Why this Blog Exists

To make the case for expanding the Park Slope Historic District

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

1870s Park Slope: Prospect Place

A while ago we introduced the 1880 Bromley Brooklyn Atlas, which color-codes structures by building type: pink for brick, yellow for wood.

The excerpt below shows that development in the northwest Slope was well advanced by 1880. The excerpt shows 5th Avenue to the left, 6th Avenue to the right, Flatbush Avenue on the diagonal at the top, and Bergen, St. Marks, and Prospect Place from top to bottom.

1880 Bromley Brooklyn Atlas showing NW Park Slope

One notes that the entire north side of Prospect Place between 5th & 6th was built up by 1880. The view remains little changed today:

Prospect Place between 5th & 6th Avenues, north side, circa 1870s -
unprotected

The map also shows the transit lines running along 5th Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, and Bergen Street; these survive in the bus routes of today.

Finally, the map shows the original location of St. Augustine's R. C. Church, at 5th Avenue and Bergen Street. St. Augustine's would depart 5th Avenue when the elevated 5th Avenue Line began operation in the late 1880s, relocating to its present home in 6th Avenue between Sterling and Park.

None of these blocks of 1870s Park Slope is protected by historic district designation.

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