Info on Relocating From 'burbs to Brooklyn
I am looking to relocate to Brooklyn from conservative Lancaster Co, PA. I would prefer to do this after my daughter graduates in about 4 years. As a single person I know this will be financially difficult given the cost of living is so much higher and the lifestyle is different than living in the…
I am looking to relocate to Brooklyn from conservative Lancaster Co, PA. I would prefer to do this after my daughter graduates in about 4 years. As a single person I know this will be financially difficult given the cost of living is so much higher and the lifestyle is different than living in the suburbs where I am now. I really need to plan well for this life changing move and needed advice from locals on how to proceed. I do not have a degree and would need to look for an entry-mid level clerical/accounting job and would like to know to the best sites/classifieds/places to find work. In addition I only have explored the Park Slope and Ft Greene neighborhoods but know they are more expensive than others. Can anyone give me any insight into the different neighborhoods, vibes, lifestyles, and cultures? As a newcomer is it better to keep my car or rely on public transportation? Is street parking readily available and safe? As you can tell I have a lot of questions on lifestyle changes. Any advice is appreciated.
Do you have any friends in Brooklyn? If not, try to make some that you can visit frequently to acquire?a feel of the borough.
You need to form a realistic picture of BK, than can cone with frequent visits.
I to left the Lancaster Co, Pa area for NYC.., but I was 20 yrs old, rents were dirt cheap – I moved to a large garden apt in East village for $450 in 1991, I was a former child actress – ie had deep creative conections and found acquiring work a breeze in tv & film or then then lucrative paying night clubs.
In a nutshell, for an extroverted, popular, connected 20 yo with low expenses and easy access to lucarative cash paying gigs – NYC was a total blast!
20 yrs later, I still Love the city.., but I have solidified all my contacts made in my 20’s. Being a middle age woman on a limited income, who has to work 5 days a week to barely earn a living, NYC may not be all that you hope for.
You may have to work very hard at a 9-5 to pay your for your share in a roommate situation, in a crummy apt in a neighborhood you do not enjoy. Also, if you are not an extrovert with alot of free time, and extra cash does not hurt, it may be hard to meet people.
I know single people in their 40’s, making an average salary, 50 – 70k, who are mistable in NYC. Unfortunately, the City favors, the young & connected and always financially set of any age.
If you can cultivate a group of like minded friends, you may love the City.., but if free tine, money, connections, an extroverted personality are not on your side, you may find yourself lonely, yet surrounded by a city of millions.
I definitely would approach the move slowly with lots of pratical preparation. Also, it’s not fair or legal, but age discrimination still exist on the work force. Make sure you can find a position with a company you like and pays what your position and experience warrant before you cement that move.
I’m not trying to sound horribly negative, but no degree and middle age, moving to a new city with no contacts.., you will haveto think creatively out of te box to make it work on a pratorical level.
My sister brought a lovely 5 family, 4 bath house on an acre of land in a very nice suburb of PA for less than $400,000. Where in Brooklyn, there are some condos – ie small dorm size boxes – that begin in that range, not to mention what the neighborhood may or may not be like.
Visit as much as you can. Try to make friends who live in BK to hear diverse stories of their different BK affairs, meaning how it does and does not work for them.
Best of Luck as every journey begins with the 1st step.
My family has had a similar experience. I am a native Manhattanite; my husband and I lived in Cobble Hill when we were first married and then moved to the North Shore of Long Island and raised three children. We moved back to Brooklyn four years ago. One of our sons went to Pratt and stayed in Clinton Hill; the other graduated from college is working in NYC as an environmental engineer; and our daughter is in her junior year in college. Returning to Brooklyn has been the best thing for our family; the kids love it here. We appreciate having so much nearby (no more driving many miles every day). I would think there is no bad choice of neighborhood; all the best of luck to you.
Until you have a job, you don’t have a budget and until you have a budget, you don’t have the first criterion you need to select a neighborhood. The neighborhood part is easy. It’s the job part that’s hard. I would suggest that you focus your attention there. I know several middle aged people with degrees and experience who have been looking for jobs for a long while.
BK neighborhoods less costly than Slope/Cobble Hill etc. but sufficiently urban might include Greenwood Heights, Ditmas Park, Prospect Lefferts, Crown Heights North, Bed-Stuy, edges of Clinton Hill such as Wallabout. Yes, visit a lot, and don’t overlook Queens (Astoria, Long ISland City).
Amazingly it seems everyone here is in agreement for once! I agree with all the stuff about coming as much as you can to see the different neighborhoods, and, yes, even Queens! Also remember that Jersey City is a short PATH subway ride away and is quite an urban setting (don’t tell anyone I said this, or they’ll kick me out of NY).
Do check out zipcar.com. My family and I use it for ad hoc regional trips, such as picking relatives up at the airport, shopping at Fairway in Red Hook, or just taking a day trip somewhere that public transport would be inconvenient.
Further to Rob’s point about, if you have four years, is there any way you can work toward a degree in Lancaster? I did a quick google search, and it seems there are a number of colleges in the region. Maybe one has an evening or part-time program? There should also be all kinds of aid available to help with the cost, too.
Good luck! In my experience, every fantasy I had about how I might live my life as an adult (from living in Manhattan, to living in a brownstone, to owning a convertible (not at the same time!), to being a husband and father) has turned out as good or better than I expected. I hope you find the same joy.
Locals? They no longer exists. You are looking for answers from people just like you. Stay in Pa.
Locals? They no longer exists. You are looking for answers from people just like you. Stay in Pa.
I wholeheartedly second all the advice about reading the linked blogs from different neighborhoods.
Consider if you will work in Manhattan and how important Manhattan will be to your life. If you plan to be there every day during the work week, factor in how much of a commute you can tolerate. If you don’t think you’ll be commuting to Manhattan every day or you don’t mind an hour or so on a train or bus, a more outer-lying neighborhood like Bay Ridge would give you a lot of what you look for for a lot less money than Ft. Greene or Park Slope.
Also bear in mind that once you’re here, if you don’t like the ‘hood you’re in, you can move. It’s inconvenient and may not suit your budget, but most of us did not move here from elsewhere, set down in one neighborhood and never leave it. It’s common to move from one neighborhood to another as your likes/needs change or as the neighborhood changes. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself that you must find The One on your first date, so to speak.
I’ll also say for the record that while I am die-hard Team Brooklyn these days, I lived for years in Astoria, Queens, and Queens has many great neighborhoods that fit your criteria as well. (Don’t hate, my fellow Brooklynites)
Sell your car and open a Zipcar account. Then you can use a car just when you need one.
All the comments about choosing a neighborhood based on what you like to do are valid. I have live in three different brownstone neighborhoods in the last 42 years and loved them all. Pick a place close to a subway in any close-in area and you will probably be very happy. Good Luck!