The result of a hard fought battle between the Brooklyn Heights Association and the powerful Commissioner of Parks, Robert Moses, who wanted to run the BQE right through Brooklyn Heights. The waterfront below, currently a rather non-descript area with mostly unused warehouses will be converted into the Brooklyn Bridge Park. The 85-acre project will have 76 acres of protected parkland supported by 8.2 acres of commercial development. It will stretch from the DUMBO waterfront north of the Manhattan Bridge to Atlantic Avenue. Walk south on the Promenade and turn left at the flag pole.
On your left you see 2 - 3 Pierrepont Place, two of the largest surviving Italiante style mansions in New York City. Constructed in 1857 these houses are in their original state with exceptional brownstone façades and lots of Italianate ironwork. Walk south on Pierrepont Place, which leads you into Montague Terrace. On your right is 2 Montague Terrace is a large pre-war residential building, probably the most prestigious in the Heights. Further on is 8 Montague Terrace, a large and well preserved Italiante mansion. Note the front doorway's grand stoop, the carved doorway enframement and double front doors with frosted glass windows. The one block Montague Terrace ends on Remsen Street, where we turn left.
Walk up Remsen Street and admire the many Italiante, Greek Revival and later-era brownstone townhouses. On Henry Street we turn right, walk one block and turn right into Joralemon Street. Walking on Joralemon look at the row of historic houses, smaller than in the North Heights, and you can imagine how many residential areas of Brooklyn must have looked in the late 19th century: an assortment of quaint villages in a big city. We cross Hicks Street, Joralemon now slopes downhill and the street is paved with cobblestones, which was used in all of Brooklyn Heights in earlier times. Take a look at the red brick Greek Revival row houses on your right. Before you reach the BQE overpass turn left at Willow Place, where you find a number of small, charming townhouses. 2 - 8 Willow Place are four modest red brick Gothic Revival houses from 1847. At 43 - 49 Willow Place you find a row of Greek Revival houses. The four houses have a continuous two-story portico with simple wood columns - an economical design. Across the street at 46 Willow Place is the only survivor of a matching four-house Greek Revival row. We turn left into State Street, walk up one block and turn left into Hicks Street. You find a number of wonderful Italiante, Greek Revival and later period row houses. Walk two blocks and make a small detour into Grace Court on your left. The houses here have deep backyards. Back on Hicks Street turn right into Grace Court Alley where you find a number of two story carriage houses. The second floor served as the hayloft. Some of the houses still have the iron hooks at the roofline, which were used to attach a pulley and hoist the bales up.
Walk north on Hicks until you reach Montague Street, the main retail shopping street with small owner-operated businesses, some national chains, realtor offices, restaurants and cafés. Rents are skyhigh and many traditional stores providing essential services to the neighborhood have been priced out. Turning left on Montague Street you see the Heights Casino on your right side at 75 Montague Street. It was founded in 1904 as a private social club for squash and tennis. It is the New York City squash strong-hold with 6 singles courts, 1 hardball doubles court, 2 indoor tennis courts, an exercise room and a dining room. Strict dress code and an intensive membership screening process: you are amongst your "equals", like in the good old times! Go back and walk up Montague Street. The highriser on you right is the former Bossert Hotel. Nicely restored by the Jehova Witnesses it serves as a residence hall for their adherents visiting New York. Walk into the lobby and marvel at the gold gilded foyer. If you wanted to impress your girlfriend and could afford it you took here to the Bossert's Marine Roof, one of coolest nightspots in the 1920s with big bands playing, dancing and dining. Further up on Montague Street, corner Clinton Street are two bank buildings. One is occupied by a Chase branch. It must be one of the most historic branches Chase has. It is a gorgeous Beaux Arts building with high ceilings and stained glass windows and not disfigured by external cash machines. Walk inside and take a look. Next door is the former People's Trust Company, established 1889, nowadays a Citibank branch. The interior is rather disappointing: soulless mishmash from Citibank. Applaus for Chase, thumbs down to Citibank!
Time for a refreshment, lunch or dinner? Most of the restaurants and cafés are on Montague Street and Court Street (north of Clark Street). Take a look at our neighborhood section on Brooklyn Heights for further information. You can also explore the Bococa restaurant scene further south, a short walk across Atlantic Avenue. We don't like to use the word "Bococa", but it's shorter than Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens.