Boerum Hill Association
The quiet streets of Boerum Hill are lined with shade trees and sturdy three and four-story brick townhouses, retaining the small-scale residential charm of the 19th century. An escape from the bustling city only a few subway stops away, but still sophisticated and urban.
Our mission:
The Boerum Hill Association is a volunteer organization of residents of Boerum Hill. We seek to preserve and enhance the unique qualities of our neighborhood through advocacy, education and community building.
Boerum Hill is a tree-lined community that extends from the south side of Schermerhorn Street to the north side of Warren Street and from the east side of Court Street to the west side of Fourth Avenue.
We bring neighbors together and improve our neighborhood. Some of our initiatives include:
- Community events such as the Annual Pot Luck Holiday Party and the House Tour
- Greening and neighborhood beautification
- Improving parks and playgrounds
- Quality of life improvements - public safety, noise, sanitation and more
- Traffic calming, transportation and parking
- Land marks and zoning
- Intelligent development
Read more about us in Living in Boerum Hill.
Hoyt Street Association
Our sister organization, the Hoyt Street Association, is renowned for its Annual Plant Sale.
The proceeds raised support the Hoyt Street Garden (at the corner of Hoyt Street and Atlantic Avenue), shredding days, tree planting, painting over graffiti, Community Funding grants, and other beautifying activities for the neighborhood.
The popular “Free Stories in the Garden”, takes place Tuesday evenings beginning late June through the end of July. Scheduled volunteer readers take turns at the microphone to read stories to the children (and grown-ups, too). Free lemonade and cookies are provided to all.
You will find more information on the Hoyt Street Association's page.
Our Issues
In last decade, Brooklyn has undergone tremendous change, especially in nearby downtown. The BHA has always advocated for intelligent development and appropriate context.
In 2018, our Historic District extension was approved. While we sought a larger area, we more than doubled our existing landmark district. This achievement was result of hours of hard work undertaken by our Landmarks Committee. We may look to add more streets in the future. Our 19th century architecture, mostly Greek Revival and Italianate style brownstones, define our neighborhood charm and style.
The plans for a new Brooklyn Detention Center present a challenge for us. We have worked diligently to preserve our low-rise brownstone scale so careful planning is needed to integrate this rising facility in ways that respect the immediate environment. To date, with the help of a wide range of stakeholders, we successfully reduced the size, from 425 feet down to 295 feet, and capacity, 1500 beds down to 875 beds, of the original proposal. There is more work ahead and more challenges.
We fought the Educational Construction Fund's 80 Flatbush Development because it is outrageously out-of-scale. Some modications to scale and design were achieved but the result will still locate a tower over 500 feet directly across from 4-story brownstones. The second tower, over 800 feet, will be set back from the street yet still tower off our residentials streets. The project does include a new Khalil Gibran High School, which we supported, a new 350-seat elementary school and 200 units of affordable housing in the second tower.
Our Historic District
Brooklyn Detention Center
80 Flatbush Development
BECOME A MEMBER - JOIN NOW!
The BHA membership year is from January 1 to December 31. Members in good standing as of June 1 may vote in the June board election. All others, including business supporters, may not vote but are welcome at all BHA events and activities. Family memberships (2+ adults in the same household), are entitled to two votes. Individual members receive one vote.
$15
Low Income, Student,
Individual Senior
$25
Individual or
Senior Family
$40
Family
$100
Good
Neighbor
$250
Neighborhood
Hero
$125
Business
Donor
$250
Business
Sponsor
Photo Gallery
Take a walk through Boerum Hill. Located in the heart of brownstone Brooklyn, you will find a friendly villiage with all the urban energy that New York City is known for yet with the charm and ease of a small town. Here residents greet one another on the street. Many work here too, building small businesses and furthering their dreams in a thriving neighborhood.
We seek to preserve and enhance the unique qualities of our neighborhood through advocacy, education and community building.
Contact us