I have lived in Flatbush for about 63 years. I remember it as a teen when itt was basically Italian, Irish, Jewish, German, and Puerto Rican. Then around the Mid to late 70s many immigrants from Central and South America moved, but they did not bring crime. Landlords put in Section 8 and criminals in the area.
A blogger, called The Lost City called Newkirk Plaza, Newcrack Plaza, That Never happened. Newkirk Plaza was always filled with businesses, It was always mom and pop stores. It was Newkirk Avenue from East 16th Street To Flatbush Avenue that sold crack.
Many new immigrants bought homes because Whites fled the area, and bought homes at inexpensive prices, and went to Suny Downstate and got medical degrees.
Victorian Flatbush is the most beautiful section of the area.
In the 90s, school buses of Hasidic Jews bought up real estate because the area was changing. I would see them as I came back from grad school at Brooklyn College. but the most important article. is in the Resource section of this website(Gentrification from the Inside out)
It was written by Jan Rosenburg. a Sociology Professor at LIU.She writes about the crime. exploding in the neighborhood in the 60s, which is false. and people in the houses did not interact w8th those in homes. I knew many people in both homes and apartments.
She mentions Race. I am white and my best friend was African Ameircan man, Bill Glenn, and a Scholar from Cambridge , who was from Trinidad.
She talks about Susan Siegal,who was the director of the FDC, which was originally on Cortelyou Road and East 16th, and has helped all of Flatbush even now.
I know Jan Rosenburg. Basically she Created a real estate Corporation called Brooklyn Hearth Realty. She got in bed with Elliman. She was greedy. She did not nor does care about the neighborhood
Give me a break. It was Mary Kay and The Flatbush Development Corporation that preserved Beauty, and help people..