353 Ocean Ave

353 Ocean

This six-story condo building at the foot of Prospect Park blends Art Deco and Mediterranean influences with an ornamented brick and cast-stone exterior conceived by Brooklyn architect Boris Dorfman. Completd in 1930, 353 Ocean Ave. (also known as Prospect Park East Condominiums) is set on a low-rise block of Prospect Lefferts Gardens and features double-arched windows on the ground floor, with fire escapes and original decorative iron balconies still intact. Set a block from the retail corridor of Flatbush Avenue, the elevator building employs a live-in superintendent and part-time doorman. “This property maintains almost all of its classic prewar charm,” says Belle Caplis, a broker with the Bateman Fields Team at Compass who recently listed a rental unit in the building. “One of the highlights of our great city is a strong, fun park life, and 353 Ocean Ave. gets to claim Prospect Park as its own backyard.” The 55 units within Prospect Park East Condominiums include a mix of mostly two and three-bedroom residences, although there is a line of one-bedroom units as well. All of them come with hardwood floors and built-in air conditioning. “Most condo buildings are new developments with boxy layouts and Sheetrock instead of plaster,” explains Caplis. “To find a prewar condo with central air is unique.” With the relatively small number of units, listings are rare — usually about one per year — and don’t spend long on the market. A one-bedroom residence sold in June 2022 for $415,000, while a two-bedroom duplex was acquired in June 2024 for $990,000. Smaller two-bedrooms are available for less, with one under contract for $600,000 as of November 2024. While the elevator building has limited amenities, the monthly maintenance fees are low, with a $600,000 two-bedroom coming with a $429 per month common charge. To help mind the entrance, the building employs a part-time doorman, while a doorbell intercom system is also in place along with lockers in the mail room for secured package delivery. “More than an amenity, this building has a beloved super, who is very invested in the health and happiness of the building and its inhabitants,” adds Caplis. Residents who own a bike have the option of stashing it in a shared bike room, and storage lockers are also available for an additional fee, although there is occasionally a waitlist. The property also contains a shared laundry facility for residents to use, and pets are permitted. While there’s no gym on site, the neighborhood is home to Blink Fitness, Planet Fitness and Retro Fitness — all of which are within blocks. The biggest draw in the area is undoubtedly Prospect Park, the sprawling green space designed by Central Park landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the mid-19th century. Encompassing more than 520 acres, the popular destination includes a mix of rolling meadows, woodland pathways, sporting areas and playgrounds — not to mention a zoo, boathouse and bandshell. Residents have easy access to grocery stores, as Pioneer Supermarket and Key Food are both within two blocks. Brooklyn Perk Coffee, a few doors down, provides a cozy atmosphere with wood accents and exposed brick walls. The main commercial street in this section of Prospect Lefferts Gardens is Flatbush Avenue, which is lined with numerous restaurants such as Peppa’s, Risbo, MangoSeed, Bonafini and Kracklaw Seafood Restaurant, as well as small businesses like nail salons, hardware stores, delis and pharmacies. A number of big box stores such as Target have outposts on nearby Church Street, which is also a retail hub. The property is located just one block from the Parkside Avenue subway station, where the Q line stops, and a 10-minute walk to the Winthrop Street station, which is serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. All three of these lines go into Manhattan, making it convenient for anyone who commutes or travels there frequently. There are also several bus lines that travel throughout Brooklyn and stop in the immediate vicinity, such as the B16, B12, B41 and B35. Plus, a Citi Bike dock at the Parkside Avenue subway station makes traveling by bike a breeze.