@Montrose - :-)
@wasder - HA! HA!
@BSD - HA! HA! HA!
@Petebklyn - are your complaints similar to what was said in the NY Times piece?

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at November 11, 2009 2:07 PM in response to Mamary: Crown Heights, Greenpoint Ripe for the Picking

Big Jug -

Many of the institutions that are mentioned in the post predate the nail salons, dollar stores, and take out joints that you point to. So you choose to frame Crown Heights in one way, but that frame misses a whole lot. (Nail salons and take out are definitely ubiquitous on Nostrand Avenue - but Nostrand is but one street in Crown Heights.)

And even if the "renaissance" only existed in the minds of the residents of Crown Heights ... well, that's where change begins. In the mind of a visionary whose sight is broader than it is myopic.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at August 17, 2009 7:59 PM in response to Closing Bell: Crown Heights' Blooming Art Scene

Thank you very much for the write up, Brownstoner. Much appreciated.

One of the things that we try to underscore in the blog piece is that many of these institutions have existed in the neighborhood for decades. So I don't think this is a new standard. I think this has always been there. Heck - the West Indian Day parade is a massive celebration of artistry - music, costume making, etc.

But people - without and within the community - are so lost in discussions about the riots or whatever other topic du jour, that they overlook this aspect of Crown Heights.

I think we what may be going on now are some artists and entrepreneurs - who incidentally are definitely not all white and definitely not all Manhattanites - that do research, check Census data, understand trends and have decided to catch the wave that was already in motion courtesy of the long time art & cultural institutions in the nabe.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at August 17, 2009 6:48 PM in response to Closing Bell: Crown Heights' Blooming Art Scene

Great post!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at July 28, 2009 10:35 AM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Nature Boy

I second Devil in the White City as a must read. Also, looking forward to part 2, Montrose.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at June 23, 2009 5:24 PM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: World's Fairs and White Cities

Very interesting post, Montrose!

Ironically, a lot of the New York City Housing Authority's Projects carry lofty names as well - Louis Armstrong, Marcus Garvey, Langston Hughes, John Hyland to name a few. Undoubtedly, the intentions behind the names were similar to what Montrose describes above.

Brings to mind the lyrics by songstress Erykah Badu, in her song AD 2000:

"No you won't be naming no buildings after me.
To go down, dilapidated.
No you won't be naming no buildings after me.
My name would be misstated.
Surely."

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at June 9, 2009 2:18 PM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: What's in a Name?

Thanks for the update Montrose. Very helpful.

As a resident of Crown Heights and a community worker in Bed Stuy, I've been speaking with CHRM about how to mobilize Bed Stuy against this as well.

Of course - Crown Heights is grossly disproportionate in the number of social service beds that we house - but Bed Stuy is also saturated beyond its fair share.

And, I will keep saying this, the closest train stops to the armory are in Bedford Stuyvesant. Smack in the middle of the new business improvement district, at that. Bed-Stuy will be the first stop for the tens of thousands of homeless men from around the five boroughs.

The irony is that the mayor was lauded for his role in bringing the BID to Bed-Stuy. Now, if he allows for the intake center, he (and any of the other Bed Stuy leaders who are not actively trumpeting against this) will be complicit in its undoing.

One step forward. Two steps back for Bed-Stuy.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at June 8, 2009 12:19 PM in response to CB8 Votes Against Re-Opening Homeless Shelter

Just want to point out that the issue with the intake center is not just a Crown Heights/Prospect Heights issue.

It affects Bedford-Stuyvesant as well, particularly the business owners in the newly formed business improvement district along Fulton and Nostrand. The closest subway trains to the armory are the A and C trains on Franklin and Nostrand in Bed-Stuy. So for the vast majority of these men, their first destination will be the streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant.

What's the point of giving business owners the illusion of revitalization and grandeur (which they have to pay for in the form of increased taxes) if they are going to move forward with the intake center? One step forward. Two steps back.

Not to mention that even though the center is technically on the Crown Heights side of the Atlantic, it is still only on the border. And I'm sure that the men know how to walk in both directions.

Yes, Crown Heights has 5 times the average number of social service beds compared to other locales; Bed-Stuy's share is twice the average. Still an exorbitant amount.

Hopefully Bed-Stuy will begin to mobilize just as thoroughly as Crown Heights has to fight this plan.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at June 4, 2009 1:55 PM in response to City Reneging on Homeless Intake Center Promise?

Crown Heights' overall crime rate is lower than the national crime rate. It is also lower than that of neighboring neighborhoods such as Prospect Heights. Seems as if I cannot site references here, but you can search online and find the data to support it.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at June 1, 2009 5:03 PM in response to Crown Heights Safe?

Generally sounds like an idea worth exploring (though the discussions of multi-million dollar research, legislative bureaucracy and threats of eminent domain do give me pause). Because I like the scenic route, I'd prefer buses over subways any day. To me, riding on the subway is like riding in a moving coffin.

However, practically speaking, buses are just slower than subways, and when I have to get somewhere, I hate to wait, so I end up on the subway.

A streetcar could provide the best of both worlds. Of course the streetcar probably wouldn't be quite as fast as the subway, but at least it could make above-ground transport a more viable option.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at May 9, 2009 8:45 PM in response to Could Streetcars Return to Brooklyn?

Apologies for the confusing Excel sheet. Not the most well versed in Excel.

Originally the list was sorted alphabetically and certain items, such as the various take-out categories (Caribbean, Chinese, Other) were grouped next to each other under the broader category of "Take-Out". Similarly banks and other financial were grouped together under the broader category of "Financial Services" . When the sheet was resorted to do the ranking, the groupings went to the wayside. What remained is what you see. Apologies again.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at May 5, 2009 3:37 PM in response to Nostrand Ave: Many Hair Salons, No Cafés

The question is not so much do the shops fill a need in the community, the question is do they address many or most of the needs of the community.

Even as a black woman of Caribbean decent who needs to get her hair "did" every now and again, I say that the shops, while necessary in the 'hood, are not sufficient to address the needs of the broader community.

I grew up on oxtail and curry, but sometimes I just want some steak. Plus, there are so many artists and artisans in the community (some of whom who have been here for ages) but outside of the parade and Five Myles, there is nothing that really showcases their work. These things are not reflected on Nostrand.

Nostrand Ave. does not reflect the broader community. Let's not think that the residents of Crown Heights, new or old, are so one dimensional that we cannot appreciate both curry and coffee!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at May 5, 2009 1:25 PM in response to Nostrand Ave: Many Hair Salons, No Cafés

To say that the strip reflects the demands of the residents is not necessarily true. Similar to Montrose's account of the Nostrand of yore, one elderly Caribbean woman who I have spoken with on numerous occasions always recounts the hat shops and other "fine shopping" establishments that used to be on Nostrand Avenue. She laments what, to her, Nostrand Avenue has become. She's lived in Crown Heights for well over thirty years.

There was even another article a while back on the subject which I had posted about on another board: http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/ny_local/2001/01/09/2001-01-09_turning_back_the_clock_crown.html

Also, the NP post does note the "unique stores" on Nostrand such as the flower shop and office supply store. Plus, there is an excel sheet that details the other stores types, such as the hardware stores, financial services shops, etc. The full 100% is accounted for on the sheet.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at May 5, 2009 11:41 AM in response to Nostrand Ave: Many Hair Salons, No Cafés

Note - there was a typo in the original post. Hair/braidings salons comprise 13% of the strip.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at May 5, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Nostrand Ave: Many Hair Salons, No Cafés

I do not think $340,000 is too high based on the comps at the time. I'd commented on the price and predicted about $350,000 based on similar sales in the area.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at November 20, 2008 8:07 AM in response to Crown Heights 1BR Goes for 15% Below Ask

Welcomed addition to Crown Heights! Definitely want to see more of these types of shops open up on Nostrand and other commercial strips in the neighborhood.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at November 19, 2008 11:43 PM in response to Streetlevel: Toy Shop for Crown Heights

Great post. Interested in hearing the responses...

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at October 21, 2008 10:36 AM in response to Touring Brooklyn on the Cheap

I posted this on another blog re: this article:

If I were to take a guess -- or maybe its more like wishful thinking -- I would say that Crown Heights is going to feel more like Lewis Avenue in Stuveysant Heights in the years to come. To me, Lewis Avenue has a feel of jazz meets young urban black professional meets meets the artisan entrepreneur community. And that seems representative of the mix of people that are moving to and store fronts that are opening up in Crown Heights.

I would love to see some sort of jazz/neo soul cafe open up around here. I know that Tavern on Nostrand does jazz nights, but that seems more incidental than central to the business.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 26, 2008 4:49 PM in response to Williamsburg Comes to Crown Heights?

You might want to change the "Category" to "Crown Heights" as well just in case folks like me search for articles by neighborhood.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 26, 2008 2:54 PM in response to Streetlevel: Bakery in Bed Stuy Crown Heights

This is squarely in Crown Heights. Not Bed Stuy.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 26, 2008 2:13 PM in response to Streetlevel: Bakery in Bed Stuy Crown Heights

I attempted to vote in my district in Crown Heights, but when I got to the polling station and gave the voting attendant my address, she informed me that all of the candidates in my districts were running uncontested and therefore there was no need to vote. Go figure!

In any event, I was not the only one at the polling station. There were about 3 - 4 others. It was about midday when I went.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 10, 2008 12:01 PM in response to Low Voter Turn-Out For Primaries As Usual

Slap two walk-in closets together, throw in access to some flowers and its viable apartment for $399,000. Go figure!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at April 10, 2008 4:57 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 469 Eastern Parkway

According to Property Shark, there was a unit in the same building that sold in this past January for $410,000. There was a unit that sold in August of last year for $392,000. Another in May of last year $427,000. Then there is a unit in the building next door to this one (465 Eastern Parkway) that sold for $392,000 in January of this year.

Of course, there is no indication what size these units are, but its probably safe to guesstimate 1,000 square feet since that seems to be a pretty common size for pre-war units.

Based on this, I think the price per square foot is probably on the high side. Maybe $350,000 would be more reasonable.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at April 10, 2008 2:58 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 469 Eastern Parkway

Nice pictures!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at October 11, 2007 1:08 PM in response to Prepping for the Prospect Heights House Tour

Unfortunately, I only saw one house on the tour, 1188 Dean Street. But I spent the rest of my time as a volunteer “house sitter,” which actually afforded me the opportunity to get feedback from tour-goers.

Before getting to the feedback, I must say that the one house I did see was simply spectacular. Mind you, this would have been my first house tour, so I do not have much to compare it to, but it was still awesome – the house is on a very deep lot, the walls were adorned with lovely woodwork, and the parlor floor showcased a commanding display of African art pieces. And it all blended together seamlessly.

Back to the rest of the tour -- people came from all over, including some noteworthy politicos -- State Assemblyman, Karim Camara and Borough President, Marty Markowitz – who incidentally was born and raised in Crown Heights -- were among the community leaders at the opening ceremonies. Another highlight of the day – the young Explorers, which one poster already mentioned. I absolutely loved that this troop of young people (primarily black males) took their entire Saturday to escort tour-goers and to make them generally feel welcome in the neighborhood. For me this made the tour much deeper than brick and mortar.

Now, in terms of feedback from tour-goers -- the houses that I heard people mention as being particularly impressive were the house on Dean mentioned above, one on St. Marks, and the one on Hampton mentioned in the original post. I asked one woman if she could pick a favorite but she could not – according to her, the houses are in various phases of development and each had a unique character that wasn’t necessarily comparable to the others. It seemed people were happy with the mix of houses – from “museum-like” showcases to houses that seemed more “lived in”. The community garden was another hidden gem that passers-by were pleasantly surprised to learn about. Not one single person who I spoke with had anything bad to say about the tour.

A handful of tour-goers who I met were new residents in the neighborhood and found themselves exploring it for the first time. These newcomers seemed particularly excited about the tour and happy with their decision to move to the neighborhood. Even the old-timers were energized by the tour -- there was one older woman manning the community garden who recounted how when she was growing up in the area – which apparently at that time was considered Bedford Stuyvesant – she was ashamed to say that she lived in Bed-Stuy because of the stigma. Instead, she would tell people that she lived in Crown Heights. She was tickled at the fact that now because of a shift in neighborhood boundaries, she can rightfully claim Crown Heights and moreover, that people are actually touring her neighborhood.

Major kudos to all the people who planned this event, those who opened up their houses, and those who volunteered. It was fantastic!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at October 8, 2007 8:30 PM in response to Crown Heights North Tour Open Thread

If you are interestd in putting in an offer, consider putting in an offer contingent upon the seller producing bona fide proof of the original offer.

Particularly if they disclose the details of the other offer, and if you are comfortable outbidding the offer, you can inform them that you are willing to trump the other offer by $X (or maybe offer some other perk, such as a quick closing), contingent upon being provided certified proof of the other offer.

Just speak to a lawyer about how to craft the language.

Good luck!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at October 3, 2007 7:18 PM in response to Putting in an offer

Crown Heights Housing Tour - I can't wait!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at October 2, 2007 2:21 PM in response to House Tourers, (Re)Start Your Engines: Crown Heights Next

I just took a long stroll through the neighborhood this weekend and found it to be absolutely lovely! What streets form the border of the historic district?

Are there any streets in particular you would recommend "for our viewing pleasure"?

Seems like there were a lot of co-ops and apartment buildings in the area, something I do not see much of in Crown Heights. I actually think it is a plus, as it allows a diversity of socio-economic classes to live in the neighborhood.

I look forward to exploring PLG more!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at October 1, 2007 10:40 AM in response to Prospect Lefferts Garden South

The Fed cut interest rates by half a point.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 18, 2007 2:26 PM in response to Big Slowdown Seen in Brooklyn's Poorest Zones

There was actually an article about this in the WSJ: http://www.realestatejournal.com/buysell/tactics/20070907-cullen.html.

My instinct is that if you are looking to purchase in more "fringe" neighborhoods, such as Bed Stuy and (my beloved) Crown Heights, you might be better off waiting a little while, since those areas are likely to experience sharper price recessions.

A more popular neighborhood, such as P. Heights, may be able to withstand the market better and so now may be as good of a time as any to purchase in such neighborhoods.

Whatever your strategy, at the very least wait until the Fed makes its announcement next week regarding interest rates.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 11, 2007 10:08 PM in response to Buy or wait?

Hopefully ignorance and myopia will keep our little jewel of a neighborhood protected from the masses a little while longer!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 9, 2007 7:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 1290 Pacific Street

Also, just curious. What -- and this is not meant in any way to be derogatory -- is the appeal of new construction?

Lastly, not sure if you are sticking in the $320K price range, but if you are willing to push your budget, you might want to check out the condos at 1296 Dean St.: http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2007/08/condos_of_the_d_15.php.

I think the prices are too high for the neighborhood (and given the current housing market more generally), but you may be able to talk them down. Plus, I think you will find that the block is simply charming!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 9, 2007 1:56 PM in response to Up and Coming Neighborhoods in BK?

I'm going to have to second Crown Heights (North) as an up-and-coming neighborhood.

But, for better or worse, we do not have as much new construction as you will find in other neighborhoods. There are, however, the condos on Dean which a poster mentioned and a smattering in other locales such as the new construction taking place on Sterling between Rogers and Nostrand.

Making up for the lack of new construction, is the beauty of the existing structures. The architecture, including the mini-mansions sprinkled about, has the command of royalty. Yet there's always this humble, "welcome home" presence in the air. Overall the area, at least to me, emanates an older, more settled vibe than say Bed-Stuy or Clinton Hill. Traditionally the neighborhood is home to many working and middle class West Indian families. In recent years Crown Heights has been scouted out by many young, black professionals (such as myself).

Public transportation options around here are great: generally speaking, the 2,3,4 5 and S trains service the neighborhood. In addition, depending on where you are located, the A and C trains at Nostrand are only minutes away. In addition, CH is in hop-skip-jump territory of the Brooklyn Children's Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, Botantical Gardens, Grand Army Plaza, and Prospect Park.

Granted, the crime stats probably aren't as comforting as you will find in Park Slope. But stats are stats. Irrespective of what outsiders (including those rascally statisticians) may say, the area never feels menacing or threatening.

Also, in full disclosure, the sit-down restaurant and night-life scenes aren't as vibrant as in other neighborhoods, but public transportation solves that. And what we've got here, ain't too shabby!

All-in-all its a great neighborhood, definitely worth a look. Best of luck in your search!

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at September 9, 2007 1:49 PM in response to Up and Coming Neighborhoods in BK?

So I just checked out the condo units offered in this building and thought they were pretty nice.

In particular I liked the third floor unit, which has eleven foot high ceilings, bay windows, a large living room space, generous sized bedrooms and a back deck.

The bathrooms in all the units were nicely done, although I thought the faucet fixtures were on the cheap side. It seems that indeed much of the architectural detail was obliterated, for instance I spotted many wall stubs where I suspect fireplaces once stood -- they even overlaid the garden in the "garden" unit, with concrete! But, on the other hand, almost all of the units have bay windows.

The broker informed me that there has been a lot of interest on the fifth floor unit, which has a skylight in the kitchen (I was unimpressed) and rooftop access (which provides a great view of the Manhattan skyline). However, for me, the architectual bonuses of the other floors, i.e. the high ceilings and the bay windows, were noticeably absent. It just felt like another new construction unit.

Overall, I think that when taking into account the quality of unit itself, the beauty of the block and its proximity to trains, this (the third floor unit in particular) is one of the nicer units that I have seen.

While I was there there were a number of folks who came in to peruse the place, but all of them identified themselves as neighbors just curious about the open house. If they knock $50K - $75K off of the asking, these places will move.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at August 26, 2007 4:04 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 1296 Dean Street Revisited

It's not just me who thinks this neighborhood is majestic: http://www.nysun.com/article/51033.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at August 25, 2007 1:44 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 1296 Dean Street Revisited

In response to 3:10.

I agree about the block being very nice, but I don't agree that the walk to the 2/3 is "short". I'd say it is about .75 miles (maybe about 15 minutes) away from the 3 at Nostrand. Add a couple of minutes more to get to the 2/5 at President.

Fifteen minutes is fine if you want to take a stroll to the park, but if you are trying to get to work in the morning, 15 minutes can be a lifetime.

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at August 22, 2007 3:31 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 1296 Dean Street Revisited

I wish I could see a floor plan. The pics look nice, although the kitchen looks a bit tiny.

Depending on the size, I would say that $400,000 is reasonable (since these a floor thru, I can't imagine that the square footage would be too scant). In the past three months or so, there have been a handful of co-ops on Eastern Parkway between Rogers and Nostrand that have sold for well over $400,000.

The only drawback for me is that the area is serviced by the A/C trains. The 2/3/4/5 are more convenient for me for getting to work. I guess one can switch trains at Fulton...

Posted by: Wont UB My Nabor at August 22, 2007 1:10 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 1296 Dean Street Revisited