Windsor Terrace

Located south of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace is a quiet and pleasant town that borders Prospect Park and the Greenwood Cemetery. This tiny neighborhood is gaining popularity with young families and retirees as it is just as family-friendly as Park Slope for far cheaper housing prices. However, as more people are showing interest in the neighborhood, prices are rising. While most of the housing here is in the form of symmetrical row houses (many of which have porches and backyards), there are also some condos and apartments, which were developed during the last housing boom. The town also has plenty of small businesses, where residents can find just about anything they need, but there aren't too many upscale shops, chains, or big-box stores. Windsor Terrace residents usually head to Prospect Park for recreation. They also go shopping or watch a movie at the Pavillion Cinema. With two subway stations and a few buses that run through the town, Windsor Terrace has fairly convenient public transportation options. The commute to Manhattan takes about forty minutes, so it is a slightly longer trip than the one from Park Slope. The school district in Windsor Terrace is pretty good; P.S. 130 in particular does consistently well.

Whenever I venture to Windsor Terrace (I live nextdoor in Park Slope) to get a little dry cleaning done, I have a nice time wandering around these established streets. I venture into used book shops and little groceries - it's not exactly a happening neighborhood, but it offers a certain coziness. It seems to me that most of the residents are retired, or at least old enough to retire, but there are some older twenty-somethings moving into the area as South Slope becomes louder and louder with all of its bar action.

I have heard that real estate can be sort of expensive in Windsor Terrace, but a friend of mine is moving there at the end of the month and will be paying a mere $700 for one bedroom in a three bedroom apartment. Not bad! But then again one also has to take in the fact that there isn't much to do here, and it's a hike into the nearest trendy neighborhood.

However, if you're not young and fabulous - that's another story. Since there seems to be so many retirees here, I'm going to assume that it's a great place for them. Whenever I visit I am struck by how little traffic is on the avenues, and by how quiet it always seems to be. Quiet and peaceful - rare adjectives to describe a Brooklyn neighborhood.

Windsor Terrace is a neighborhood located in northwestern Brooklyn and is a largely residential area. Windsor Terrace is surrounded by other Brooklyn neighborhoods like Prospect Park, Park Slope, and Flatbush to name a few. To the southwest of the area is Greenwood Cemetery.

Windsor Terrace has many brick row houses as well as smaller wood framed homes. The neighborhood has become increasingly diverse and over the past few years the community has seen an influx of younger professional families due in part to the area’s gentrification.

The F line subway station is located at 15th Street and the Prospect Expressway runs through the middle of the neighborhood that directly separates the neighborhood into two halves. Some of the other major streets in the area, like Seeley Street, 11th Avenue/Terrace Place, and Prospect Park West have connecting bridges over the highway. Numerous bus service lines also aid Windsor Terrace’s travelers.

Crisscrossed throughout the neighborhood are many scenic byways, like Sherman Street, which many regard the neighborhood’s crown jewel. This street is lined with brick houses with distinctive columned porches.

The neighborhood is adjacent to the Prospect Park ball fields, as well as a scenic drive that curves around the lake. Take in a movie at the Pavilion Cinema on 15th Street and Prospect Park West.

The area has many public and private schools, including the beloved Park Slope elementary school on Seventh Avenue. This school has dictated many a families’ choice of neighborhoods to reside. One high school close to Windsor Terrace is also on Seventh Avenue, and for a private option there is the Holy Name of Jesus School on Prospect Avenue.

This area is on the southwest side of Prospect Park (the actual park, as opposed to the neighborhood), and is quiet, low-key, and pretty easy on the eyes. It’s not a tourist hotspot though, and I’d advise you not to move in if you are looking for an enclave of artists or your fellow youths.
If you’re planning on getting married and starting a family, then this would be a great place to do it. The area is very residential, and still hosts a lot of Irish- and Italian-American families. A resident has everything they would want here, but a tourist would be left out to dry. The one thing to see in the area is Greenwood Cemetery, which is certainly worth the hike (or train ride) if you’ve never been.

It’s still pretty unbelievable to me that this gorgeous cemetery exists in Brooklyn, which is part of a city that is not exactly known for its greenery. But during the warmer months this place really flourishes, and as long as you’re not creeped out by the fact that you’re walking among the dead, this is a really beautiful spot for a spring or summer stroll. There’s a pond here that looks like something straight out of a Monet painting, and there are various little water spouts and falls throughout the property – it’s as if a cemetery decided attempt to be a garden.