Forgotten NY Goes Back to Bay Ridge

The inimitable Forgotten New York returns to Bay Ridge this week with a new feature offering dozens of pics and tidbits of that neighborhood. Here's a sampling of the info about Shore Road, some of whose homes appear in the FNY photos above:

Shore Road is as old as Bay Ridge itself. The neighborhood was originally a country resort for Manhattan financiers and bigwigs in the early to mid-1800s; its remoteness made it bucolic, but its wonderful water views made it catnip for those who could afford to build massive mansions by the water. Shore Road shows up in its undulating, curving route, following the shoreline, as early as 1870s maps.

Changes came in the 1940s after the Belt Parkway and accompanying landfill moved Shore Road away from the actual shore. Many of the old mansions disappeared to be replaced by high-rise apartment buildings. However, around 80th-82nd Streets, some of the flavor of the past is preserved, with opulent private homes, both new and old.

Definitely head over for the full read.