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April 4, 2009
Safety in Prospect Heights
Hi all--
I'm on the verge of buying an apt in Prospect Heights--offer was accepted and am moving forward. But on my last couple of visits to the place, the neighborhood was starting to sketch me out a little. I'm talking Park & Washington, so close to the border with Crown Heights. I guess I have a lot of friends who live closer to Flatbush & I'd never thought too much about the change in sensibility as one got closer to Crown Heights. Can anyone tell me--do you feel safe in that neighborhood? Do you hear of anything happening? What's it like walking around at night?
Thanks! Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Comments
Washington Ave can be a bit dodgy late at night. Also the corner of Underhill and St John's has been a problem spot for years. But overall Prospect Heights and western Crown Heights are pretty safe and no more than the usual commonsense precautions should be needed. Bear in mind too that there's a big police station only two blocks away from your new place (@ Grand and Prospect?) so you could always ask the cops if they have any specific advice. Your best bet is to get to know your neighbors and the local shopkeepers. In my experience, folks will sooner look out for someone who they are on "hi, how are you?" terms with than someone who they may not have registered lives on the block. And most blocks have a lot of "eyes on the street" -- often older retired people who are keen to keep troublemakers away.
Posted by: 1929 at April 4, 2009 7:14 PM
Brooklynian.com has great threads that regarding crime and what is happening in the neighborhood. Its a great tool to get info on the neighborhood.
Posted by: tsarina at April 5, 2009 12:53 PM
I am a single woman who lives in Prospect Heights - I love it and never feel unsafe. I come home late at night from the subway often, and have never had a problem.
Posted by: 518c at April 6, 2009 1:09 PM
first thing i say to friends is:
go at night in the subway and walk to the place.
ure gutt feeling tells you. that feeling is different for everybody. if you dont feel comfortable then dont take it.
Posted by: dutchman at April 6, 2009 4:41 PM
That police station is an annex to the main precinct up on Utica Avenue -- a lot of plainclothes, not a lot of public-facing activity. If you were going to walk in there for advice, my understanding is that they'd likely send you up to Utica. But it's still nice to have on my walk home.
Dutchman is right - it's your call, and different people have different 'safe' levels. I felt a lot less safe on Vanderbilt when I first moved there in the late 90s than I do now, over close to where you'd be.
Heck, you may end up more bothered by noise and smokers from the (very cool-looking) new bar on that corner than by any safety issue.
Posted by: phbalanced at April 6, 2009 10:18 PM
Thanks for all the info.
I too am in the process of purchasing a new construction apt in this area, between Classon and Sterling. Do you think I can negotiate down from the asking price or possibly closing costs? The broker is only accepting asking price.
I don't necessarily feel "unsafe" here, but it is not as glamorous as Flatbush and Sterling.
Posted by: moonfics at April 8, 2009 12:27 AM
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