What we do

Since its founding in 2004, the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council (PHNDC) has been the leading civic organization providing advocacy for neighborhood-wide issues on behalf of the residents and businesses of Prospect Heights. Its programs have engaged and received the support of thousands of community members in Prospect Heights and its environs. Some examples of PHNDC’s successful advocacy campaigns include:

• Designation of the Prospect Heights Historic District under the New York City Landmarks Law, protecting approximately 850 buildings from demolition or uncharacteristic alteration.

• Implementation of traffic calming and streetscape improvements on Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights’ “main street."

• Leading a coalition lawsuit that found the State of New York had illegally approved a 25-year construction schedule for the Atlantic Yards project without required environmental review.

• Achieving a 10-year acceleration in the deadline for affordable housing at Atlantic Yards through a settlement of a threatened lawsuit against the State and project developers;

• Winning the implementation of a Neighborhood Slow Zone (NSZ) in Prospect Heights by the New York City Department of Transportation;

• Implementing historic street lighting on Vanderbilt Avenue to improve the streetscape of our community's central commercial thoroughfare.

• Sponsoring the redesign of Underhill Avenue as a bike boulevard, and the creation of a pedestrian plaza between Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street.

In addition, PHNDC holds public meetings on subjects of interest to residents of Prospect Heights, including historic preservation, transportation policy, and local development. PHNDC sponsors non-partisan public forums for candidates for local elected offices. PHNDC also provides technical and operational support to block associations and community organizations within Prospect Heights.