Closing Bell: Why Does Anyone Still Live in Brooklyn?
Brooklyn author and journalist Neil deMause has launched a survey asking Brooklynites what drew them to the borough and why they’ve stayed despite rapidly rising housing costs. The questionnaire is part of deMause’s research for an upcoming crowdfunded book, “Brooklyn Wars,” about Brooklyn’s gentrification and redevelopment boom. The idea came to him while he was…
Brooklyn author and journalist Neil deMause has launched a survey asking Brooklynites what drew them to the borough and why they’ve stayed despite rapidly rising housing costs. The questionnaire is part of deMause’s research for an upcoming crowdfunded book, “Brooklyn Wars,” about Brooklyn’s gentrification and redevelopment boom.
The idea came to him while he was wondering why rents have increased even as local poverty rates have risen. “I was discussing this with a housing economist friend, and while we both had theories, none of them were convincing,” he said in a press release. “While web surveys are inherently anecdotal and unscientific, even a self-selected sample should give some hints as to how Brooklynites view their reasons for remaining in a borough that charges $3,000 a month to live in a closet an hour’s subway ride from their job.”
So far, leading early responses include “it’s cheaper than Manhattan,” “diversity” and “boyfriend.”
Photo by Juni Safont
We still live in Fort Greene because we bought a while ago, so Brooklyn is affordable for us. Based on a recent sale in our building, our apartment has appreciated 500% since our 1999 purchase. Yeah, we could sell and have have that equity in hand, but we would have to move very far away or to a not nearly as “nice” [close-to-transit, walkable, fun, beautiful, safe, green-spaced, bike-laned, etc.] neighborhood as this in order to – do what? – buy a gigantic house? put the money in the bank? Not worth it for us. Maybe some day we can reap the rewards of our lucky timing, however I think it more likely our children will when we are gone.
And, yes, it takes me an hour to get to work.
exaggerate much? do these people work in the bronx? an hour subway ride takes you from coney island to central
park. So if paying $3000 a month for smallish apt….must be living in new construction highrise downtown brooklyn. An hour is north bronx.
If someone is paying so much for a small apt….perhaps living in new construction highrise is major priority. Or
maybe they grew up in home with really really huge closets.
The view from my roof deck. That is the only reason that has not changed over time. For me.
It’s actually the median rent (i.e., the 50th percentile) that has soared in Brooklyn, not just the average — something you wouldn’t see if this were just a matter of adding a few new high-priced apartments at the top end.