Carroll Gardens officially divided from Red Hook in the 1940s when the construction of the Brooklyn-Queens and Gowanus Expressways created the present-day boundaries between the neighborhoods. Yet Carroll Gardens’ signature charm, peaceful leafy streets and residential uniqueness were born from the 1860s. The gorgeous, stately brownstones broke away from the typical trends of the time and were set farther back from the street to accommodate for the most amazing front yards, measuring a generous 30-feet deep! This style is particularly seen in the neo-Greco and late Italianate rectangle of row-houses comprising the neighborhood’s Historic District. The area’s traditional Italian American heritage remains an influence, with mom-and-pop businesses such as bakeries, butchers, and cafés mingling with hip boutiques and Michelin-star restaurants. Shopping and dining is abundant along Smith and Court Streets, and the quality of life is unsurpassed.