397 3rd Street

Long before Brooklyn’s current moment of cool, with people from around the world seeking out the nightlife of Williamsburg, Bushwick, and other neighborhoods, Park Slope was one of the borough’s most desirable areas. Just as Central Park was the catalyst for a Manhattan building boom, Prospect Park, which opened in 1867, had a similar effect; it just took a while longer to get going. When it came to its second act, however, Park Slope was ahead of its time. Victorian mansions that had been divided into apartments were being restored to single-family homes as early as the 1960s. What made Park Slope appealing then continues to draw residents, namely the grand 19th-century houses and proximity to the park. In addition, its main commercial strips, Fifth and Seventh avenues, have retained a lively mix of businesses with both established favorites and intriguing new additions.