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On Saturday morning, on our way to do yoga in Prospect Heights, we found ourselves thinking about how much potential the neighborhood has. This occurred to us again when we were in Williamsburg later in the day doing some Christmas shopping. Living in Clinton Hill, despite the unrivaled architecture, we do sometimes miss the mix of urban gritiness, energy and restaurants that Williamsburg has. Prospect Heights, by comparison, mixes the historic brownstone thing with a more industrial feel and building stock that make it ripe for the expansion of funky, interesting businesses as well as residential developments. And, as yesterday’s NY Times article points out, the proximity to Brooklyn’s foremost cultural institutions doesn’t hurt either. Even if the overall market doesn’t keep rising, we bet the arbitrage between Park Slope and Prospect Heights will continue to boost the area’s prices regardless of how Ratner’s plans for the Atlantic Yards shake out.
A Neighborhood Comes Into Its Own [NY TImes]


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  1. The above re: not having recovered since Amy Watkins is ridiculous. I purchased in 1999, and the changes since then are incredible (even setting aside huge inflation in the real estate market). It is particularly notable if you compare the changes in services (stores, restaurants, etc.) in PH with those in a neighborhood like PLG, where house prices have also risen signficantly over the same period (perhaps more) with very little improvement in services, etc.

  2. I considered a lot of nuances among FG/PH/CH when I bought a few months ago. Since I am new to Brooklyn, I’m sure some were real and some imagined. But to me, PH seemed a little more staid, a little less interesting than FG or CH. PH seemed more residential, family-oriented with fewer businesses. Maybe it’s the Pratt influence, but FG and CH are a bit more funky – perhaps even political – kind of the way Park Slope was before the boom. I wound up buying in FG and love the energy.

  3. The schools in Prospect Heights suck. PH can never catch up to Park Slope because of the inferior schools. A more realistic benchmark is Fort Greene; similar houses and similar school situation. PH is currently selling at about a 20% discount to FG. If there is any arbitrage, it will be between FG and PH.

  4. I enjoyed this article. As a Prospect Heights resident, I’m happy to see my neighborhood get some exposure in the Times. I look forward to watching Vanderbilt Avenue continue its changes. A few more bars have opened up in the past year – hopefully, more restaurants are in the making, too.

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