About Ocean Hill
Ocean Hill was founded as a separate neighborhood in 1890. Before that, the area had been split between the Bedford-Stuyvesant and Brownsville neighborhoods. It is bordered by Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Brownsville, and Cypress Hill. Until the 1960s the area was mostly Italian. By 1970, Ocean Hill, along with Bedford-Stuyvesant, had become the largest African-American community in the country. In the 1990s the neighborhood underwent a revitalization effort. Buildings and lots that had been abandoned for 15 years were given a new life. The community began to thrive once more. There are almost thirty two thousand residents living in Ocean Hill as of 2010. The neighborhood is described by residents as quiet, safe, and community oriented.
Ocean Hill is served by Brooklyn Community Board 16 and the 73rd Precinct of the New York City Police Department.
Notable People
William “Red” Holzman: Holzman was an NBA player and coach. He was born and raised in Ocean Hill until he attened the University of Baltimore before transferring to City College of New York. When he graduated in 1942 he joined the United States Navy. After leaving the Navy Holzman played in the NBL, winning a championship, the rookie of the year award and an all-star appearance during his time there. He was then hired by the Knicks as a scout in 1945 before working his way up to head coach in 1967. He coached the New York Knicks from 1967 to 1982. He won two championships with the Knicks and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986. Ten years later he was names one of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History by members of the print and broadcast media.
Steve Cuozzo is a writer and editor for the New York Post. Cuozzo was born in Ocean Hill in 1950. After starting school in the area of Ocean Hill, he and his family moved to Long Island where he would finish his education, graduating from Stony Brook University in 1971. Cuozzo began working for the New York Post in 1972 as a copy boy. He eventually worked his way up to the position of executive editor. He now works as a restaurant critic, real estate columnist, and op-ed contributor for the New York Post.
Shannon Briggs is a professional boxer who was born in Brownsville. He started training as a teenager at Jimmy O’Pharrow’s Starrett City Boxing Club in Brooklyn. When he went pro in 1992, he immediately gained notoriety. Briggs won his first 25 fights as a professional boxer. Briggs fought George Foreman for the Lineal Championship in 1997. In a close fight Briggs defeated Foreman on a majority decision. He has continued his boxing career and is training to fight David Haye in October of 2016. He now lives in Ocean Hill serving as a role model to the children of the neighborhood.