You’ve probably heard the rumors. Maybe you’ve seen the viral clips from a few years back or heard a local refer to it as "Murder Avenue." Honestly, the intersection of Myrtle and Broadway Brooklyn NY is one of those places that feels like the heavy, beating heart of a city that refuses to be tamed by luxury condos and $7 lattes. It is loud. It is gritty. It is, quite literally, where two worlds collide under the roar of the elevated J/M/Z tracks.
If you stand on the corner for ten minutes, you'll see it all. Delivery drivers weaving through traffic on electric bikes. Students from Pratt with oversized portfolios. Longtime residents carrying groceries from the Food Bazaar. It’s a sensory overload of diesel fumes, street meat, and the metallic screech of trains overhead.
The Station That Explains Everything
To understand this place, you have to look up. The Myrtle-Broadway station isn’t just a transit hub; it’s a skeleton of New York’s industrial past. Most people don't realize there’s a whole "ghost" level up there. Back in the day—we're talking before 1969—the Myrtle Avenue El used to run all the way to Downtown Brooklyn. Today, that upper platform is abandoned, a relic of a time when the city was hacking away at its elevated lines to make room for a future that never quite arrived the way they planned.
Right now, the MTA is finally pumping real money into the station. We’re talking over $250 million in federal grants for accessibility upgrades. It’s about time. Navigating those narrow, dark stairs is a nightmare for anyone with a stroller or a wheelchair. The elevators, which started construction in late 2024, are supposed to change the game for the Bed-Stuy and Bushwick border.
Where Bed-Stuy Meets Bushwick
This isn't just a random street crossing. It is the literal border. On one side, you have the historic brownstones of Bedford-Stuyvesant; on the other, the industrial-turned-artistic sprawl of Bushwick.
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For a long time, this was the "no-go" zone. In the late 70s and 80s, after the Navy Yard decommissioned and the El was partially torn down, the area spiraled. But the narrative of "decline" is too simple. The people who stayed here—the Black and Latino communities who kept these blocks alive when the city seemingly forgot about them—are the ones who actually built the culture everyone wants a piece of now.
The Gentrification Paradox
You can't talk about Myrtle and Broadway Brooklyn NY without mentioning the "G" word. It’s visible in the architecture. You’ll see a crumbling brick facade next to a glass-fronted "luxury" apartment building where the rent for a studio could pay a mortgage in the Midwest.
- The Old Guard: Places like the local bodegas and discount stores that have been there for thirty years.
- The New Wave: Bars like The Broadway or Little Mo that cater to the younger, creative crowd.
- The Conflict: Rising rents have pushed many families out, but the "soul" of the intersection is surprisingly stubborn. It hasn't fully sanitized yet.
Safety, "K2," and the Reality Check
Look, let’s be real for a second. If you Google this intersection, you’ll see articles about "Zombie Corner" or K2 (synthetic marijuana) outbreaks. It happened. Around 2016, there was a major public health crisis right on these sidewalks.
Is it safe today? Generally, yeah, if you have common sense. It’s a high-traffic area. The NYC DOT has been working on "Vision Zero" improvements because, frankly, the intersection is a mess for pedestrians. The subway columns create blind spots for drivers, and the angles are sharp. They’ve added extended pedestrian spaces and shortened crossing distances to try and keep people from getting clipped by turning trucks.
Where to Actually Go
If you’re just passing through, you might miss the gems. It’s not a polished tourist destination, and that’s the point.
Food and Drink
Honestly, the food scene here is a weird, delicious hybrid. You can get a world-class croissant at L’Imprimerie (a short walk away) or some of the best Rasta Pasta at Bleu Fin Bar & Grill. If you want that classic Bushwick vibe, Mr. Kiwi’s at the corner of Myrtle and Broadway is a local institution. Their juices are cheap, fresh, and basically the fuel that keeps the neighborhood running.
The Arts
Don't ignore the station itself. There’s a stained-glass installation called Jammin’ Under the El by Verna Hart. It depicts scenes of jazz and neighborhood life. It’s a bit grimy from the brake dust, but when the sun hits it right, it’s beautiful.
What’s Next for the Corner?
The transformation isn't stopping. With the new elevators coming and more residential developments breaking ground, the "rough around the edges" vibe is slowly being sanded down. But as long as that J train is rattling overhead, Myrtle and Broadway Brooklyn NY will never feel like the Upper East Side. It’s too loud for that.
If you’re planning to visit or move nearby, don't expect a quiet life. This is the heart of the machine.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the Area:
- Commuting: If you’re taking the M train, remember it often terminates here at night. Check the MTA app before you end up stranded on the platform at 2:00 AM.
- Safety: Stick to the main well-lit paths at night. The area is busy, but the shadows under the El can be disorienting.
- Support Local: Skip the chains. Go to the family-owned spots on the Bed-Stuy side. That's where the real flavor of the neighborhood lives.
- Pedestrians: Watch the bike lanes. Delivery riders move fast here and they don't always follow the lights.
Walk around with your eyes open. Notice the layers of history—the old signage peeking through under new paint, the way the light filters through the tracks. This is Brooklyn in its rawest form.