Noise on St. Johns
Hi, we are thinking of making an offer on a place on St. Johns between 7th and 8th/Flatbush. The thing is, noise is a really big issue for us. (Please spare us comments saying we should move out of the city if we can’t take the noise — we are just trying to avoid noisy…
Hi, we are thinking of making an offer on a place on St. Johns between 7th and 8th/Flatbush. The thing is, noise is a really big issue for us. (Please spare us comments saying we should move out of the city if we can’t take the noise — we are just trying to avoid noisy blocks.)
Can anyone comment on how loud this block is – traffic traveling down to GAP, noise from flatbush, noise in the back, etc? The place is on the north side of the street.
Thanks.
Allison
also what types of noises are most bothersome? and also where on block….if really close to 8th/Flatbush can make some difference. Mid-block not going to hear avenues.
Worried about neighbors throwing parties on stoops/backyards, traffic-horns, people walking by yapping into cellphones, etc. Is it the daytime or when trying to sleep?
Sometimes living on quiet block you get more startled when horn/radio/yappy cellphone talkers goes by than more trafficed blocks where more constant din/background noise.
Thank you all for your help. We have been meaning to go by at peak times, but it is a bit challenging with a toddler in tow. Thanks for the comments about the church too, we were wondering about that.
If you’re really serious about this, best thing you can do is visit the block at different hours, weekdays and weekends. There will always be something. Like beatgirl, I’ve heard that the church on the corner of St Johns and 7th can be noisy. And obviously close to 7th Ave, there will be more traffic noise — as there is on every commercial thoroughfare. But the retailers on Flatbush shouldn’t impact you since there are no restaurants or food stores on that block and just a bank on the corner of Flatbush and St John’s. Also if you’re on the south side of the block, you could be backing up to Berkeley Carroll school on Lincoln Pl. I often walk on this block and I haven’t noticed heavy traffic although I agree with posters above that some cars are using it to avoid Flatbush. But frankly to be this close to subways and shops you have to accept that most of the nearby side streets represent a short-cut to somebody. You’d have to move deep into a large neighborhood like Crown Heights or Bed-Stuy to get away from that. I love the peacefulness on many blocks in those nabes but you do give up a big measure of convenience.
On the same topic – quality of life in this area – I’m only one block over on Seventh. Am I the only one who has noticed the increase in noise from car radios? Stereos blasting from parked cars etc. I moved to the Slope from Bklyn Heights to get away from the noise (an issue for me too Allison!) and am finding that the same problems are following me here.
Again, you can tell me to move to N.J. BUT I’m actually just curious if anyone is experiencing the same issue and if they’ve just accepted/ignored it or ever taken it up with local C.B./Reps/police.
For a seemingly quiet area you do get a lot of noise. Church groups on Sunday Mornings that linger on Seventh Ave and St. Johns. Truck/Bus traffic on Seventh moving fast towards downtown and yes you do get the traffic moving up St. Johns to GAP and they are often speeding up the street because they ARE using it as a cut through as northsloperenter mentioned.
I would guess that any noise impact yo might feel involves any commercial uses that might be adjacent to your backyard (ie the crunch, the deli or the drycleaners). Otherwise its no noiser than any other block.
It’s a very quiet block for NYC.
I have a friend on that block & she watches tv on bottom floor at the front & has never complained about noise. She’s on the south side towards the top of the block.
I don’t know that particular block very well, but I do know that a lot of traffic goes up St. Johns from 3rd/4th aves to GAP in order to avoid the ugly flatbush/atlantic intersection.
Most of the noise associated with this occurs during rush hour (evening more than morning).
Not sure if you are close enough that the Flatbush traffic noise will affect you. I’d say spend some time there between 7:00am and 9:00am and from 4:30-6:00pm on a weekday to get an idea of what the noise is like.
And go by at 9:30pm on a Saturday night to find out what it is like then.
Generally speaking, I think the area is pretty quiet except for the traffic, which you might only notice in rooms facing the street with the windows open.