Will the Windsor Place Cafe Ever Open?



It’s been almost a year since the Windsor Terrace blog spotted signs of life in a long-vacant space in Windsor Terrace. When we passed by 199 Windsor Place on Sunday it didn’t look like the storefront was much further along, save for some plywood over one section. In fact, it looks a bit like the space has been split in two. Can area residents shed any light on the situation? Do tell. Speaking of the Windsor Terrace retail scene, did you notice that the former Lonelyville space (which closed in 2008) at 154 Prospect Park Southwest is for rent for $4,000 a month? GMAP

By Brownstoner | | Comment

Rental of the Day: 28 Prospect Park Southwest



This one-and-a-half bedroom apartment at 28 Prospect Park SW in Windsor Terrace is in a nice-looking building right off the park. The interior appears like it’s in decent shape, but it also looks quite cozy. If the apartment was a true two bedroom then the rent of $2,550/month wouldn’t sound all that bad, but it feels high with only the one true bedroom and a tiny office. What do you think?
26 Prospect Park Southwest [Triumph Property] GMAP P*Shark

By Emily | | Comment

House of the Day: 50 Prospect Park Southwest



This new listing at 50 Prospect Park Southwest is an unusual one. Located in Windsor Terrace, this 25-foot-wide property includes a rear house in addition to the one fronting on the park. That’s right, two houses. The listing plays this up, urging people to “Buy with your BFF’s.” The exterior of the front house has an unusual double cornice look going on and the interior is attractive but fairly modest in its detail. Asking price: $1,800,000, which is a lot for this side of the park but you are getting an extra house in the whole deal.
50 Prospect Park Southwest [Brooklyn Properties] GMAP P*Shark

By Brownstoner | | Comment

Open House Picks


Park Slope
587 5th Street
Halstead
Sunday, 11:30-1:00
$2,795,000
GMAP P*Shark

Fort Greene
404 Clermont Avenue
Corcoran
Sunday, 11:00-12:00
$1,500,000
GMAP P*Shark

Windsor Terrace
502 Prospect Avenue
Betancourt
Sunday, 1:00-3:00
$1,495,000
GMAP P*Shark

Bed Stuy
397 Bainbridge Street
Fillmore
Sunday, 3:00-4:00
$599,000
GMAP P*Shark

By Brownstoner | | Comment

House of the Day: 61 Sherman Street



For some reason it feels like it’s been ages since we’ve seen a house on one of the nicer townhouse blocks of Windsor Terrace hit the market. This new listing at 61 Sherman Street ends the dry spell, and in pretty nice way. While it definitely has some nice original detail, it doesn’t have as much as some other houses on this block that we’ve seen. The set-up is a little sub-optimal for most buyers as well. Right now it’s configured as two floor-through units plus an unfinished English basement. The exterior is very handsome, though, and this is a nice block so we’ll see how they do on that asking price of $1,189,000.
408 10th Street [Betancourt] GMAP P*Shark

By Brownstoner | | Comment

Open House Picks


Cobble Hill
319 Degraw Street
Brooklyn Bridge Realty
Sunday, 2:00-4:00
$2,595,000
GMAP P*Shark

Windsor Terrace
490 16th Street
Fillmore
Sunday, 3:00-4:30
$1,299,000
GMAP P*Shark

Bed Stuy
101 Halsey Street
Halstead Property
Sunday, 2:00-3:30
$959,000
GMAP P*Shark

Bed Stuy
172 Herkimer Street
Corcoran
Sunday, 1:00-2:30
$699,000
GMAP P*Shark

By Brownstoner | | Comment

Report: B61 is Often Late and Way Too Crowded



Councilman Brad Lander is holding a press conference this morning to release the findings of a report that are likely to surprise no one who has to rely on the B61—namely, that the bus rarely comes when it’s supposed to and is frequently packed to the gills. The report on the bus, which serves Park Slope, Red Hook and Downtown Brooklyn, is based on data collected on 700 individual bus runs earlier this year. Among the findings: Only 43 percent of buses come within 1 to 3 minutes of when they’re scheduled to arrive during peak hours, and a whopping 42 percent of northbound buses skip the stop at Columbia and Union streets between 8 and 9 a.m. because they’re too full. The report points to a variety of reasons for the line’s sub-par performance, including the temporary closure of the Smith-9th subway stop. Suggested fixes include running more buses during peak hours; running a limited bus during peak hours; installing countdown clocks at some stops; and extending the B57 into Red Hook.
Next Bus Please: Improving the B61 Bus [Report]

By Gabby | | Comment

Italian Restaurant for 8th Ave and Prospect



A restaurant called Giovanni’s Brooklyn Eats has opened on 8th and Prospect avenues. As Here’s Park Slope reported, its owners ran the recently shuttered Sette, on 7th Avenue and 3rd Street. There are a couple of glowing Yelp reviews for Giovanni’s so far, with one raving about the $16.95 prix fixe brunch with unlimited mimosas or bloody marys. GMAP
Photo by Denton Taylor

By Gabby | | Comment

Temporary Closures on the F, G Line Starting Monday



Windsor Terrace and Kensington commuters once again have to contend with subway hassles starting next week, when southbound F and G trains start skipping Fort Hamilton and 15th St/Prospect Park until spring. The closures are happening because of the Culver Viaduct rehabilitation work, which was also responsible for northbound trains skipping the stations for about five months earlier this year. According to the Brooklyn Paper, the closures affect about 11,000 commuters. Meanwhile, Kensington Prospect reports that Brad Lander’s office is saying the NYPD is going to increase its presence in the area, “particularly during the darker evening hours,” because of the recent rash of sexual attacks.
Windsor Terrace Gets F-d (and G’d)! [BK Paper]
F Train Troubles Begin This Weekend, Continue Through Winter [Kensington Prospect]
Photo by beigeinside

By Gabby | | Comment

Rental of the Day: 14 Prospect Park SW



We’re really smitten with this two bedroom in the co-op building at 14 Prospect Park Southwest. The location, on the park and steps away from the subway, is unbeatable, and the apartment itself is charming. The kitchen setup is a bit awkward, but on the other hand it has a washer/dryer. Co-op approval is required to rent, and it’s listed for $2,400 a month. Think that’s realistic?
14 Prospect Park SW [Garfield] GMAP P*Shark

By Emily | | Comment

Bad Subway News for Slope and Terrace


It's happening again. No Brooklyn bound F or G trains at 15th Street Station until the Spring. #ParkSlope http://t.co/N6NxMHNp
@amandawaas
Amanda Waas
By Brownstoner | | Comment

Number of Sex Attacks Up to 20


The big, depressing news this weekend was that the number of possibly linked sexual assaults in Brooklyn since March has jumped to 20. The NYPD has added seven more cases to the official tally, six of which occurred at the 7th Avenue subway station in Park Slope. The most recent incident took place Thursday night, when a woman was attacked on 17th Street. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has said that it’s likely there have been copycat crimes. While the cops arrested a man in conjunction with an attack in Sunset Park last week, they believe several men are responsible for the assaults.
Grope List Grows [NY Post]
Fear Grips Brooklyn as Number of Sex-Crimes Spikes [NY Daily News]
Copycat Crimes Possible In Brooklyn Sexual Assault Pattern [NY1]
Image via NY1

By Gabby | | Comment

Open House Picks


Williamsburg
135 Bedford Avenue
Halstead
Sunday, 1-2
$2,100,000
GMAP P*Shark

Park Slope
411 8th Street
Brown Harris Stevens
Sunday, 1-2:30
$1,799,000
GMAP P*Shark

Bed Stuy
311 Stuyvesant Avenue
FSBO
Sunday, 1-3
$850,000
GMAP P*Shark

Windsor Terrace
412 Greenwood Avenue
Warren Lewis
Sunday, 2:30-4
$829,000
GMAP P*Shark

By Brownstoner | | Comment

Rental of the Day: 473 18th Street



This one-bedroom in Windsor Terrace is really nice. There are lots of details and a generous amount of space. You also won’t find a nicer, or bigger, kitchen in many other one bedrooms. Garden use (no word on whether it’s private or not) is included. The rent is $1,950/month, and the space comes either furnished or not. Think it’ll be rented quickly?
473 18th Street [David West Properties] GMAP P*Shark

By Emily | | Comment

House of the Day: 5 Reeve Place



5 Reeve Place, a Windsor Terrace one-family that traded for $720,000 back in 2008, was an Open House Pick this summer when it was listed with Warren Lewis for $895,000; it was subsequently reduced to $849,000 before being removed from the market last month. Now the charming 1870s house is back, with a new broker and a new-and-improved price of $819,000. It doesn’t look particularly historic from the outside, but the interiors are still have some of their old-school character. Unfortunately, though, it looks like some of the floors have been replaced with overly-new-looking wood. The bigger issue is that the house is only 12.5 feet wide.
5 Reeve Place [Brooklyn Real] GMAP P*Shark

By Brownstoner | | Comment

A Community Center Opens in Windsor Terrace



Last week the Kings Bay Y at Windsor Terrace had its grand opening. The arts, education, and cultural community center is affiliated with the Kings Bay YM-YWHA, which is located in Sheepshead Bay. Its programming includes music, art, chess, yoga, prenatal and Chinese Mandarin classes, as well as after-school programs. The center is located at 1224 Prospect Avenue; more information is available on its website. There’s also a picture of the play space after the jump. GMAP
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By Emily | | Comment

Prospect Park West Bike-Lane Lawsuit: The Sequel



Here we go again! Yesterday Streetsblog reported that the opponents of the Prospect Park West bike lane had filed a motion to appeal a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge’s decision in August to dismiss the initial suit against the lane. Most of the motion is taken up with language about why an appeal is “procedurally appropriate,” though this bit seems to be the meat and potatoes of the basis for the appeal: “Specifically, an appeal will permit review, in light of the case law mandating that statute of limitations disputes be construed against the agency asserting the defense, of Petitioners’ evidence that the PPW bike lane was installed on a ‘trial’ basis, and that Respondents did not decide to permanently install the lane until January 2011. The questions to be raised thus involve sharply disputed factual and legal issues that merit appellate consideration.” In other words, the opposition groups Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes and Seniors for Safety are looking to revisit claims about when the city decided to install the lane permanently. Streetsblog also has a quote from a city attorney saying “We are confident that our win will be upheld on appeal.”
Bike Lane Opponents File Appeal in Prospect Park West Lawsuit [Streetsblog]
Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against the PPW Bike Lane [Brownstoner]

By Gabby | | Comment

Rental of the Day: 526 Prospect Avenue



The exterior’s nothing to brag about, but the actual two bedroom on offer inside 526 Prospect Avenue isn’t a bad space. The parquet floors and fireplace add nice touches, though we do spot some wooden paneling in what looks to be a very small bedroom. No pictures of the kitchen, but the listing claims it’s renovated. There’s also access to a small backyard. The monthly rent comes in at $2,800, which feels high for Windsor Terrace. Do you agree?
526 Prospect Avenue [Warren Lewis] GMAP P*Shark

By Emily | | Comment

House of the Day: 314 Caton Avenue



This listing at 314 Caton Avenue on the border of Windsor Terrace and Kensington just hit the market with an asking price of $700,000. The brick exterior has a certain charm. The interior does too, though the new floors are a bummer and the kitchen is straight-up Home Depot. Both of those things are remediable and the proximity to the Parade Grounds and Prospect Park are nice too. Think the price is right?
314 Caton Avenue [Lay Hoon Chua] GMAP P*Shark

By Brownstoner | | Comment

‘Reckless PR Stunt’ Over PPW Bike Lane Continues



Oh, man, the Prospect Park West bike lane foes just refuse to go gently. The latest bid for attention from Neighbors for Better Bike Lanes and Seniors for Safety lawyer Jim Walden demands that the DOT remove the lane. However, as The Observer reports, the letter is probably just a technical formality that’s necessary before another lawsuit can be pursued. Transportation Alternatives sent out a press release in response to the letter that said the following, in part: “In their desperate quest for headlines, the opponents of the street safety improvements on Prospect Park West continue to ride roughshod over the wishes of local residents. These malcontents had their day in court, and their groundless case was dismissed. The people of Park Slope have endured this reckless PR stunt long enough.”
Dear DOT, Tear Out This Bike Lane NOW! [NYO]
PPW Bike Lane Opponents Aren’t Fazed By Dismissal [Gothamist]
Anti-Bike Lane Groups Demand DOT Remove PPW Bike Path [Patch]

By Gabby | | Comment