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October 2, 2007
Pat on the Back for Park Slope
It's rare to see an article these days that simply praises Park Slope for what's good about it without the requisite stabs at stroller moms and celebrity sightings. The inclusion of the leafy brownstone neighborhood in the American Planning Association's list of the 10 best neighborhoods provided just such an occasion. The first-annual effort by the D.C.-based group also included spots like San Francisco's North Beach and Buffalo's Elmwood Village. What grabbed the judges' attention about the Slope? "It's got a lot of past, but it has also evolved and has a lot of vibrancy in the present," said association spokesman Denny Johnson. Johnson also praised the area's architecture and proximity to a wealth of cultural institutions. In a surprise moment of boosterism, Boro Beep Marty Markowitz agreed: "Park Slope has it all...great shopping and eateries, the creative arts...and a long tradition of progressive politics and activism." So there you have it, folks.
Slope Named One of U.S.'s Best Nabes [NY Daily News]
Photo by Robert Catalano
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Comments
Mary Markowitz? I thought she was the borough first lady.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 10:18 AM
oops
Posted by: brownstoner at October 2, 2007 10:22 AM
The hell does "progressive politics" have to do with whether or not a neighborhood is nice, Marty?
Posted by: Jeremy at October 2, 2007 10:41 AM
ever lived in Alabama?
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 10:57 AM
Nice news.
Not a huge surprise for those of us who live there...
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 11:03 AM
Ah, spent 4 years in Buffalo. Elmwood was a cool area, forgot about it though. Glad to have the reminder and also remind people that Buffalo isn't all bad.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 11:31 AM
I find it interesting that had this article been about housing prices in Park Slope or stroller moms, or milfs or whatever, there would have been 50 comments by now trashing the neighborhood.
But now everyone is silent.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 11:57 AM
I much prefer Bay Ridge west of 4th Ave to Park Slope.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 12:15 PM
I knew there was a reason I lived here! I truly believe that Park Slope is a model urban neighborhood.
Posted by: Park Sloper at October 2, 2007 12:16 PM
The American Planning Association is clearly racist.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 12:21 PM
Hey, chew on this! Fucktards
http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2007/phs_aug07_mortgage_problems_continue.html
Mortgage Problems Continue to Hamper Pending Home Sales
WASHINGTON, October 02, 2007 -
Pending sales of existing-homes activity will be dampened near-term as mortgage disruptions continue to impact the housing market, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
The Pending Home Sales Index*, a forward-looking indicator, fell 6.5 percent to a reading of 85.5 from an upwardly revised 91.4 in July, based on contracts signed in August. It was 21.5 percent below the August 2006 index of 108.9.
Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, said the mortgage market impact is quantifiable. “Fewer contracts were being written because of mortgage availability issues, and a separate internal survey of our members shows more than 10 percent of sales contracts fell through at the last moment in August, primarily the result of canceled loan commitments,” he said. “The volume of activity we’re seeing today is below sustainable market fundamentals because some creditworthy people are trying to buy homes but can’t because of the credit crunch.
“The impact was greater in high-cost markets that are more dependent on jumbo mortgages. In some areas, as much as 30 percent of signed contracts were falling through in August when the credit crunch problem peaked,” Yun said. “The problem has since become less severe, though jumbo loan rates are still higher than they would be under normal conditions. Therefore, sales activity in late fall will better reflect market fundamentals.”
The index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.
Annual changes in the index are more closely related to actual market performance than are month-to-month comparisons. As the relatively new index matures and seasonal adjustment factors are refined, the month-to-month comparisons will become more meaningful.
An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity during 2001, which was the first year to be examined as well as the first of five consecutive record years for existing-home sales.
The PHSI in the West was down 2.7 percent in August to 80.3 and was 27.1 percent below a year ago. In the Midwest, the index fell 2.9 percent from July to 78.1 and is 18.0 percent lower than August 2006. The index in the Northeast fell 8.3 percent in August to 77.3 and was 18.3 percent below a year ago. In the South, the index dropped 9.5 percent in August to 97.8 and was 21.3 percent below August 2006.
The National Association of Realtors®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
# # #
* The Pending Home Sales Index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20 percent of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing the model for the index, it was demonstrated that the level of monthly sales-contract activity from 2001 through 2004 parallels the level of closed existing-home sales in the following two months. There is a closer relationship between annual index changes (from the same month a year earlier) and year-ago changes in sales performance than with month-to-month comparisons.
The forecast will be revised October 10, and existing-home sales for September will be released October 24. The next Pending Home Sales Index will be on November 1.
Posted by: The What at October 2, 2007 12:37 PM
Hey WhatTheFuckTard. Real estate is local. I could give 2 squirts o' piss about your national stats.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 12:42 PM
Ewwwww. Park Slope?
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 12:49 PM
Beauty is only skin deep.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 12:51 PM
Congratulations to Park Slope.
It is a beautiful neighborhood, there is no arguing that.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 12:56 PM
Just goes to show how irrelevant the sour-grapes sniping is on blogs like here and Curbed, in NY magazine and NY Observer articles, etc.
Oh, no! Park Slope is too family friendly! It's too upscale! It's too safe! It has too many restaurants and shops!
Goodness me! I'd *never* want to live in a place like that!
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 1:21 PM
As they say, 1:21...
Any press is good press.
Seems so Re: Park Slope as well
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 1:28 PM
What is a "stroller" mom?
Do some moms levitate their children? Don't all moms have strollers?
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:19 PM
Actually I never would want to live in a place like that because it feels nice for a few hours and then it begins to feel sort of weird and empty in a Talking Heads kind of way... you know, "this is not my beautiful house, this is not my beautiful wife, how did I get hear?" And thats when I say, "Thank god I didn't choose to buy in Park Slope." It feels sort of hollow, like it is all a set that could come crashing down at any minute. It does have a lot of great things to offer though and I do enjoy people watching when I visit.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:21 PM
"feel sort of weird and empty"
"It feels sort of hollow"
I'm afraid that's not the neighborhood...
That comes from within you.
Need a number of a good therapist?
You don't sound well.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:25 PM
I would rather live in a neighborhood with levitating mothers.
Park Slope is over.
Boring.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:26 PM
Usually people who say something is "over" or "boring" are actually projecting that they themselves are over and boring. Psych 101.
If you can't amuse yourself in Park Slope, it's not the neighborhoods fault.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:29 PM
You could be right about that but unfortunately a lot of people have that same feeling about Park Slope. Could explain why their are so many therapist is Park Slope.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:30 PM
Here we go... it didn't take long at all.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:34 PM
Buenos Aires is the Therapist Capital of the world.
Pretty amazing place, if I do say so.
If you didn't think you needed to see one, 2:30 you wouldn't get defensive about it.
Your comments are a sign of someone with issues.
Lots of people also happen to like Park Slope. You know...this is the subject of today's article.
You have a right not to like it...that's cool...but you really should see someone about your feelings of being hollow and empty every time you visit there.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:38 PM
lol. It's too beautiful! It's too happy! It's too perfect! There must be something wrong with it! It must be... um... "hollow"!
Keep the "insults" coming, folks. You may convince as many as 8 bitter blog comments readers not to live in Park Slope.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 2:51 PM
I love living in Park Slope. I love the park, the community vibe (i can't leave the house without running into at least a couple of people we know), the shopping and the restaurants. i love that i have everything i need right at my doorstep. i love that my kids will have decent public schools to attend. sure, i don't love that we live in a small coop apartment and can't afford a brownstone, but you know what? life is more than real estate. oops, maybe that's not something one writes on a blog about real estate.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 3:08 PM
I'm not defensive about your suggestion that perhaps I need therapy because I think Park Slope feels empty and hollow. In fact I am quite comfortable with the fact that I am not perfect and perhaps feel out of place in a neighborhood that pretends to be perfect. But let this all be water under the bridge. To each his/her own. This is your day Park Slopers. Congratulations!
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 3:24 PM
I love Park Slope and I can't afford to live there. Not even to rent. That makes me sad. Not therapist-seeking sad, but nevertheless, glum. I'd be thrilled to own a small coop apartment there. Not going to happen. But it's a wonderful place. Congratulations, Park Slope!
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 3:43 PM
you should talk to a good broker
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 4:14 PM
thanks for sharing.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 4:28 PM
Yes Park Slope is the bestest neighborhood I ever did see. Golly gee terrific it is. Oops! I think i crapped my pants!
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 4:30 PM
Clean-up on aisle 9!
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 7:52 PM
Hey, chew on this! Fucktards
I love the way white people curse.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 8:00 PM
Hey WhatTheFuckTard. Real estate is local. I could give 2 squirts o' piss about your national stats
This stuff is gold I tell ya.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 8:01 PM
When I run around Propect Pk - after driving there - it would be nice to have a house on the Park or down the block; worth the admission. That being said please join us in Bed Stuy Sunday 10/7/07 at 10:00am for the 26th annual Restoration 10k - you Slopers love to run, so come join us rain or shine.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 8:15 PM
His new name is The Whatthefucktard.
Posted by: guest at October 2, 2007 8:16 PM
One of my favorite things about living in PS is watching the lesbians make out. Life just doesn't get any better than that...
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 12:18 AM
I think Park Slope is a great neighborhood for someone who is over 30 and is married. If you like kids, its great...It has a funky liberal but conservative feel. A paradox? The best part is you can roll out of bed put on some wholey jeans, a ratty graphic tshirt and throw a hat on your wild hair and be comfortable... No pretense yet still a weird mix of both upscale and downscale...Again a paradox? It's not the wanna be hipster Williamsburg, or the can't afford Tribeca so I moved to Dumbo, its just real...the slope, not trying to be anything except a great place to live.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 12:24 AM
Hey guest 12:18, have seen any pretty lesbians? I'm still trying to find some. Guess lipstick lesbians dont exist.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 12:26 AM
"Guess lipstick lesbians dont exist."
What? This city is so filled with hot lipstick lesbians that even Helen Keller could spot them.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 12:48 AM
nanny nanny pooh pooh
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 10:02 AM
tons of hot lezzies in the slope.
you aren't lookin hard enough.
lots of gay men as well it seems.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 10:44 AM
What a great slogan...
"just real...the Slope, not trying to be anything except a great place to live."
Only, it sounds as empty and hollow as the neighborhood.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 10:58 AM
that's your heart that's empty and hollow, 10:58.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 11:15 AM
"No neighborhood in America has a finer and more intact collection of late 19th-century row houses than Park Slope," notes architectural historian and Columbia University professor Andrew Dolkart. "Block after block is virtually unaltered, with houses ranging from grand townhouses designed by Brooklyn's leading architects, to long rows of vernacular speculator-built housing designed by the obscure architects who provided character to so many urban neighborhoods."
Park Slope has a little bit of everything: stately brownstones, attractive apartment buildings, a farmer's market, independently owned businesses, transit, an adjoining park, and active residents, some of whom moved to the area as urban homesteaders when it was being abandoned in the 1960s...Historic in design and modern in amenity, the livability of Brooklyn's Park Slope is no hyperbole. Its architectural, recreational, transportation, and community assets all combine to make it a great community of lasting value.
Posted by: guest at October 3, 2007 12:34 PM
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