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Park Slope NYC: 2017 Neighborhood Guide

by | Oct 2, 2017

Park Slope is a quaint, historical neighborhood complete with rows of tree-lined streets and beautiful brownstones, making it a perfect choice for those looking for a quiet escape from Manhattan.


History

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PC: Brownstoner

During the 1850s, Edwin Clarke Litchfield, a local lawyer and railroad developer, bought huge tracts of farmland in this area. Throughout the American Civil War era, he sold much of this land to residential developers, and during the 1860s, the City of Brooklyn bought his estate and the adjoining property to finish the West Drive and the southern part of Long Meadow in Prospect Park.

By the late 1870s, horse-drawn rail cars ran between the park and the Manhattan-bound ferry, bringing many rich New Yorkers into the neighborhood and causing urban sprawl to turn Park Slope into a streetcar suburb.

By 1883 and with the new opening of the Brooklyn Bridge, the neighborhood continued to grow rapidly with brick and brownstone homes pushing the neighborhood’s borders back even more. The 1890 census even stated that Park Slope was the richest community in the entire United States.

Fast forward many years later, a 2001 report by the New York City Rent Guidelines Board discovered that from 1990 to 1999, the rents in Park Slope had increased by 3.5-4.4% every year, based on what type of building the apartment was in.


Accessibility

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PC: Street Advisor

Park Slope has many transportation options. The F and G trains run along Ninth Street and stop at Fourth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, and 15th Street-Prospect Park. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains run under Flatbush Avenue with local stops at Bergen Street and Grand Army Plaza and an express stop at Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center.

The local D, N, R and W trains all serve Prospect Avenue, Ninth Street, Union Street, and Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center. There’s also the B and Q trains, which pass through Flatbush Avenue, stopping at Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Seventh Avenue.

There are also multiple buses that run through the area, including the B61, B63, B67, and B69.


Lifestyle

Concert Grove, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA. Park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.

PC: Travel and Leisure

Due to the quiet nature of the neighborhood, Park Slope is the perfect place for those who want a peaceful getaway from their hectic lives in Manhattan. Residents here enjoy the beautiful tree-lined streets for weekend strolls, stopping at some casual cafes and trendy, independent clothing stores. The nighttime scene in this neighborhood offers a good mix of fine-dining restaurants and cozy bars, offering something for everyone. The close proximity to Prospect Park makes this neighborhood very pet-friendly too.


Restaurants

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PC: NYMAG

To get a feel for the suburban atmosphere Park Slope has to offer, one might spend a night at Blueprint, a local cocktail bar. The bar focuses on both specialty and classic cocktails, and also offers small tapas dishes to accompany your drinks. A fan favorite is My Dear Julius, a cocktail crafted with bourbon and egg white.

If you’re looking for something a little more filling, look no further than Gnarly Eats, a spot in South Slope focusing on comfort food. We recommend the Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger, which is made with a savory piece of fried chicken and topped with pickled red cabbage and homemade slaw.


Costs

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PC: FWALLPAPERS

While Park Slope’s brownstones are some of the most in-demand residences in Brooklyn, some older co-ops and rentals are more affordable. According to StreetEasy, 1 bedroom apartments run around $600,000 for purchase, while the median cost of renting would be $2,500 per month. Two bedroom apartments for purchase average just over one million dollars, while the median rent is around $3,000 per month.


Final Verdict

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With plenty of green space, beautiful brownstones, and quiet streets, Park Slope is a fantastic residential neighborhood in Brooklyn. It’s a popular neighborhood, and you’ll probably be paying a pretty penny to live there. However, for a slower, more sedate lifestyle, some would consider the investment worthwhile.


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