It's happening all over. Here on Foster Avenue, a "mom-pop" dry cleaning/alterations store and shoe repair shop next door closed due to the landlord raising the rent. That was 4 years ago. The stores are still vacant.

I don't understand the business model that says it is better to receive no rent than low rent.

Posted by: evfred at November 23, 2009 9:14 AM in response to Greedy Landlords Causing Storefronts to Sit Empty?

Having lived in a Victorian Flatbush historic district for almost 30 years and sent 2 kids through PS 217 and one through Murrow HS, the other in Midwood HS, and been able to compare their school experience with their cousins in the "upscale" suburbs, I can say that we'd never leave here. The mix of housing stock, the old and new neighborhood businesses, the mix of people, and the lack of ostentation, even among those of us who live in (formerly!) million dollar Victorians, is unmatched. It's the kind of neighborhood where your the haircutter, pharmacist, wine store owner, and hardware store greet you by name; where you can have a house with a driveway, backyard, know all your neighbors (some of us have each others' keys!) have neighborhood picnics, parties and baseball game trips, and still be a half hour from Union Square on the subway.

We can debate middle class forever. My neighbors are teachers, physical therapists, school principals, lawyers, artists, social workers, architects, doctors, etc. No Wall Streeters that I know of, no bond traders, no hedge fund managers, no Fortune 500 CEO's. I consider this a middle class neighborhood based on how we live and who we are.

Posted by: evfred at May 14, 2009 5:26 PM in response to Can Ditmas Park Save The Middle Class?

The Flatbush Malls are maintained by the Fiske Terrace Association, which has been working for the neighborhood since 1907. This time of year, as everything is blooming, just take a walk through our neighborhood to see what everyone has been saying. I've lived here for 30 years and I'm still amazed that you can live in a neighborhood like this in NYC and still be just a few minutes from a subway station. In fact, the Avenue H subway station "head house," the former real estate office for the original developer from the turn of the last century, has itself been designated a NYC Landmark. It is about 3 blocks from 1816 Glenwood.

Posted by: evfred at May 5, 2009 8:46 AM in response to House of the Day: 1816 Glenwood Road

My son went to both public school (PS 217 in Ditmas Park) and one of the major private (unnamed) schools in Brooklyn. His experience, both academically and socially, was far better in public school. The school had higher standards for academics, a dedicated and caring faculty and staff, and a beautiful, recently renovated school building. He made friends from all over the world (and so did we!). His brother also thrived in that public school. They are both well-prepared for a future in a diverse environment. Especially for parents willing and able to spend some time in the school, a good public school will be a great choice, not to mention the savings you can put towards college.

Posted by: evfred at April 23, 2009 10:05 PM in response to Applications Steady, Aid Up at Private Schools

I've lived in the Ditmas Park area for 30 years. I'd never live anywhere else. Great place to raise a family. Two wonderful elementary schools (PS 217, where my boys went, and PS 139). A short walk to Midwood or Murrow High Schools, two of the city's best. Less than 30 minutes to Union Square on the Q. No, it's not Park Slope, and most of us are glad.

Posted by: evfred at March 5, 2009 3:17 AM in response to Co-op of the Day: 415 Argyle Road, #3J

The "look over my shoulder" comment is typical of the comments I get from Park Slopers and Brooklyn Heightsers. Because not everyone in Victorian Flatbush is blond, the assumption is that it is dangerous. When I moved here in 1980, it was. It is not now. My neighborhood used to have a paid security patrol. Haven't had it in years. Read the "Police Blotter" in the Park Slope Paper and tell me how dangerous my neighborhood is...

Posted by: evfred at December 11, 2008 9:24 PM in response to A Sale for Victorian Flatbush

The houses in Victorian Flatbush are still mostly over a million, some approaching 1.5 million, though prices have softened over the last few months. Large 2-families are probably at the higher end. I don't know about brownstones (there are just a few in the area, along only 1-2 blocks). The nabe is mostly free-standing houses and apartment buildings.

Posted by: evfred at December 11, 2008 8:10 AM in response to What's it Like in Flatbush?

I have lived in Fiske Terrace, in one of the "grand houses" for 28 years, and I hope to be here for 28 more. Now part of the Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park Historic District, our nabe clearly gets better with age. Great family environment, quiet streets, diverse and very nice neighbors, outstanding public schools (PS 217, Midwood and Murrow High Schools), new restaurants, Flatbush Food Co-op, etc. etc. and we are a one-minute walk to the Q train, and 25-30 minutes to Union Square. To get a great overview of Victorian Flatbush, go on the Victorian Flatbush House Tour, usually in June, sponsored by the Flatbush Development Corporation (that's how I discovered this area!). Check later on www.fdconline.org for more info.

Posted by: evfred at December 10, 2008 12:34 PM in response to What's it Like in Flatbush?

I love Victorian Flatbush too. In fact, I've lived here for 29 years. Far from Manhattan? Today the "Q" got me from Avenue H station to 34th Street in about a half hour. Is that considered far? I don't think so. To have a house with a driveway, garage, finished basement, porch, working fireplace, etc. in the suburbs, if you could find it, would be much more expensive and much further away. We have great schools, some fantastic restaurants, two close by libraries, the Flatbush Food Co-op, etc, etc. Yes, if these houses are not properly insulated, they can cost a lot to heat. But we never have to look for parking (how much fuel is wasted doing that!) Would I trade this in for a brownstone to be 10 minutes closer to Manhattan, no way.

Posted by: evfred at November 26, 2008 11:37 PM in response to House of the Day: 271 Stratford Road

I have lived in a Victorian Flatbush house for the last 28 years, after living in Cobble Hill. We have excellent schools, easy subway access, a growing restaurant row on Cortelyou Road, and lots of nice neighbors. I used to spend up to 1/2 hour finding a legal parking spot in Cobble Hill, now I have a driveway and garage. We can get to Park Slope in 10 minutes, to a variety of ethnic restaurants in Kensington, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, etc. in 10 minutes. On the Q it's 25 minutes to Union Square, 35 minutes to Carnegie Hall. Granted, it is more suburban than the brownstone nabes, and street life is minimal, but the trade offs in convenience and quality of life more than make up for it.

Posted by: evfred at November 3, 2008 5:57 PM in response to Back to Brooklyn (Thanks, in Part, to Brownstoner)