prospect heights project

cityterm

Hi everybody,

We are a group of 15 students (high school juniors and seniors) from a semester study program in Westchester, called CITYterm. We come from all over the country, and since January, we've been studying, observing, and exploring New York City.

We just began our biggest project of the semester: a week-long "neighborhood study," exploring Prospect Heights. Our essential question: "What makes Prospect Heights, Prospect Heights?" In other words, what is PH's character? What makes the neighborhood unique? What defines it?

We'll be in the neighborhood all week, exploring, talking to people, and attempting to form some synthetic understanding of what PH is.

So we were hoping you might have some ideas/recommendations for places to visit, people to talk to, and your own input as to what is the essence of Prospect Heights?

thanks so much,
we hope to talk to you soon.
Sincerely,

Sandy, Elizabeth, Elise, Lyla, Emma, Sean, Delaney, Vano, Cully, Kendall, Dan, Lauren, Simi, Gabby, and Bekky.

alex

If you want to see something really unique come over to my apartment and shotgun some beers with me.

sweet tea

i recommend stopping by The Usual (diner on Vanderbilt) and talking to Mike or Johnny (the owners). They are very friendly, know lots about the neighborhood, and can introduce you to their regulars, who are a great crew to talk to. Things get pretty busy right at breakfast and lunch, but if you go mid-morning or early afternoon, they should have time.

I also recommend going to FB Enterprises, the mailing place at the corner of Washington and Prospect, and talking to Haleejah (sp?). I'd elect him Mayor of PH. I don't think much goes down around here he doesn't know about.

whyfi

I would see if you can talk to some of the shop owners in the area - some that have been there for a long time, and some that haven't. I'm sure that people like Gus at Tom's Diner or Hialejaa (sp?) at FB would have some interesting thoughts on the area, as would some of the newer shop owners on Vandy, Washington, etc. Just be respectful of their time, they are there to work and make a living. Maybe you could call first to ask, rather than springing yourselves on them, or in the case of someplace like Tom's, maybe a couple of you could chat with the owner over a lunch special.

Best of luck.

whyfi

Bwaahahaha - damn 'tea, same idea, I just type slower.

calabar

Subject: Stop by Calabar Imports at 820 Washington Avenue

Best time-

Between 2pm and 5pm

sterling2000

Subject: Re: prospect heights project

CITYterm wrote: Sandy, Elizabeth, Elise, Lyla, Emma, Sean, Delaney, Vano, Cully, Kendall, Dan, Lauren, Simi, Gabby, and Bekky.

Whatever happened to Mike, Matt, Jennifer, Chris, Sam, Sarah, etc., etc.?

alecorock

I also recommend going to FB Enterprises, the mailing place at the corner of Washington and Prospect, and talking to Haleejah (sp?). I'd elect him Mayor of PH. I don't think much goes down around here he doesn't know about.

Great idea! They can learn how not to run a business. Be sure to rap on the glass if he's sleeping!

jack krohn

Hilarious post, Alex!

As for suggestions, go to Franklin Avenue to see what Prospect Heights used to look like, then go to Vanderbilt Avenue to see what Franklin Avenue will look like in 10 years.

brooklynleather

I love Haleeja (sp) from FB Enterprises! He is always so super nice to me!
He says hi to me every morning on my way to work.

stacey

Prospect Heights has its own vibe. Its the heart of Brooklyn to me. You are within a 30 minute walk to some of the greatest and most beautiful sites and cultural institutions in the work (imo that is) such as Prospect Park, Bklyn Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Museum, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, BAM, etc.

I dont know much about architecture but we do have an eclectic mix here. One of the places I enjoy sitting and gazing around in is St. Joseph's church on Pacific between Underhill and Vanderbilt. It has all its original details and such beautiful mozaic tile work. Go soon because it will be undergoing a major renovation in the near future.

Also I don't know when you need to finish the project by but PS 9 will be sponsoring a fundraiser called "A Taste of Prospect Heights" which I think is in about 3-4 weeks from now.

Mostly its the people of Prospect Heights - oldtimers, newcomers, young and old, the funny and crazy characters roaming the streets that make this the only place I want to live.

raulism

It's quite telling that nobody so far has mentioned the pro-community/anti-Ratner movement. Three block associations (Park Place, Prospect Place and Bergen) have joined 23 other community groups to sue Bloomberg, Pataki, the ESDC and Forest City Ratner. Seven other block associations have joined together to for the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council, which has taken a more moderate approach to modifying the Ratner proposal for the northern end of our neighborhood. There's also, of course, the Prospect Heights Action Coalition lead by Patti Hagan, which is the most radical of the responsible development/anti-landgrab associations.

Have you spoken with Patti Hagan yet? Have you spoken with Bob Law? Or Dan Goldstein?

My guess is that very few people over 50 visit this board. I assume you've checked out blogs like NoLandGrab.org, http://brooklynviews.blogspot.com, and AtlanticYardsReport.com. Have you reached out to elected officials? Churches? Bars like Freddy's? Fashion studios like Gureje?

Oh, and you can't miss our own TV station:
http://www.freddysbrooklynroundhouse.org/

Please send me an email, and I hope I'll have time to respond.

cityterm

Thanks so much for all your feedback, thoughts, and great suggestions! Hopefully we'll be able to visit them all!

The community seems so lively and dynamic. (I want to move here!!!)
As a matter of fact, a few of us spoke with Patti Hagan last night and she gave us some phenomenal stories about the neighborhood and perspectives on Atlantic Yards.

There's so much to see/do. I can't wait to keep exploring.
~Sandy (and everybody else)