Discovering Brooklyn: Clinton Hill
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Welcome back to our monthly series covering all of Brooklyn from Greenpoint to Sea Gate.
Take the Brooklyn-Queens Crosstown Local G train to the Clinton-Washington Avenues stop. As you stroll down Clinton Avenue (mansion’s row) you will experience some of the finest architecture in the historic landmark district of Clinton Hill.
Clinton Hill was not named after former President Bill Clinton while he was on Capital Hill. No, the area is named after Dewitt Clinton, someone not as popular as charismatic Bill aka “The Comeback Kid.” Dewitt Clinton served as mayor of the city of New York during the early 1800s and while mayor he organized the Historical Society of New York in 1804.
One can not spend time up on “The Hill” without mentioning the richest man in Brooklyn during the late 1800s – Charles Pratt. According to a Brooklyn Eagle article dated May 5, 1891 (death of Pratt) he was not only Brooklyn’s wealthiest man, but its greatest philanthropist. Ironically, his last official business transaction before dying was to make a charitable contribution.
Interested in oil from a young age, Pratt founded Astral Oil Works in 1867 in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. Years later Charles Pratt and Company was absorbed into John D. Rockefeller’s mega company, Standard Oil and Pratt served as member of the board. Mr. Pratt’s home (232 Clinton Ave) and those of his three sons on Clinton Avenue were probably the finest in Brooklyn. Check out the area today.
In addition to founding Pratt Institute, funding Adelphi Academy (now Adelphi University), funding the Emmanuel Baptist Church, Pratt built affordable housing for the working class. The Astral Apartments take up a full Brooklyn block in Greenpoint. The apartments were affordable, comfortable and conveniently located, primarily for his employees at Astral Oil Works. He wanted workers to live in a healthy environment. Residents were afforded plenty of fresh air and natural light. He even provided them with a library and a kindergarten. How awesome! How avant garde! How humane!
There’s definitely a need for today’s investor to provide affordable housing for working class families in Brooklyn, like Pratt did. A study by RealtyTrac shows that Brooklyn is the least affordable housing market not in the state, or even on the east coast, but in the entire country.
Clinton Hill sits in North-Central Brooklyn and geographically has the Navy Yard above it, Bedford-Stuyvesant to its right, Fort Greene to its left and below it is the neighborhood of Prospect Heights. According to City-Data, the population of Clinton Hill is 29,761 and quite diverse.
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Contrary to popular belief, Icon Biggie Smalls grew up in Clinton Hill which neighbors Bed/Stuy. His apartment 3L at 226 Saint James Place (972 sqft) is down the street from Pratt Institute and sold for $825,000 in 2013 according to Trulia. What might Biggie say about the inflated cost of his former childhood home: “can’t you see, the sky’s the limit, I love the dough and I’m living the life but sometimes your words just hypnotize me, whatchu want – mo money mo problems?”
You will have no problem finding good eats in Clinton Hill. Just walk along Dekalb Avenue. The food choices are as diverse as its people. But if you are a lover of Peaches Restaurant in Bedford-Stuyvesant and The Smoke Joint in Fort Greene, Marietta is the place for you. Located at 285 Grand Avenue at the corner of Clifton Place, Marietta serves yummy Fried Green Tomatoes with hot and spicy “Come Back Sauce”, divine Eight Hour Oxtails, sumptuous Memphis fried chicken, the bomb – bitter greens – and fully Loaded Anson Mills Grits and much much more.
After a full stomach, walk along Grand Avenue to Lafayette Avenue and along Lafayette to Vanderbilt Avenue. There you will see the famous John Steele house at 200 Lafayette Avenue which faces Our Lady Queen Of All Saints. Built in 1853 it is an original period piece from when the area was farm territory. According to Brownstoners, the exterior has never been altered and is the best remaining example of a wooden suburban mansion. With its wash out yellow appearance the house has been seen by some as haunted or super scary but quite frankly it’s simply historic.
It’s hard to come down once you’re up on “The Hill”. So take lots of time and do get your fill. When you come back, come with a friend. Eat, drink, and shop and do it all once again.
Check us out later this month in Fort Greene.
