Sunset Park: Land of the Affordable Brownstone
As has been discussed in this space before, Sunset Park offers an impresssive assortment of housing opportunities, especially for those looking to stay below the million dollar mark. Like many nabes now undergoing renaissance, Sunset Park, which stretches south of Park Slope down to Bay Ridge, has seen a big turnaround. One of the city’s…
As has been discussed in this space before, Sunset Park offers an impresssive assortment of housing opportunities, especially for those looking to stay below the million dollar mark. Like many nabes now undergoing renaissance, Sunset Park, which stretches south of Park Slope down to Bay Ridge, has seen a big turnaround. One of the city’s most diverse areas, Sunset Park is also expected to get a lift from the waterfront development projects just getting underway that will include ballfields, lawns and bike paths. Those who have already bought in are pleased as punch:
“We got a much bigger space for not much more than we sold our condo for in Park Slope,” said Joe Reister, an academic adviser who bought a three-story brownstone on 45th Street with his wife, Shannon Laughlin, a year and a half ago. “We did some work — don’t get me wrong,” he said. “But the outside looks like something out of Sesame Street.”
The only negative the Times article notes is a lack of parking. How about that commute? The Times the article quoted seemed to give an overly optimistic impression by citing only the time on the subway. How do residents find it?
Hunt for Brownstones in Sunset Park [NY Times]
Addendum: Check out the Times article on Living In Sunset Park from 2001 Here. Thanks, Joyce.
so here’s a question – is bay ridge a decent alternative to sunset park? it too uses the r line and it does seem that the r line doesn’t run with any consistency outside of regular commuting hours – what a pain. so is that an impediment to bay ridge ever being “hot”? what do residents do? do they take the n train to 36th street and get a car service the rest of the way home?
I lived in Sunset Park for a year and ran away as fast as I could. I did not like the bleakness of the area – I was too close to 4th Avenue, which is not very nice at all. My house was beautiful and my neighbors were great, but the area had no decent grocery shopping, no good library, no services. No place to hang out and have a cup of coffee and work or read, no decent bar, none of what makes New York a pleasant place to live.
I agree that it is two communities, self-separated by ethnicity. Not being Latino or Asian, I didn’t fit in, and no one talked to me much except the other “outsiders” in my building. And one of them had it even worse. Want to hear about racism? Read on. My friend and neighbor was Middle Eastern. She had a young son whom she used to bring to the playground on 7th Avenue in the mid-50’s. The other moms there were mostly from the Chinese community, and they would physically drag their kids away from hers, and yell epithets at my olive-skinned friend.
On safety, I have to agree that it’s very safe. I never had a problem coming home very late at night along 4th Avenue. But the commute sucks – it’s not so much the distance, it’s the fact that the N/R remains one of the worst subway lines in town. The N is the only train that runs quickly there; the R takes forever, and neither train runs well. Service changes often weren’t announced at local stations. Prices to buy there are way too high for an area with so few services.
i think lefferts is really the worst area besides brownsville east ny and canarsie. it really is a dumping hole. also include bed stuy, crown heights on that list, these areas are really worthless. i would not care if they are ugly or beautiful no person in there right mind would raise a family there. with the housing bubble starting to deflate i think these area will drop quickly . lefferts is a garbage pit and whoever bought there is in for a shock when they go to sell in a yr from now
Reading this blog, it seams to me Lefferts is the worst nabe to buy/invest in Brooklyn.
I like the brownstoner, but this constant Lefferts-trashing is weird.
With all your Lefferts bad mouthing, it actually might become the most affordable nabe in brooklyn very soon.
Most people who live in Lefferts have too much sense to walk the streets. They have their beautiful homes, but they are careful not to come out of them unless it is to jump in a car and speed away. I could never live that way.
Why SP “seems” safer to me than Lefferts.
1. Lefferts, except for Flatbush Ave, always seems really quiet…too quiet. I don’t see many people, of any color, walking along the residential streets. There are no major thoroughfares that break up the (beautiful) residential area, which means less foot traffic, which makes me uncomfortable. Sunset Park bustles and seems a little bit more social, family oriented.
2. Flatbush Ave. does bustle, but it has a constant police presence (good and bad), and I have seen a lot of “action” in this area. I don’t care what color criminals are – I just prefer not to be around them.
OK I’m done.
04:50 PM, have you listened to that song recently? Why don\’t you give it a listen and then let us know when you are done. Then maybe we can get back to discussion of substantive issues on this board.
People…..every time I read the off topic postings about PLG,BS,FG,BR or SP I can’t help hearing a song from the musical Avenue Q. It’s song #5 called “Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist”.I think if you get the chance give it a listen, and maybe we can get back on topic.