The Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council (PHNDC), the leading civic organization providing advocacy for neighborhood-wide issues on behalf of the residents and businesses of Prospect Heights, has adopted a change to its By-Laws enabling any individual with an interest in the Prospect Heights community to join as a member. Prior to this change, PHNDC was structured as an umbrella organization whose members were block associations, civic groups, and merchant organizations in Prospect Heights.

“PHNDC was formed twelve years ago to help shape community development at a time of tremendous change. Prospect Heights is fortunate to have longstanding, active block associations that have been a source of continuity in the neighborhood, in some cases for generations,” said PHNDC Chair Gib Veconi. “But to their credit, our member organizations saw that the change in demographics that has already taken place, as well as the expected surge in new residents over the next ten years, required a neighborhood-wide civic organization to cast the widest net possible to allow all interested stakeholders to participate in guiding its advocacy.”

Since its founding in 2004, PHNDC’s accomplishments include the designation of nearly 850 buildings as a New York City Landmark district; helping to win a ten-year acceleration of the completion of affordable housing at the Atlantic Yards project; the implementation of traffic-calming enhancements to Vanderbilt Avenue, and later of a Neighborhood Slow Zone; and helping to secure a commitment from the City for a dedicated middle school at the Atlantic Yards site. PHNDC recently produced the public art and community engagement project “Intersection | Prospect Heights” in partnership with urbanist studio Buscada and Brooklyn Public Library.

“The efforts of PHNDC have helped to preserve Prospect Heights’ historic character, made its streets safer, and held State and City governments accountable to their promises of public benefits,” said Stacey Weinstein, Co-President of the Park Place/Underhill Avenue Block Association. “By expanding opportunities for membership, PHNDC will be positioned to have an even greater impact for the residents and businesses of our community.”

The next general meeting of the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council will be held on Thursday, October 27 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific Street, beginning at 7PM. All community stakeholders are invited to attend. Individuals wishing to become members of PHNDC may join online.