Windsor Terrace is the poor man's Park Slope (in a good way)

By Alyse Whitney | October 9, 2014 - 8:59AM

Nestled between Prospect Park and Greenwood Cemetery, Windsor Terrace is only about nine blocks wide, but has been luring newcomers with a growing selection of restaurants and bars (as well as rent that's considerably cheaper than parts of northern Brooklyn, at least for now). With its mix of old brick rowhouses, co-ops, and shiny new condos near the park, the neighborhood offers a range of housing options, as well as proximity to Park Slope and all it has to offer. But is it the right place for you? We got the scoop from Windsor Terrace residents to find out what unexpected things to expect from the area.

Neighborhood boundaries: From Prospect Park to Greenwood Cemetery, and from Eighth Avenue to Caton Avenue.

Median sales price: $837,500

Median rent: $2,350/month

It may be small, but it's distinctive: “The neighborhood has its own distinct feel and character. When I first moved here 11 years ago I just thought it was part of Park Slope, but it turned out to be quite different. Perhaps because I have a child going to school locally the neighborhood has a strong sense of community. We like that. It has always felt a little quieter, safer, and more friendly than other areas surrounding it.” - Gareth, who rents a two-bedroom and owns local restaurant Dub Pies “It is a bit like the suburbs being so quiet, and it actually took me time to get used to. I know all my neighbors, and it has a very close community feel.” - Eric, who owns a house and is a partner at local bar the Double Windsor "It's not the best neighborhood for people who want loads of bar and food choices right outside their door." - Melissa, who rents a three-bedroom with roommates

Above, Rhythm and Booze is a local haunt (Photo credit: Yelp)

Watch out for the old folks: “The worst part? Maybe the less-than friendly older drunks who hang out in the American Legion bar next door or at Farrell's down the street. I've never gotten the ‘we don't serve your kind here’ vibe from any bar in New York other than Farrell's, and my stoop is often crowded with geriatric drunks yelling at each other or blocking my door so they can sit down for a smoke. I've seen a woman in her fifties or sixties vomiting outside my doorway—get off my lawn, you crazy kids!” - Dietrich, who rents a three-bedroom with roommates “What surprised us when we opened [the Double Windsor in 2009] was how many young people had moved into the neighborhood.” - Eric

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You've got convenient subway options: “The F train stops at the two ends of the neighborhood: the 15th Street stop and the Fort Hamilton Parkway stop.” - Eric “The subway is pretty convenient to the Lower East Side, Carroll Gardens, or Williamsburg/Greenpoint. [The F/G is] pretty reliable on weekdays, not always reliable on weekends. When it runs 'express' through parts of Brooklyn, my stop is usually one that gets skipped, but if it is, it's not so far to walk to Seventh Avenue.” - Dietrich "Buses are pretty much just for when there's a big problem with the trains but there are options to elsewhere in Brooklyn." - Melissa

Taxis are thin on the ground: “I don't think Windsor Terrace is any different from the rest of Brooklyn—many people use the public transport system, while others prefer or have to drive.” - Gareth “I drive a Vespa but many people don't own cars or scooters and use public transportation.” - Eric

Above, it may sound morbid, but nearby Green-Wood Cemetery is a quiet spot for a stroll (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

These are your best bets for food: “Hamilton's on Fort Hamilton Parkway, and Brancaccios [specialty food shop].” - Gareth “There are a few nice places tucked into the neighborhood like Le Paddock and Brooklyn Commune. A French restaurant named L'ptit Bistro opened a couple of years ago and they were the first of the higher end places. Krupa [Grocery] and Brooklyn Proper are recent additions and are also higher-end dining.” - Eric “Rhythm and Booze has good burgers, beers, and a friendly, scruffy sports bar vibe. ... The Double Windsor is excellent but often crowded, and a bit further afield there's 12th Street Bar and Grill.” - Dietrich

Shopping? Venture farther afield: "I go to the groceries on Prospect Park West but do most of my shopping in Manhattan or to a lesser extent in Park Slope." - Melissa “I tend to buy food from one of those all-purpose bodegas on Prospect Park West, and supplement that with greens from a Korean produce store and meat from a butcher shop.” - Dietrich “It was almost exclusively mom and pop stores until just recently—now we're seeing a rapidly increasing influx of established chains like Walgreens and Dunkin Donuts.” - Gareth “We don't really have any clothing stores which is why I go to Century 21 in Bay Ridge. We have a great independent bookstore named Terrace Books.” - Eric

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