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November 13, 2007
Seeking Condo!
I am seeking a condo in a relatively safe neighborhood. I'm single so I'd prefer the neighborhood to be not only safe but somewhat vibrant as well. My budget is between $300K up to $400K. Any suggestions?
Comments
I'd look in Park Slope. You could find a studio for around 275-300K and probably a small 1 bedroom for around 375-400K.
The area is extremely safe, many shops and restaurants, a gorgeous park, greenmarket, liberal vibe and some of the best architecture around.
Posted by: guest at November 13, 2007 3:44 PM
18 goodwin pl. condos for sale 319,000
Posted by: kohn at November 13, 2007 5:10 PM
the poster said they wanted safe and vibrant.
what part of bushwick would you consider either, 5:10???
Posted by: guest at November 13, 2007 5:29 PM
Definitely Park Slope for a young, single woman. Single people need to be near places to go out. To be cut off from that is dismally depressing. There are 2 excellent music venues right in Park Slope, and a lot of restaurants and bars.
Posted by: guest at November 13, 2007 6:01 PM
5:10 is the absolute slimiest of brokers, trying to pawn off some horrible condo way out in Bushwick on some unsuspecting soul.
Really...have you NO shame?
Posted by: guest at November 13, 2007 7:30 PM
I prefer Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens to Park Slope.
I lived in Park Slope and Boerum Hill briefly, before moving to Fort Greene and very recently to Clinton Hill. I definitely consider all of the neighborhoods above safe... and vibrant in their own ways. (I'm refering to neighborhoods proper - check a map, don't listen to broker-speak).
It depends on what you like and what, in your mind, contributes to a neighborhood's vibrancy. I suggest spending a day and evening of two in each... Or ask specific questions. Happy to offer my two cents. I'm a woman in my late 20s (you didn't mention your age, but maybe that's relevant).
Also, are you new to Brooklyn?
Posted by: clintonhiller at November 13, 2007 8:12 PM
i agree with 8:12pm on all the areas she mentioned. make sure you walk around the area from day time to night time. week days and weekends to get the feel of the vibe.
also make sure you walk around the main areas like where the shops are.
but don't forget prospect heights too.
Posted by: armchairwarrior at November 13, 2007 8:39 PM
citing safety specifically, park slope is the safest of the all the neighborhoods mentioned. also the most vibrant, hands down.
i've heard some really bad stories regarding friends being mugged on the way from the trains in clinton hill...especially lately.
agree that you should walk around and see what you like, but seeing that you cited vibrance and safety specifically, there is no question that park slope most suits those two things.
clinton hill has very little in terms of services and even less in terms of transportation which means long walks to/from the subway...oftentimes along pretty desolate stretches. nice homes though...
parts of ft. greene are good also for what you're looking for. shops, restaurants, bars, lots of trains, etc.
good luck!
Posted by: guest at November 13, 2007 9:44 PM
Bay Ridge. Very diverse, vibrant community, best restaurants in Brooklyn and real estate at about 1/4th the price of Park Slope, if you don't mind an extra 15 minutes on the train. Extremely safe as well, has been an established middle class neighborhood for the last 100 years.
Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 10:32 AM
Bay Ridge is a GOOD hour from Manhattan on a good day.
Not really an option for most people.
Best restaurants in brooklyn???
LOLOLOL
Come on now.
Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 11:37 AM
Wait a second, guest 9:44-- I'm not trying to get into nabe-on-nabe arguing, here, but it's a stretch to characterize Clinton Hill as full of desolate streets and muggers. I live in the Hill, and it's bustling, vibrant, diverse, and has a great bohemian mix of people. And it's completely safe. People get mugged everywhere, including Park Slope (which is beautiful and full of amenities, but also really congested and expensive). If you're not into the Slope, which I'm not, Clinton HIll has an amazing vibe.
Posted by: Rehab at November 14, 2007 12:29 PM
As far as Bay Ridge restaurants, sorry I'll be more specific, best Middle Eastern, best Pizza, best Scandavian, best Greek, best Indian, best Southern Italian, best Diners and best Chinese outside of Brooklyn Chinatown. That better? No, there aren't many "Applewood" type restaurants, but how often are you eating at those types of places anyway???? Feel free to walk down 3rd Ave and 5th Ave in the 60s - 80s and actually try some of the restaurants and then take it up with the Chowhound people, you'll find many Bay Ridge food fanatics:
http://www.chowhound.com/boards/19
As far as commute times, I do it daily and it's 40 minutes to downtown Manhattan from 77th St (60s-80s are where most of the younger ppl live) on the R local train, and faster if you take the N from 59th (4 stops to Union Square/14th St). Yes, it is longer to midtown as it is with most Brooklyn neighborhoods.
And a beautiful, large 1-bedroom (750 sq ft plus) in a safe and attractive building will only cost you $250k. No, it's not the latest hipster trend, it will never be because it's a safe neighborhood and there's very little that's edgy about it, no projects, low crime, the local precinct is where police officers go to retire. It has too much history as a middle-class area to ever be the next "it" place, but it is a great neighborhood for a single woman looking for a nice apartment in a vibrant area with $400k.
Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 1:34 PM
i think most young people would rather go to jersey with a 15 minute commute than to bay ridge if they are looking for a deal.
Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 1:39 PM
Bay Ridge is great for couples starting families. And it does have great restaurants. But it's not for singles.
For safety AND social reasons, I'd never live in Clinton Hill as a young single woman. Again, nice investment for a couple with family who want a house they can grow into, but it's not for singles.
There's also not enough going on in Carroll Gardens, are you guys kidding? We've met friends for dinner there before then on the way home around 11pm it's like a ghost town. Maybe there's one block somewhere in Carroll Gardens we haven't seen yet that is more vibrant, but I wouldn't consider that sufficient.
When you're single you need to be able to literally walk right across the street and find people you've gotten to know, sitting on bar stools hanging out. Singles need to be able to have spontaneous social opportunities erupting all around them, and not have to labor so hard to have a social life. They should never have to travel somewhere to socialize.
Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 8:09 PM
Bay Ridge is a great place to live. There are lots of young singles moving in. It's relatively affordable compared to Park Slope, and you can get a beautiful pre-war apartment for much less money. It is not a really long trip to Manhattan. The F train from Park Slope is no bargain!
If you want a safe beautiful neighborhood to move to, then check out Bay Ridge.
Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 9:03 PM
I say Park Slope, Cobble Hill or Carroll Gardens. Fort Green, Boerum Hill, and Prospect Heights are great (I actually live in Prospect Heights) but If you're super-sensitive to security, there are probably going to be times of the day and certain parts of those neighborhoods that you're going to feel are a little sketchy. Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill will feel safe all the time.
Posted by: guest at November 14, 2007 10:00 PM
Jackson Heights.
Posted by: guest at November 15, 2007 12:41 AM
Brooklyn sucks.
Posted by: guest at November 15, 2007 12:43 AM
Good luck trying to find an apt in cobble hill for 300,000 10pm
Posted by: guest at November 15, 2007 1:15 AM
no crap. we moved to queens b/c we could no longer afford to buy anything in brooklyn. and it's 10 times less yuppy here.
Posted by: guest at November 15, 2007 7:01 AM
and it's 10 times less yuppy here.
gross. why would you want to live there?
Posted by: guest at November 15, 2007 10:49 AM
Maybe OP should consider renting in Park Slope for a year, getting a feel for the hood and also exploring the other places people mentioned. Prices should remain steady and/or dip until the lease is up.
Posted by: guest at November 19, 2007 8:03 AM
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