PLG: Pump Up The Volume, Dance, Dance
Despite the best efforts of our resident troll (who gets more insane every day), all signs point to boom times in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Of the five houses listed currently on Brown Harris Stevens, for example, three are in contract (including this place that has been on the market forever) and another (the Ocean Avenue…
Despite the best efforts of our resident troll (who gets more insane every day), all signs point to boom times in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Of the five houses listed currently on Brown Harris Stevens, for example, three are in contract (including this place that has been on the market forever) and another (the Ocean Avenue house featured in OHP two weeks ago) is tied up in a bidding war somewhere between 5 and 10 percent over ask. One reader who hit a bunch of the open houses this weekend said they were crawling with young couples priced out of Clinton Hill and Fort Greene and drooling at the comparatively low prices and proximity to the park. (New York Magazine was way out in front of this one back in ’05.) If you’re a long-term believer in Brooklyn, it’s hard to see how you can go wrong with PLG. But…are prices outpacing the reality of infrastructure, amenities, etc. or is the rest of the world just waking up and coming to its senses? (We would encourage people to sign in for discussions on this one as our little PLG toad will most likely be firing away full throttle in his best efforts to disrupt civil discourse.)
Photo from Planet PLG 2006 house tour slide show.
“PLG residents need to focus on their school, and that will turn that area around decisively”
I totally agree. It’s also the right thing to do for the kids currently enrolled in PLG schools who, because of their skin color and economic status, get a lousy public education, while just across the park the wealthier and whiter kids get a much better deal.
We send our kids to a public mini-school in Ditmas (within the rules of the DOE system, not by faking an address) but we would much rather keep them in PLG. I think this is the next big issue the entire PLG community needs to focus on.
8:48, your comment surprises me. If anything I’d think of Ditmas as being slightly ahead of PLG in terms of “gentrification”, especially with the way Cortelyou is coming along and all of the abundant housing stock.
Props to JB for not letting the pathetic troll make him shy away from PLG coverage.
Here are some bullet points on good things happening in our hood:
WHAT’S GOING ON IN PLG
• “Ocean By The Park†Block Association
This strong block association unites neighbors along the PLG stretch of Ocean Avenue.
Recent accomplishments:
– Worked with former City Councilwoman Yvette Clarke and Prospect Park head honcho Tupper Thomas on successfully obtaining funding in the city budget for significant upgrades to Ocean Avenue
– Held public meeting on the new Lakeside Center featuring Tupper Thomas
– Organized public meeting on tenants rights in PLG
• Prospect Park Alliance Makes Improvements
The Park’s proposed 5-year plan calls for the installation of historic street lighting and sidewalk and fence repairs on the PLG stretch of Ocean Avenue (thanks to Ocean By The Park advocacy). The PPA also scraped and repainted the fence on Ocean Avenue, covered the ugly transformer with a black tarp and repaired and added a tire swing to the Lincoln Road playground – all in response to PLG community feedback.
• Prospect Park to Build $37MM Lakeside Center
The site is just next to the current Wollman Rink – it will feature two ice skating rinks and will join the nearby Audubon Center as a focal point of activities in Prospect Park. The plan is for the facility to have a low visual profile and for the adjoining triangular area with benches to regain a lake view (which is currently blocked by the Wollman rink)
• Prospect Lefferts United for Services or “PLUSâ€
This neighborhood advocacy group has done much to improve the commercial environment in PLG (and the group is growing fast)
Recent accomplishments:
– Convinced DOT to make major improvements to Lincoln Road
– Secured significant funding for awnings and storefront improvements in PLG
– Got many PLG businesses to agree to remove graffiti
– Organized a highly successful “PLG Dinner Club†at local restaurants
– Cosponsored a successful Arts Market on Lincoln Road
– Working on creating a recurring Farmer’s Market on Lincoln Road
– Worked closely with Marty Markowitz’s office on a number of projects
– Played a role in bringing Enduro to PLG and continues to speak to businesses about opening stores/restaurants in PLG
• Planet PLG successfully petitioned the MTA to repair and repaint the long neglected Parkside Avenue Q stop
• Planet PLG and Former Councilwoman Yvette Clarke convinced local business Phat Albert to make repairs to the façade of his building and limit the scope of his sidewalk sales
• Recently formed PLG Arts put on a community play for children and organized a highly successful street fair of local artists. The group is looking for a space in which to open a community center for Yoga, knitting lessons, kids activities etc. and is organizing another community theater production
• Borough President Marty Markowitz is actively seeking funds to renovate the Loew’s Kings Theater – a gorgeous Radio City Music Hall-like gem just 8 blocks south of PLG. One plan is to turn it into a multicultural performing arts center.
Dan
PlanetPLG.com
True, Bob. PLG bests WT in terms of transit – the trek on the F into Manhattan is unbearable to those of used to the Q. I guess it’s possible to get used to the F, but I personally would have a hard time adjusting (and I have no children so schools are not an issue).
I think 9:06 makes the crucial point. I happen to love Windsor Terrace, but, although it has a nice (if limited) stock of gorgeous limestones, they are nowhere near as detailed and special as the ones in PLG. What WT has is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to schools. PS 154 is a good school that is improving by the day, PS 107 is amazing, while PS 130 is a pleasant surprise–plus kids in WT have access to PS 230 and its gifted program. Many kids walk to St. Saviour, and Holy Name offers the most incredible range of activities (sports, scouting, special events, irish dancing, teen club) for kids from toddler through teens, regardless of religion or where they go to school. We are walking distance to Poly Prep and even Berkeley Carroll. PLG residents need to focus on their school, and that will turn that area around decisively. I really believe PS 321 is an important factor in the residential/commercial boom in Park Slope 25 years ago.
No regular reader of this site will be surprised at my take on Mr. B’s question “are prices outpacing the reality of infrastructure, amenities, etc. or is the rest of the world just waking up and coming to its senses?” I think that the rest of the world is finally seeing what I, and many others have long seen here. FWIW, “infrastructure and amenities” are not a basic problem in PLG. The area is extremely well served by public transportation, for example with very rapid transport to midtown and lower Manhattan. Amenities include our proximity to Prospect Park and the Botanic Garden. The main amenity to have lagged behind many other brownstone neighborhoods is shopping and there is good reason to expect change there, as evidenced by this recent news item on WNYC radio:
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/74974
I think the biggest problem with PLG — since lack of amenities could change pretty fast — is the lack (or perceived lack) of good schools for people who can’t afford private. I think this is why a lot of people who are priced out of Park Slope and want to stay near the park choose Windsor Terrace, even though it’s kind of boring and most of the houses (at least the affordable ones) aren’t nearly as beautiful as the ones in PLG. But WT is District 15.
a friend of mine who is in her mid 50s lived in PLG when she was first married – about 30 years ago. she said they’ve been saying PLG is ripe for a boom consistently since before she was a resident. seems like now it’s really happening but i’m adding this 2 cents as a reminder that PLG has been an “up and coming” hood for several decades now.
I’m sticking to my AY (as far away as possible) and Park access (as close as possible) theory…PLG fulfills this – Enduro is excellent Tex-Mex too…but Windsor Terrace has the most appeal to me…