Atlantic Avenue History

America began as a unique immigrant nation that empowered dreamers and futurists alike. This standard is demonstrated throughout various cities and urban centers across the country that bear the mark of immigrant visionaries. Atlantic Avenue is no exception to this rule. Located in the center of Brooklyn, bordered by the Barclay Center and the East River, Atlantic Avenue represents an open-minded community with a history of acceptance and a variety of ethnic backgrounds dating back to the 1800s. Atlantic Avenue’s long history of immigration led to a historically inclusive community in which all individuals and groups were welcomed and allowed to thrive. As a result, the avenue maintains the inclusive atmosphere by hosting a series of events
Resembling a beaten down path rather that a road, Atlantic Avenue lived in the shadow of District Street, which later became the southern boundary for the Village of Brooklyn in 1816 (“Atlantic Avenue”). The 1800s saw the rise of Brooklyn, thanks to the Manhattan ferry, which spurred a movement of shops and firms to the area. It was at this time around 1870 that the worn down little path was fortified and deemed Atlantic Avenue (“Atlantic Avenue”). The newly named avenue continued to flourish until the 1940s. In 1931, the new-found popularity of the area spurred the construction of the first male exclusive residential hotel of Brooklyn, also known as the Times Plaza Hotel (Spellen). Other businesses like the Times Plaza and YMCA continued to flock to the area until around the 1940s. The decline of business was due to Robert Moses’ proposal of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Moses’ brilliant roadway cuts off the avenue from the East River and killed hundreds of businesses and homes along the avenue (“Atlantic Avenue”). Despite the destruction of business, a new wave of immigrants from around the world brought life and culture back into the