Curbed Cup Final Four: (4) Prospect Heights vs. (9) Jersey City

Prospect Heights

It’s not really a surprise that Prospect Heights has made it this far: The Brooklyn neighborhood is this year’s No. 4 seed, and beat its earlier competition (Mott Haven in the first round, and Long Island City in the Elite Eights). It’s also a previous Curbed Cup winner, having taken the big prize all the way back in 2005 (!!!).

Back in 2005, The Megaproject Once Known As Atlantic Yards was a constant source of strife in the neighborhood; now, 11 years (and one name change) later, it’s become a reality, helping boost the area’s profile—for better or worse—once again. But is that enough to help it beat its contender from across the Hudson River?

Jersey City

We are, of course, talking about Jersey City—not a New York City neighborhood technically, but it may as well be, given the pace of development in the city.

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And it’s held its own in this year’s Curbed Cup, positively trouncing the competition in the previous rounds (Greenpoint in round one; South Village in the Elite Eight). Even if some of our commenters are not too happy about its inclusion, clearly someone is.

So what’s gotten it this far? Jersey City is drawing residents in droves, thanks to its plethora of available apartments (both rentals and condos), and its relative affordability compared to Manhattan. Add its burgeoning culture and dining scenes to that, and you have a place that’s poised to take it all as NYC’s (and parts adjacent) neighborhood of the year.

But the final decision is up to you: vote now for which neighborhood you think should advance to the finals.