I have been living in this neighborhood for over 7 years and it's changed quite drastically. The reason I've stayed here is because of rent stabilization and my apartment has a washer and dryer in it!
I guess I'll write about what happened to this fine neighborhood by first talking about The White Castle that used to exist.
Many nights after a night in Manhattan, I would go through the drive thru in my taxi cab to order meals. I was lucky enough to hail a cab that would take me across the Williamsburg bridge. I remember when they would speed off after they rolled down the window slightly to inquire where i was going.
Now with Uber, Lyft, etc... times have changed.
The White Castle is now a victim of gentrification.