On the heels of the NY Times' Alex Williams calling Brooklyn "over" -- Park Slope has been named one of the 10 best neighborhoods in the country! Take that Gray Lady. In fact, "the historic area, just steps from Prospect Park and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, is the only New York City neighborhood to make the first-ever list from the American Planning Association (APA)." Which would mean that a Brooklyn 'hood bested a Manhattan 'hood -- though the latter did get on the "Best Street" list with Harlem's 125th Street (which the Daily News goes into here). As for the Slope, here's a bit of reasoning behind the decision:
"It's got a lot of past, but it has also evolved and has a lot of vibrancy in the present," said association spokesman Denny Johnson, citing the area's architecture and proximity to such cultural spots as the main library. "People in Park Slope care about everything from big to small," said Fifth Avenue Committee executive director Michelle de la Uz, who cited residents' interest in such things as where a bike lane should be built and protests over the war in Iraq.Late last year the Slope was also named one of the best eco-neighborhoods. Of course, the stroller moms and the fact that it's one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city are blissfully ignored, but you can read the APA's take on Park Slope here. Other neighborhoods on the list include: Old West Austin in Austin, North Beach in San Francisco, Elmwood Village in Buffalo.
Photo via satanslaundromat's flickr.





That list seems so meaningful and probably won't change every year based on wholly subjective and arbitrary criteria.
That NY times article is extremely obtuse!
Like stating one person preference on living standars will erase the thousands that do not agree by living in where he does not see any beauty.
Bad article!
Park Slope is ugly and full of assholes.
Brooklyn never "was", so how could it be over?
Vive Pente De Parc !
and full of baby assholes in asshole baby trollies
Brooklyn was over the minute the trustafarians moved into it! Once you could buy a "luxury" apartment it lost the only thing it had going for it. And the brunches still suck!
Alex Williams of the NYT's basically has a Heath Ledger fetish...what a silly little article...I swear i was reading that trash blog Cityrag...
Brooklyn. A sad state of affairs it is when one mentions Brooklyn in the same sentence as best. Pizza I can maybe understand, but neighborhood?
Park Slope thinks highly of Park Slope.
In reality, it's a nice neighborhood with a major 'tude problem and outrageous prices.
There are no people like the self satisfied.
"one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the city " more expensive than UES, UWS, the east village, the west village, tribeca, LES, murray hill, BOCOCA, etc., etc., etc.??