
This neighborhood, flanked by Green-Wood Cemetery to the west and Prospect Park to the east, was originally part of the Dutch town of Flatbush.
It was acquired from the Canarsee people by the Dutch, and eventually, a farmer named John Vanderbilt received a land grant for the area. Vanderbilt Street in the neighborhood’s southern half was named for him. Another large farm, in the northern half, was owned by John and Peter Wyckoff.
After John Vanderbilt died, the land was sold in 1849 by Jeremiah Vanderbilt to Robert Bell, a developer who named it Windsor Terrace, after Windsor, the town in England best known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British royal family.
Bell soon sold it to Edward Belknap, who broke it up into 47 building lots, around which the village of Windsor Terrace was built.
The neighborhood was incorporated as a village in 1851 and started to be developed for housing soon after the completion of neighboring Green-Wood Cemetery, which became something of a tourist attraction.
Row houses were built on and near Prospect Park Southwest in the early 1900s before two-family houses and large apartment buildings were constructed.
The Prospect Expressway, built in the 1950s, runs right through the middle of the neighborhood.












SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.

ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.