17 East 17th Street, B-5

Quick Profile

Charming tree-lined blocks, grand homes, and grassy center esplanades - Prospect Park South feels more like a quiet suburb than Brooklyn, the most populated borough in New York City. 

The small landmarked neighborhood in south Brooklyn is bounded by Coney Island Avenue to the southwest, Ocean Avenue to the northeast, Prospect Park to the south, and Beverly Road to the south. 

Don’t let the suburban vibe of Prospect Park South fool you, urban grit awaits you just outside the neighborhood's boundaries. It’s about a 45-minute commute to Manhattan on the B, Q, or F train or a short walk to livelier neighborhoods. Prospect Park South is flanked by Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Ditmas Park, and Flatbush. It’s the best of both worlds. 

The history of the neighborhood starts with its original developer, Dean Alvord. If it wasn’t for his unique vision, Prospect Park South may have never blossomed into what it is today. In 1899 Alvord wanted to take advantage of Brooklyn’s newly created railway system that connected the borough. He purchased farmland and began building the neighborhood, which began as a six-block-by-two-block swatch of land with grand homes. Many of the houses were Victorian-inspired. Alvord marketed the neighborhood as a slice of country in the big city and the rest is pretty much history. 

Prospect Park South is a few blocks bigger these days. Its grand Victorian-style homes still define the neighborhood. Other architectural styles found in the nabe include Colonial, French Revival, and Spanish Mission. Apartments and a few prewar co-ops complete the neighborhood's housing stock. 

There aren’t too many places to shop in Prospect Park South but you might find a few spots in the commercial areas along Coney Island Avenue and Church Avenue. The suburban setting of Prospect Park South is popular with young families, which is why they’ve flocked there for the last decade.