545 Vanderbilt Avenue, 12I The Axel, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Prospect Heights is a place where past and present mingle in dazzling harmony. The 1871 opening of Prospect Park, designed by Central Park planners Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, played no small role in the neighborhood's popularity — after all, what isn’t appealing about 500-plus acres of natural wonder in your backyard? Much of the area today falls within the boundaries of its eponymous historic district, a case study in 19th-century residential architecture where you'll find textbook examples of Italianate, Neo-Grec, and other celebrated styles from earlier drafts of the urban canvas. Farther-out blocks are highlighted with newer construction: Heading toward Pacific Park and the Barclays Center, you'll find a defined row of modern, amenity-laden condo and rental buildings towering skyward. Prospect Heights has the best of everything, growing with the times yet confidently retaining a timeless feel.