Brownstone Brooklyn v. Harlem
Aside from geographical location, what do you think are the major differences/similarities between Brooklyn and Harlem brownstones (i.e., quality of housing stock, architectural variety, value and price)? I’m a single, older (almost senior!) man in the market for a brownstone and I was wondering about the main distinguishing features between the two. I thank you…
Aside from geographical location, what do you think are the major differences/similarities between Brooklyn and Harlem brownstones (i.e., quality of housing stock, architectural variety, value and price)? I’m a single, older (almost senior!) man in the market for a brownstone and I was wondering about the main distinguishing features between the two. I thank you in advance for any light you might be able to shed on the matter.
What’s a Connecticut muffin?
Those Sarah Lawrence moms in the Park Slope Connecticut Muffin will CUT you.
Watch your back.
As many commenters have already said, Harlem brownstones are incredibly expensive compared to many Brooklyn brownstone neighborhoods. Also, after searching for a house in Hamilton Heights, Ft. Greene and Park Slope, I have to say that the real estate professionals in Harlem have been at times very amateurish, and borderline obnoxious. It’s like it’s a different real estate reality all together, and it’s not worth it. I’ll take any nice brownstone nabe in Brooklyn over Harlem anyday.
This has been a good thread, yes. We shopped in Harlem and all the brownstone hoods in Brooklyn, and at the time (last Sept/Oct) found the Harlem places to be more expensive and needing a lot of work.
One point I haven’t seen here yet, and one that helped us settle on Ft. Green/Clinton Hill, is that Brooklyn is much more convenient for downtown/Soho/Village access. I spend a lot more time there than I do in Central Park.
In re Harlem having Manhattan “energy,” that’s actually something I wanted to get away from. Energy = loud.
Thanks 3:49 for the incredibly detailed experience, and thanks to all the other replies as well. This thread has been very helpful.
I appreciate the woman at 3:49 who shared her experience buying in Harlem. Thanks! It was interesting to hear.
We chose Brooklyn, but I think Harlem and its rich history is very exciting, I enjoy visiting. I’ve walked around Harlem in the early evening by myself as a young white woman and nobody made me feel uncomfortable. Perhaps some parts and smaller streets are different, but you also see a lot of hysterics on this site for whom to venture anyplace in NYC but Park Slope’s Connecticut Muffin is dangerous. Even the wealthy white society ladies in the 1920’s ventured into Harlem to see music and go to speakeasies. You’d think there’d be more a sense of adventure now, not less.
I know a young couple who got a gorgeous, huge, fully gut renovated 1BR condo with roof access in an historic building in Harlem a few years ago for something like $250K. The prices jumped a lot since then. Risk reaps reward.
Forget Harlem and Park Slope etc., check out Bed Stuy near the transportation lines (streets like Hancock [betw. Bedford and Tompkins], Jefferson etc). You would be amazed at what you will find!
I must say the transportation in Harlem is pretty good – you can get to midtown much faster.
BTW, I’ve lived in Harlem, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Clinton Hill and Bed Stuy. I loved each of the experiences for different reasons. It really depends on what you’re after. [Truth be told, I pushed Bed Stuy above because I currently live here and love the vibe!].
All the best!
I also picked Washington Heights over Brooklyn/Harlem.
Services are now coming in but I can live with the slow pace since my mortgage is so low and the place is so big. Rarely in life can you get more for less money. Liked some properties in Harlem and parts of Brooklyn but could not justify the cost (in terms of Harlem) or moving off the island (in terms of Brooklyn)…but the poster who said to go and walk around is 100% correct. There is just no other way to decide.
I’m talking about things that are easily accessible from Harlem – not necessarily in it. And the reason why I am less defensive than you is because I live in Brooklyn, not Harlem, and yet am able to acknowledge that Harlem can offer things that brooklyn can’t. For example. If I lived on 120 st in harlem, I could walk 10 blocks to Central Park (and spare me the Prospect Park being the masterpiece yada yada – Central Park is a gazillion times more fun) and then mosy my way down through to the Met or NHM. And frankly, as someone who used to work in the Brooklyn Museum, it really doesn’t compare to the big Manhattan museums. AND, I don’t even know what to say about your comment about Columbia. I am talking about libraries, lectures, classes, etc. All things that a top level, vibrant university can offer. To see it only as a land grabber is absurdly reductionist.
In any case I don’t live in Harlem – I have children and need to be near decent schools. But I can see how the above things could be a big draw for people.