Rentals of the Day: Sunset Park Picks From Craigs
The listings we found this week for Sunset Park present an interesting contrast to the Kensington rentals highlighted last week: In a nutshell, it looks like Sunset Park is a much better value than Kensington right now. Here are the Craigslist pickings, clockwise from upper left: 1. 1-bed, 700-sf, near park, $1350; 40th St. at…
The listings we found this week for Sunset Park present an interesting contrast to the Kensington rentals highlighted last week: In a nutshell, it looks like Sunset Park is a much better value than Kensington right now. Here are the Craigslist pickings, clockwise from upper left:
1. 1-bed, 700-sf, near park, $1350; 40th St. at 6th Ave.
2. Gut-reno 1-bed, 1 block to train, $1100; 58th St. at 4th Ave.
3. Jr. 1-bed, EIK, parquet flrs, $1100; 54th St. betw. 3rd/4th aves.
4. 2-bed railroad, sep. kitchen, $1300; 45th St. at 3rd ave.
5. Studio, elevator bldg, terrace, $1075; 57th St. at 3rd ave.
I live on 46th between 3rd and 4th (close to 3rd). Noise and rumbling from the BQE is noticeable but you get used to it just like millions of other NY’ers in every borough who live near busy highways and streets. Sunset Park has proven to be much safer than my prior, more expnesive and “tonier” Prospect Hts. nabe (Eastern pkwy btwn Underhill and Washington). There is also a pleasant lack of gentrification animosity that pervaded Prospect Hts when I lived there (98-05). My current block features all owner occupied homes but one (a recent flip), populated by working class families. Above 4th Ave are nicer brownstone blocks but much more congestion and more difficult parking. Like most nabes, conditions vary from block to block, some are great, others less so. Train service to the area is phenonmenal, absent train delays (which seem to be more common these days on the N and D lines and which affect all of south Brooklyn), my rush hour commute to Herald sq. is 35 min – door to door. Quick access to the BQE and Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, to the north, and the Verrazano to the south makes getting in and out of the borough and city easy. For fine dining (other than Chinese and Mexican), I take the R train 4 stops to park slope. 15 mins tops on a bad day. In the summer I ride 3 miles on my bike to Prospect Park, or 8 miles on the Belt Pkwy bike path to Coney Island for exercise and leisure. I can’t comment on the schools situation, but frankly, absent the wealthy who can afford the one or two coveted school districts in the slope, education is an issue for everybody. Add an easily accessible shopping district on 86th street in Bay Ridge, plenty of friendly local businesses in between, and its hard to argue against Sunset Park. Kensington, an area I’m considering buying in, is nice too, but less convenient in just about every category.
I visited friend in Sunset Pk other evening.
Got on #6 train at 51st/Lex(midtown) at 6:43PM- got off at 36th st/4th ave Sunset Pk after changing at Bdway/Laf for the D and got off train at 7:15PM.
We walked down to 44th Street later to go out to eat at cute restaurant (very cheap) called Eclipse.
Seemed quite fine to me. And 37th Street between 4-5th is beautiful.
The point was that these rentals are not indicative of the sunset park market. They are indicative of the rental market around one area of Sunset Park which happens to be the least desirable and thus most affordable part. (all except the first listing which is in a nice part)
If the post was titled – Affordable rents exist in Brooklyn, check out Sunset Park – or something like this then fine. However, the post makes it out as though this is an accurate sampling of rentals in Sunset Park and makes the comment that Sunset Park is a much better value than Kensington.
Since the comment is on comparable value my opinion is that the rentals and location should be comparable, in this case the location is not comparable and thus the comparison should not be made.
The Kensington rentals were cherry picked and not representative of the situation here. 1BR’s are $1200-$1500 and 2BR’s 1600-2000
The ones shown were new construction and renovated
This area is perfectly safe. I go there every night to score some meth and occassionally pick up a hooker (or 2) and never felt unsafe or had any problems with crime.
Last year, I found a 2-bedroom in Bay Ridge for $1400, elevator building, 1/2 block from Shore Road in the 90’s. 900 sq. ft. Large Living/dining area, 2 real bedroom, and a kitchen.
I love the apartment, sure it’s further from Manhattan, but you can’t beat that price. And it’s a much safer and nicer area than Sunset Park.
Think these are priced right for the neighborhood. No matter how you slice it, SP isn’t “prime” bklyn. That’s not to say it’s a “bad” neighborhood, just that it’s not convenient to a lot of places via foot or subway, there are few amenities and nearly zero night life.
There are, however, really nice limestones and good food.
I say this, of course, from a middle-class, work-in-Manhattan, upward-striving perspective…
i live facing the park, and there are plenty of drug dealers, passed out drunks, horrible punk ass teenagers harrassing everyone, and their ex-convict fathers. i like the neighborhood, but just because it’s more affordable (if you’re making at least 50/year), doesn’t mean sunset park is an option for everyone, who can’t afford a $2 mill house in p.s. not to mention most sunset park apartments are DUMPS. i live in an apt that’s most likely one of the nicer ones around (with cracked walls and wonky cabinets), but all you real estate queens would balk at these apartments.
Still cheaper than buying.