Forum
« Purchasing a Mixed-Use Gowanus rent stablized lease renewal »
June 24, 2009
Townhouse for $600k?
My husband and I are looking to buy a 3+ BR place so we can start a family (we currently live in a little 700 sq ft Boerum Hill condo). We're open minded about neighborhoods in Brooklyn (preferred) or Queens but want a commute to mid-town that will be less than an hour. We could swing $600k and it would be a dream to have a townhouse but from what we've seen that puts us in Bed Stuy or Bay Ridge. Would anyone have advice on what it's like to live in either community today? Safety is a question, and value for the money. We'd also love recommendations for other neighborhoods we haven't discovered.
Comments
Sunnyside Queens is very nice and right on the 7. As is Jackson heights.
Posted by: bunkerlabs at June 23, 2009 11:08 PM
I was gonna say Sunnyside as well. There is a small subset of Sunnyside called Sunnyside Gardens. It's a gem of a neighborhood.
There are parts of Maspeth with nice housing stock. Fairly safe to, it seems.
How about Marine Park?
Posted by: Springs at June 23, 2009 11:18 PM
Thanks very much for your suggestions. I should add that we don't have a car so do need to be close to the subway.
Posted by: kprestek at June 23, 2009 11:30 PM
I would say certain parts of Bed Stuy, Crown Heights, Eastern Lefferts Gardens, maybe Sunset Park. You should be able to get some fixer-uppers. As for safety - for some, that means the odds of being a victim of crime for others it means an area that's devoid of a particular race." If it's the former, you should be fine depending on the block, if it's the latter then .....
Posted by: Crownlfc at June 24, 2009 2:25 AM
Since you mention starting a family, I imagine you want to tale a look at the schools. I don't think anyone moves to BS or CH for the schools, altho I've heard (here) that there are some new charter schools being opened.
I lived in Sunnyside briefly years ago and couldn't wait to get back to Brooklyn. It's safe tho. And near the subway, quick commute on the #7.
Agree w Crownlfc about Sunset Park, also Greenwood Heights. You might be able to pull off a small fixer-upper within your budget, and there are some good schools in GH (not sure about Sunset).
Posted by: denton at June 24, 2009 6:08 AM
I can't comment on the schools but the area of bed Stuy around the Utica Ave stop (Fulton Park) on the A train is a really fantastic area. It's not far from one small supermarket on marcus garcey and a really learge, ver good one on Fulton St (Super Food Town). Check out the latter, you'll be amazed.
The neighborhood is incredibly quiet, on the side streets and even on Stuyvesant Ave. It's 12-15 minutes to Manhattan on the A train...25 minutes to 34th Street. I don't think anyone who I know in the neighborhood has EVER felt at all unsafe. It's a very clean neighborhood too because the people on each block are diligent about that. So, as far as crime, there really isn't any to speak of of the sort you're interested in.
As for finding a house for $600,000, that is certainly possible, especially east of Stuyvesant. Look at listings with the local brokers...the one on Stuyvesant at McDonough and one named Flateau on Decatur just east of malcolm X. The latter has a website with many properties <$600k... www.flateaurealty.com Most under $600k need a lot of work.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 24, 2009 8:09 AM
WOW, my typing of correctly spelled words is just awful. The schools where I grew up must have been a lot worse than I remember.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 24, 2009 8:26 AM
Jackson Hts is great in Queens - super close to many subway lines, great schools(public and private) and a good mix of people
However if you really want to stay in BK, I would look for fixer-uppers in Park Slope, Greenwood, Gowanus and Windsor Terrace. I have seen lots of properties that are hovering anywhere between 650-850 that you could probably offer a lot less and get into a great nabe
Posted by: gemini10 at June 24, 2009 8:54 AM
Check out Midwood, 11230 zip code. You may find some diamond in the rough in your price range. And if it's located within walking distance to B/Q on Newkirk (not Ditmas park, but something between Ocean Parkway and Coney Island), you'll get a great commute time.
Posted by: kensingtonka at June 24, 2009 8:58 AM
Check out Midwood, 11230 zip code. You may find some diamond in the rough in your price range. And if it's located within walking distance to B/Q on Newkirk (not Ditmas park, but something between Ocean Parkway and Coney Island), you'll get a great commute time.
Posted by: kensingtonka at June 24, 2009 8:58 AM
We moved from Park Slope to Bay Ridge about 4 years ago for the same reasons you did. So schools, safety and space were the priority. Schools here do very well particularly Ps 185 and ps 102.
We love the neighborhood and find it very safe. There are tons of resturants and lots of things for children to do here. There are plenty of parks for kids to run around and have met lots of nice families at these parks.
I thought I'd never leave PS but my husband was set on moving here so we could finally have our own backyard garden. So I agreed to go check it out one weekend and that's all it took. We liked the nabe immediately.
I would check out the areas you're interested in and see what's right for you.
Good luck with your search.
Posted by: italiana71 at June 24, 2009 9:09 AM
Oh and my husbands commute to midtown is just about an hour but we live very close to the subway. So to keep it just about that you want to live close to the subway or close to the express but line.
Posted by: italiana71 at June 24, 2009 9:15 AM
Take a look at http://www.century21.com/realestatelistings/Brooklyn-NY-11233-624A+Macdonough+St-35083795
its on a great block in Bedford Stuyvesant where you will see Gays, Whites with children and Blacks with children and we all love it here and at a price you could afford.
Posted by: SHAYLA at June 24, 2009 9:28 AM
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/112-Hall-St-Brooklyn-NY-11205/30611800_zpid/
by Myrtle in the Clinton Hill/Wallabout area
Posted by: Karka at June 24, 2009 9:42 AM
bensonhurst, gravesend,midwood still have cheap housing. very decent public schools to boot.
Posted by: armchairwarrior at June 24, 2009 9:43 AM
jersey city or guttenberg nj. much more convenient than many places in brooklyn and especially queens.
*rob*
Posted by: PitbullNYC at June 24, 2009 9:46 AM
Sunnyside is great. If you can get a place in the gardens you are set. Much Much quicker to midtown than anywhere in Brooklyn. I am also fond of Jersey City but I live here (disclaimer)
Posted by: Adam Dahill at June 24, 2009 9:55 AM
To me a 600K townhouse in a good neighborhood in BK means it's either a Bay Ridge brick /limestone fixer-upper or Marine Park brick Tudor-style townhouse (the slate roof and fireplace are great features.)
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at June 24, 2009 10:05 AM
To me a 600K townhouse in a good neighborhood in BK means it's either a Bay Ridge brick /limestone fixer-upper or Marine Park brick Tudor-style townhouse (the slate roof and fireplace are great features.)
Posted by: Joe from Brooklyn at June 24, 2009 10:05 AM
I think you should listen to italiana71 and pay attention to the schools if you're planning to start a family. We moved to Park Slope years ago with no regard to school districts, and ended up zoned for PS 107. Back then, 107 wasn't a great school - our kids ended up going to 261 but it was stressful, being wait-listed, etc. I don't regret anything, we had a great time in our old building (we've since moved to Boerum Hill) but negotiating New York public schools is a PITA. Bay Ridge is a lovely neighborhood and you have to weigh short term vs. long term goals (the inconvenience of the commute vs. the public school situation). And don't forget middle schools and high schools - the situation only gets worse as the kids get older! There's a lot to be said for being zoned for a decent school.
Posted by: antigone at June 24, 2009 10:06 AM
Did someone just say Jersey?!?! My wife forced me to watch "The Real House Wives of New Jersey" reunion show last night. I could not believe what I was watching. BK vs Jersey? BK wins hands down
As for neighborhoods and homes >$600K, I agree with DIBS. Look around the Utica stop on the A (Stuyvesant Heights section of Bedford-Stuyvesant). Amazing homes, great community and increasingly better amenities. With regards to schools, if you have a boy, Excellence Charter School (http://www.uncommonschools.org/ecs/home/) has garnered much praise. As well as The Brooklyn Brownstone School (http://www.brooklynbrownstoneschool.org/)
Posted by: bedstuyhoya at June 24, 2009 10:12 AM
The Brownstone School is Coed...pretty interesting schoool started by the parents of the Bed Stuy Parents Association...kind of like a coop school in a way with public funding and an application process.
Posted by: bedstuyhoya at June 24, 2009 10:16 AM
You can find a little woodframe in Greenwood for around that price these days it will need some work, but you'll be closer to the city and the other brownstone brooklyn neighborhoods than if you move out to the ridge. Bay Ridge is indeed a lovely neighborhood.
Jersey City is nothing like real housewives- it's got great architecture and what seems like a pretty diverse community, and it's very close to anywhere you'd need to get in Manhattan.
Posted by: Park Place at June 24, 2009 10:19 AM
Sunset Park has great elementary schools. Rated A's. My girlfriend is in the DOE system and raves about the one across the street from McDonalds on 36th st and 4th ave. For 600k you can find a decent place in Sunset Park or Greenwood Heights. They are pretty safe neighborhoods. Theres a couple of bad blocks but generally speaking theyre safe. I am also looking for a place and I always refer to the NYPD Crime Stats website.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/crime_statistics.shtml
If you take a look at Sunset Park (72nd precinct) its not bad at all, compared to the "best" neighborhoods, the Slopes, Ridge etc.
As far as High School we have that new charter school / Sunset High School opening up this fall.
Posted by: guikazoid at June 24, 2009 10:22 AM
I would just second antigone's point about schools. I have friends who bought a beautiful house in PLG but are now hugely stressed by the school situation, since their zoned school is not an option they are comfortable with at all, but getting into a non-zoned school has become increasingly difficult. I've heard great things about Bay Ridge schools too and have friends who've moved out there. It's a very nice neighborhood, albeit a bit far out.
Posted by: Miss Muffett at June 24, 2009 10:22 AM
Yes, if you are in it for the long haul, Bay Ridge's middle and high school perform well.
I also have to agree with the Jersey thing. There are great nabes in Jersey. My sister lives in Verona, right next to Montclair, (she can actually walk into Montclair) and while its really nice, it just doesn't have the same feel for me. But you can still get a great meal there.
And there's something to be said about being able to hop on a subway and be at Coney Island or in Prospect Park in 20 - 30 mins.
Posted by: italiana71 at June 24, 2009 10:22 AM
Dude, Jersey City and the waterfront towns are definetly not Real Housewives of Jersey. The Hudson Co. towns are closer to Brooklyn/Queens than you think.
Those women live in Franklin Lakes which would be comparable to Westchester Co, Nicer parts of Westchester Co. Those houses are SUPER expensive. It's like compairing apples to orangutans.
Posted by: Adam Dahill at June 24, 2009 10:43 AM
Don't discount downtown Jersey City. We moved there in November after 15+ years in brownstone Brooklyn. The area has a similar feel to Carrol Gardens in late 90's; a mix of single professionals, young families, and old timers.
The public school system offers full day (8:30 to 3) P-K for 3 and 4 year olds. In addition an after school program takes place in each school until 6pm, which is great for working parents. This is guaranteed. No wait-lists, no applications, etc.
I work downtown so the commute for me is 15 minutes. My husband's Midtown commute is about 35 minutes.
Having said that I still prefer BK but prime BK. We sold a small place in Cobble Hill for a big place in more fringe area, and the school situation drove us out of Brooklyn. So my advise is to use a good school system as your guiding light whereever you go. Good Luck.
Posted by: kdabrowski at June 24, 2009 10:45 AM
I live in Sunset Park and have a daughter now a toddler. Moved there before having her, before I really thought much about having kids at all. The parents I know in the neighborhood with school age children do stress about the schools, a stress which is somewhat alleviated by the fact that SSP is in District 15, which has a relatively large number of good elementary schools. (I wouldn't pick a nabe based on secondary schools, however -- a whole nother ball game and generally not at all a question of what zone or district you are in.) Parents I know in District 75 (if I recall correctly -- Fort Green/Clinton Hill/Prospect Hgts) are in a much tougher situation -- I would really hesitate to move into District 75 unless you can afford private, although of course that could change by the time your (prospective) children are school age.
Posted by: southbrooklyn at June 24, 2009 10:47 AM
in queens, forest hills or kew gardens may work for you. there are areas in both nabes that are close to express subway lines [e & f] and the lirr. forest hills has some of the best schools in the city.
the hubby and i looked recently in jersey city [exchange place area] but since we have no kids in school we could not justify the outrageously high real estate taxes.
Posted by: 11214 at June 24, 2009 10:48 AM
My husband lived in Jersey City for a while so I spent weekends there before we were married. I liked it alot. Not sure about the schools. Definetely not house wives of NJ. Haven't seen the show but I've seen the ads. Commute is pretty good too.
Posted by: italiana71 at June 24, 2009 11:03 AM
good luck with the fertility drugs!
Posted by: Art Salt at June 24, 2009 11:06 AM
Wait, Jersey City has FREE pre-K for 3 year olds?????? Wow, that's almost a reason to move back.
Posted by: Heather at June 24, 2009 11:07 AM
You and your husband should be able to get a nice brownstone in Bedford Stuyvesant or Crown Heights. Right now you should be able to find a really nice brownstone in "prime" Bedford Stuyvesant in your price range.
The schools in BS have come up so much in the past 2 years it is amazing. The Brownstone School and Excellence Academy have received great marks. Also Bedford Academy for HS I think is a wonderful school. The students there are so well behaved and the the 10 students to every teacher approach seems to be working over there. The Brownstone school I would send my child there it was created by parents in the community and the parent teacher envelopment there is top.
The Excellence school, well I am starting to see commercials on nationwide TV telling how successful that school is... The principal is really dedicated to the school even the building which is beautiful.
Posted by: Amzi Hill at June 24, 2009 11:07 AM
Just be patient (rent a duplex for the time being) and keep your eye on 'hoods that peaked out at 1.2 and you'll scoop up your dream for 0.6 (might have to adjust for inflation to see this though).
***Bid half off peak comps***
Posted by: Brownstones Half Off at June 24, 2009 11:10 AM
RE: "although of course that could change by the time your (prospective) children are school age."
This is kind of off topic, but how do schools "change"? Is it due to gradual increase of more involvemed parents of the "Stressed out" variety who have to compromise and send their kids to worse schools, but then push and demand that the schools improve? Or is it from the top down -- a new dean, a change in the size of the school, etc . . . ?
Posted by: iz at June 24, 2009 11:24 AM
Jersey City has one of the best high schools in the US, McNair Academy. It's a public high school and has consistantly ranked in the top 100 high schools in the county.
Posted by: Adam Dahill at June 24, 2009 11:29 AM
I live in Bed Stuy and I love it here--I feel safer than I did in Greenpoint. The Utica A train area is beautiful... I think $600K would get you a fixer upper there. I live up Stuyvesant a ways from the A, closer to the J train, where $600K would probably get you something that's already been renovated, or a shell and a construction loan.
Posted by: vanburenproud at June 24, 2009 11:59 AM
If schools are your top priority, Bay Ridge is a great option. However, there are borough-wide lottery schools that are also great (tho no guarantee of entry) like Brooklyn New School.
We lucked out on a wreck in South Midwood (11210) and love, love, love the way our house is shaping up, but the schools suck and as a newly pregnant person, I'm choosing to ignore that for now.
There are several townhouses for sale on Bedford Ave in Midwood towards Brooklyn College that are supposed to be nice inside.
This listing has also been reduced dramatically and on the market for a long, long time. Its on a very nice block in South Midwood (21st btwn Faragut and Glenwood) http://marykayg.com/html/0537.html
We don't have the fancy restaurants of Ditmas, but on a nice day, we walk to them and the train service is great (B/Q at Newkirk).
Posted by: Brooklyn11218 at June 24, 2009 12:15 PM
I agree with Miss Muffet; I'm a fan of my own neighborhood of PLG, but don't move there if you must go the public route and have 2, 3, 4 kids and are assuming you can easily get into a public school outside your zone. That's not a big revelation, it's just common sense not to do that. If you need the larger space a house offers your money either goes towards the very high cost of buying in a top school district, or it goes towards private school tuition. OR, you're doing the long commute. Bay Ridge is worth looking at but anything decent in Bay Ridge seems out of reach for $600K from what I've seen. I'd encourage you look at Sunnyside too; the houses are so cute in the Gardens. Just very small, more like a duplex condo. I don't know anything about the schools there either.
Posted by: traditionalmod at June 24, 2009 12:21 PM
I know a house listed for 600k a block away... it definitely needs a lot of work, but the price is most likely negotiable...
this is prime clinton hill, a whole house, pretty incredible
you can email me for the info nadineiscooler (at) yahoo dot com
plus the coop school is two blocks away...
Posted by: Downing2fam at June 24, 2009 1:04 PM
Jackson Heights - TONS of young families moving in and great space for the money.
Sunnyside is also cute, but you are at the mercy of the 7 line. JH has express trains and is a major hub.
Posted by: laurent at June 24, 2009 1:16 PM
I've been keeping my eye on this listing in Hamilton Park, Jersey City. It's one townhouse off the park in a great brownstone neighborhood. Price just got cut from 820 to 719, but If it goes to the 6's it will go. 3 fam with owner duplex.
http://www.armagnoagency.com/ArmagnoAgency/listings_sales_display.asp?varSaleListingID=57
This is also a nice one for 539k, it's a 2fam and the block is all historical clapboards, BEAUTIFUL block.
http://www.armagnoagency.com/ArmagnoAgency/listings_sales_display.asp?varSaleListingID=46
Posted by: Adam Dahill at June 24, 2009 1:51 PM
Downtown Jersey City is nice and pretty convenient. I'm not sure if you can still find a house in your price range. I used to have a house near Hamilton Park, right down the street from McNair HS, which we also heard was supposed to be a very good school. You couldn't tell so by the behavior of the students. They littered like crazy, even after we got the City to install a street trash can, and would constantly refuse to get up from our stoop until we barged out of the house with our pit/lab.
Hamilton Park is quite lovely but the walk to the Path is long and through the shopping mall. There are some cute coffee shops and restaurants and neighbors are pretty friendly.
Posted by: bessie2 at June 24, 2009 2:14 PM
I'm a person who bought a brick rowhouse in Jersey City after 12 years in Brooklyn. The midtown commute on the path is about 25-30 minutes. The housing stock is pretty good and frankly it's a heck of a lot cheaper (for the most part) than downtown or brownstone Bklyn. There's no way we could have gotten what we did for what we'd have had to pay in Brooklyn.
While Brooklyn was always my first love/choice I'm very happy with our decision (and the house!).
Posted by: TownhouseLady at June 24, 2009 3:25 PM
Jersey City sounds great and the weekday commuting times are comparable to Brooklyn.
Can any Jersey City residents (past or present) speak to what it is like when you need to get home late at night?
If it is late and you are drunk in the West Village, taking a cab to Downtown Brooklyn is between $15 and $25. What would cab fare be to Jersey City?
Posted by: CrankyYoungMan at June 24, 2009 3:45 PM
Since everyone keeps bringing up Jackson Heights, I have to mention: It does not have townhouses, which is what the OP asked about. However, you can get a spacious and gracious two- or three-bedroom pre-war apt with a shared garden, elevator, and fireplace for $450,000 to $550,000.
Personally, I would prefer a townhouse in Bed Stuy myself, and that's what we're looking for. You will also find two-families in your price range in Ridgewood, but I find the M train unbearable. Two-families in Bushwick are even cheaper, but hard to come by.
I also saw recently saw a brownstone listed online for under $600,000 in Crown Heights near the 4 or 5 trains. It was described as a fixer upper but with all the original details. It may be close enough to Prospect Heights that you have the convenience of the park, the Caribbean takeout places such as The Islands, and that one Mexican place that was reviewed on here recently.
Posted by: mopar at June 24, 2009 3:51 PM
I bought for that price range in Bay Ridge. I got a cute 3 bedroom home with a yard and garage. I worried that the transition form Carroll Gardens would be tough, but I love my quiet street, the great restaurants, and the park and water being nearby. Now summer is here and I have a garden. I looked in Windsor--nothing in my price range. Sunset--things in my price range were dumps. And Greenwood, just didn't have much inventory in my price range at the time.
Posted by: Cantaffordcarroll at June 24, 2009 3:55 PM
thanks for clarifying that Mopar - I was thinking where are they hiding all these supposed townhouses in jackson heights.
Posted by: dittoburg at June 24, 2009 3:57 PM
Oops, wait, I forgot: Jackson Heights has a smattering of standalone and semi-attached houses built in the 1930s. Not many. Probably fewer than 20. I'm not sure what they go for these days.
Posted by: mopar at June 24, 2009 4:13 PM
Adam,
Whats rent like in Jersey City?
I been looking for places in Brooklyn, I love it here. Never considered Jersey City, but I did a quick search and it looks nice!
Posted by: guikazoid at June 24, 2009 4:30 PM
Mopar -- I saw a listing for a Jackson heights townhouse a year or so ago that was asking either low 800's or high 700's. I think it was maybe on 85th Street. It looked nice from the pictures. I doubt you will find many townhoues between Roosevelt Ave and Northern Blvd for under 700K, even post-Lehman.
As for Forest Hills, there are some small standalone houses (16' wide or so) for under 700K the farther away from the LIRR you get -- maybe 15 minutes walking.
Posted by: Boerumresident at June 24, 2009 5:12 PM
Glendale or Middle Village, in Queens. Transport is kinda tough, as its a bus-subway connection to midtown, but the M goes downtown.
Safe, and Trader Joe's!
Posted by: bugleg at June 24, 2009 6:51 PM
I agree with the other Bay Ridge posts. We've been renting here for a while, and now with two young children decided to buy in the neighborhood. We're in contract on a 3BR house west of 3rd Ave with outdoor space and a garage and paid just under $600k. Needs a little work, but very livable. I work in midtown and the commute is not that bad, restaurants are great and lots of parks for the kids. Good Luck!
Posted by: nyj85 at June 24, 2009 9:26 PM
I am not clear how you can compare these two neiboughhood. Bayridge one of the safest places in Brooklyn. Bedsty - the oposite. I once walked down the Myrtle ave. The shop had bars so homeless will not steal the shopping carts. And some teens thew rocks and bottles at me (I am white). Or just check the murder map bellow.
Bayridge established itself for long time. Has decent schools, etc. Bedstay - the opposite.
Posted by: bobjohn at June 24, 2009 10:40 PM
I totally agree that you have to consider schools. As a parent who has spent the past 2 years trying to get her kids into a "good" school it is a PITA. It is much harder now as the DOE is trying to be stricter about keeping kids in their own districts. The baby boom doesn't help either. One strategy that has worked historically is moving to a good zone, enrolling first born for Prek or K & then moving as younger kids will be grandfathered (or siblinged in). Might also think about nabes/schools in transition as you have 5 yrs, like PS 9/Prospect Heights, but you aren't going to get anything for 600K there, but you could "commute" as the district border is quite close.
Posted by: gingerbrownie at June 25, 2009 6:58 AM
I'm surprised that some people would even consider neighborhoods like Bed Stuy, Crown Heights, PLG, etc. (OR QUEENS, FOR HEAVENSAKE!) before going to Bay Ridge. There's honestly no comparison. As someone who has lived in Brooklyn her entire life -- trust me -- you do not want to be in any of those neighborhoods instead of Bay Ridge.
Bay Ridge is really on the rise. It's always been a safe, family friendly neighborhood with great schools and AMAZING restaurants. It's just a further commute into midtown (about an hour) than Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens. But Bay Ridge is totally affordable and those neighborhoods just aren't anymore. Since the neighborhoods closer to the city are becoming insanely expensive, there's definitely a flight deeper into Brooklyn. For the quality of life (without sacrificing being in walking distance of a million restaurants and parks and the water), Bay Ridge is the way to go.
Posted by: bkoriginal at June 25, 2009 2:45 PM
I'm surprised that some people would even consider neighborhoods like Bed Stuy, Crown Heights, PLG, etc. (OR QUEENS, FOR HEAVENSAKE!) before going to Bay Ridge. There's honestly no comparison. As someone who has lived in Brooklyn her entire life -- trust me -- you do not want to be in any of those neighborhoods instead of Bay Ridge.
Bay Ridge is really on the rise. It's always been a safe, family friendly neighborhood with great schools and AMAZING restaurants. It's just a further commute into midtown (about an hour) than Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens. But Bay Ridge is totally affordable and those neighborhoods just aren't anymore. Since the neighborhoods closer to the city are becoming insanely expensive, there's definitely a flight deeper into Brooklyn. For the quality of life (without sacrificing being in walking distance of a million restaurants and parks and the water), Bay Ridge is the way to go.
Posted by: bkoriginal at June 25, 2009 2:49 PM
Sorry, bkoriginal, but I have to give a dissenting opinion here. We've been raising our family in Bed-Stuy for the past 5 years and we love it here. We never considered looking in Bay Ridge... an hour long commute to Midtown would be a dealbreaker for us. Here we are right by the Nostrand Ave. stop on the A train, which is about a 30 minute ride to 42nd St. There are some lovely blocks around here comparable to the ones around the Utica Ave. stop.
I will give Bay Ridge its props though: I love the Century 21 they have out there! Same stock as Manhattan but so much less crowded.
Many people have an outdated view of Bed-Stuy. It's a huge neighborhood. There are certainly some sketchy parts in the northern end, but the southern end is mostly quiet and safe, with gorgeous housing stock and good subway access. As with many Brooklyn neighborhoods (dare I say most Brooklyn neighborhoods?), you do have to be willing to spend some time researching school options. In addition to the local schools that others have mentioned, there are several public charter schools that either serve all of District 13 or all of Brooklyn. We ended up in one of these.
Posted by: StuyMom at June 25, 2009 3:59 PM
I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be sorted out because it’s not about the individual but it can be with everyone.Estate Planning
Posted by: lalpri at June 26, 2009 6:22 AM
I'm a big Bay Ridge fan. Parts of it are charming, I do really like the restaurants. It can be too conservative for me but the new residents are less conservative. However, as one who chose PLG, I agree with Stuymom. An hour commute from Bay Ridge or anywhere was a dealbreaker for my husband. It's 15-20 minutes to Midtown from PLG on the B/Q. That's a big difference when somebody is thinking about whether they get home early enough at night to see their children before bedtime. It's also 1.5 to 2 more hours a day you have to pay the nanny in a household with two working parents. That's $150 extra a week, $600 more a month. I'm not bashing Bay Ridge or anywhere else that's a longer commute, but just saying a long commute is not such a small thing to consider.
Posted by: traditionalmod at June 27, 2009 10:53 AM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.