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October 20, 2009
Prospect Lefferts Garden Move?
I am very interested in the possibility of purchasing a single family home in the Prospect Lefferts Garden section of Brooklyn somewhere between Clarkson and Fenimore and on the Flatbush Avenue side of the blocks. I am interested in knowing if this area of Flatbush is Safe to live near and how other people's experiences have been living in this neighborhood. I am open to anything people have to say, both good and bad, so please be upfront about what you have been experiencing or possible suggestions or even properties you know of which are available. Very Sincerely,
Prospect Heights Wannabe (now Prospect Lefferts Garden!)
Comments
Out of the blocks you listed, only the north side of Fenimore has a single-family deed restriction and R2 zoning, so many houses on the other Flatbush--Bedford blocks you mention are two, or more family. Still, there are many one-family houses mixed in. FWIW I think that the one family houses on Parkside are among the nicest in PLG (and all of Brooklyn, for that matter). Also the four story houses on the south side of the Flatbush--Bedford block of Clarkson are virtually identical to the grand four story houses on Midwood I.
I'm curious about why you don't want to consider the Bedford--Rogers blocks.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 20, 2009 2:00 PM
Those blocks seem just fine and are of great interest as well. I am merely considering that they all are close vicinity to Flatbush Avenue and I currently live in Prospect Heights and am not clear as to how safe and liveable these areas are as I do not know anyone currently living there. I would like to hear your opinion, thank you in advance!
Posted by: Prospect Heights Wannabe at October 20, 2009 8:33 PM
Lefferts Gardens is a no brainer - close to subway and the park. If you plan to be in Brooklyn at least 5 years, PLG is the place to be. The retailing is catching up on Flatbush which still has its rough edges. Nostrand Ave. still retains its 100% West Indian flavour as most of the Lefferts Manor 100+K crowd rarely venture to, but for the curious, they will be rewarded with lovely grub from Culpeppers and Allan's Bakery.
Posted by: Crownlfc at October 21, 2009 12:46 AM
Thank you for your input Crownlfc. Are you aware of any good opportunities, even if they need some work, in your area?
Posted by: Prospect Heights Wannabe at October 21, 2009 7:28 AM
As well, regarding schools in PLG vs. schools in Prospect Heights - is there a difference here?
Posted by: Prospect Heights Wannabe at October 21, 2009 7:30 AM
RE: Safety and livability of blocks off Flatbush Ave.; Having lived in PLG for 35 years, I can safely say that safety is not a great worry. Flatbush Ave. can be noisy, but the sound level falls off rapidly once you turn the corner onto the side streets.
RE: Schools, the local schools have not been great (except for the Maple Street School and a couple of other pre-schools). There is a possibility that a charter school may start next year. It's been many years since I've had to consider schools (my son is in his late 20s) so someone else might want to weigh in here. Is the school situation in PH any better?
You might want to also post your questiojn on our local Lefferts Yahoo list:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lefferts/
Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 21, 2009 9:39 AM
Since it looks like you're looking for a house outside of Lefferts Manor, you might also consider blocks to the north--(i.e Sterling Street and Lefferts Avenue between Washington and Nostrand).
OTOH smaller houses in LM are not always more expensive than in other parts of PLG.
Posted by: Bob Marvin at October 21, 2009 10:11 AM
This is a recording: I agree with Bob Marvin! You should try posting your questions to the Lefferts Group on Yahoo. As for a quick and dirty answer on the Flatbush Ave question, yes -- it's a major commercial strip that tends to be noisy, edgy, crowded and adorned with graffiti and litter. But unsafe? In over 20 years of walking it -- whether as a woman alone or in the company of others -- I've never personally experienced a hostile encounter on Flatbush Ave in PLG. And that has been the case at all times of day, night, and the wee hours of the morning. If anything, Flatbush looks scarier than it actually is. My hunch is that precisely because of the street conditions -- lots of pedestrian activity, many lights, incessant vehicular traffic, etc., it's less encouraging of blatant violent activity than other, less trafficked areas.
Posted by: Brooklynista at October 21, 2009 3:23 PM
I will be visiting the area today and look forward to giving some more information as to what I see here. Thank you all very much for your information and feedback, it is extremely valuable to my search and I will take very careful consideration of all your support. More to come.
Posted by: Prospect Heights Wannabe at October 24, 2009 11:20 AM
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