SUNSET PARK Advice
Thinking about a move to Sunset Park. 40’s between 4 and 5. How do folks find living there? I think there are some great deals, good transportation…we have a car and can get the kid to school, go to Fairway,etc. What are the drawbacks?
Thinking about a move to Sunset Park. 40’s between 4 and 5. How do folks find living there? I think there are some great deals, good transportation…we have a car and can get the kid to school, go to Fairway,etc. What are the drawbacks?
Thanks for all these comments. I have spent some time there – we have family in the nabe – so I have a general idea. We are going to go for it. I frankly can’t stand the Cobble Hill crowd anymore for all the obvious reasons – and if we can manage our expectations I think this is a good choice for us.
At this point, the negatives still outweigh the positives in terms of gentrification – Otherwise the nabe would be overwith by now; given its convenience and great housing stock. Teegee’s post only begins to allude to the reasons why, but I think he describes a pretty accurate assessment.
Why don’t you spend a Saturday afternoon & evening wandering around, observing the street life of 4th & 5th Avenue in the 40’s to decide for yourself if it’s something you can assimilate with. That is really the best way.
My friend lives on 40th and 6th. I’m pretty envious actually he lives so close to the public swimming pool…best place ever on those hot summer days! Also costco is nearby, great if you have a car.
“Sunset Park has no hipsters…” Isn’t that what makes it hip? ; ).
i guess i pretty much disagree with both previous comments to some degree. parking sucks. but if you compare it to parking in park slope or the upper west side – it is better. you find spots, but it is almost always an effort (i have spent over an hour sometimes waiting for a spot to open). as for speaking spanish, that almost smacks of xenophobia. when i moved here a generation ago, the Scandinavians were on the way out, the Irish & Italians were the established group, and Puerto Ricans were on the way in. The area became almost 50% Puerto Rican for a blink of an eye, but a sudden surge of Dominicans followed by a steady flow of Asians, joined soon by a steady flow of Mexican, South & Central Americans (and a dash of hipsters) created the Sunset Park of today.
I do not speak Spanish, but i have no problem communicating with neighbors, shop keepers or even passerbys. For hanging out, I have longterm friends and relatives.
There are a few small & in need of “new energy” civic groups – one for the library, one for the park and a few others – that you could join (in addition to a pta) if you need to have “meaningful” civic interaction (you’d be surprised how this can lead to family friendships).
I believe the pluses to living here are huge, but it is not for everyone. You have to know yourself before deciding if you can live here. If you are suburban (or middle america or small town america), white, too many generations to count American, you must ask yourself if you can live in a truly multi-ethnic neighborhood.
The pluses – location (best ride to all three airports, easy access to all professional sports, great shopping prices, great food prices, great fruit prices, great public transportation, incredible cheap & tasty restaurants).
The negatives – although most blocks, most nights are totally quiet, you will have the occasional disturbance – someone noisey walking down the block or a car service honking – but it is the exception (most nights my block – 52nd is as quiet as the rural road that I once lived on). Another negative is the unresponsive city agencies & utilities. We’ve been without electric for 36 hours in the dead of winter with little response from Con Ed. We’ve been caught up in red tape trying to resolve simple situations – tree branch removal, trucks on our restricted block, having a third floor gas meter turned back on, police response to low level annoyance situations, etc.
You need to be a patient person, a bit self-sufficient and definitely not in need of an environment that stays the same beyond a week.
If you intend to live here and rub shoulders for everything else (food shopping, eating out & partying) in Park Slope or somewhere else, you will be miserable – you will feel inferior to those who you rub shoulders with.
On the other hand, if you live here and like to take your family to museums, long island beaches, day trips to boston, philly and elsewhere, this is a great place.
Honestly, if you do not speak Spanish and/or traditional Roman Catholic values, you and yours will feel isolated. (hipsters don’t count as they try for the outsider status)
I’ve been in Sunset Park for the last 12 years. The brownstones are really nice here, great food, and you will be very close to the express D train to get you in the city. If you have a car, parking is no problem. For me, that was a big deal. The only drawback I can think of is the lack of upscale stores and restaurants in walking distance. For that I often go to Park Slope or Bay Ridge. We do have hipsters moving here, However Sunset Park is far from being hip. But Sunset Park has come a long way since I moved out here. It’s a safe neighborhood, has the best Mexican and Chinese food in the city. The park is really nice but small. We do have two new schools built recently. If you’re in the market to buy a brownstone, deals can be had.