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.
1:46: that is not untrue. Come look. Along Riverside Dr. and west of Broadway there are beautiful Limestone townhouses. I am sitting in one right now. There is a row down the block of them.
On 161st St, off Broadway I own a rental property. Fireplaces in one line of units, 9.5 foot ceilings, original detail. In terms of apartments, many tend to be the classic 6 or 8 in orientation. Go to Corcoran and you can see the wood detail, ceiling heights and whatever else you find to be a meaningful definition of a Brownstone. I loved Park Slope but there was no way I could continue to do the subways once I had children to ferry around. So, I agree..all things being equal I would love to live there. But who can pass up making a lot of money off a Brownstone you’ve owned for over ten years and buying an equally large place, on the island, and still having much of your profit left over?
1:45 – that is a lovely sentiment and I agree race should not be divisive. I have not found it to be so in Washington Heights. That’s just my experience. And I am not a stranger to ethnic areas: I lived in Park Slope WELL before it took the turn upward.
problem is 1:36…you don’t find many of the really beautiful architectural brownstone gems in washington heights as in harlem or brownstone brooklyn.
that seems to be what the OP is after.
harlem is way overpriced for what it is as this point in time.
if you’ve got 2 million to spend on a home, you can get about the same in harlem in the 120’s as you can in prime park slope.
park slope is, by almost all accounts a “better” neighborhood, but you are paying for a manhattan location in that harlem pricetag.
that’s about it.
I agree with 1:36.
Seems like there’s more than a little resentment against white people in harlem if the link above is anything to go by:
“Just wait until the summer when all of these “brand new” condo developments that the current residents cant afford at 800K a pop, start taking occupancy and you lilly white folks stroll down lenox in your prada shoes and baby carriages, I can guarantee there will be blood in the streets, from people who have been here for years, with NO job opportunities, sub-par stores and eateries, left neglected, but have learned to develop a tight night community that is Harlem. And No, you aren’t welcome, and thats just my opinion.”
It’s a shame that the color of someone’s skin still manages to be divisive — whether it be white, black, pink or green. I’ve lived in brownstone brooklyn for 7 years (Carrol Gardens — I’m white and my wife is black) and I’m glad to say that neither of us has had the displesure of experiencing racism. Hopefully the person who posted the note above is in a small minority, otherwise I would purchase in Brooklyn.
I sold my brownstone in Park Slope but wnated to still have space and money in the bank. The only area I found that is both reasonably priced and still safe is Washington Heighs (I am on 157th St.) I passed on Harlem because the areas that I felt comfortable in already seemed overpriced. Many of the beautiful properties have already been pillaged by developers and much of the detail and beauty has been destroyed. There is no question Harlem (particularly in the low 100’s) has more services but I still think Washington Heights will prove to be have more significant appreciation and be a better store of value because you can buy a run down townhouse or apartment at a reasonable cost and restore it to your taste. The labour pool is excellent and cheap. And, I will just come out and say it even though I am likely to be flamed: though Domincans are accused of playing loud music (which I have not found to be true outside of a few feast days in the summer)…they are, in believe, much more accepting of gentrification and the professional White/Asian/Black newcomers than the hard core Harlem residents are.
True about block-by-block comment. It even happens on the same block. There are boarded-up buildings next to seemingly well-maintained homes. Houses are also more expensive in general; I guess you’re paying for the “Harlem” cache and also Manhattan location. And while brokers and a handful of hi-end transactions might signal speedy gentrification, it doesn’t appear as widespread as you might think.
See link to this (silly) blog where I think the comments section in the following post says a lot:
http://bagelinharlem.blogspot.com/2006/03/harlem-divide_24.html
Harlem goes block by block. One block is nice, and you turn the corner and it looks like you’re in Iraq.
Park Slope, Ft. Greene, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights are quite lovely neighborhoods as a whole.
And they feel much more neighborhood-y than Harlem in my opinion.
I don’t find Harlem all that diverse either. I would say less so than Brownstone Brooklyn.
I think townhouses in Harlem are more expensive. You are closer to Central Park (major bonus in my view). Another big bonus is that if you have a 2nd home in the country, it’s MUCH easier to get out of town! I would also imagine that Harlem is more diverse – obviously racially, but also in terms of ages, life circumstances etc. Brownstone Brooklyn (where I live) seems dominated by people in their 30s with young children, which can get pretty dull…
You should visit them both.
I think you will find the differences pretty apparent.
The only reason I could imagine going to Harlem over Browstone Brooklyn would be if you have a thing about staying in Manhattan.
Otherwise, I would say the quality of life in most Brownstone Brooklyn neighborhoods is light years ahead of that in Harlem.