Fear (of Condos) and Self-Loathing in Williamsburg
What happens when you mix the snide aspects of hipster culture with the gleaming new developments that have popped up in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Fort Greene? Condo shame, says the Observer. The hipsters who once scoffed at new developments like The Edge or nV are now—ironically, perhaps—experiencing a desire to buy units in these buildings…
What happens when you mix the snide aspects of hipster culture with the gleaming new developments that have popped up in Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Fort Greene? Condo shame, says the Observer. The hipsters who once scoffed at new developments like The Edge or nV are now—ironically, perhaps—experiencing a desire to buy units in these buildings (gasp!). In the current market, it’s the modern units that are suddenly in the price range of 20- and 30-something new buyers, while the common brownstone fantasy still costs over $1 million. The article chronicles several 20-somethings such as Kendall Turner, 23, who bought a $449,000 one-bedroom in the Ikon building on McCarren Park in Greenpoint, or Nicole Ferejohn, 27, who refused to give in to her condo urges and continues to rent. Those profiled in the article make excuses and apologies; they feel guilt for their un-Brooklyn-y purchases; but in the end, perhaps the point is that if you price it low enough, they will (begrudgingly) come.
Condo Shame [NY Observer]
people in this story are hilarious. take themselves way to seriously.
Posted by: eh at August 12, 2009 9:55 AM
Ummmm, I think that would be MOST people in NYC.
people in this story are hilarious. take themselves way to seriously.
If you own a half million dollar condo – you are not a hipster.
gemini… there’s nothing about this post or the NY Observer article that has anything to do with reality. The folks buying these condos are the SAME folks with ridiculous overinflated wages in god knows what ‘industry’ (trust me I wish I knew their secret) and HUGE chunks of cash from some source…. mom/dad/grandma/prize pig.
These are the same folks that are buying condos and coops in Park Slope and Cobble Hill… just with tighter jeans and malnutrition. There’s nothing ‘struggling’ about them… and they haven’t worked in a clothing store since they were 16, if they ever have.
Someone posted yesterday… there’s way too many $450-600k units flooding the market in Brooklyn. Most of the probably should be $200k units, but they are “luxury,” right? Luxury for all of the “hipsters.”
theoretically tho, kendall and nicole could be one of the gazillion coke dealers in williamsburg. so these apts and down payments are chump change.
*rob*
What!
so a condo costs $499K and these willy-b denizen/hipster types who are always the struggling-artists/bartenders/waiters/clothing store workers have 10% (49K)lying around to use as a down payment on a 500K condo?
By the way, I’m glad Nicole Ferejohn could resist those “urges” to buy… I know I’ve been fighting those urges for years.
im just trying to wrap my mind around a 23 year first time buyer of a 1/2 million dollar apt. wtf? clearly i’ve wasted the last 10 years of my life.
maybe it’s not guilt about the condo itself, maybe it’s guilt due to parental hand-outs?
and yes, jealousy is a disease. i know that!
*rob*
Rob,
I don’t understand… “such as Kendall Turner, 23, who bought a $449,000 one-bedroom”
What 23 year old can’t afford a 1/2 million dollar home! It only required $100,000 in your pocket, and $2,400 a month plus taxes and maintenance. Seems like the standard situation for the average New Yorker.
I know that I’m gonna see a man about buying a few of these.