House of the Day: 7543 Shore Road

I’ve been getting to know the Shore Road area better lately, and it’s a gorgeous place to live. The big commercial drags (86th St. with Century 21, restaurants aplenty–many of them excellent–along the avenues) are not within easy walking distance, and the wind that defeated the Spanish Armada blows in off the harbor. But the views are heart-stopping; even Staten Island looks like a dreamscape at sunset, and the tankers and tugs pull by as the Verrazano lights twinkle in the distance. The “waterfront” is a park across Shore Road, similar to Riverside Drive (ie. it’s not like a beach). Bay Ridge itself is alleged to be changing and becoming more diverse, but it’s still something of a white bastion and the Italian presence is still strong, with all that probably implies for the comfort level of a black family were they to buy in.

This is the best part of the best street in Bayridge but 4 million dollars? For a tear-down? No way. The house is pretty understated for four million. No pool, no guest house, no private pier. Delusional. There are far better pickings in the real suburbs -and you don’t have to worry that your children will start talking like Vinny from Saturday night fever.

This house is insanely expensive. We’re not talking the Malibu coast here.

That being said, I don’t think you can compare Bay Ridge with Westchester. From the location of this house, if one has a car, they can get into the city quite easily (and much more quickly than once could travel from Westchester). Sure, the rush hour commute or subway ride would be longer, but we’re not talking about a serious hike from Manhattan.

Also, note that, while some people may prefer to move out to the suburbs and are ok with a bedroom community lifestyle, others might want to stay in Brooklyn to maintain an urban lifestyle. Bay Ridge is no bedroom community, but it will get you more space for your family without having to compromise being in a vibrant city community.

Interesting that someone would comment that this neighborhood far from what Brooklyn has to offer. Bay Ridge has some of the best restaurants and parks in all of Brooklyn. It may not be “hip” like Smith Street, but Smith Street was far from cool just 8 years ago. I’d take a good restaurant in Bay Ridge and put it up against a good resto in Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights or Park Slope any day of the week. Just saying…

dibs, I had trouble getting boys to the heights, can only imagine what I would have had to do to get them to bay ridge. The owl park could have again been an alternative.