House of the Day: Hawthorne Street Woodie
We aren’t intimately familiar with Hawthorne Street in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and this house looks okay to us, but we suspect that it is overpriced at $875,000 when compared to some of the more stately brownstones in the Lefferts Manor historic district that begins one block north of this place. So we’ve got a couple…
We aren’t intimately familiar with Hawthorne Street in Prospect Lefferts Gardens and this house looks okay to us, but we suspect that it is overpriced at $875,000 when compared to some of the more stately brownstones in the Lefferts Manor historic district that begins one block north of this place. So we’ve got a couple of questions: 1) What’s this block like? 2) Is this house indeed overpriced?
Hawthorne Street House [Foxtons] GMAP
however, Ed’s question regarding a specific date and place of a crime here in PLG was a good idea, I think. If any such occurances have happened, we all should know about it. If specifics aren’t supplied, that too is valuable information about the motives of posters.
Ed,
You write “regarding “conspiracy” theories, I don’t find anything particularly problematic about questioning the motives of some of the insane sensationalistic accounts of violence in PLG”
I can think of two problematic factors;
1–although the intent of SOME such posters is indeed questionable, it becomes easy to lump all who raise safety questions together and miss dealing with bona fide concerns
2. it only encourages those whose posts are “insane” since such people thrive on provoking outrage–they too want to “titillate and provoke”.
I’m just here to titillate and provoke. And I’m right so much more often than anyone would want to admit.
Meanwhile, regarding “conspiracy” theories, I don’t find anything particularly problematic about questioning the motives of some of the insane sensationalistic accounts of violence in PLG.
Carlo,
Thank you for the compliment, but Comrades? COMRADES?? I live in the same neighborhood as Ed and even agree with SOME of his posts, but I don’t usually subscribe to conspiracy theories. Franz is another story–he has a sense of humor I can appreciate, even if his 10:29 AM post was less temperate than most of mine (although I understand his frustration).Actually I don’t know Ed or Franz, although I’ve exchanged an Email or two with the former.
Thank you for NOT thinking that I was “behind” Helene’s comment. Actually, I was ALMOST hoping that someone would accuse me of writing her post, that would be sort of flattering, but I guess no one would confuse my pedantic writing style for the graceful style with which she writes. 🙂
I am sorry if my post could be misunderstood or mis-interpreted, but thanks Carlo not to doubt my sincerity.
This is the first time I had posted anything, and I am just giving my point of view, as a new resident of Lefferts Garden. It happens to be a positive one.
I am really sorry to hear what happened to Doug, and in his case, I would probably have left too. I just don’t have – so far, so good – the same experience.
I feel compelled to give my opinion, quite candidly because I have read so often, so much un-constructive, scary or exagerated safety concerns about PLG on this blog, even before I moved here.
It is very strange to me that almost every time a PLG house is featured on the Brownstoner, the debate almost always turns out to be around the same safety topic. I am really wondering why that is.
To be honest, I liked the neighbourhood but I was reading those posts before I moved here, and it made me nervous about coming to live here, although my husband wasn’t.
I decided to walk through PLG during the day and at night, and my husband did the same on his own, before we decided to move.
I also called the local precinct and spoke with officers to have their take on it.
We were coming here with 2 kids, and wanted to be OK and safe.
I talked to people on the street, asked them about their own feeling of safety, having children here, etc…
We checked out PLG, and didn’t feel threatened , it didn’t look like a very dangerous neighbourhood to us… We felt safe enough to decide to move here.
And I really love it here now.
Now that I am living in PLG I can say that safety issues are not my biggest concern. Again, it may be rough around the edges sometimes, although I have not witnessed that “roughness†personally.
I hope I don’t experience it here of course.
I actually witnessed violence in other areas of Brooklyn, and also in Europe, I was mugged once with sizzors at noon in the center of Paris in a highly “policed” area of the city, so I guess, anyone should be alert anywhere.
I try to be careful, as I always tried to be careful anywhere I have been in the world. But I don’t feel threatened here.
That is a point of view, I am just speaking for myself and my family.
So have no doubts. Check PLG for yourself, its reality, that is the best way you can form your own opinion.
Thank you Helene–I was about to write a similar comment, but you beat me to it.
While I know Helene and her husband (mainly through PLG Arts) we have never discussed posts on Brownstoner about safety in PLG. (Actually I don’t recall our having ever talked about issues of safety). However,I’m glad to see that we have similar views on this matter.
Doug – Thanks for sharing your story. I’m so sorry this happened to you and your family. I’m wondering what block you lived on in PLG and during what years? Also, where exactly did these three crimes happen.
Anonymous 5:08 :
Thanks for your sneaky implication.
NO, Bob is not behind my post, I am a big girl and can think, or post for myself.
My post is just my own take on the debate, and the result of my own experience in PLG, that’s all.
BTW, I often happen to agree with Bob Marvin’s point of view and posts, because, unlike yours, they are just more tempered, respectfull and reasonable ones.
But hey, you are an anonymous poster.
Why should I answer you anyway and take the bait ?
I lived in PLG for about six years after moving from LA. My wife and I were both mugged (in fact, she was mugged twice) just a short time after moving there. I was prepared to chalk this up to being a part of the urban experience, but then our home was broken into and our beloved dog killed. Because I’d had the dog for close to eleven years and he was very special to us, this episode did sour us somewhat on our new neighborhood. However, we really had no inkling of what was to come. One night my wife was returning home and was assaulted by two men and very badly injured. Her physical wounds have healed now, but most of the harm inflicted by this kind of assault is psychological/emotional. Roughly six months after this happened, my son was held up on the street and beaten badly enough to require hospitalization. Enough is enough.
I respect the fact that other people’s experiences of PLG have been better than ours. At the same time, given the way things were going for us there, I feel our decision to leave was the right one. In the end we moved to Sunset Park and have been here now for roughly two years now. So far, so good.