handling credit card debt, including the following: Litigation, bankruptcy, and/or negotiated settlements are the three options.

Debtor Litigation Defense

Many of The Law Office of Ronald D. Weiss, P.C.’s clients face the possibility of litigation or collection activities from their creditors because they are accused of having debt that they are unable to pay or because they contest the existence, amount, or obligation of the debt.

Landlord Tenant Solutions

Landlord-Tenant Law is one of our firm’s areas of expertise; we defend landlords and tenants in a variety of legal proceedings before the Landlord-Tenant Court and the New York Supreme Court. When it comes to eviction and/or collecting large amounts of past due rent.

Distressed Real Estate

A. Pre-Contract When a seller (the “Seller”) sells real estate to a buyer (the “Buyer”), there are usually a number of important steps involved. A seller will first list their property on the market for sale. A real estate broker is frequently hired by the seller to help locate possible buyers for their property.

Student Loan Solutions

In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” as Benjamin Franklin famously said. This phrase has recently been amended by popular opinion to include student loans. Since most jobs these days require a bachelor’s degree, the amount of debt that Americans owe on their student loans

Tax Debt Solutions

Many people have trouble keeping up with their tax payments to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (“NYS”), which includes sales taxes, income taxes, payroll taxes, and other state taxes, as well as the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), which includes individual income taxes.

Dyker Heights is a predominantly residential neighborhood located in the southwest corner of the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Situated on a hill between Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and Gravesend Bay, the neighborhood is bounded by 7th and 14th Avenues, 65th Street, and the Belt Parkway to the west, east, north, and south, respectively.

The origins of Dyker Heights date back to October 1895 when Walter Loveridge Johnson developed a portion of woodland into a suburban community. Throughout the 20th century, it retained its reputation as a wealthy neighborhood. During its initial development phase, the boundaries primarily spanned from Tenth to Thirteenth Avenues and from 79th Street to 86th Street. Notably, the most luxurious homes were situated along the top of the 110-foot hill, around Eleventh Avenue and 82nd Street.

Dyker Heights boasts a suburban ambiance with detached and semi-detached one- and two-family homes, many of which feature driveways and private yards—a rarity in other parts of New York City. The neighborhood is characterized by tree-lined streets, and apartment buildings are few and far between. Dyker Heights can be roughly divided into three sections: the southernmost section, which contains Dyker Beach Park and Golf Course; the central section, between Bay Ridge Parkway and 86th Street, and between 14th Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway, which is more exclusive in nature; and the northern border, which is more integrated with surrounding areas.

The Dyker Heights Civic Association, established in 1928, plays a key role in representing the interests of the community. The neighborhood is also renowned for its elaborate Christmas lighting displays, which draw visitors from far and wide to experience the festive atmosphere.

Early development

The neighborhood of Dyker Heights is situated within the boundaries of the former Dutch town of New Utrecht, which was settled in 1657. However, the area now known as Dyker Heights remained undeveloped during the 17th and 18th centuries due to its sloped terrain, which made it unsuitable for farming. Instead, it remained common woodland until the mid-19th century. The trees from this forest were utilized by the local residents for firewood and construction purposes.

As the agricultural practices in New Utrecht shifted from farming grains to cultivating market garden produce, the trees were cleared to make way for crops such as tomatoes, cabbages, and potatoes. The first house to be built at the top of the hill, located at what is now 11th Avenue and 82nd Street and approximately 110 feet above sea level, was constructed in the late 1820s by Brigadier General René Edward De Russy of the US Army. De Russy, a military engineer known for building forts across the United States, including Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, chose this location for his homestead because of its commanding view of the harbor and its defenses, particularly Fort Hamilton, which was completed by November 1831.

Following De Russy’s death in 1865, his wife Helen sold the property in 1888 to Jane Elisabeth Loveridge and Frederick Henry Johnson.

Development by the Johnsons

Frederick Johnson played a significant role in the development of the Dyker Heights neighborhood, particularly after his involvement with the New Utrecht Improvement Bill and his advocacy for the annexation of the Town of New Utrecht to Brooklyn in 1894. His vision for upscale residential development in New Utrecht, akin to the successful Bensonhurst-by-the-Sea project in Bath Beach, led him to purchase the De Russy estate with the intention of creating a similar upscale community.

Upon Frederick Johnson’s death in 1893, his son, Walter Loveridge Johnson, took over the family’s real estate business and began developing Dyker Heights on the property. Walter named the development “Dyker Heights” after the Dyker Meadow and Beach, which overlooked the area. These natural features had been historically significant, potentially named after the Van Dyke family, who may have built dykes to drain the meadow, or for the dykes they constructed.

Walter Loveridge Johnson transformed the wooded area into a residential community by implementing various improvements. He extended Brooklyn’s street grid southward, paved roads with macadam, installed utility lines for gas, water, telephone, and electricity, and planted sugar maple trees along the avenues and streets. These enhancements created over two hundred new building sites and facilitated the development of Dyker Heights.

In 1895, Walter Johnson began building homes in Dyker Heights, starting with three residences. One of these homes was his own, located on the southwest corner of 11th Avenue and 82nd Street. Another was designed for Albert Edward Parfitt, situated next to Johnson’s residence. The third home, belonging to Arthur S. Tuttle, was located closest to Tenth Avenue. Parfitt, an architect, designed these initial homes. While Johnson’s house burned down before 1900, and Parfitt’s was later demolished and replaced, Tuttle’s residence has undergone remodeling in recent years.

According to data from the 2010 United States Census, Dyker Heights had a population of 42,419, showing an increase of 7.8% from the 2000 Census count of 39,332.

In terms of racial makeup, the neighborhood comprised 70.2% White, 27.1% Asian, with small percentages of other races, and 5.9% Hispanic or Latino individuals.

Looking at Community Board 13, which encompasses Dyker Heights, it had 142,075 inhabitants according to NYC Health’s 2018 Community Health Profile. The average life expectancy was recorded at 83.1 years, higher than the citywide median life expectancy. The demographic distribution showed a majority of middle-aged adults and youth, with lower ratios of college-aged and elderly residents.

Regarding socioeconomic indicators, the median household income in Community District 10, where Dyker Heights is located, was $68,679 in 2016. The poverty rate for Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights residents in 2018 was 19%, slightly lower than Brooklyn’s average of 21% and the city’s average of 20%. Unemployment rates were also slightly lower in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights, with 8% of residents unemployed compared to 9% in Brooklyn and New York City. Rent burden, representing the percentage of residents facing difficulty paying rent, stood at 49%, slightly lower than citywide rates. Consequently, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights were categorized as high-income areas relative to the rest of New York City based on these figures.

Dyker Heights is renowned for its elegant housing, predominantly consisting of grand single-family detached and semi-detached bungalows.

A detailed description from the Brooklyn Eagle in December 1899 provides insight into the architectural features of these homes:

Typical Dyker Heights residences boast five rooms on each of the first and second floors, along with four rooms on the third floor. Upon entry, visitors are greeted by a spacious twelve-foot-wide hall leading to the butler’s pantry. To the right lie the parlor and library, while the reception and dining rooms are located to the left. The rear portion of the house is occupied by the kitchen, butler’s pantry, and washrooms, featuring tiled floors. Birdseye maple adorns the finishing of the parlor, while quartered oak graces the library, both accented by mantles in the same wood with fancy tile finish. A grand fireplace, adorned with ornamental andirons, serves as a focal point in these rooms. Ceilings on the first floor stand at ten feet high, while the second floor is elevated to nine feet, and the third floor to eight feet. The dining room, usually fifteen feet square, showcases quartered sycamore finishing. The reception room, circular in form with a ten-foot diameter, is finished in quartered oak, similar to the hall. The kitchen features a glazed fireplace, with the cellar and laundry located below stairs, offering a depth of eight feet and an asphalt double concrete floor.

On the second floor, among the five rooms, one serves as a sitting room, while the others function as sleeping quarters, all finished in quartered oak and sycamore. A spacious bathroom with tiled floors occupies the remaining space. Ascending to the third floor, plain cypress is the typical finish, comprising two servants’ rooms, a sitting or card room, and a billiard parlor wainscoted on the sides and equipped with seats for players and onlookers. Additionally, both the reception room and dining room are wainscoted six feet high, adding to the grandeur of these residences.

Dyker Heights falls within New York’s 11th congressional district, currently represented by Republican Nicole Malliotakis as of 2021. It is also situated within the 22nd State Senate district, represented by Democrat Andrew Gounardes. Furthermore, the neighborhood is encompassed by the 46th and 49th State Assembly districts, represented by Democrats Mathylde Frontus and Peter J. Abbate Jr. respectively. As for city council representation, Dyker Heights resides in New York’s 43rd City Council district, with Justin Brannan serving as the representative.

Brooklyn Community Board 10 oversees the interests of Dyker Heights, and although unofficial, the Dyker Heights Civic Association serves as the neighborhood’s civic group.

The NYPD’s 68th Precinct is situated at 333 65th Street. Notably, it ranked 7th safest out of 69 patrol areas for per-capita crime in 2010. As of 2018, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights exhibit a lower rate of violent crimes per capita compared to the city as a whole, with a non-fatal assault rate of 23 per 100,000 people. Additionally, the neighborhood’s incarceration rate of 168 per 100,000 people is lower than the citywide average.

Over the years, the 68th Precinct has seen a decline in crime rates, with crimes across all categories decreasing by 88.6% between 1990 and 2018. In 2018, the precinct reported 2 murders, 16 rapes, 59 robberies, 129 felony assaults, 96 burglaries, 387 grand larcenies, and 86 grand larcenies auto.

Mapleton is home to Washington Cemetery, the largest inhabited Jewish cemetery in New York. Many Orthodox Jews, as well as numerous prominent individuals, are buried there. Situated on Bay Parkway, the cemetery spans from 59th Street to East 3rd Street.

The neighborhood also features Gravesend Park, a 6.38-acre green space located on 18th Avenue between 56th and 57th Streets. Established in 1917 and named after the nearby Gravesend neighborhood, the park underwent a $7.25 million renovation in 2016. It boasts amenities such as baseball fields, basketball courts, fitness equipment, handball courts, and playgrounds. Additionally, small properties in the area that were unsuitable for development, like Dahill Triangle, have been designated as parks.

Formerly in the neighborhood was Mapleton Park (or Mapleton Oval) at 62nd Street and 20th Avenue, completed in 1916. This park was the home of the Mapleton Park Nine baseball team and was likely named after an old neighborhood designation. While the physical park no longer exists, the name lives on in the local synagogue, Young Israel of Mapleton Park, near 65th Street and Bay Parkway.

Maple Lanes, a 48-lane bowling alley, once stood at 16th Avenue and 60th Street, operating since 1960. However, it closed in 2012 and was sold to a developer who intended to replace it with condominiums and a synagogue. At the time of its closure, Maple Lanes was one of the few remaining bowling alleys in Brooklyn.

Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights generally exhibit a similar ratio of college-educated residents compared to the rest of the city as of 2018. Approximately 46% of residents aged 25 and older in this area have a college education or higher. Meanwhile, 19% have less than a high school education, and 35% are high school graduates or have some college education. In comparison, 40% of Brooklynites and 38% of city residents have a college education or higher.

Moreover, there has been an improvement in the academic performance of students in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights over time. The percentage of students excelling in reading and math has been increasing, with reading achievement rising from 51% in 2000 to 52% in 2011, and math achievement rising from 49% to 71% within the same period.

Furthermore, Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights boast a lower rate of elementary school student absenteeism compared to the rest of New York City. Only 8% of elementary school students in this area missed twenty or more days per school year, in contrast to the citywide average of 20% of students. Additionally, 82% of high school students in Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights graduate on time, surpassing the citywide average of 75% of students.

The heart of Dyker Heights may not have direct access to the New York City Subway, but neighboring communities do, providing convenient options within a 15-20 minute walk. Bay Ridge, for example, is served by the BMT Fourth Avenue Line (R train), with stations at Bay Ridge Avenue, 77th Street, 86th Street, and 95th Street. On the far south end of Borough Park, the BMT Sea Beach Line (N and W trains) stops at Fort Hamilton Parkway and New Utrecht Avenue. Bensonhurst, another neighboring area, is served by the BMT West End Line (D train), with stations at 79th Street, 71st Street, and 62nd Street.

In addition to subway access, Dyker Heights is served by several local New York City Bus routes and two express routes, including the B1, B4, B8, B16, B64, B70, X28, and X38.

For those traveling by car, Dyker Heights is easily accessible via the Belt Parkway and Interstate 278 (Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to Staten Island, Gowanus Expressway, and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway). This comprehensive transportation network offers residents and visitors various options for getting around the neighborhood and beyond.

Practice Areas

Table of Contents

Tell Us About Your Situation

Bankruptcy Quick Links

Foreclosure Quick Links

Modification Quick Links

Debt Negotiation Quick Links

FREE CONSULTATION