How is to live in Prospect Heights?

there was some talk about it here
http://brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32664

Hi and welcome! I think the area you have moved to is beautiful. I walked the stretch of Underhill from Dean toward the park almost every day during my maternity leave and always thought it was lovely.

I haven't done a lot of research into public schools as our daughter is still quite young [haven't heard great things either though] but I can tell you that we split toddler activites between Park Slope and Prospect Heights, and there is tons to do in both neighborhoods.

wytopick, why are you torn? perhaps i can help you settle your decision...

thanks,

mmello, which unit are you renting? A or B?

AY is going to be bad, but you are at the far end of it. The street is obviously better than the ones to the east and not as nice as those towards Flatbush. It is definitely a quiet, out of the way kind of bloc with working class type of housing. (Those low income buildings across the street.) This has its pluses and minuses. You are close to Atlantic which is good if you drive. There are few stores, you have to go one block in either direction. The subway is maybe 4 to 5 blocks.

must be dean btwn vandy and underhill, right?

wytopick wrote: must be dean btwn vandy and underhill, right?

No those are private homes and not low income so are the ones on Underhill between Dean and Bergen.

I absolutely love this part of Underhill. I live on Underhill between Dean and Bergen. The walk to the stations are not as bad as you think (2/3 at Bergen (3 blocks) and Flatbush, Q/B at Flatbush and Sterling, (5 blocks) and C at Washington and Fulton (3 blocks). I feel totally safe in this area. and feel safe about my child playing outside.

As for schools I must stress that you take a look at PS 9. It really is a wonderful school and the principal is really making big changes there. We have a great little park (which is under construction and set to open this spring) on Underhill and Prospect. There are plenty of babies around. Prospect Heights also has a Prospect Heights Parents Yahoo Group. There is also a Park Slope Parents group which has really, really great information. There is also Singing for Aardvarks which takes place at Soda (the bar on Vanderbilt between St. Marks and Prospect) I know lots of the parents on this board take their small kids to it. And of course the Brooklyn Children's Museum is very close by. There are also great options for sit down and delivery places around here.

Welcome to the neighborhood! I guarantee you will enjoy it!

I live on Underhill btw Dean and Bergen too -- hi neighbors and neighbor-to-be! I love our block, especially with the friendliness of Tavern on Dean and Purity on the intersection, and the grade school just to the south. Aside from the Tav getting a little noisy on the weekends, it's a quiet, pleasant block. I rarely get hassled on the streets, and aside from a non-violent purse snatching back in 2003 down the street, I've never dealt with anyone particularly sketchy.

Yeah, I am on the even side (school side). Funny to live somewhere for over 4 years and barely know your neighbors (because we are without stoop or yard, alas). I moved in when that whole block of apartments went up in 2002.

We live on Underhill and St Marks. The neighborhood is great. We moved here 3 1/2 years ago from Plaza St. We have a 3 yr old. The neighborhood is literally crawling with kids.

Tavern on Dean is great on Underhill.
Gen for Japanese on Washington and St Marks.
On Vanderbilt Le Gamin is very child friendly and Soda Bar hosts Music for Aarvarks (infant to 4yr old music classes)
The playground on Underhill and Prospect should be reopening very soon after a renovation. It is also close to Mt Prospect playground, the museum, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Library. My daughter is usually hanging out at one of these places.
The 2/3 train at GAP is about a 5-7 minute walk from my house and the B/Q is really about the same. The Bergen St stop on the 2/3 is also pretty close to you.

I believe that you will see a lot more positive feedback on ps9 in the next year or so. A number of neighborhood kids have started to attend and more are plannning for next year and the year after. A number of parents of future students have gotten involved to work on a committee to redo the playground at the school. It is huge and underutilized. Also, the last reviews on the school are almost 4 years old. Things are changing quickly. I really wouldn't worry about it if you are moving now with an infant.

OMG! Did you guys hear about the sex offender that was robbed of his iPod?! He tried to scream for help but he was choking on a dry scone from a local bakery!

By the time your little one is ready for PreK, PS9 may actually be a lot better than it is today. Supposedly the prinicpal is great and parental involvement is increasing. There are lots of moms and babies (and dads too!) around during the day. That Underhill playground will be great once it's done. You should get yourself on the ProspectHeightsParents yahoo group for more info on what to do in the nabe (also ParkSlopeParents which has much more info, more than you really need actually). I know there is a new parent/baby meeting going on at Cheryl's Cafe on Thursdays and maybe also on weekends at Soda (for working parents). Welcome to the neighborhood, it's great. We can't live the way we want to with 2 little kids here so we're moving this year, but I think it is great for new parents (and not-so-new ones, if you can afford the space).

Sorry, yes, it is. I just mean that personally for us it's not working (not just the neighborhood, the city in general). We'd like to have a home where we can live without tripping over toys all the time, a backyard, close to family etc, and we need more $$$ than we have now to be able to do that. We're moving overseas where hopefully the lifestyle will be a little more relaxed. My husband is tired of the ratrace and I'm tired of feeling like a single mom during the week!

poopypoop wrote: I have been here since 1984, i arrived when i was 7 years old, when there was crack everywhere, when there were burnt out buildings all over the hood, i wnet to the public schhols and i believe that my experience was no better than the kids in Park Slope, so you are worried about schools for your 4 month old baby, you have about 5 more years til your kid goes to school, remember this neighborhood is not as it used to be 20 years ago, i think what you are trying to say is that you do not want your kid to go to school with a bunch of poor kids that go to our local schools, there are plenty of private schools in park slope where your child will be shielded from the realities of Prospect heights and the world in general so good luck!!!

Please enough of this crap - no where in the post does it say that they do not want their children to go there because of poor kids.

No I did not feel that is implied and yes my son is now in the 5th grade at PS 9, my husband and his whole family attended PS 9, if you look on paper (the BOE's own website) PS 9 does not have a favorable report.. If you notice there are many parents who told the poster to check out PS 9 because it is only getting better. As a parent you want the best for your child and you want options nothing wrong with that.