Before the Prospect Heights Historic District was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2009, the neighborhood was home to a National Register Historic District listed earlier in 1983. The current Prospect Heights NR district consists of 305 contributing buildings constructed between 1865 and 1900, mostly situated between Prospect Place, Bergen Street, Carlton Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue.

The National Register of Historic Places is the federal government's list of districts, buildings and sites deemed worthy of preservation. Unlike in a New York City Landmark district, properties in a National Register district are not protected from uncharacteristic alteration or demolition. However, owners of income-producing properties contributing to a National Register district may be eligible for a 20% investment tax credit for rehabilitation of a historic building through the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program. Tax credits for certain income-producing and owner-occupied properties in a National Register District are also available through programs offered by the State of New York.

In order to help more property owners gain access to these tax credit programs, as well as to more fully recognize the historic resources of the Prospect Heights neighborhood, PHNDC is preparing an application to expand the current NR district to include not only all of the approximately 850 buildings in Prospect Heights' New York City Landmark district, but also an additional 116 buildings of historical value. These buildings include mixed commercial/residential buildings on Washington Avenue and Flatbush Avenue, as well as multifamily residential buildings on St. Marks Avenue, Underhill Avenue, Prospect Place, Butler Place and Park Place. A map showing the current NR district, the proposed expanded NR district, and the NYCL district is shown below (click for larger PDF).

On Monday, May 18 at 7:00PM, PHNDC will host "Preserving Prospect Heights," an informational meeting for property owners and community members to be held at P.S. 9, 80 Underhill Avenue. A representative from the State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will be on hand to answer questions about National Register listing and investment tax credit programs.