Celebrating Vinyl and Aluminum in Greenpoint

looks like the Favellas of Brazil

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 9:35 AM

Yes it is sad our nice 'hood has this aesthetically challenging issue. But those of us lucky enough to be in the historic distric can at least take heart in the immediate views.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 10:28 AM

Great place to be, yes. Ugly as shit, hell yes
Sorry....

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 2:07 PM

Nope. Still ugly.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 5:31 PM

GPT is ugly across the board (except the views), the food is absolutley dreadful outside of Thai/Polish with the exception of Queen's Hideaway and Blue Drawes, the lone coffe shop can't even get their shit together to have a good stock of baked goods in the morning that they don't run out of immediately, there is a high rate of alcoholism, a low rate of education (the 2nd and 3rd generation kids are going nowhere fast, sadly, and seem to be destined for a life on the stoop), most of the Polish establishments/inhabitants exude zero warmth and actually are fond of subtly pushing you if you are on line at The Garden or the butcher, the smell is disgusting in the summer, Manhattan Avenue is just plain pitiful, and let's not ignore the tendency for GPT pedestrians to blatantly disregard motorists by always walking in front of moving vehicles without a care in the world. Give me a break. Unless you are solely there to save a big buck on housing or you are under 25 and getting bombed every night, GPT is just an exclusionary eyesore full of morose, provincial, sad people.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 5:50 PM

Nice work, you just described 90% of NYC. What neighborhood would you recommend that lives up to your standards?

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 5:59 PM

Try Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and Brooklyn Heights for starters...

no stank, no overwhelming neg vibe amongst most of the residents nor massive alcoholism, plenty more restaurants and cafes, even a movie theater (gasp!), nice architecture, and a lack of "i don't give a fuck" zombies crossing major streets and not moving their asses.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 6:14 PM

that's a nice lily-white list you have going there. why not the upper west side or for that matter westchester? greenpoint is a welcoming neighborhood full of working-class folk and small businesses. the polish and hispanic street culture here is thriving, so are the arts for anyone who cares to look, and it's safer than anyplace i've lived. sure, there's the smell, and the have-to- cover-the-rotting facade aesthetics, and the cuisine issue (which is easily negotiated by patronizing the gems or being willing to travel), and people don't always speak your language and walk in the middle of the street, but that is life in brooklyn. i'm no fan of dodge the sot, but i don't care to dodge double maclarens either. we like the laid back and leave it alone here, and are plenty happy that you are not around. czesc.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 8:47 PM

Yes, you're right -- I've never seen a single person of African-American or Latino descent in Park Slope or Boerum Hill. As if 4th Ave, Flatbush, Atlantic, Hicks, and...ummm..all of Carrol Gardens is like growing up in Scarsdale. And nice for you to assume that I'm not a person of color -- pretty presumptuous. Seriously, spare me the "whitey" defense -- that's pretty stale. And god forbid you saw somebody with a smile on their face pushing a stroller -- damn those parents and babies. Nice.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 26, 2006 11:21 PM

I am by no means claiming that GPT is the only nabe in NYC with 'career drinkers,' merely calling out an obvious issue for the hood. Just take a walk down any block of Manhattan Ave. and peer into the eyes of any given cross-section of middle-aged men and their eyes and tell the story -- complete wear and tear. It's depressing. Not suggesting it's not happening elsewhere, just pointing out that it is unpleasant to be exposed to each and every day. It's a personal tolerance issue -- mine is pretty low for a community where most of the men corrode their livers daily.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 27, 2006 12:23 PM

The slam of GP is unfounded and obviously written by someone who has hostility to deal with outside of real estate.

With regard to the alum siding, you are judging a book by its cover. Interiors have just as much original detailing as some brownstones elsewhere.

You can't beat the location. 15 minutes to midtown, 25 to downtown. My work takes me to both. I live this.

Both PS 31 and PS 34 have excellent academic rankings. Both are in NYC's Top 100 schools. PS 34 will add ballroom dance to its curriculum next year. The Catholic schools have very strong track records as well.

It is a very safe neighborhood. Crime is VERY LOW. Check out the stats at the 94th precinct.

GP is a very stable hood. So stable that the housing inventory is VERY TIGHT, especially in the historic district. Neighbors know one another and look afer one another. This is rare these days.

The restaruants are plentiful, clean and good.

Each neighborhood has it's own flavor and personality. If you don't like GP's, please take the G train and leave. You will not be missed.

Czesc!

Posted by: Anonymous at January 27, 2006 2:18 PM

To the poster who said there was no stink in Park Slope, I don't know what you're talking about. Park Slope wreaks of soiled diapers and thrown up baby food. The stench is overwhelming. And don't you Slopers tell me to get out if I don't like it. I'm already working on it!!

Posted by: Anonymous at January 27, 2006 5:53 PM