Luxury Development Invades 'ProCro'
Today the Wall Street Journal has an article making the case that “the attack of the fish-tank condos is pushing the boundary of Prospect Heights eastward into Crown Heights, an in-between neighborhood that realtors and developers have dubbed ProCro. The result is a mingling of million-dollar condos and sleek wine bars with creaky, rent-controlled buildings…
Today the Wall Street Journal has an article making the case that “the attack of the fish-tank condos is pushing the boundary of Prospect Heights eastward into Crown Heights, an in-between neighborhood that realtors and developers have dubbed ProCro. The result is a mingling of million-dollar condos and sleek wine bars with creaky, rent-controlled buildings and graffiti-pocked bodegas.” Examples in support of this thesis are condos such as The Prospect, pictured above, at 823 Classon; St. Johns Heights, a condo on the corner of Classon Avenue and St. Johns Place; and newer business like Abigail Café and Wine Bar and the coffee shop Glass Shop. The story ends with information about another new development: “At Classon and St. Marks Avenue, a Florida-based investor is financing the construction of a 67-unit apartment building expected to open this spring. Israel Hirschfield, the building’s manager, said that he’s gauging the market at about $2,000 for a 700-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment. ‘If you would ask me two or three years ago, I wouldn’t expect to be able to get that kind of money. Maybe more like $1,500,’ he said. ‘You see what happened with Brooklyn Heights, you see what happened with Prospect Heights, and this is on the border. We have people coming by just to get a feel. It’s exciting.'” OK, but do we really have to start using the term “ProCro”?
Prospect Heights Edges Into Crown Heights [WSJ]
Photo of The Prospect from StreetEasy.
I live between Washington and Classon and consider it Prospect Heights. Why? Because if I am in the area doing anything, it is in Prospect Heights. Most of the restaurants and bars we frequent are on Vanderbilt. The grocery and dry cleaner we use is on the west side of Washington. When I walk our dog, I walk to Flatbush and back. Regardless of what some map says (and since NYC doesn’t publish anything official, there are maps going both ways), my life is in Prospect Heights, not Crown Heights. That determines ‘where I live’ more than anything else.
Rob is the type of guy who’d get bashed if he were gay, straight or slightly curved. So he ought to know.
I love ProCro. Definitely a keeper whether you like it or not.
“OK, but do we really have to start using the term “ProCro”?”
I’m sure you will Mr. B, because you seem to go for corny crap like that. The Crown Heights people will continue to use “Crown Heights.”
when I lived in little italy I used to say I lived in SoNolita, but I was just taking the piss… this might be even worse. sounds like a banner at a cro-magnon rights march.
When I moved to the CH (but outside the historic district) in the 90s, my landlady said we lived in Bedford Hills. That name never really stuck, did it? Maybe BeHi would work.
I still immediately and irrationally despise anyone who refers to Vanderbilt Avenue as “Vandy.” Suffice it to say, I will not be adopting the phrase “ProCro.”
I’d be shocked if that occurred between Washington and Franklin
Are you talking about Crown Heights in general or the area between Washington and Franklin?