Life by the J train? (Mid to Northeast Bed Stuy)
Anyone who read my other post in the renovation forum knows that we are looking to buy in Bed Stuy. We are trying to choose between a huge 4 story house (20×45) near Stuy Heights that is to be “fully gut renovated” by a developer (we choose the layout) and a beautiful 3 story (20×50)…
Anyone who read my other post in the renovation forum knows that we are looking to buy in Bed Stuy. We are trying to choose between a huge 4 story house (20×45) near Stuy Heights that is to be “fully gut renovated” by a developer (we choose the layout) and a beautiful 3 story (20×50) brownstone near the Gates J train stop that has been wonderfully preserved (all original details) and renovated by the owners.
If it was just myself and my husband, we would go for the beautiful 3 story out near the J train, but we have two small toddlers (twins, no less) and I worry about how much access (meaning walking distance) to amenities I would have out there when I must tote two toddlers along with me everywhere I go. I worry I might feel stranded, with only Broadway serving as the main artery of amenities and being so far away from the A train. I am also concerned about being in school district 16 vs. school district 13.
Does anyone live out that who might be willing to share their experiences – how do you fare in regards to amenities? Where do you go to shop (is organic hoping for too much?) Where do you send your kids to school? Where is your doctor, dentist, etc.?
Thanks in advance to anybody who can provide some insight on this matter. It is an agonizing decision, because we love this house so much . . .
I meant to say that the Met in Carroll Gardens smelled of rodents at the time….
I can’t comment directly on the Gates stop, because I don’t live there. I live further out on the J train. For what it’s worth, Stuy Heights has a larger number of high-quality sit down restaurants and some boutique-y places such as the ice cream parlor, and a good size library, compared to other areas of Bed Stuy.
But it would be wrong to think other areas of Bed Stuy are lacking in amenities, inconvenient, or bad places to live. I am enjoying Bed Stuy Fish Fry, Bed Stuy yoga, a good produce store, the amazing cafe on Reid between Decatur and Macdonough (weird name — oooozzzz???), two gorgeous parks, a smaller library, five pharmacies, and other conveniences Stuy Heights may lack (not sure).
Is Stuy Heights safer? I have absolutely no idea, and would not assume either way. You can’t tell from reading the crime stats.
I don’t know anything about schools. Several of the now-grown children on my block graduated from college, so it can’t be all bad.
“If you are really want to purchase only organic and sustainably grown products, none of the marginal/transitional non-yuppie nabes will really have enough of what you want, with sufficient variety”
This is an issue almost everywhere in NYC, it doesn’t matter how much rent/mortgage you pay. I lived in Carroll Gardens and wouldn’t set foot in the rat/mouse infested Met there on Smith St. nor was I especially compelled by the mushy apples at the “health food” store. Best places in Brooklyn for groceries are next to McCarren Park or next to the Park Slope Food Coop.
To sum up: it’s a little sketchy, as far as safety goes.
I disagree with Butterfly. While I do have doctors in Manhattan, I also have a GREAT dentist and a GREAT eye doctor in Clinton Hill, BROOKLYN. Both of them were at the top of their classes at UPenn and Yale, both decided to set up shop in the Borough of Kings where they both reside in amazing brownstones. I think those days of “better doctors” on the Upper East Side are over.
here’s a novel thought. stop over paying for organic food and youll be able to live in a nicer neighborhood! is that 10 dollar tomato worth more to you than your child’s education!?
*rob*
Urban Organic delivers csa-type produce (although a lot of it isn’t local, if you care…) to most of Brooklyn.
BTW, my parenthesis was in the wrong place in my earlier post: Clinton Hill is not the up and coming neighborhood (obviously!!) — around the Myrtle J I am bullish on. Just geography — it’s close to a lot of stuff. There also used to be some amazing houses around there, although a lot of them were torn down in the early fedderization days.
But also, farther out on the J isn’t an area I am all that familiar with, except with housing prices, which are really reasonable.
Since you have toddlers, I think that the local school is pretty important. I’m not a parent myself, but I think there is a big advantage to the school not being far afield. As to middle schools, what with the ongoing turmoil at the dept of ed, I don’t think you can count on the structure of the schools (minis, zoned, charters) remaining the same after the emperor cedes control of the city. (At some point, some sane person without an anti-public servant axe to grind will realize that having 100% more principals and other supervisors is not terribly cost-efficient or even very good educationally.)
If you are really want to purchase only organic and sustainably grown products, none of the marginal/transitional non-yuppie nabes will really have enough of what you want, with sufficient variety, and you will need to drive or take other transportation to the more “desirable”neighborhoods to get what you want. retlaw makes a good point about using Fresh Direct. Now that I am getting older and do not drive (never did), I have been considering using them also, at least for the heavy staples that stay fresh or can be frozen for a long time.
As to doctors and dentists, I have my primary care physician on Madison Ave and she is wonderful. She also charges about $300 for a normal office visit, more for extended visits and does not accept insurance. On the other hand, I have a great gastro guy, eye doctor, and dermatologist here in Brooklyn. Being the son of a doctor, I am fairly demanding. (OK, that may just be a part of my personality.) I’m sure you can find doctors and dentists here in Brooklyn and Queens if you ask other parents for recommendations. If I were to undergo surgery, sure, I would prefer to go to NY Hospital or NYU, but there are some great doctors and great people here in Brooklyn.
lots are traveling from bedstuy or bushwick for school. 31 and 84 are magnets. Williamsburg Northside for infants and preschool. Know several families coming from further east that drop the young one off at northside, and the older kid at 84, then leave the car and hop on the L. also, know that people get their kids into 84, and then buy out further in bedstuy once the older one is in 84, then the younger one will be guaranteed prek because of sibling preference.
it’s not ideal? but must be pretty doable because i know like 10 families doing it right now.