bed stuy - is the area I'm moving to relatively safe?
Hi, I’ve been looking at, and thinking of moving into, a brownstone apartment on the corner of Jefferson Ave and Marcy Ave – it’s a beautiful place, great for the price. I wouldn’t describe myself as a “fearful” person – areas like Bed Stuy are never as bad as the rumors and isolated incidents you…
Hi,
I’ve been looking at, and thinking of moving into, a brownstone apartment on the corner of Jefferson Ave and Marcy Ave – it’s a beautiful place, great for the price. I wouldn’t describe myself as a “fearful” person – areas like Bed Stuy are never as bad as the rumors and isolated incidents you hear about, – and whenever I go to Bed Stuy to visit friends who live there, I’ve never had any problems. Everyone I meet along the way is friendly, and one gets the sense that there’s a stronger feeling of community there than in most parts of New York. All that said, having read some of the posts here (I’m thinking in particular of a person who claimed to have been robbed at gunpoint), I’d sort of like to make sure that the area I’d be moving to is, well, not THAT bad. I can handle a little ribbing, and I could give a shit about the dearth of cute cafes, but something like that is a bit much for me. So, can anyone tell me a little bit about what the neighborhood around Jefferson/Marcy is like?
Thanks
It boggles my mind that people are so hellbent on living close to Manhattan (or even within Brooklyn) that they would even consider residing in a neighborhood that they have to question whether or not their life might be in peril if they lived there. Is everyone on crack? Do you make so much money (or think that you oneday will) that it’s somehow worth it for you to forego BASIC quality of life elements in order to play out some big city fantasy of fame and fortune in order to justify your being there? I know it’s considered really uncool to uproach this subject with people who choose to live there (long or short term) but it makes no sense. By the way: I lived in Clinton Hill until a few months ago and spent time in BedStuy. Afew new botiques and a “supermarket” don’t make for a decent neighborhood, especially if you happen to be caucasian and might be sensitive to people who resent your living there. I know people who have lived there all their lives and they don’t go out after dark. Yes, there are some “homesteaders” bravely buying “cheap” browstones, paving the way for gentrification but it’s a long way off. The Nostrand Ave stop is a HELLHOLE. Aside form that, it’s a lovely place to put down your roots. Make sure you have a gun and be prepared to use it. Don’t believe the hype.
A good friend of mine was mugged and stabbed at union square so everything is relative.
Look up the crime stats. They’ve dropped something like 70% in the past few years and it’s a trend that’s been consistent since the 90s. Yeah, they’re not exactly crime statistics like Greenpoint (but look up the health stats for Greenpoint and it’s not such a great place to live either), but Greenpoint isn’t great either if you’re not a white hipster or polish.
I live in Bed Stuy and feel very safe here. Of course you have to keep your eyes open, as you do anywhere in the city, but there’s a lot more community here than anywhere else I’ve lived in NYC.
That block is a good one – my personal rule of thumb is to stay south of Gates by a few blocks, but that’s just me.
I think you’ll get a very skewed perspective if you pay too much attention to isolated incidents. My husband was robbed at gunpoint in the heart of Clinton Hill. But that was the only time either of us had had a problem in four years of living there.
It’s better to go get a feel for the immediate neighborhood. Talk to your prospective neighbors, your mailman, etc. and if your gut tells you you’ll feel safe there, go for it. And always keep in the back of your mind that muggings can happen anywhere, and don’t take any silly chances.
I lived on that block for 17 years, as a renter, starting in the early 80’s. As a single woman, I felt safe enough then, and never had a single mishap of any kind. Only reason I moved was because I got the opportunity to buy elsewhere. Since then the neighborhood has only gone up in value and desireability. I still go back to visit friends, and to this day, wish I could have bought the house I lived in. There are now great shops and a restaurant around the corner on Thompkins, and you are only 5 blocks away from the A train at Nostrand, and close to a good supermarket (SuperFoodtown), a Duane Reade, and banking facilities at Restoration Plaza on Fulton Street. Jefferson is a beautiful block, with great houses, and very nice people. Most of the landlords live in the houses, and there is a real sense of community there. I would encourage you to walk around, ask around, and get a sense of the place. I don’t think you would be disappointed.
two years…not a single incident. we love it here and our neighbors and tenants are all warm and fabulous. ive spent my entire life in ny, cept four years in north carolina and never felt so such a warm sense of community.
move here. its great.
I have a house in Bed-Stuy.
We like the neighborhood a lot – but we are also careful.
My wife got mugged a few months back – roughed up, robbed, bruises and blood. Now we take cabs coming home late at night, and carry pepper spray. We’re not moving, and we love our house.
But we do keep our eyes and ears open, for sure.
After 5 years of living in a loft in Soho I was watching a video on BET late one night that was shot in a gorgeous browstone on a block in BedStuy. Long story short, I found an apartment there and a week after moving in I was shopping at the local Pathmark where I was spit on, dragged into the street, raped repeatedly and run over by a gang in a Humvee. After a month of recovery I returned to my apartment and found all of my belongings in the hallway, covered in dog poop and a family of 8 had taken over the unit. When I called the broker at Corcoran who leased me the apt and told her I wasn’t happy that I was misled she was very sympathetic and she agreed to find me a place in East NY for even less rent. Anyone out there know anything about this neighborhood? Is there a Whole Foods or Starbucks in the area?
I heard JZ used to live there. It must be cool. I think it was mentioned once on an episode of Sex In The City….
gosh~omg!
get a fckin clue,
go by there at night 9pm, then at 12am, then at 3am
and see for yourself
btw, people get mugged and raped all over the damn city from the chelsea to the west village to williamsburg
you mean this place ?
http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/282634608.html