Crown Heights boasts a number of beautiful, tree-lined blocks. But recently we came across one block – a stretch of Prospect Place between Kingston and Albany – that takes the cake.

This colorful row of pre-war limestone houses, in and of itself, looks like many other Crown Heights blocks.  However, the tree-scape has a density and uniformity not seen on many Crown Heights blocks. It is – in some sense – reminiscent of Eastern Parkway.  Moreover, what makes the block particularly noteworthy is the contrast between it and the Albany Houses, which the block opens onto.

Courtesy of Nostrand Park: Prospect Place between Kingston and Albany

According to NYCHA’s website, the Albany Houses consists of six 14 story buildings built between 1950 – 1960.  During our walk-thru, there were lots of kids playing and people engrossed in conversation, but the overwhelming vibe of the complex is, like many government housing projects in the city, looming and sterile. Large. Square. Concrete. Not very warm. Not very inviting.

So it was quite a contrast, after checking out the Albany complex, to stumble upon this block. Walking through felt like escaping into an oasis. In the middle of the street are circular, bench-like structures that inspire memories of sitting in a park chatting with a good friend.  Also, the sidewalk is not traditional concrete.  It looks more like a quaint brick pathway. We walked by at night as well and the street lights along this residential row are just as plentiful as the trees themselves.  There must have been (and perhaps still is) a very active block association there.

If anyone knows anything more about this block, we’d love to hear more.

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