TONY: So. Portland Best Brownstone Block. Period.
In a surprise upset, South Portland Avenue was awarded the #1 ranking in Time Out NY’s Best Blocks issue. Ever since Charles Lockwood anointed it the best brownstone block in the city, it’s had a special place in consciousness of Brooklynites and architecture freaks, but, as much as we dig it, we were surprised that…
In a surprise upset, South Portland Avenue was awarded the #1 ranking in Time Out NY’s Best Blocks issue. Ever since Charles Lockwood anointed it the best brownstone block in the city, it’s had a special place in consciousness of Brooklynites and architecture freaks, but, as much as we dig it, we were surprised that it was able to take the top spot in the seven-factor model employed by TONY. Guess it’s just another sign of Fort Greene’s rise to city-wide prominence. Other Brooklyn blocks in the Top 10: Montgomery Place between Prospect Park West and Eighth Avenue, Park Slope (6); Coffey Street between Conover and Ferris Streets, Red Hook (8); Columbia Heights between Clark and Pierrepont Streets, Brooklyn Heights (18); and 11th Street between Prospect Park West and Eighth Avenue, Park Slope (20). Any glaring omissions that you can see?
The Rankings: 1-10 [TimeOutNY]
Time Out NY is a magazine for Hipsters and Metro sexuals. Not the architecturally savvy audience thats on this site.
I’d like to point out that there is more than one block on So. Portland Ave! I live on the block closest to Ft. Greene Park and do think it’s a pretty special place– one of the prettiest blocks around with great access to the park, Ft. Greene restaurants and public transport. I also really like the architecture on the blocks of Clinton Ave. and Waverly between Willoughby and Lafayette.
Beautiful block, yes. best in the city, or even Ft. Greene! Nope. 2 way traffic, unkept stoops, crappy sidewalks…the sycamores make it picturesque, but I agree dcardoni on Washington Park, though there are other blocks as well that are just as nice.
First hand experience to my 2 cents, after living on S. Oxford around the corner for 10yrs.
South Portland isn’t even the best block in Fort Greene – that honor goes to Washington Park between Dekalb and Willoughby . . .
Of course these rankings are just meant to sell magazines (much like this is meant to inspire “hits” on brownstoner.com). I myself appreciate the unity of South Portland, but personally find the “brownstone” material to be dark and oppressive. I prefer more variety in a streetscape. And no, I don’t think Putnam Avenue at Classon will win any awards in the near future…
47th Street, between 5th And 6th.
methinks somebody on the time out staff lives on this block (or near enough to covet).
S.Portland is a very nice block. Best in the city? Possibly. It is kind of a weird ranking idea in the first place.
But Brenda, the omission here is from Brownstoner not listing all the Brooklyn blocks in his post. Marlborough betweeen Albemarle and Beverly is in fact #36.
Big ups also to some Wallabout recognition with Clinton between Myrtle and Park snagging #31.
The rest of the Brooklyn blocks are:
#21: Park Place between Carlton and Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights
#23: 3rd Place between Court and Smith in Carroll Gardens
#35: Kent Ave. between Franklin and Manhattan in Greenpoint
#40: N.6th between Kent and Wythe in Williamsburg
#45: Havemeyer St. between Grand and Hope in Williamsburg
#47: Emmons Ave. between E.14th and E.15th in Sheepshead Bay
#48: Grace Ct. between the Promenade and Hicks in Brooklyn Heights
Don’t know if I’d want to live on N.6th with all the evening foot traffic there must be there. But I guess if you want to be near the action, then it’s a good spot.
Care to elaborate?