New Jersey Couple Opts for McCarren Views
While Williamsburg has been indelibly branded with the hipster label for the last decade or so, luckily the marketing campaigns of developers in the area have cast a much wider demographic net. To wit: When Steven Leeds and Rachel Hott, empty nesters from Montclair, started looking for a place to move in the big city,…
While Williamsburg has been indelibly branded with the hipster label for the last decade or so, luckily the marketing campaigns of developers in the area have cast a much wider demographic net. To wit: When Steven Leeds and Rachel Hott, empty nesters from Montclair, started looking for a place to move in the big city, they fell in love with a three-bedroom pad at The Aurora overlooking McCarren Park. (The 1,400-square-foot apartment was originally listed for $1,200,000, but the fifty-somethings snagged it for $999,000.) Before signing the contract, however, the couple insisted on timing the walk from the new development to the L train station. Luckily for them (and the developer), it clocked in at a commuter-friendly six minutes. They moved in last month, and can’t get enough of their new neighborhood, especially McCarren Park. I have never seen so much activity, Dr. Hott said. There is break dancing and tai chi and soccer. In case they need any tips, The Times also has a close-up this weekend on the neighborhood to the north: Greenpoint.
The Hunt: The Six-Minute Test [NY Times]
Living In: Greenpoint, Brooklyn [NY Times]
“If you take Union Ave, it’s faster to Lorimer. I know they’re angled funny, but it really is only a few blocks down Union. Not attractive blocks, granted — not now… but.”
Yeah – i typically walk down lorimer as the union walk isn’t very fun with the BQE off ramp and is just generally blah.
I heard the ice cream trucks this weekend and thought of all you guys 😉
“I don’t know who ripped its soul out so quickly and violently but there’s nothing left of the scrappy entrepreneurship that gentrified it originally. It feels like a worn out, wasted, burned out frat house now, and it’s sickening to see that kind of change in such a short time. If I lived there today, I would probably try to look on the bright side too, and would probably cling to the few crumbs that still resemble the empty, ethereal beauty and smart, hardy citizenry of this once idyllic setting (woah that sentence only half makes sense, but you know what I mean).”
OK this is actually true but I try not to get too idealistic about it. I’m surprised the nice parts lasted as long as they did. Money and commerce move quickly in NYC. It happened in Soho, Nolita, WV, EV….etc. What can you do.
There are still lots of things to like about Williamsburg, and I’m happy I can visit often…and sleep elsewhere.
Benson and Petebklyn,
My assumption has always been that the NYT profiles is a marketing tool for developers to sell various neighborhoods.
please excuse my grammar
“Aren’t they near where the noisy ice cream trucks are???”
Yup – and they also having stadium strenght lights shining into them from the track at McCarren.
If you take Union Ave, it’s faster to Lorimer. I know they’re angled funny, but it really is only a few blocks down Union. Not attractive blocks, granted — not now… but.
Oh yeah, and before I got upset about the subway thing, I was wondering how these folk would weigh in on the great ice cream wars… although if they’re in one of the penthouses, they prob won’t hear it.
Aren’t they near where the noisy ice cream trucks are???
“This apartment is closer to Lorimer than Bedford — by a lot. Like, it’s half the distance.”
I live a block down, in the shadows of these buildings, and Lorimer/Bedford stops are actually equidistant if you time it.
North 11th is angled funny, and it’s only 5 minutes over to bedford, then 2 more minutes down to Bedford.
Cool – Fillmore Place, beautiful block – glad they landmarked it.
I’ve lived here for 2+ years, and spent alot of my college years in the neighborhood, as friends lived there. I’d like to think I’m very familiar with the area.
I just don’t understand why people hate so much – there’s people that have been in Fort Greene longer then you, and look at you the same way you look at the new faux creative hipster professionals that have moved into Williamsburg after you left.
It is what it is. I can’t really say any other area of Brooklyn is less obnoxious then Williamsburg on the weekend (and I probably know brooklyn as a whole better than you iz)
Seriously – have you been infront of Habana Outpost lately?