Forum
« Gas Boiler Repair Specialist? Hole in wood floor »
November 5, 2007
Gowanus Houses Neighbors
We're thinking about buying a place across the street from the Gowanus Housing Projects. We don't really know that much about this specific neighborhood - we've spent the last 4 years in DUMBO. What do people think about being this close to these particular projects? This would be a live work space for us. We're concerned about safety and resale. Also, what do people think is going to happen with the Bond, Butler, Baltic St. blocks? THank you!
Comments
you do the math hoseing projects= blackpeople=crine you nead to wake up and smell the coffee.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 8:37 PM
Used to live about 6 blocks from the start of this projects. Its sprawling and dense - one of the largest in BK.
Once went to open house on Bond. It was a gorgeous 2 BR - 975 sq ft and only $425K. Couldnt figure out what was wrong with this place until I turned the corner right into th Gowanus Projects. Followed the listing for many months and never saw it sold. Im sure it did at some point (after serious price reductions), but the point is the projects will never go anywhere, just like your property values if you live across the street.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:07 PM
two of the most ignorant posts on brownstoner ever.
excuse them.
i think you'll just need to check it out, walk around at different times of day. most of the time, projects feel a lot worse than they really are in terms of actual safety issues or crime.
living amonst projects is a fact of life in new york city.
if you feel comfortable, by all means go for it.
in terms of this area...i think it's only on the up and up.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:25 PM
"living among the projects is a fact of life in NYC"
No it's not. I live in NYC and there are no projects within a 25 block radius of my house.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:30 PM
I would never live anywhere near a city project if I had it my way I would blow them up ( with the people in it of course ).
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 10:08 PM
u know all you people with negative comments
make me sick. you probably never grew up,i mean really grew up in new york.
ALSO YOU ALL SOUND REALLY BRAVE HIDING BEHIND A GUEST POSTING.yeah right
SISSYS.
and as far as the posting about blowing them up.
i would like to know were you live.
so i can blow up your building
WITH JUST YOU IN IT.LOL UR SUCH A CONFEDRATE,RACIST,LOSER, go back to were u came from .
and you know who i am notice no GUEST posting.
to SHA 4 the area is not as bad as it use to be.there is much more of police presence then there has ever been .
jus ask me if you have ?
brooklyn for life .
Posted by: johnrodriguez at November 6, 2007 12:22 AM
John, Although I appreciate your disgust, especially with 10:08, I do disagree in that the main concerns the OP is expressing is: "We're concerned about safety and resale."
I used to live not too far from the Gowanus houses, and also the Warren street projects and I must say that saftey and resale are challenging issues. My wife and I would sometimes walk past there on our way to Atlantic or Carroll Gardens and I felt very unsafe. People would approach asking for money, trying to touch my wife, etc. I could only imagine if she were by herself...
Now we will walk at least 3 or 4 blocks out of the way just to avoid the entire area.
As far as re-sale, every once in a while I notice listings in the area that are way underpriced and languish on the market forever, basically for the same reasons noted above.
The projects are a permenant fixture in NYC, but that does not mean you have to live near or across from one.
I dont consider myself a racist, but I am a realist. I would never feel safe over there even if police were posted on every corner (Which they are not). So if the OP is looking for a deal and wants to take their chances - so be it. If they are looking to be pioneers in an improving neighborhood - There are much better and safer options than living next to the projects.
If that makes me a racist, so be it.
Posted by: newsouthsloper at November 6, 2007 8:15 AM
Is the building in question the one on bond bwt butler and baltic? new construction? if so Ive got some info for you oon the building
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 8:18 AM
F that I grew up in NYC and would never live near a housing project...You can't tell people how to feel; sorry a lot of projects are not safe and why would I invest where I don't feel safe. Everyone has a right to their opinion without the racist BS being thrown at them. I don't live anywhere near a project and I love it..People If you don't feel right about a situation don't let folks on a board change your mind about anything...you have a right to your opinion and safety.
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 8:35 AM
I've lived in Boerum Hill off and on for 25 years. State St. in the early 1980s and Dean St. now. The improvement in the area is off the charts. That said, you still need to approach things with eyes wide open. I walk up and down Hoyt + Smith St. a lot. While Smith is considered hip + gentrified, it has as much crime Hoyt. People's perception of the two streets is very different though. Same with houses. People have a different perception if the house is a couple of blocks away from the projects than if it is right up against it. I think over time, the area right by the projects will continue to improve. I think I'd rent there for a while first though, to see if you are comfortable.
Posted by: Boerum Hill at November 6, 2007 9:51 AM
to the "guest" (8:18 am) who mentioned that they may have info about the new construction btw butler and baltic, i'd love to hear it. thank you for all the comments.
Posted by: dontvote at November 6, 2007 12:04 PM
we looked at a place across the st-- looked good during the day. at night there were hoods all over -- only activity was outside the chinese/chicken joint and the liquor store.
Notice that both are bulletproof? Wonder why
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 12:17 PM
In terms of re-sale value, it is important to know people's impressions. There are SO many people who would NEVER live across from projects, no matter how safe they are. Even though I would live half a block from them without thinking twice (and nearly did buy a place half a block away)I don't think I would want to buy a house right across from the projects, because they are truly such an eyesore and just pretty dreary in general. I really don't think safety is an issue, but I can see getting swept away in desperation to buy something affordable and then having serious buyers regret about the location. I do love Boerum Hill, but I think the poster is right that you should spend quite a bit of time there day and night and ask the neighbors how they feel. In terms of the liquor store on court having bullet proof windows - that is simply ridiculous and every time I go there I ask when they are getting rid of them. It really is a safe safe area - streets are always full of people.
Posted by: guest at November 6, 2007 2:20 PM
I have lived on Bergen and then State Street (between Bond and Nevins) and now Hoyt near Atlantic for the last 11 years. Both my wife and I walk our baby down Hoyt Street all the time, and usually we walk on the east (housing project) side rather than the west (bodega side) because we actually feel safer on that side and because the sidewalk is wider.
If you are talking live/work, I assume you are looking at something structurally not a townhouse, like some of the buildings on Bond or else maybe on Douglass. I think safety wise you will be the same as in most other blocks in Boerum Hill -- pretty safe but there is some lwo level crime. Gowanus Projects are much easier on the eye, IMO, than Wyckoff Houses over between Nevins and 3rd.
OTOH, being within a block or so of the projects will always impact resale value. I think the townhouses on Warren between Bond and Nevins (i.e., between the Gowanus and Wyckoff projects) are on a pretty great block, but they historically and today sell at 20-30% less than houses one to two blocks away in either direction.
Posted by: guest at November 7, 2007 4:56 PM
neb
Posted by: guest at November 7, 2007 7:45 PM
Considering their size, those projects do not really affect the area. That said, about 2 yrs ago i was robbed by a group of kids from those projects. (Mr friend lived on degraw at the time.) Furthermore, the disparity between haves and have nots in the neighborhood creates some "friction". If you talk to the cops that work in the districts, they would actively discourage you, but in the end its entirely up to you.
Posted by: slick at November 8, 2007 4:22 AM
Bad idea. Do not buy a house across the street from a housing project if you are concerned with safety and resale. It's just reality, not racism. Even people living in the projects don't want to live there but have no choice because they can't afford to live anywhere else.
Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 9:20 PM
yo i live over there son dont do it. dudes dont play. there r 2 high skools right by there n dudes always mess wit random ppl on their way home after skool. i saw 5 juniors surroundin this old white dude once n makin him give them his money, and this was on smith street. i wud reccomend u movin to staten island or sumthin lol
Posted by: guest at February 24, 2008 6:23 PM
DONT MOVE TO THE GOWANUS HOUSE.
I LIVE HERE.
IT SUCKS!
I HAVE NO CHOISE BUT TO LIVE HERE, THESE PEOPLE STINK. IM BLACK AND I CANT STAND MY OWN KIND. THEY ARE RUDE AND DIS-RESPECTFUL. THEY ARE ALL CRIMINALS AND THEY PEE IN THE ELEVATOR.
IF YOU DONT MIND GETTING ROBBED OR RAPED PLEASE BUY A HOUSE AROUND HERE.
Posted by: guest at April 5, 2008 10:13 PM
FUCKIN PUSSY ASS WHITE PEOPLE GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THE PROJECTS LMAOOOOO I FUKIN HATE U PUSSY ASS WHITE PEOPLE JUS LEAVE BROOKLYN N GO AND LIVE IN PUSSY ASS HI RISE APARTMENTS WHERE THERE ARE ONLY WHITE PEOPLE AND STARBUCKS. FUKIN HOMO ASS NIGGAS LMAO
Posted by: guest at May 24, 2008 10:40 PM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.