Open House Picks

Arch, sorry.. VF means Victorian Flatbush, I see.. my phone rang on that one!

Anyway, I was selling homes there at $250K range in the ’80’s.. Just not sure what your comment implies, but you’re welcome to stop by the OH and say HI!

Do we know each other??

WITZ

is it so hard to look up the LPC historic district map before making a fool of oneselves?

http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/maps/clinton_hill.pdf

So Downing st is landmarked in the Clinton Hill historic district, including de Queen Anne style houses from 69 to 77 and then 5 brownstones including the one for sale at 83.

“It evokes the worst stereoypes of a hillbilly shack somewhere in Appalachia.” (Sparafucile)

Uh, that bad?

wasder,

We have friends in Crown Heights (definitely NOT Dist. 13) who got offers from PS11 and PS9, plus Community Partnership (not Community Roots) last spring. They chose PS9, although I think I would have chosen PS11, which I think has gone further up the gentrification ladder, with an excellent principal. PS20 looks much better than it has in a long time–their new principal is from 261.

I know at least 2 kids on my old block zoned for 56 who got seats at PS11. And one of them got a last-second seat at Brooklyn New School.

I know it gets harder all the time to get a variance, but if you have nerves of steel, it’s always a possibility to grab a seat in September–the principals have to keep some seats open for kids who move into the zone but they almost always have a few vacant chairs when the music starts in September.

I lived very close to you when my daughter was ready for school–she started in 2001. We were zoned for 56 which was really, really awful (I keep hearing about improvements but I don’t know anyone who actually sent a kid there except those of our neighbors who did as they were told), and it was not a good year for PS11 either. I wound up getting her into a gifted program at PS130 in District 2 in Chinatown, but that’s no longer possible. But many of the District 13 schools have improved greatly, and the new middle school starting this year is also a great improvement over the current situation.

Good luck!

wasder – community roots can be a tough one- lots of sibs. there’s also TECCS a charter just in bedstuy over the burg border (i think it’s technically bed-stuy) newer charter so not so hard to get into. u should also consider PS84 in the burg cause it’s a magnet. excellent prek and very very good dual language program in spanish. they are looking to do a french program for k in the fall of 2011. i also like ps31 which is a magnet and right off the nassau G and the B62 in greenpoint. they are expanding to full time pre-k and have 6 K classes. may be too far for u tho. for magnets, you put the prek at the top of your list online and also go speak to them in person and sign up there. if you show true enthusiasm, they’ll take you. 31 has a great principal and 84 has a new principal who is wonderful and comes from a successful school where she had been the asst. principal for years. several people in bad school districts travel to the burg for 84 pre-k (they put the younger kids in Williamsburg Northside (private) which is infant through 2nd grade now.

north brooklyn does not yet suffer from over-crowding for it’s good schools, so you can get in.

another tip – the Greenpoint Y (happens to be next to PS31) has very reasonable and excellent pre-school programs and terrific summer camps. also, good inexpensive kids classes. total bargain, but sells out fast for the younger kids programs.

good luck!