Clinton Hill

 

 

Founded by the oil baron Charles Pratt in the late 19th century, this neighborhood takes its name from the area’s stately elevation (95 feet), which was once believed to have health benefits. Formerly a working-class enclave, it became home to stunning buildings and mansions in the 1920s, many constructed by famous architect Montrose Morris. The result today is a picturesque urban destination that summons the grandiosity of the past.

 

Centrally located in Brooklyn, Clinton Hill offers the youthful energy of a leafy college town with a laid-back, genteel atmosphere that’s a draw for young families. Snag one of the many coveted brownstones or historic mansions set on the wide avenues and cobblestones streets, and you might never leave.

 

 

Once a stranger to development, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens today is a neighborhood on the make, with restaurants and shops opening every month on busy retail corridors and new buildings filling out the low-rise skyline. The affordably-priced homes and selection of train lines has made Lefferts a favorite of ex-Manhattanites, who prize the proximity to the city and a verdant, vibrant neighborhood to call home.

 

 

Prospect Park is the neighborhood’s gravitational center, with trails crisscrossing the 526-acre expanse that are ideal for running, biking, and walking. Spacious green lawns beckon residents out for picnics, a pick-up soccer game, or reading on a quilt. Enjoy authentic Caribbean cuisine at De Hot Pot or splurge on four-star cuisine at Camillo. The area feels youthful and fresh but without the nightlife and noise of busier parts of Brooklyn.

 

 

Prospect-Lefferts Gardens boasts an enviable range of grocery stores, from big-box to specialty. Here you can find affordable prices at chain supermarkets like Key Food, organic fare at Wholesome Gourmet Market, or staples of Jamaican cooking imported directly from the Caribbean islands at Labay Market.

 

 

Styles abound, but the pride of the neighborhood is the stock of well-preserved historic homes from the 19th and 20th century. Walk down Sterling Street, Maple Street, Rutland Road or one of the other prime residential avenues and you’ll find single-family Tudors, Romanesque Revivals, shingled Victorians, limestone mansions, and old-school brownstones. Prices are cheaper than on the other side of the park.

 

 

People often compare Prospect-Lefferts Gardens with the Upper West Side. There’s a massive, picturesque park just a short walk away from home; stately, magnificent houses lining tree-shaded streets; and a tight-knit sense of neighborhood that persists in spite of the recent flux. If you’re looking for Brooklyn’s under-the-radar gem, you’ve found it here.