Bed-Stuy, Do or...?
About a month ago, an L.A. Times piece on Bed-Stuy had a gentrification-is-happening- not-everyone’s-thrilled take on the neighborhood. Yesterday, our paper of record weighed in with a more nuanced examination of how Bed-Stuy is evolving: “a changing neighborhood not quite changed, transforming not in broad strokes but in half-steps.” The article notes that average sales…
About a month ago, an L.A. Times piece on Bed-Stuy had a gentrification-is-happening- not-everyone’s-thrilled take on the neighborhood. Yesterday, our paper of record weighed in with a more nuanced examination of how Bed-Stuy is evolving: “a changing neighborhood not quite changed, transforming not in broad strokes but in half-steps.” The article notes that average sales prices in the neighborhood have edged down recently, and that it has one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the city. Some well-heeled folks who moved to the neighborhood in the past year or so, meanwhile, say they’re frustrated with the area’s lack of amenities. We just wish there was more variety nearby, for places to go out, says a 25-year-old law student who’s lived in Bed-Stuy for a year and now plans to move to the East Village. You just wish you could go out and have different types of bars and night life nearby. Still, there’s plenty of redevelopment in the area, and Petra Symister, who writes Bed-Stuy Blog, says the neighborhood’s rebirth “is happening in fits and starts, kind of a jerky progression. Henry Butler, 41, chairman of Community Board 3, notes that in his view, more affordable development is particularly welcome: “It’s about income…I’m not looking to Harlemize Bedford-Stuyvesant. My emphasis is on the working people.”
Growing Pains Come and Go in Bed-Stuy [NY Times]
Photo by ultraclay!.
We had “neighborhood-hypersensitivity syndrome”
and now we seem to have
“neighborhood within neighborhood-hypersensitivity syndrome”
You are my neighbors for crying out loud already. I hope you can hear me.
Sheesh!
Therre are good and bad blocks even in Park Slope. Not trying to start anything here though!!!
And I am daveinbedstuy….I tell people I live in Bed Stuy. Most of them wouldn’t know what I was referring to if I said Stuyvesant heights. And yes, it is snooty to say so.
Easy, easy, 7andfive and mysideofstuy…let’s not in fight.
The point is that there are good blocks and bad blocks in every ‘hood. Stuyvesant Heights versus the area around the MYNT was just used as an illustrative example. I could have compared the Myrtle Avenue on the north side of Fort Greene Park to Dekalb on the south side.
I also remember very well those turbulent days…en’shallah we won’t every see such a return to violence.
Also my name here is BEDSTUYHOYA and not stuyheightshoya for a reason…
7 and Five THANK YOU!!!!!! Finally someone with common sense…If we do not join together as a community how are we going to get rid of the social ills in our community??? not by separating ourselves and acting like we live in a bubble…..
man i sick of this look you folks in STUY height make me sick with you holier than thou attitudes
Why do people in Stuy Height separate themselves from the rest of the folk in Bed-Stuy….I think that some of you only think about your selves and not Bed-Stuy as a whole you folks are disillusioned. We are all effected by crime no matter what block we live on… Stuyvesant Heigts has it’s murders I remember very well so please do not act like your part of BED -STUY is any better! get a clue
7andfive…you can’t come to the party now!!!
Kidding….i’ll let you know tomorrow or Wed what’s going on
Dave
Bedstuyhoya- who cares what wikipedia says about historic Bed Stuy town? I’m talking about today and the neighborhood’s own psychological borders-which are far more accurate in practical terms.
Which means that Stuy Heights is not a haven no matter how hard you and Dave try to portray it as such. I’m it makes you feel better about your investment by separating this strip of land away from the rest of Bed Stuy. But my point is that Stuy Heights has some issues as well, as does all of the Stuy. In my opinion on section is not doing considerably better than any other section.
Are certain blocks doing better? Of course,we have some blocks that would rival anything in the slope or ft. greene. But even near those blocks you still don’t have amenities and lots of bullet proof glass at area stores.
well said MacD
We have had this conversation over and over again. Bed-Stuy is huge. It does not help anyone understand where you live by saying “I live in Bed Stuy” unless you give cross streets. Saying “Stuyvesant Heights” is a little more helpful if people know the area, but then they think you’re trying to distance yourself from the rest of the neighborhood.
I moved to Bed-Stuy, alright, Stuyvesant Heights a year ago for the community, and because I could afford to buy a home here (yes, that is a factor). I’m not planning on going anywhere any time soon, so as long as prices start to pick up in 10 years or so, I’m happy. For those who bought in the last year or so to flip, irrespective of where you bought — what were you thinking?!?!? Seriously, everyone knew the market was about to blow. The reason I bought when I did was because I was afraid that after things got bad, I wouldn’t be able to get a loan I could afford. That turns out to be true.
Now, there are parts of Bed-Stuy that I am not comfortable walking through by myself, but make no mistake, when I was looking to buy, I walked on every block — even those deep into Bed-Stuy by the projects. I was careful, and no one bothered me.
Yet I digress. There are starting to be more things available locally (i.e the Y, the renovated Macon Library, the Saturday Teen Fresh Farmers Market, etc.) but I may be a little lower maintenance than some. Besides, I lived in Clinton Hill when there wasn’t a lot of stuff around, and I have to tell you, once the restaurants started popping up I couldn’t stand the people and crowds that started moving into the neighborhood.
Personally, I’ll be very happy with a slow, steady progression in the neighborhood. And for things I need but cannot get nearby (i.e. good Italian or Tai), I can take the subway, bus or car to get where I need to go. I’m much happier with the slower pace and friendly vibe.
Just my take.