Prospect Lefferts Gardens

Welcome to Prospect Lefferts Gardens

A parkside hideaway with a bounty of historic homes
Originally the property of gentleman farmer James Lefferts, the area became a destination for the wealthy in the 19th century, leading to the creation of the neighborhood’s stock of beautiful homes. As those residents moved out, a more diverse population moved in; today, Prospect-Lefferts Garden is the locus of Caribbean-American culture in Brooklyn. It’s become a magnet for young families who love the porches and backyard gardens that many properties offer.

Residents of Prospect Lefferts Gardens call it “Brooklyn’s best-kept secret.” Flying under the radar of higher-profile nabes, this area is home to lush, leafy streets, a spectacular collection of intact 19th and 20th century homes, and access to the borough’s biggest green space, Prospect Park. Welcome to the Upper West Side of Brooklyn.

 

Once a stranger to development, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens today is a neighborhood on the make, with restaurants and shops opening every month on busy retail corridors and new buildings filling out the low-rise skyline. The affordably-priced homes and selection of train lines has made Lefferts a favorite of ex-Manhattanites, who prize the proximity to the city and a verdant, vibrant neighborhood to call home.

 

Prospect Park is the neighborhood’s gravitational center, with trails crisscrossing the 526-acre expanse that are ideal for running, biking, and walking. Spacious green lawns beckon residents out for picnics, a pick-up soccer game, or reading on a quilt. Enjoy authentic Caribbean cuisine at De Hot Pot or splurge on four-star cuisine at Camillo. The area feels youthful and fresh but without the nightlife and noise of busier parts of Brooklyn.

 

Prospect-Lefferts Gardens boasts an enviable range of grocery stores, from big-box to specialty. Here you can find affordable prices at chain supermarkets like Key Food, organic fare at Wholesome Gourmet Market, or staples of Jamaican cooking imported directly from the Caribbean islands at Labay Market.

 

Styles abound, but the pride of the neighborhood is the stock of well-preserved historic homes from the 19th and 20th century. Walk down Sterling Street, Maple Street, Rutland Road or one of the other prime residential avenues and you’ll find single-family Tudors, Romanesque Revivals, shingled Victorians, limestone mansions, and old-school brownstones. Prices are cheaper than on the other side of the park.

 

People often compare Prospect-Lefferts Gardens with the Upper West Side. There’s a massive, picturesque park just a short walk away from home; stately, magnificent houses lining tree-shaded streets; and a tight-knit sense of neighborhood that persists in spite of the recent flux. If you’re looking for Brooklyn’s under-the-radar gem, you’ve found it here.