A group of committed citizens united more than 35 years ago with a shared goal: to improve the area known as North Flatbush Avenue Avenue.

More than 35 years ago, a group of dedicated merchants, property owners, and residents—including Fran Trowbridge, Regina Cahill, Sophie Edeler, Joe King, Bill Shapiro, and the Pintchik family—came together to improve North Flatbush Avenue Avenue. Working alongside elected officials, city agencies, and the Brooklyn Union Gas “Cinderella Project,” they launched a grassroots revitalization that began with the Triangle Parks Commission and eventually led to the formation of the North Flatbush Avenue Avenue Business Improvement District (NFBID).

Since then, the BID has continued to evolve while staying true to its community roots. We’ve advocated for small business support, beautification, and public improvements in a uniquely challenging area—one that juggles heavy traffic, subway infrastructure, and rapid urban change.

In 2008, a community forum led by the BID, the NYC Project for Public Spaces, and then-Councilmember Letitia James helped reimagine the future of the district. With support from the NYC Department of Small Business Services, we developed a visionary streetscape plan that resulted in nearly $3 million in capital funding. Today, renovated triangle parks, curb bump-outs, and new greenery offer safer, more welcoming spaces for residents and visitors alike.

Now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the NFBID continues to support Flatbush Avenue from Grand Army Plaza to Atlantic Avenue through capital improvements, public art, dynamic programming, and close collaboration with local stakeholders. Our mission is to enhance economic vitality, beautify the corridor, and foster a strong sense of community—making North Flatbush Avenue a destination, not just a thoroughfare.

Flatbush Avenue is Brooklyn’s central artery, stretching nearly 10 miles from the Manhattan Bridge to Jamaica Bay. Originally a Native American trail, it evolved into a vital Dutch colonial route in the 17th century, connecting farming villages like Vlacke Bos—today’s Flatbush. By the 19th century, the avenue became a formal turnpike, guiding Brooklyn’s urban expansion. Though reshaped by Robert Moses in the 1960s, Flatbush Avenue remains a powerful symbol of the borough’s transformation, threading past landmarks like Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Barclays Center.

North Flatbush Avenue Avenue—spanning Grand Army Plaza to Atlantic Avenue—sits at the crossroads of Prospect Heights, Park Slope, and the Pacific Park development. This corridor is rich with architectural heritage, from Victorian brownstones and Romanesque Revival homes to the historic districts of Park Slope and Prospect Heights, both protected for their cultural significance. The area also reflects Brooklyn’s layered immigrant histories, with long-established families and newer residents living side by side.

Today, Pacific Park signals a new chapter, bringing high-rise residences and public spaces to the district. At the same time, landmarks like the Barclays Center and Grand Army Plaza bookend the North Flatbush Avenue BID, anchoring a vibrant community that continues to evolve. Our district is shaped by a diverse past—and an equally dynamic future.