Condo of the Day: 11 Terrace Place
Are sales starting to slow in Windsor Terrace? When we first checked in with 11 Terrace Place in February, people left comments saying the open houses were hopping, and a couple folks noted that the units seemed nice and the development not so bad. While Corcoran’s website shows that seven of the condo’s 18 units…
Are sales starting to slow in Windsor Terrace? When we first checked in with 11 Terrace Place in February, people left comments saying the open houses were hopping, and a couple folks noted that the units seemed nice and the development not so bad. While Corcoran’s website shows that seven of the condo’s 18 units have gone into contract since then, Natefind just lodged a price cut on one of the apartments, a two-bedroom that’s dropped from $625,000 to $599,000. That brings the per-square-foot price down to $505; most of the other listings, including the ones that’ve gone into contract, are in the mid-$500-a-foot range. Not exactly a fire sale, but think it’s indicative of a cooling market in the Terrace?
11 Terrace Place [Corcoran] GMAP
Getting a Clue About 11 Terrace [Brownstoner]
I hate to distract everyone from this Darien v. Brooklyn pissing match, but I’m still a little shocked that people would consider being across from Green-wood Cemetary to be a negative.
Aside from the generic benefits of being across from a cemetary – you won’t lose your views, and the neighbors sure are quiet – Green-wood is absolutely gorgeous. I’ll admit that the McDonald side isn’t as lush as the areas further west, and unfortunately the prettiest part is across 36th street from a bus depot, but it’s still a lovely green view.
I just don’t get the idea of cemetaries as creepy. Death is a fact of life, and the idea that we, or loved ones (or at least our earthly remains) could spend eternity in a pleasant green landscape is comforting to me. A lot has been written about how we as a society have eliminated death from view. People used to die at home, now it’s in a hospital or nursing home. With infant mortality, infectious diseases, and the dangers of childbirth, death wasn’t the near-exclusive province of the elderly. And of course landscaped cemetaries like Green-wood were very popular picnic spots in the early- and mid-nineteenth century, and were the inspiration for public parks like Central Park.
Obviously I’m all for living a long and healthy life, but to shun cemetaries is what I find ‘creepy.’
how’d we get from joking about condos near a cemetary and a funny looking broker to this?
kuroko, you wrote:
“We could debate for years about whether or not places like Darien breed racism or not.”
If you are familiar with “Gentleman’s Agreement” a novel by Laura Hobson made into a movie starring Gregory Peck, you would know that Darien was once considered a haven of anti-Semitism. However, to think Darien was alone in this sentiment one would have to ignore the fact that many many hotels, co-ops and apartment buildings in NY City were “restricted” — in other words, no Jews allowed — well into the 1970s, and there are still co-ops in NYC with boards unwilling to admit Jews. Darien is over it.
You wrote:
“Our experience is that for lack of diversity of backgrounds and circumstances, you inherently are more prejudice. Fear of the unknown.”
Fear of the unknown? Are you kidding? We’re talking about a town of people who have seen more of the world by the time they graduate from high school than most people see in a lifetime. Parents in Darien are well aware of the value of worldliness and getting outside the safety of the affluent enclave when it comes to college admissions. These kids are spending some time working — often volunteering — in poor neighborhoods in nearby cities like Bridgeport.
It’s an admirable bunch that has graduated from Darien High over the last couple of decades. Plenty of DHS grads attend college in cities where they rub shoulders with pretty much everyone. There’s always a few who are accepted to the military service academies or fund college with money from ROTC or simply enlist.
Of course there’s a few who develop some prejudices against blacks and others. But, as the local crime statistics show, virtually no bias crimes are committed by Darien residents.
You wrote:
“Comparing apples to apples, I know that a community comprised of an equivalent demographic taken from New York City would compare to the achievement levels in Darien which are admittedly quite impressive (94% HS graduation rate). Perhaps the population that sends their children to Dalton (www.dalton.org).”
There are more blacks at Dalton than Darien High. In any case, if you want to slice the pie to match the 10028 zip code with 06820, well, okay.
You wrote:
“Cities are inherently more safe DESPITE increased crime levels for one reason: We don’t drive.”
Now you are making crime equal to car accidents. However, even on this count, you’re claim fails. While it is true that suburban kids do manage to kill themselves driving irresponsibly after drinking, it is also true that city drivers nail pedestrian kids.
Furthermore, your claim that “We don’t drive” is laughable. All those cars clogging every street in this city are not a product of my imagination. Queens Boulevard is known as the Avenue of Death in certain stretches. A Marine just back from Iraq was killed two days ago when he crashed his motorcycle on the Belt Parkway and was run over by his buddy who was following him.
About the time I moved out of Windsor Terrace the son of my neighbor was killed on E 19th just off the exit from the Prospect Expressway. He was walking along the street when a car nailed him.
You claimed:
“This fact significantly lowers mortality rates. That’s why it is a safer place to raise your boys.”
The claim is phony.
You wrote:
“Yes, NYC has more guns, but they have more swimming pools and cars.”
NYC has more guns, it has plenty of public swimming pools and a huge number of cars, many of which are uninsured and driven by people who are unlicensed.
To my knowledge there were no drownings in pools in either NYC or Darien this year. However, there were a couple of drownings at city beaches.
And a good number of fatal accidents occurred at construction sites in NYC this year.
You wrote:
“I would also argue that by raising your children in a more complex and challenging social environment you will make them safer going forward by preparing them for anything/everything.”
I happen to believe that living in Brooklyn, which, in my view, is the most diverse diverse place in the world, adds something to the lives of kids raised here. But the risk of dangerous encounters is very real in NYC, as I know from experience.
We could debate for years about whether or not places like Darien breed racism or not. Our experience is that for lack of diversity of backgrounds and circumstances, you inherently are more prejudice. Fear of the unknown.
Comparing apples to apples, I know that a community comprised of an equivalent demographic taken from New York City would compare to the achievement levels in Darien which are admittedly quite impressive (94% HS graduation rate). Perhaps the population that sends their children to Dalton (www.dalton.org).
Cities are inherently more safe DESPITE increased crime levels for one reason: We don’t drive. This fact significantly lowers mortality rates. That’s why it is a safer place to raise your boys.
Yes, NYC has more guns, but they have more swimming pools and cars.
I would also argue that by raising your children in a more complex and challenging social environment you will make them safer going forward by preparing them for anything/everything.
As a sage-crooner once sang it, “If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.”
kuroko, you wrote:
“Darien, CT Demographic breakdown:
Your numbers are close enough. Virtually no blacks. Almost no hispanics except in the case of those who are married to a white spouse. Some Asians in the community as a result of high educational and professional achievement.
You wrote:
“Good for you if you are raising your children in this wealthy and white bubble.”
I was born in Manhattan and went to junior high school and high school in Darien.
You wrote:
“I left a community just like this to raise my son in a place with a much broader social experience.”
Darien and other affluent towns like it do not breed prejudice. Life in these towns may do little to end bias and prejudice in other parts of the country and the world, but these towns are not sources of prejudice.
You wrote:
“When you want to compare apples to apples I’ll respond further.”
You’re the guy who said you would prove that life in the city was “safer” than life in the suburbs. Now you’re establishing conditions of equivalence. But your conditions cannot be met, and you know that.
The fact that the suburbs are substantially white is the defining characteristic of suburban towns and precisely why they are safer places to live than cities.
You wrote:
“I am assuming that you know it well because perhaps this is where your were raised.”
Yes. But before living in Darien my family lived in two other similar suburban towns — one on Long Island and the other outside Chicago.
You wrote:
“If so, is it a wonder that you have deep prejudices?”
In my life I have been shot at — by hispanics; attacked and slashed with a knife by a black burglar in my own place; attacked on the street by a black gang; broken up an attack on a man being mugged by a gang of hispanics; and I have had many other adventures of a similar nature. All the fun occurred in cities. None of it in Darien, CT.
However, the father of one of my closest friends was murdered in his house in Darien by a black intruder. The killer is serving a life sentence in CT. He was from a neighboring city.
You asked:
“Curious to know if you actually live in the city.”
I lived in Manhattan for a number of years, then moved to Windsor Terrace. Now I live on the other side of Prospect Park.
You asked:
“Have children?”
Two boys, both in public schools.
Darien, CT Demographic breakdown
Race/Ethnicity 2000 Population 1990 Population
White 18,816 17,678
Black 89 75
Native American 8 9
Asian/Pacific Islander 479 371
Hispanic 429 340
Good for you if you are raising your children in this wealthy and white bubble. I left a community just like this to raise my son in a place with a much broader social experience.
When you want to compare apples to apples I’ll respond further. I am assuming that you know it well because perhaps this is where your were raised. If so, is it a wonder that you have deep prejudices?
Curious to know if you actually live in the city. Have children?
“there are very few violent criminals born and bred in the suburbs because very few violent felon parents live and breed children in the suburbs”
Yep, there are no violent felons in the suburbs… on ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN!
Reality check on Aisle 9, please.
8:54, you wrote:
“Identify a school district in the burbs and lets do a statistical study. I’ll provide the links to data.”
Okay. We’ll use one I know well. Darien, CT. Zip code 06820.
You wrote:
“Your child is statistically more likely to die living in the suburbs.”
Yeah. Sure. By one interpretation, your statement is pointless — everyone will die. Thus every child will age and eventually die. His residence will have no effect on the outcome.
I will assume you meant that death would result from some misfortune.
The New York Times offerred the same silly claim a number of years ago. You will have no more luck proving this goofy point than the Times.
I wrote:
“”Children are rarely murdered in the suburbs. Children and young adults account for the bulk of murder victims in NY City and other urban areas.””
You wrote:
“That’s not factually true and I can back it up with statistics.”
Oh. If my claim is not “factually true”, then you are contending that my claim is “unfactually true”, whatever that means. Your logic will show the same effects of torture as your word usage.
You wrote:
“As for average and below average kids being in better hands in the suburban schools, I have to assume that you know more than I do, as rarely does the apple fall far from the tree.”
There is some truth to your statement. In other words, there are very few violent criminals born and bred in the suburbs because very few violent felon parents live and breed children in the suburbs.
Identify a school district in the burbs and lets do a statistical study. I’ll provide the links to data.
Your child is statistically more likely to die living in the suburbs. That’s what I mean by safer. What do you mean?
“Children are rarely murdered in the suburbs. Children and young adults account for the bulk of murder victims in NY City and other urban areas.”
That’s not factually true and I can back it up with statistics.
As for average and below average kids being in better hands in the suburban schools, I have to assume that you know more than I do, as rarely does the apple fall far from the tree.