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March 18, 2008
Armory/Homeless Shelter in Crown Heights
I've been considering moving to a condo on Pacific between Nostrand and Bedford and I love everything about it... except the homeless shelter down the block at Atlantic and Bedfordn Aves. Does anyone have any info on crime in the area surrounding this shelter? I read in a blog that there is talk that it could be converted into a community center of sorts, anyone know if this is in the works?
Thanks in advance
Comments
i would suggest you walk around the area during the day and night.
i wouldn't live next/close to it.
Posted by: armchairwarrior at March 18, 2008 11:26 PM
As far as I've heard it's going to stay a shelter. I'd be very diligent in my fact finding about crime around there. Talk to neighbors, go around at various times as the above poster noted, talk to the precinct. We have a building near there and it gets broken into and robbed at least once a year and in the recent past it was robbed about 4 times in a month. The users of the facility contributed their vulnerability to proximity to the shelter.
Posted by: guest at March 19, 2008 10:35 AM
Dont do it especially if you're female; many sex offenders live at these places. I don't care how lovely the aprartment or area is I would steer clear. Just my .02
Posted by: guest at March 19, 2008 10:47 AM
I would suggest you walk around, and see if you can speak to anyone living at the Imperial Apartments, or ask at St.Bartholomew's Church. They are both very close to the corner, and would know if the people there are a real or perceived danger.
I live a block down, between Nostrand and Nostrand, and there is no spillover where I am, but I certainly understand your concern, especially as a condo owner. I walk by there quite often, and have never been harassed or even spoken to. But then, I'm a middle aged woman, not a young thing anymore, although that doesn't matter to some men.
I know there is plenty of community talk about the future of the armory. We would like to see the shelter much reduced in size, and the bulk of the building turned back to the community, ala Park Slope's armory. Someday, proximity to this architectural (and landmarked) gem will be a positive thing.
There is a lot going on on your (possible) block. The biggest impediment to change are the apartment buildings on the south side of the block, but much of the block is going through amazing change. If you do move there, welcome!
Posted by: Montrose Morris at March 19, 2008 11:29 AM
Above, I meant Nostrand and New York.
Posted by: Montrose Morris at March 19, 2008 1:21 PM
I thought about a condo also on Pacific and Bedford. I would not advise it. Especially being Female.
Posted by: guest at March 19, 2008 2:13 PM
Don't buy in that area, a homeless black guy might rape you.
Posted by: guest at March 19, 2008 4:37 PM
When I used to be at home a lot I would notice a flow of shabby men from the east walking through PH on their way to Flatbush. In the evening the flow was reversed. I think they were the inhabitants of the shelter. I think they were responsible for a lot of the petty crime in the neighborhood.
Posted by: guest at March 19, 2008 5:55 PM
4:37 Your comment reflects your ignorant racist ass.
5:55 DOnot make assumptions without finding out the facts.
Posted by: guest at March 19, 2008 6:20 PM
4:37 is right! It's much more desirable to be raped by a white guy!!!
Posted by: guest at March 19, 2008 11:49 PM
That place is like Rikers without locks and guards. Stay away.
Posted by: Bklyn Fire Alarm Guy at March 20, 2008 9:59 AM
I went to a precinct meeting and people who lived near the shelter felt that aside from the visual sadness, the shelter people were harmless. They thought it was the teenagers that present the largest problem with crime in that area.
Posted by: guest at March 20, 2008 10:17 AM
As a young woman myself, I understand your concerns and had the same ones myself before i decided to take the plunge. I pass by the armory on a regular basis and -i have not been harassed by the homeless guys-- They mostly keep to themselves. That said, I would generally avoid walking around there at night (although you should note there is a 24 hour gas station across the street which is well lit and always manned). You are more likely to be harassed by young punks than by the homeless guys.
I agree with some of the other commenters--there is a visual sadness to the place--especially because it is so beautiful and so much of the space is wasted (I believe the shelter only takes up a fraction of the overall space) and/or unavailable for use. I think it would be wonderful to convert a portion of the space to a recreation center or something else the community could use. There has been a lot of talk about it and I do believe it is just a matter of time before the community demands it.
Overall-i think an investment in the area is a good one. There are restaurants, cafe's and shops starting to sprout up and in a couple of years-the area will probably no longer be affordable. I have seen this same phenomenon happen in Park slope-specifically near 4th Avenue-there was a time when that area was sketchy but its now hailed as the park avenue of Brooklyn.
so all and all- ihope to see ya at the community Board meeting!
Posted by: HomeSweetstuy at March 20, 2008 5:46 PM
I have lived in the general area for several years and, to be honest, I don't really like walking by the shelter by myself (I am a woman), especially at night. However, this is an atmospheric thing, on the occasions when I have walked by, and the many occasions I've ridden my bike up Bedford, I've never had anyone harass me. Moreover, my avoidance has always been limited to the particular corner of Bedford and Atlantic, I don't think there is much spillover into the rest of the vicinity -- I usually see the guys from the shelter hanging out on the steps or the sidewalk right in front of the entrance. I lived on Dean Street and often would take the A to Nostrand Avenue and walk west on Dean to get home, sometimes at 11 pm, and never experienced a problem.
That said, the shelter does have a reputation as a dangerous place for homeless men to stay, so I wouldn't argue that all of its residents are harmless. It's just that you could easily avoid interacting with any of them.
Posted by: guest at March 21, 2008 1:44 PM
So, may I ask if you decided to buy the condo? Because I'm in the process of purchasing on the same block as you and now I'm rethinking it. I'm a young woman myself and dealing with that area scares the hell out of me. And now with the city shutting the Manhatta shelter down and transfering thhe residents to this shelter I'm even more concerned. Any thoughts?
Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 6:47 PM
Only suggestion is that you should only purchase where you will be comfortable. It doesn't make any sense to spend all that money buying an apt in a neighborhood you don't feel safe in regardless if your concerns for safety are actually founded.
Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 4:04 PM
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