As patrons walk into Roots Cafe in Brooklyn’s South Slope, they’re greeted with affection. While every neighborhood in NYC may have its “locals,” Park Slope’s southern neighbor has grown famous for its community feel and affordable cost of living, especially compared to the ’hoods that surround it.
Which is why developers and residents are asking: Will South Slope’s increased popularity lead to the overdevelopment seen in areas such as Williamsburg or Downtown Brooklyn?
All signs for now point to a safe future, as those who have come in have taken steps toward keeping the brownstone culture intact. “It has the perfect mix of city feel and community aspects,” says resident Yael Glina. “It’s got everything you need without being too busy.” This lack of overcrowding may be due to its distance from a major subway hub, as the trip to Midtown Manhattan will take 30 minutes or more.
“Over the last three years, a majority of the purchasers have been younger families with a baby on the way — as you can still get a two-bedroom under $600,000 with all the bells and whistles of Park Slope,” explains Stephanie O’Brien of Prudential Douglas Elliman. The area may not earn jokes about needing stroller lanes like Park Slope does, but new developments such as 182 15th St. and the Karl Fischer-designed 226 15th St. have sprung up without pricing families out.
Other than the commercial and residential development on Fourth Avenue, these new buildings, in the heart of the neighborhood, seem to be capturing the charming aesthetics that surround them rather than building the glass towers that symbolize overdevelopment in other areas. Combine this homey feel with a pint and grilled cheese at neighborhood hot spot South, and it’s safe to say the Slope is only pointing upwards.
