MacDonough Street: Howard to Ralph

erpa

Hey all,

My partner and I are looking to buy in Bed-Stuy. We've been house hunting for near 3 months now and feel like this is the neighborhood for us. We saw a house on MacDonough between Howard and Ralph and we really like it. I wonder if anyone lives in this area and can comment.

I'm not asking about anything specific. Just for some feedback.

FYI, I've talked to some folks in that area, but no one lived on the block (seems like everyone was a church when we walked around that particular day), read some blogs - but nothing is as helpful as folks who actually live there.

We'd originally been looking (in bed-stuy) inside of Nostrand to Stuyvesant, and Madison to Deactur, but after awhile decided we wanted to be closer to Fulton, so we started expanding out eastern border since it looks like Macon/MacDonough and Deactur looks really nice out that way.

Also, any comment on the Ralph Ave subway stop would be cool too.

Thanks in advance!

your friendly pharmacist

Great time to buy in Bed-Stuy

cccc

Generally, the further east you go the higher the crime rate. Brevoort and Saratoga Houses, two notoriously bad housing projects, are all within a couple of blocks that location. Furthermore, the Ralph Ave station, which is over a half a mile away, had its share of violent crime over the last couple of years.

Here are just a few of the many incidents that have happened within four blocks of that location over the last year:

Murder at Saratoga Houses (73rd Precinct)
ON 7-12-08 AT APPROX 0540 HOURS POLICE RESPONDED TO A 911 CALL OF A MALE SHOT IN FRONT OF 33 SARATOGA AVE (SARATOGA HOUSES) IN THE CONFINES OF THE 73 PCT. UPON THERE ARRIVAL THEY DISCOVERED A M/B/20'S SHOT 1X TO THE HEAD. THE VICTIM WAS PRONOUNCED DOA AT THE SCENE. THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.


ON 7/12/08 AT APPROXIMATELY 2047 HOURS I/V/O 813 HANCOCK STREET, WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE 081 PRECINCT, A SERGEANT AND TWO POLICE OFFICERS ON PATROL WERE TRAVELING W/B ON HANCOCK WHEN THEY HEARD SHOTS FIRED. THEY OBSERVED A M/B/22 RUNNING E/B ON HANCOCK STREET WITH A FIREARM IN HIS HAND. THE OFFICERS ORDERED THE MALE TO STOP. THE MALE FIRED AT THE OFFICERS AND THEY RETURNED FIRE STRIKING THE SUSPECT. EMS RESPONDED AND PRONOUNCED THE MALE DOA AT THE SCENE. THE SERGEANT AND THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE REMOVED TO JAMAICA HOSPITAL. THE SUSPECT'S WEAPON WAS RECOVERED AT THE SCENE.

Murder at Brevoort Houses (81st Precinct)
ON TUESDAY 6/10/2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 2244 HOURS IN FRONT OF 322 BAINBRIDGE STREET, IN THE CONFINES OF THE 81 PRECINCT, POLICE RESPONDED TO A 911 CALL OF A MALE SHOT. UPON ARRIVAL, A M/B/21 WAS FOUND WITH NUMEROUS GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO THE HEAD AND TORSO. EMS RESPONDED AND TRANSPORTED THE VICTIM TO BROOKDALE HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED AT 0215 HOURS. THERE ARE NO ARRESTS AT THIS TIME, THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

13-year-old Shot, Howard Ave. (81st Precinct)
ON 03/13/08 AT APPROXIMATELY 1707 HRS I/S/O 186 HOWARD AVENUE, WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE 81 PRECINCT, POLICE RESPONDED TO A 911 CALL OF A MALE SHOT. UPON ARRIVAL, RESPONDING OFFICERS DISCOVERED A M/B/13 WITH A GSW TO THE HEAD. EMS ALSO RESPONDED AND TRANSPORTED THE MALE TO KCH IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

Murder - Brevoort Houses (81st Precinct)
ON FRIDAY 12-14-2007 AT 0101 HRS IN F/O 293 RALPH AVE, CONFINES OF THE 81 PCT, POLICE RESPONDED TO A CALL OF A MALE SHOT. UPON ARRIVAL POLICE FOUND A M/B/30'S WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD. EMS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND PRONOUNCED THE VICTIM DOA. THERE ARE NO ARRESTS AT THIS TIME, THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING.

ON WEDNESDAY, 10/10/07 AT APPROXIMATELY 2130 HRS IN THE V/O 33 SARATOGA AVE IN THE CONFINES OF THE 73 PCT. POLICE RESPONDED TO CALLS OF A PERSON SHOT AT THE LOCATION. UPON ARRIVAL POLICE DISCOVERED A M/B/28 WITH GUNSHOT WOUNDS TO HIS BACK. EMS TRANSPORTED THE VICTIM TO WOODHULL HOSPITAL IN CRITICAL CONDITION. NO ARRESTS AT THIS TIME, THE INVESTIGATION IS ON GOING.

****UPDATE 10/11/07 [0645 HRS] REW***

On 10/10/07 at approximately 2230 hrs the following male expired as a result of his injuries:

Also, in October of 07' a 3 year old was grazed in the head with a bullet right off Fulton and Ralph.

erpa

Subject: MacDonough Street: ralph to howard

So, you don't recommend it?

Do you live anywhere near there or go over there? Why just the violent crime blotter? Is that all there is to that block/area?

just curious since i knew that info and think there could be mroe to that area.

cheers
erpa

cccc

To answer your question, of course that's not all there is to the neighborhood, but it's a significant reality. It is important to remember these incidents were not admirations, they happen often. It is important to remember that Bed-Stuy is a large place, and some areas of it have much higher crime rates than others.

If you are really interested in living there, I would recommend that you pick a warm night and walk around your potential house and train station to see if you feel comfortable.

Personally, I would recommend that you look at places further to the west, but everyone is different.

FYI, I have a job which takes me all over Brooklyn.

I wish you all the best in finding a place that fits your needs.

erpa

Subject: MacDonough: between Howard and Ralph

Hey, thanks very much. I've been biking and walking around the neighborhood, but problem is you just never know until you're there - not just for an evening walk. It's true that the crime is a reality and bed-stuy is huge. The crime stats and maps aren't helpful because it's everywhere. The good blocks have it, the "bad" blocks have it, truth is - it's not that big. But then you start looking at police blotters for other areas of brooklyn and it's not so different. So how to know? All the same, thanks for bringing some down home reality into the picture. It's easy to get excited about a beautiful building with potential to be restored, and forget that the surroundings matter.

Fortunately I had a chance to speak with a neighbor who has kids and has lived there a long time. Says he's never had trouble, but he doesn't go looking for it either. Sounds about what I expected.

Ah well, wish us luck. We're still looking.
cheers~

tennisfan

Hi Erpa,

I tend to agree with CCCC. You should house hunt on the west side of Bed-Stuy.

Please make sure you walk around your areas of preference between 4:00pm and 1:00am.

Good luck!

cccc

Look at this article:

http://nymag.com/nymetro/realestate/neighborhoods/features/11775/index2.html

Here is an excerpt:

"In the precinct’s muster room, a street map was pocked with colored pins marking the past year’s most serious crimes: homicides of any stripe plus all shootings, with or without fatalities. Of some 75 pins, 45 were clustered in the map’s southeast corner, near Atlantic and Saratoga, and another ten or so around the Roosevelt Houses, in the north-central part of the precinct."

The precinct the article is referring to is the 81, which covers the eastern half of Bed-Stuy.

FYI shootings have not decreased since 2005.

xaymaca

We have lived in this area for two years. We live on a great block with families that have been here for generations. I question CCCC's motives by referencing a 4 year old article and crime stats from other precincts. We rarely use the C at Ralph on, but the J at Halsey and Broadway is not that much further. Give it more time and talk to people who actually live in the area.

cccc

I have no motive. I am just trying to give advice, I refercened that article because it seemed relevent. BTW, the crime stats, at least homicides, have not changed significantly since 2005.

Again, I was just throwing my two cents in and by no means do I think should have the final say. I am happy you enjoy living there and I hope Erpa finds a place that fits her needs too. If that happens to be that location, then great.

chickpea

I really am not familiar with the area that is being discussed here but I must mention that Bed-Stuy all around is a completely different neighborhood in the warmer weather. Take it for what it's worth, but depending on exactly where you are it can be a good thing or a bad thing. Whoever suggested walking around on a warm night to gauge your comfort level delivered some very good advice.

lorenzo

Erpa, I live on Quincy between Patchen & Malcolm X and I really like it. We have great neighbors and more little restaurants and shops are opening all the time. In terms of safety we have never had any issues at any time of day. I would recommend that you attend the next police community board meeting and listen to what has been going on in the area. The 81st precinct, which covers my home, is headed up w/ capt. mauriello and he is very accessible as are all the community relations officers. I encourage you to reach out to your local precinct w/ any specific questions and also check the area at all times of the day.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/precincts/precinct_081.shtml

drkman

It all depends on you as far as that area is concerned. I used to be on Macon and Ralph a lot and that is not far from where you are talking about. I liked the area but there are some rougth spots. All in all, I would not dissuade anyone from moving there but just be aware that you are not moving into a prime Bed-Stuy area.

As far as the Ralph Avenue stop is concerned, I did not really utilize it too much but once you know where to be on the train it is not that bad. To be honest, I found it to be a little inconvenient since it is a local stop and I would use the Utica Ave stop on the A, the Halsey Street stop on the J or get off on Myrte Avenue on the J train and catch the B47 Bus down Ralph.

erpa

Thanks everyone for their feedback. As it turned out, we managed to find a lovely 3-story brick rowhouse in crown heights (although, technically it's still bed-stuy
Much appreciated

erpa

jayny24

Subject: Re: MacDonough Street: Howard to Ralph

I live in that same block, and there is nothing wrong with it to me. I have lived on that block since I was 7 and now I'm 24. It is nice and quiet, and there are no problems. Everyone is nice and friendly and the block party the 1st sat of august is nice. You should look here again. This block has become more diverse since I moved here years ago.

take a look here again, and you will see how nice the people on this block is. You will love it.

"erpa" wrote: Hey all,

My partner and I are looking to buy in Bed-Stuy. We've been house hunting for near 3 months now and feel like this is the neighborhood for us. We saw a house on MacDonough between Howard and Ralph and we really like it. I wonder if anyone lives in this area and can comment.

I'm not asking about anything specific. Just for some feedback.

FYI, I've talked to some folks in that area, but no one lived on the block (seems like everyone was a church when we walked around that particular day), read some blogs - but nothing is as helpful as folks who actually live there.

We'd originally been looking (in bed-stuy) inside of Nostrand to Stuyvesant, and Madison to Deactur, but after awhile decided we wanted to be closer to Fulton, so we started expanding out eastern border since it looks like Macon/MacDonough and Deactur looks really nice out that way.

Also, any comment on the Ralph Ave subway stop would be cool too.

Thanks in advance!