Safe Neighborhoods?
I would appreciate recommendations on what neighborhoods other than Brooklyn Heights might be clean, safe, handy, neighborly, and convenient to Manhattan. We’re moving to NYC from Colorado this summer, and we love Brooklyn Heights, but based on research, we’re concerned that we may not find what we want in BH very soon. Any other suggestions?…
I would appreciate recommendations on what neighborhoods other than Brooklyn Heights might be clean, safe, handy, neighborly, and convenient to Manhattan. We’re moving to NYC from Colorado this summer, and we love Brooklyn Heights, but based on research, we’re concerned that we may not find what we want in BH very soon. Any other suggestions? (Son will be in school in Midtown so near to Manhattan is best and I need subway within two blocks of home.) Thanks, Everyone!
It’s one thing for an adult who doesn’t punch a time clock to commute to Midtown, another for a child to do it who absolutely needs to get to school on time every day. OP, any neighborhood you consider, test the commute yourself first.
Italiana, that was my point. Bay Ridge is close and fast by subway, but very far from midtown Manhattan by taxi. I’d say a ride would be $30 or $40, no? At least one night a week I am forced to stay in Manhattan for dinner for whatever reason, and it is not practical to take the subway back after 9:30 pm.
Re Jackson Heights, the OP will probably be put off by the appearance of Roosevelt Ave. under the subway tracks. But it is true that there are many beautiful family apartments in the historic area with fireplaces for $450,000 to $550,000. Most require 30 percent down and have very low maintenance. The E train gets you into the Upper East Side in 15 minutes.
Mopar I live in Bay Ridge and I can assure you that it is not really, really far. It might be further away but we’ve only added 15 minutes to our commute by moving here from Park Slope, really. If you live far from a subway, just like any other nabe, your commute will take longer.
As far as Queens is concerned – Astoria is also a great area.
I was going to suggest Queens, too. Jackson Hts and Sunnyside are lovely neighborhoods.
If you need to be close to midtown in a safe environment without spending a lot of money, go to Queens. Seriously. You can get a nice place for much less money than park slope etc. and midtown subway access is much better and faster (depending of course on where exacly in queens you end up).
You might also look specifically at which subway line your child will take to school and then look for a place on that subway line that fits your criteria.
FYI, how far things are on the subway has nothing to do with how far they are by car. It depends where you are going and what line you are on. Being on an express stop and not having to transfer makes a huge difference. You can be a ways physically but only 15 minutes from midtown by subway.
The disadvantage of a place that is really, really far, such as Bay Ridge (and I believe Ditmas Park), is that it is not practical to take a taxi home after 9:30 when the subway slows down.
I guess the Hudson Valley is not practical? It’s beautiful and about a 40 minute train ride into Grand Central.
I suggest Park Slope although it is a bit further out than Cobble Hill or Boerum Hill. Using the Atlantic/Pacific subway station (which is at one edge of the Slope and just a stop or so away from the other stations in/around Park Slope), you have access to numerous subway lines, including express lines that will take you directly to Canal or Grand Street. From there, midtown is a pretty quick shot.
In addition, Park Slope is filled with leafy blocks with rows of brownstones, a good mix of other housing (smaller apartment buildings, new condo developments, some traditional pre-War buildings near Prospect Park), and great shopping and dining. Lots of families and good cultural amenities – you have Prospect Park, the Botanic Garden, and the Brooklyn Museum nearby. You really can’t go wrong with relocating to the Slope.
(I work in the Heights and like its convenience. There are some beautiful blocks in the Heights and I love its proximity to the waterfront, but still prefer living in Park Slope). The Heights can also be a bit stodgy, and dining options have never been great.
“I can’t help but wonder if “safe” or “least threatening” for some means fewer people of color or fewer poor people.”
For me it means a neighborhood where some naive, non-street smart outsider can reasonably be expected not to be scammed, targeted, or ostracized by someone living in the neighborhood.
Generally, this means upper middle class neighborhoods, unless you know the age, gender, race, religion, and economic situation of the person in question. Then they will likely be comfortable in neighborhoods that match their profile, whether or not it is upper middle class.
For example, a middle aged, working class russian jew would probably do better in a few specific neighborhoods, but wouldn’t have any real problems in park slope or cobble hill (assuming he could afford it).
When I see posts like this I know that people genuinely have concerns about living in a safe environment but I can’t help but wonder if “safe” or “least threatening” for some means fewer people of color or fewer poor people. These are not things that any smart realtor will tell you over the telephone or in an email. I am not saying that this is the case here but I always wonder.