Doesn’t the name Sea Gate evoke images of mystery and exclusivity? Sea Gate is a private gated community. It sits at the far western end of Coney Island. That’s the southwestern tip of Brooklyn. We’re standing on the Coney Island peninsula. West 37th Street marks its eastern border.
Sea Gate wasn’t always residential. Once, it was known as Norton’s Point. Norton owned a casino here. It stood where the Coney Island Light is now. The area was known for gambling. Then, in 1892, Alrick Man developed it into a neighborhood.
By 1899, the Morgans, Dodges, and Vanderbilts owned property in Sea Gate. Governor Al Smith frequented the Atlantic Yacht Club. Stanford White designed its clubhouse. Sea Gate is surrounded by water on three sides. It boasts private beaches. The Army Corps of Engineers replenished Coney beaches in 1995. They also built new jetties. One long jetty sits at the Sea Gate and Coney Island border.
Residents often call Sea Gate “the gate”. Going to Coney Island is going “out the gate”. There are no stores within Sea Gate. Express buses to Manhattan take about 80 minutes. Sea Gate has 850 single-family houses. You’ll see Queen Anne Style and Mediterranean architecture.
Residents pay for private security. This is the Sea Gate Public Safety Department. They also pay for sewer, beach upkeep and streetlights. Street cleaning is also covered.
Let’s talk about points of interest within Sea Gate. The Coney Island Light stands on Beach 47th Street. It’s a 75-foot-tall lighthouse. It was built in 1890 before the area was heavily populated. Frank Schubert, the last civilian lighthouse keeper in the US, lived here. He died in 2003.
The chapel is another landmark in Sea Gate. Built in 1901, it once hosted services. Now, it hosts social events and yoga classes. It even serves as a polling site. Its stained-glass windows are the first thing you see upon entering the main gate.
Sea Gate offers more than just beaches. It has two parks. One is a playground with a basketball court. You’ll also find jungle gym equipment next to the Sea Gate Community Center on Surf Avenue. The other park is Beach Reservation. It’s near the Coney Island Light. People call it “Lindy Park”. It commemorates Charles Lindbergh.
Sea Gate isn’t without its controversies. There have been some involving the Sea Gate Public Safety Department.
Hurricane Sandy devastated Sea Gate in 2012. Ocean water flooded the area and strong winds battered it. Many houses were destroyed. The “Lindy Park” sea wall was destroyed too. This left Sea Gate open to rough seas. Sea Gate remains a unique and somewhat secluded part of Brooklyn. It’s a place with a rich history and a strong sense of community.