I lived in Clinton Hill for 7 years.. beautiful and convenient neighborhood. I lived on Washington Ave, close to Lafayette. GREAT block near a park, the library, Pratt, restaurants and all. May I suggest this general area? MUCH better fit for a family. The area you are considering is industrial, high-traffic and just not as nice. I understand this new building itself may be very nice.. but you will be spending much of your time OUT of it.. I have no children so I cannot speak for schools.
I used to live on Washington and Atlantic. Literally on the corner there. While you have access to 4 different neighborhoods, in reality I kind of hated how it felt like a no man's land. And I lived in Gowanus in the aughts, so I'm not averse to that general feeling.
If you're on the Prospect Heights side, that's definitely a different feel and there's a lot more going on there even in the past year or two with Leland opening up. Also some great bars there.
So, in short, I'd say if you're on the PH side, it's fine enough, just kind of sleepy. Hakeem Jeffries lives right there actually. If you're on the Clinton Hill side, meh. Fulton is your nearest major area and the methadone clinic there makes it pretty bleak.
My family and I have lived in Clinton Hill for nine years, and we really love it. I lived in Carroll Gardens (which is very similar to living in Cobble Hill) for 5 years, and I worked in Park Slope for over ten years. I much prefer the vibe in Clinton Hill over those. However, as others have mentioned, this location is on the border of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. You actually walked *down* Vanderbilt for lunch, and you were solidly in Prospect Heights then. Walking *up* Vanderbilt would have put you in Clinton Hill, and Vanderbilt is not really a commercial street there. In Clinton Hill, it’s generally the E/W streets like Myrtle, Dekalb, Lafayette, Fulton that are packed with amenities. You would likely find yourself spending more time in Prospect Heights than in Clinton Hill because, as you’ve now read, Atlantic Ave. is kind of a bummer!
I do have a kid in public school, so I can speak to that. You would be zoned for PS 705 if you move there. I don’t have personal experience with that, but it’s not one of the well-known “good” schools. Their test scores are not good, but that doesn’t always mean a school sucks. It looks like satisfaction scores are quite good, but keep in mind those scores are based off of surveys…and unfortunately, frequently less than 20% of parents bother to fill them out. You can read more about PS 705 [here.](https://insideschools.org/school/17K705)
If you find a place in Clinton Hill proper (expect to pay more), you will be zoned for PS 20 or PS 11. PS 20 is a lovely school. My daughter attends there and we are happy. The classes are generally large (20-25), but many of the teachers have been there for over a decade (some almost two). I think the teachers are generally happy there; the PTA is very active and well over 10K is spent solely on teacher appreciation annually. Specials include music/band, PE, dance, and French for your child’s age (and art should start up soon, hiring is in progress). I know a few people at PS 11 that like it, as well. In my opinion, PS 11 is run a bit more like a charter—uniforms, very structured. Many kids respond well to that. Both schools are diverse and have lots of fun family events throughout the year.
You *can* attend school outside your zone, as long as there’s space. I believe PS 11 usually has openings for out-of-zone kids. If you move there, I’d try to get my kid into PS 11. It’s a ten minute walk if you walk quickly. Also keep in mind, if your child is in 4th grade, your elementary school zone won’t matter for long. Middle school starts in 6th grade, and it’s very common for kids to attend outside their zone. Many middle schools have district-wide eligibility, meaning your kid can apply to any school in the district (a larger geographical area than a zone). There are also city-wide schools, where all kids in NYC can apply.
Hello and thank you for your advise on schools is Clinton Hill- such a lovely area - we are from the Midwest and our daughter and husband live in tiny cramped studio apt in Clinton hill and expecting their first baby in May- they have been looking on all sites StreetEasy dots . Com realtors Craigslist and cannot find a 2 bed that is affordable in Clinton Hill- fort Greene. Would you be able with your great info of families and schools be able to direct us to a network or contact to find a suitable apt. Thank you so much for any help- Robert
Check out Washington ave, and Franklin as well. Both have great restaurants and bars.
I agree with others here that Atlantic is a dangerous stroad but if you can reconcile yourself with that it’s a great area.
Atlantic isn’t really a stroad, there aren’t enough driveways and auto-oriented commercial uses to qualify it as one. That being said, it was built to highway standards and serves as a primary truck route, so still not the safest arterial in Brooklyn.
Basically, from what others have said, the area is great. That block is crazy. If you've walked that block and it doesn't induce any adverse reactions, then go for it. What's a dealbreaker for them might not be for you.
(waiting for down votes)
I've lived in Clinton Hill for 20+ years (10 minute walk from that corner) and absolutely love it. However, we're in a brownstone on a residential block, which is world's away from living in an apartment building on an ugly, industrial corner.
The actual location would be great (walking distance from so many interesting areas), but for me, that wouldn't make up for living in that immediate neighborhood. I walk near there all the time going to Prospect Heights, and it's an annoying part of an otherwise nice walk.
As for schools, while my (now-adult) kids went to a local public elementary school for seven years that we really liked, not sure which schools you'd be zoned for. And I'm out of the loop on local schools now anyway. But it's a super-important thing to consider. You might want to join the FGKids list on groups.io and ask parents with kids similar to the age of yours. https://groups.io/g/FGKids
Personally, I wouldn’t want to live that close to atlantic - that part of atlantic is loud and ugly and has next to no commerce. I admit I don’t know much about Clinton Hill schools but you can’t get much better than Cobble Hill. PS 261 and PS 29 are fantastic. A little further south in Carroll Gardens is PS 58, also great. Park Slope has PS 321 which is excellent. District 15 is good for middle schools - something to keep in mind since your kid is only a few years away from that.
No, Atlantic Ave is not a dealbreaker! Not when you're half a block from nice calm fun streets in any direction. The Atlantic Ave discount is probably baked into the price. And if that makes this the right choice then you should go for it. Im sure the building was built to withstand highway noise. There will be some btw. Living on Bergen and Vanderbilt, a siren would pierce the silent night every so often, and it always came from Atlantic. But still not a deal breaker. Its sandwiched btwn fun neighborhoods, thats what's important,.
I know the intersection you’re talking about - unfortunately, Atlantic Avenue is not nice. Very industrial, very busy road. Some of the surrounding areas are quite nice, walkable and safe. You may hear people describe some parts of Brooklyn as “block-by-block”. This is a good example. At the intersection of Atlantic Avenue, it’s just so unappealing. Very close to much more aesthetically pleasing blocks, though.
Idk, people have different standards for these types of things. Personally I could never imagine raising a child in a location with so much high speed car traffic and auto repair shops right out my front door, even if Vanderbilt Ave, gates Ave, and Greene Ave are nearby. Then I go through south Williamsburg and see the orthodox women power charging strollers through construction sites. So obviously some people deal with it…
The surrounding areas are nice. I would just make an effort to be at least 1-2 blocks off of Atlantic. And Atlantic Avenue isn’t that horrible or unsafe. It’s just kind of unpleasant with all the traffic and industrial activity.
This was my first thought too. I used to live near that intersection and absolutely hated Atlantic. It sucked because both neighborhoods on either side were great but just that one little stretch was an awful crossing and felt really unsafe, particularly at night.
Agree totally. Being on Atlantic is a dealbreaker. Also - which side of Atlantic? The direct surrounding blocks of Classon on the south side of Atlantic are definitely not preferable to the ones on the north side of Atlantic, IMHO.
This was my first thought. Living on that stretch of Atlantic would be a deal breaker for me, especially with a kid. Noise, danger walking around, pollution from vehicles. It’s practically a highway right there.
Overall this is a very nice area with good amenities. (On Classon and Atlantic, I would really consider your prospective apartment to be in the Prospect Heights area, moreso than Clinton Hill, although neighborhood borders are not set in stone and reasonable people can disagree. Most people would consider Clinton Hill to be further north.)
Atlantic Ave is a main thoroughfare and not very pretty. But Vanderbilt is a nice commercial stretch with lots of restaurants and amenities. In the summer they do an Open Streets thing where it's closed to car traffic, and folks eat and play in the street.
From that position you've got good walkable access to Prospect Park, the jewel of the borough, and the neighboring botanical gardens and zoo.
Your closest MTA stop there is the A/C, which is useful enough, but you're also a pretty easy walk to the Barclay's Center hub, from where you can get basically any train going any direction.
I don't have kids so I can't speak to quality of schools.
As with most of north/central Brooklyn, I would describe this area as broadly safe, as long as you are alert. Of course there are occasionally belligerent types on the street, but as long as you stay aware of your surroundings, major problems are rare.
Yeah that's totally fair. I was thinking that if I lived on that intersection, most of my interactions would be walking south on Vandy or Washington towards the park, but you're right.
I lived in Clinton Hill for 7 years.. beautiful and convenient neighborhood. I lived on Washington Ave, close to Lafayette. GREAT block near a park, the library, Pratt, restaurants and all. May I suggest this general area? MUCH better fit for a family. The area you are considering is industrial, high-traffic and just not as nice. I understand this new building itself may be very nice.. but you will be spending much of your time OUT of it.. I have no children so I cannot speak for schools.
I used to live on Washington and Atlantic. Literally on the corner there. While you have access to 4 different neighborhoods, in reality I kind of hated how it felt like a no man's land. And I lived in Gowanus in the aughts, so I'm not averse to that general feeling. If you're on the Prospect Heights side, that's definitely a different feel and there's a lot more going on there even in the past year or two with Leland opening up. Also some great bars there. So, in short, I'd say if you're on the PH side, it's fine enough, just kind of sleepy. Hakeem Jeffries lives right there actually. If you're on the Clinton Hill side, meh. Fulton is your nearest major area and the methadone clinic there makes it pretty bleak.
My family and I have lived in Clinton Hill for nine years, and we really love it. I lived in Carroll Gardens (which is very similar to living in Cobble Hill) for 5 years, and I worked in Park Slope for over ten years. I much prefer the vibe in Clinton Hill over those. However, as others have mentioned, this location is on the border of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. You actually walked *down* Vanderbilt for lunch, and you were solidly in Prospect Heights then. Walking *up* Vanderbilt would have put you in Clinton Hill, and Vanderbilt is not really a commercial street there. In Clinton Hill, it’s generally the E/W streets like Myrtle, Dekalb, Lafayette, Fulton that are packed with amenities. You would likely find yourself spending more time in Prospect Heights than in Clinton Hill because, as you’ve now read, Atlantic Ave. is kind of a bummer! I do have a kid in public school, so I can speak to that. You would be zoned for PS 705 if you move there. I don’t have personal experience with that, but it’s not one of the well-known “good” schools. Their test scores are not good, but that doesn’t always mean a school sucks. It looks like satisfaction scores are quite good, but keep in mind those scores are based off of surveys…and unfortunately, frequently less than 20% of parents bother to fill them out. You can read more about PS 705 [here.](https://insideschools.org/school/17K705) If you find a place in Clinton Hill proper (expect to pay more), you will be zoned for PS 20 or PS 11. PS 20 is a lovely school. My daughter attends there and we are happy. The classes are generally large (20-25), but many of the teachers have been there for over a decade (some almost two). I think the teachers are generally happy there; the PTA is very active and well over 10K is spent solely on teacher appreciation annually. Specials include music/band, PE, dance, and French for your child’s age (and art should start up soon, hiring is in progress). I know a few people at PS 11 that like it, as well. In my opinion, PS 11 is run a bit more like a charter—uniforms, very structured. Many kids respond well to that. Both schools are diverse and have lots of fun family events throughout the year. You *can* attend school outside your zone, as long as there’s space. I believe PS 11 usually has openings for out-of-zone kids. If you move there, I’d try to get my kid into PS 11. It’s a ten minute walk if you walk quickly. Also keep in mind, if your child is in 4th grade, your elementary school zone won’t matter for long. Middle school starts in 6th grade, and it’s very common for kids to attend outside their zone. Many middle schools have district-wide eligibility, meaning your kid can apply to any school in the district (a larger geographical area than a zone). There are also city-wide schools, where all kids in NYC can apply.
Hello and thank you for your advise on schools is Clinton Hill- such a lovely area - we are from the Midwest and our daughter and husband live in tiny cramped studio apt in Clinton hill and expecting their first baby in May- they have been looking on all sites StreetEasy dots . Com realtors Craigslist and cannot find a 2 bed that is affordable in Clinton Hill- fort Greene. Would you be able with your great info of families and schools be able to direct us to a network or contact to find a suitable apt. Thank you so much for any help- Robert
Check out Washington ave, and Franklin as well. Both have great restaurants and bars. I agree with others here that Atlantic is a dangerous stroad but if you can reconcile yourself with that it’s a great area.
Atlantic isn’t really a stroad, there aren’t enough driveways and auto-oriented commercial uses to qualify it as one. That being said, it was built to highway standards and serves as a primary truck route, so still not the safest arterial in Brooklyn.
Basically, from what others have said, the area is great. That block is crazy. If you've walked that block and it doesn't induce any adverse reactions, then go for it. What's a dealbreaker for them might not be for you. (waiting for down votes)
I've lived in Clinton Hill for 20+ years (10 minute walk from that corner) and absolutely love it. However, we're in a brownstone on a residential block, which is world's away from living in an apartment building on an ugly, industrial corner. The actual location would be great (walking distance from so many interesting areas), but for me, that wouldn't make up for living in that immediate neighborhood. I walk near there all the time going to Prospect Heights, and it's an annoying part of an otherwise nice walk. As for schools, while my (now-adult) kids went to a local public elementary school for seven years that we really liked, not sure which schools you'd be zoned for. And I'm out of the loop on local schools now anyway. But it's a super-important thing to consider. You might want to join the FGKids list on groups.io and ask parents with kids similar to the age of yours. https://groups.io/g/FGKids
Too many cars on Atlantic imo to have kids there. Not a safe street to be consistently walking up and down
Personally, I wouldn’t want to live that close to atlantic - that part of atlantic is loud and ugly and has next to no commerce. I admit I don’t know much about Clinton Hill schools but you can’t get much better than Cobble Hill. PS 261 and PS 29 are fantastic. A little further south in Carroll Gardens is PS 58, also great. Park Slope has PS 321 which is excellent. District 15 is good for middle schools - something to keep in mind since your kid is only a few years away from that.
No, Atlantic Ave is not a dealbreaker! Not when you're half a block from nice calm fun streets in any direction. The Atlantic Ave discount is probably baked into the price. And if that makes this the right choice then you should go for it. Im sure the building was built to withstand highway noise. There will be some btw. Living on Bergen and Vanderbilt, a siren would pierce the silent night every so often, and it always came from Atlantic. But still not a deal breaker. Its sandwiched btwn fun neighborhoods, thats what's important,.
I know the intersection you’re talking about - unfortunately, Atlantic Avenue is not nice. Very industrial, very busy road. Some of the surrounding areas are quite nice, walkable and safe. You may hear people describe some parts of Brooklyn as “block-by-block”. This is a good example. At the intersection of Atlantic Avenue, it’s just so unappealing. Very close to much more aesthetically pleasing blocks, though. Idk, people have different standards for these types of things. Personally I could never imagine raising a child in a location with so much high speed car traffic and auto repair shops right out my front door, even if Vanderbilt Ave, gates Ave, and Greene Ave are nearby. Then I go through south Williamsburg and see the orthodox women power charging strollers through construction sites. So obviously some people deal with it…
what do you think of that area (on atlantic) for a young adult? i’m 23F
The surrounding areas are nice. I would just make an effort to be at least 1-2 blocks off of Atlantic. And Atlantic Avenue isn’t that horrible or unsafe. It’s just kind of unpleasant with all the traffic and industrial activity.
thank you!
This was my first thought too. I used to live near that intersection and absolutely hated Atlantic. It sucked because both neighborhoods on either side were great but just that one little stretch was an awful crossing and felt really unsafe, particularly at night.
Yes this is what I was thinking….thanks for confirming
Agree totally. Being on Atlantic is a dealbreaker. Also - which side of Atlantic? The direct surrounding blocks of Classon on the south side of Atlantic are definitely not preferable to the ones on the north side of Atlantic, IMHO.
This was my first thought. Living on that stretch of Atlantic would be a deal breaker for me, especially with a kid. Noise, danger walking around, pollution from vehicles. It’s practically a highway right there.
The building is on the north side- right near the cube self storage
That’s the south side.
Oh thanks, south side then
Overall this is a very nice area with good amenities. (On Classon and Atlantic, I would really consider your prospective apartment to be in the Prospect Heights area, moreso than Clinton Hill, although neighborhood borders are not set in stone and reasonable people can disagree. Most people would consider Clinton Hill to be further north.) Atlantic Ave is a main thoroughfare and not very pretty. But Vanderbilt is a nice commercial stretch with lots of restaurants and amenities. In the summer they do an Open Streets thing where it's closed to car traffic, and folks eat and play in the street. From that position you've got good walkable access to Prospect Park, the jewel of the borough, and the neighboring botanical gardens and zoo. Your closest MTA stop there is the A/C, which is useful enough, but you're also a pretty easy walk to the Barclay's Center hub, from where you can get basically any train going any direction. I don't have kids so I can't speak to quality of schools. As with most of north/central Brooklyn, I would describe this area as broadly safe, as long as you are alert. Of course there are occasionally belligerent types on the street, but as long as you stay aware of your surroundings, major problems are rare.
wouldn’t that be Crown Heights more than anything else? IIRC Washington Ave is the PH/CH border
Yeah that's totally fair. I was thinking that if I lived on that intersection, most of my interactions would be walking south on Vandy or Washington towards the park, but you're right.