Sea Gate is a private, gated community at the far western end of Coney Island at the southwestern tip of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.[1] It contains mostly single-family homes, some directly on Gravesend Bay. It is regularly patrolled by the Sea Gate Police Department which was established in 1899, though the New York City Police Department has joint jurisdiction over it.
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The area that is now Sea Gate was once known as Norton's Point.[1] The name came from the owner of a casino where the Coney Island Light now stands.[1] The neighborhood held a reputation for gambling before it was developed into a neighborhood.[1]
Sea Gate was developed into a full neighborhood in 1892 by developer Alrick Man.[1]
Surrounded on three sides by water, Sea Gate is vulnerable to the whims of mother nature. In 1992, a nor'easter pounded the neighborhood, forcing its evacuation. One house slid off its foundation into the sea, and the storm caused considerable erosion and damage. In 1995 the Army Corps of Engineers completed its work of replenishing Coney beaches and building new jetties, including a long jetty at the border of Sea Gate and Coney Island. Unfortunately, this ended up causing more erosion on the Atlantic side of Sea Gate, and an accumulation of sand on the bay side. The second phase of this beach replenishment project [2] has stirred some controversy.[3] Although Sea Gate residents pay federal, state, and local taxes, in addition to Sea Gate homeowners fees, some people think tax dollars should not go to helping refurbish a private beach.
Residents refer to Sea Gate as "the gate," and venturing into adjoining Coney Island as going "out the gate." [1] At present, here are no stores in the neighborhood.[1], but once there were a handful. There is no universally recognized demonym for residents of the community: "Sea Gatians" and "Sea Gaters" are sometimes heard.
Sea Gate's gated neighborhood is made up of 832 single-family homes, as of 2010.[1] Homes in the neighborhood represent a variety of styles and architecture, including Queen Anne Style and Mediterranean.[1]
In addition to long time residents, Sea Gate has seen an influx of immigrants from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union in recent years.[1] Residents now represent Azerbaijan, Belarus, Poland, Romania and Ukraine, according to the 2000 U.S. census.[1]
In addition to the large and private beach areas, Sea Gate has two parks:
Summer is when Sea Gate comes alive with people of all ages walking the streets in bathing attire as they stroll to their favorite (and private) beach area. Children play in the streets until well after sundown; vehicular traffic is relatively sparse on many streets. Many venture to the amusement area and boardwalk of nearby, historic Coney Island. Summer treats continue a bit beyond the rides, to the east in neighborhoods such as Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, and Manhattan Beach, and west, Bath Beach. Between the two spokes out of the Gate, the lovely Ocean Parkway, where pedestrians and bikers make good use of the wide thoroughfare.
Fishing is available for several seasonal species, including fluke (summer flounder), porgies, blackfish, flounder and even small striped bass. Occasionally, more exotic finned creatures are present, including snapper blues, pilotfish, blowfish and eels.
The beaches in Sea Gate are uncrowded and patrolled during the summer by lifeguards. The Sea Gate beach is private and visitors must show beach passes. Beach access is also offered to members of the Sea Gate Beach Club. The beach club, originally for residents, is now privately run and open to anyone who pays for membership. It adjoins the undisputed, historic hub of Sea Gate summer life, the Riviera or the "Riv," with its handball and basketball courts, benches for card playing, restaurant/café, and a fabled jukebox, spinning discs into the evening.
Located on Beach 47th Street in Sea Gate is the 75-foot-tall (23 m) Coney Island Light which is a lighthouse built in 1890, before the area was populated. The lighthouse is the former home of Frank Schubert, the United States' last civilian lighthouse keeper.[1] Schubert died in 2003.[1]
The chapel, once used for services and built in 1901, is a historical building now used for social events, yoga classes, and is a polling site at election times. The Chapel with its stained-glass windows is the first structure seen when entering the main (police protected) gate.[1]
