Sunset Park is real Brooklyn, which is good and bad. I am a lifelong Bay Ridge resident and have many friends in the 50s and 60s between 4th and 5th avenues. A few of us were mugged about fifteen years ago in the park, but that’s it. And it was a very professional affair, as far as muggings go, so no big deal. The alternate side regulations are rough (two days a week, and early in the AM) though and you’ll need to head to either Park Slope or Bay Ridge for your hippie essentials (not too many good organic markets in Sunset yet).
One potential drawback: the cops only come when there’s something serious happening. My friend lives on 62nd btw 4th and 5th and he had a pursuit go right across his stoop last summer. This really isn’t a major problem most times, but with vibrancy comes the occasional loud party or festival or block party, so if you’re looking for a suburban nighttime experience, well, keep looking.
I would recommend the area not as a way to get rich selling real estate but as a way to actually live in and experience Brooklyn proper. we’ve been hearing about a Sunset Park boom for a long time, but it never materialized. With that said, a well maintained and updated brownstone will fetch you the high end of six figures, so I am not sure where people expected the prices to go.
I’m up in the 50’s and I agree with all of the above. Needs cafe/coffee space and maybe some interesting hangs but convenient to the city, a lot of choice of foods, diversified shopping from mom and pops to chains, safe at all hours, good variety of housing and good mix of people.
thanks everyone. I worked in SP 10 years ago but I couldn’t see the purchasing future then. Mostly looking from 40-45 th street from 5th ave to 7th ave. as we would like to stay near express stop.
Right now its Sunset Park vs gowanus as two possible neighborhoods for purchase. While gowanus is more accessible and becoming super trendy (been in gowaus for 5 years), I feel that SP is prettier and more family friendly.
Wow, seems like the neighborhood stock is rising! I’ve lived here for many years. Have always felt safe, have parked a car on the street for over a decade without any problems at all. Good to great mass transit, depending on where you’re headed. Quick and easy access to some great urban recreational areas — bay ridge promenade, coney. We’re promised a greenway bike path…someday. Sunset Park is a special park, between the views, the pool, and the people. The cemetary is a beautiful place for a walk. Lots of cheap ethnic eats. Downside — we do go to the Slope for our yuppie consumer needs.
We bought a place in SP nearly two years ago and are raising our daughter there. I love the neighborhood. The people are sweet, the park is one of Brooklyn’s hidden jewels, and the liveliness of the neighborhood (especially in the summer) is everything New York is supposed to be.
As Rick said, the food in the neighborhood is top-notch — amazing tacos and banh mis and dim sum. Plus, you’re an easy walk to Park Slope and Bay Ridge. And the new park on the waterfront is slated to open in the next year, which will add another great amenity to the hood.
As guikazoid said, too, Sunset Park is like many neighborhoods in that it has some blocks that are better than others. We’re right at 44th and 6th, at the main entrance to the park, and most of the blocks all around us are great. I’d suggest, too, that you go to the hood on a nice Spring day and just stroll. It’ll feel like a bygone New York.
Hope this helps! We’ve loved living here even more than we ever expected.
My husband and I rented on 56th st for a year back in 2004 to decide if we would buy a place in the neighborhood. I agree that sunset park has a lot going for it – safe, affordable, some beautiful blocks. But after a year, we knew it wasn’t for us. It felt far away from manhattan, the amenities (like grocery stores for example) aren’t great, the playgrounds are in disrepair, the schools not an option. I say all this knowing it is entirely a personal preference. Lots of folks love it, but we decided that less space in a better location was our preference. Just my two cents. good luck to you.
We bought a brownstone two years ago in SP. If you can find a good deal, take it. The bad economy has delayed the inevitable: a steep increase in prices for multi-family housing in the area, some of which has well-preserved original detail.
Sunset Park is real Brooklyn, which is good and bad. I am a lifelong Bay Ridge resident and have many friends in the 50s and 60s between 4th and 5th avenues. A few of us were mugged about fifteen years ago in the park, but that’s it. And it was a very professional affair, as far as muggings go, so no big deal. The alternate side regulations are rough (two days a week, and early in the AM) though and you’ll need to head to either Park Slope or Bay Ridge for your hippie essentials (not too many good organic markets in Sunset yet).
One potential drawback: the cops only come when there’s something serious happening. My friend lives on 62nd btw 4th and 5th and he had a pursuit go right across his stoop last summer. This really isn’t a major problem most times, but with vibrancy comes the occasional loud party or festival or block party, so if you’re looking for a suburban nighttime experience, well, keep looking.
I would recommend the area not as a way to get rich selling real estate but as a way to actually live in and experience Brooklyn proper. we’ve been hearing about a Sunset Park boom for a long time, but it never materialized. With that said, a well maintained and updated brownstone will fetch you the high end of six figures, so I am not sure where people expected the prices to go.
proximity to the chinese markets and restaurants is a bonus too
I’m up in the 50’s and I agree with all of the above. Needs cafe/coffee space and maybe some interesting hangs but convenient to the city, a lot of choice of foods, diversified shopping from mom and pops to chains, safe at all hours, good variety of housing and good mix of people.
thanks everyone. I worked in SP 10 years ago but I couldn’t see the purchasing future then. Mostly looking from 40-45 th street from 5th ave to 7th ave. as we would like to stay near express stop.
Right now its Sunset Park vs gowanus as two possible neighborhoods for purchase. While gowanus is more accessible and becoming super trendy (been in gowaus for 5 years), I feel that SP is prettier and more family friendly.
Would love to hear other thoughts.
Wow, seems like the neighborhood stock is rising! I’ve lived here for many years. Have always felt safe, have parked a car on the street for over a decade without any problems at all. Good to great mass transit, depending on where you’re headed. Quick and easy access to some great urban recreational areas — bay ridge promenade, coney. We’re promised a greenway bike path…someday. Sunset Park is a special park, between the views, the pool, and the people. The cemetary is a beautiful place for a walk. Lots of cheap ethnic eats. Downside — we do go to the Slope for our yuppie consumer needs.
taco matamoros! love it so much… hey residents, any tacos better than matamoros? xomilchos (spelling?) i like too….
We bought a place in SP nearly two years ago and are raising our daughter there. I love the neighborhood. The people are sweet, the park is one of Brooklyn’s hidden jewels, and the liveliness of the neighborhood (especially in the summer) is everything New York is supposed to be.
As Rick said, the food in the neighborhood is top-notch — amazing tacos and banh mis and dim sum. Plus, you’re an easy walk to Park Slope and Bay Ridge. And the new park on the waterfront is slated to open in the next year, which will add another great amenity to the hood.
As guikazoid said, too, Sunset Park is like many neighborhoods in that it has some blocks that are better than others. We’re right at 44th and 6th, at the main entrance to the park, and most of the blocks all around us are great. I’d suggest, too, that you go to the hood on a nice Spring day and just stroll. It’ll feel like a bygone New York.
Hope this helps! We’ve loved living here even more than we ever expected.
My husband and I rented on 56th st for a year back in 2004 to decide if we would buy a place in the neighborhood. I agree that sunset park has a lot going for it – safe, affordable, some beautiful blocks. But after a year, we knew it wasn’t for us. It felt far away from manhattan, the amenities (like grocery stores for example) aren’t great, the playgrounds are in disrepair, the schools not an option. I say all this knowing it is entirely a personal preference. Lots of folks love it, but we decided that less space in a better location was our preference. Just my two cents. good luck to you.
We bought a brownstone two years ago in SP. If you can find a good deal, take it. The bad economy has delayed the inevitable: a steep increase in prices for multi-family housing in the area, some of which has well-preserved original detail.