Cobble Hill, a Little Slice of Heaven, Gets Hotter
Several paragraphs into Jeff Van Dam’s love letter to Cobble Hill come some market data points that, frankly, surprised us a little. Guess we haven’t been paying close enough attention. In addition to the 13-footer that recently sold for $1.75 million, it was news to us that townhouses south of Atlantic have been going into…
Several paragraphs into Jeff Van Dam’s love letter to Cobble Hill come some market data points that, frankly, surprised us a little. Guess we haven’t been paying close enough attention. In addition to the 13-footer that recently sold for $1.75 million, it was news to us that townhouses south of Atlantic have been going into contract north of $4 million. Can anyone point us to some concrete examples? The article also made much ado about P.S. 29, a prekindergarten-through-fifth-grade program that ranks among the best in the city. There must be some readers out there whose kids go, or have gone, there. We’d love to hear your take on it.
A Timeless Neighborhood Grows More Popular [NY Times]
I’m all for French, but when more than 50% of your students are testing below level III and IV in math and reading, you’re not ready. My opinion.
apart from schools, I find cobble hill a pleasure vs (say) park slope because
a) you have an alternative to the F train if you are prepared to walk a bit more
b) you almost never hear sirens from fire trucks or ambulances. People must die often in park slope and there must be raging fires constantly because the fire trucks and private ambulances are chasing down the avenues and streets blaring klaxons that are better designed for clearing times square, several times each day, 365 days a year.
c) you are forced to walk thru gowanus to get to 5th avenue, gowanus has its own cool now
d) court st rocks and the remaining italians at CG make the neighborhood that much more interesting than PS.
e) you can get to columbia street easily
f) it is flat, not sloped
g) the streets are quiet and tree lined
h) the architecture is more interesting than brownstone upon brownstone
i) you can get a yellow taxi on clinton st any time day or night
j) cobble hill park is small but perfectly formed
k) street parking is easier than park slope (odd but true)
on the minus side vs park slope:
there is no prospect park.
Are public schools required to enroll zoned kids in K thru 5? I am unclear if they are required or if it is at the individual schools discretion (based on how crowded it is). “Inside Schools” says they are not.
http://www.insideschools.org/st/ST_register.php
Here we go…
French?
I was referring to pre-k. Apart from 261 (which is also competitive), we found one overlooked alternative in PS 38. The principal is making a real effort to attract a broader range of students. I understand they will have a French after-school program for native and non-native speakers in the Fall and there is a push from local parents to have French language instruction a part of the regular curriculum. They also have a gifted program beginning in Kindergarten. (Having said the above, I can hear the anti-elitists gnashing their teeth in the background.)
Not surprised. When we were looking we found prices for a lot of places ran just as high or higher in Cobble HIll as Brooklyn Heights. PS29 is a huge draw. It’s a terrific school and everyone loves it. It is true that as of last year, they no longer have enough spots for all pre-K zoned kids who want to go, but the city does not guarantee a pre-K spot in any city school. You’re still okay for k-5.
I assume crouchback was applying for pre-k. schools are not required to take all zoned students for pre-k, but for k and beyond they are.
P.S. 29 is considered one of the best schools in Brooklyn and has been for a number of years. I have heard many educators say it is comparable to P.S. 321 without the overcrowding issue.
I applaud Brownstoner for bringing up these issues to discuss, since I have noticed that most new people in Brooklyn, really don’t much about Brooklyn outside of their immediate area. These discussions help to enlighten us all about all the other great neighborhoods around Brookyln.