Do Families Need to "Escape" From Brooklyn?
If your only source of information was the New York Times real estate section, you’d know that Brooklyn families are constantly thinking about one thing: should we leave? The latest article in The Gray Lady’s ongoing, informal series on leaving Brooklyn is a thoughtful essay by writer David Zweig on escaping from the horrors of annoying downstairs neighbors and the hardships…
If your only source of information was the New York Times real estate section, you’d know that Brooklyn families are constantly thinking about one thing: should we leave? The latest article in The Gray Lady’s ongoing, informal series on leaving Brooklyn is a thoughtful essay by writer David Zweig on escaping from the horrors of annoying downstairs neighbors and the hardships of finding an elementary school other than the “up-and-coming” one in their neighborhood.
The NYT’s previous story in their “leaving Brooklyn” series
After searching elsewhere in the city for a sub-million-dollar home, the Zweigs house-hunted in New Jersey and then upstate along the MetroNorth line. They finally settled on a home in Hastings, N.Y. that was more expensive than they’d planned.
But lo, their “grand prewar two-bedroom” in Prospect Heights sold for several hundred thousand dollars above ask — at exactly the same price as their new place, in fact.
Despite some misgivings, the Zweigs had no trouble settling in — the ice breaker at a school potluck was “what neighborhood of Brooklyn are you from?”
The Zweigs, it turns out, are not unusual — moving out of the city is an accepted migration pattern for families, one that Brownstoner has covered for years. Many families long for yards and other suburban amenities once their kids reach a certain age.
As a whole, Brooklyn has seen some ups and downs in overall population, according to a study from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Between 2006 and 2014, Brooklyn saw a 7.6 percent growth in population — outpacing the other boroughs and New York state as a whole. However, in 2014, more people moved out of Brooklyn than into it, resulting in a net negative migration.
That said, the forecasts for Brooklyn’s population growth predict that it could exceed Chicago’s population within the next five to 10 years.
Have you considered leaving? Why?
[Source: NYT | Photo: The Great Escape | Barbara Eldredge ]
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We did leave Brooklyn this past summer. We live in the woods down South now. We are both native New Yorkers but sadly can no longer afford it. Boy I tell you life is different. This isn’t even the suburbs, we are in the country now.
“Brooklyn is the greatest place on earth”
You’ve never been anywhere else, have you?
Sad.
Been to many more places than you and your suburban friends will ever visit and still believe that Brooklyn is the greatest place on earth. And I am sure that’s how you feel about Brooklyn as well.
All these privileged Brooklyn people try to justify to themselves why Brooklyn is the greatest place on Earth makes me so happy I moved out and now live around normal people.
Brooklyn is the greatest place on earth and I am sure if you were able to afford a place in Brooklyn to raise your family, you would have stayed here. Think about it, why do you think your suburban town is so affordable, because people want to enjoy the urban lifestyle in this beautiful city and not live a miserable life in Westchester. So all of you who moved out, admit it – you moved not by choice but because you could not afford the city any longer.
You know NYC is one of the safest large cities in the world, right–let alone the United States? You are WAY more at risk of crime in almost any other city. NYC has its strong and weak points, but crime is definitely one area where we win.
I agree that suburbanguy sounded really obnoxious and I think that spurred Bedstuy’s rant That said, I’m guessing the 30 minutes is by train. My relative lives in Dobb’s Ferry (which I personally find incredibly boring) and it takes her that long to commute to the city on express trains.
I’m not anti-suburbs, but I think everything even 30 minutes by train from NYC is not for me. I feel like most of those areas are so boring because everyone goes to NYC for real entertainment, whereas further out, the communities are more interesting. JMO, of course.
Lol
But in the suburbs they have… sports! What about sports? Those poor city kids, who have to fight to get on a travelling soccer league. And forget about lacrosse! Have you ever seen a travelling lacrosse league in a Brooklyn public school? Seriously, think of the children.
My opinion may be very biased, because we picked the most suburban part of DC ever and I am very, very tired of hearing about how we just need to have the kid play soccer to meet people. Never mind that she hates it.