Putnam and Grand - Question

maxhunter

I'm relocating from Florida (playwright) and found a place located on Putnam and Grand. So of course I go searching for the safety factor - first thing that comes up is a link to Brooklynian and the shootings. *L* oi vey! I'm no stranger to the big city (Detroit, Los Angeles, Tampa, Miami) I know there's places to walk and places not to walk... So with that being said

Would anyone like to add too their karma and tell me what they think of the area. Is it safe for a thirty seven year old white guy? *L*

Thanks.

wasder

Basically as I see it this a troubled corner in an otherwise fantastic neighborhood. I am buying a property very near this corner. There have been several troubling incidents on this corner over the last year but over all I think that this part of the neighborhood is changing for the better. Clinton Hill in general is great and hopefully when the Fulton Street construction is done and the BID is in full swing we will see this corner greatly improved. In re safety of a 37 year old man, if you are cautious and street wise you will be fine.

putnam-denizen

As someone who lives two blocks away on Putnam at Classon, I would agree about it probably being okay. Since I live two blocks further down on Putnam, I (as a [gulp] 44 year old white guy) walk by that corner all the time. I have never been hassled or attacked. The danger of violence does exist. Three (?) years ago someone was shot dead there; this past summer there was a drive-by shooting. There are recurrent allegations that apartments in the large buildings serve as distribution locals for the still prevalent crack trade up and down Fulton. Further down Putnam towards my way is a prostitution strolling area. But most of the activity is just regular old hanging out - it is a relatively loud community gathering place. The older men from the large apartment buildings between Grand and Downing gather in the shade on the south side of the street. I don't wish to conflate the violence and drugs with this community gathering. Many come to New York for the lively street life, and you should just be aware that Grand and Putnam is very much an example of people using the street as their front porch (or backyard). I've lived here seven years - none of this has changed, altho Fulton itself seems to be getting marginally more interesting in terms of legitimate commerce, and probably will continue to.

kevin_on_putnam

Are you moving into the big apartment building on the corner of Putnam and Grand? I've lived here since 2000 and have never been inside. I have all sorts of mental images of the place colored by the semi-annual shooting spree outside. I'd be curious to know what your experiences are there. My wife and I walk by every night on the way home from work and we say hello to the regulars parked out front on nice nights, but have never really had any in depth conversations with them. Most times the atmosphere outside the building is relaxed and typically urban, children running around, the old guys drinking beer or soda and eating chips on folding aluminum chairs. But every once in a while the regulars disappear and a rougher looking crowd takes over, usually in the evenings. We had a block meeting with the commander of the local precinct about a year or two ago about drug dealing in the building and there was a very heavy police presence on the corner, they totally blocked off Grand street for about six months, but that level of attention has faded now. The "regular" neighbors heavily outnumber the "bad" guys, but I wonder if the sense of the tenents in the building is that they've turned a corner yet.

Good luck and keep us posted!