Kingston / Sterling neighborhood input

amomof4

Thoughts about the Kingston & Sterling area?

My daughter has asked me to help her research neighborhoods. This would be for a group of 4 - 5 young women - college to young professional age. All of them have lived in NYC for at least a year. My daughter has lived in Crown Heights the past year at Rogers/Park but is moving due to a steep rent hike (and a landlord who has refused to fix essential things....like the roof). She likes the CH area but knows it can get less "safe" as you move towards the East. She's found a newly gut-renovated 3 br place that she loves, but wants to make sure the area is OK esp. since her job requires some late nights where she doesn't come home till about 2 am.

They would have a 3 block walk up Kingston from the subway at Eastern Parkway. Also, they would be a block from Brower Park. Looks like it's had some crime issues in the past. What's it like now? She's looking at some other places too, including one in Sunset Park, but this seems to be her first choice. Thanks for the help!

whynot_31

I'm on that section of Kingston pretty often, and it certainly has less street level drug activity than it did a year ago. The storefronts are almost completely occupied on the EP to Sterling stretch.

So I write the following:

"I believe a college educated young woman who has lived a Rogers and Park for the last year, would enjoy living at Kingston and Sterling. I assume that they can not afford a similar place on NY Avenue."

I haven't been in the area past 10 PM, so I provide no advice on what happens on that stretch between 10 PM and 2 AM.

How much is the LL asking for the 3 BR?

pragmaticguy

Kingston Ave is pretty safe. Is she going to be between Kingston and Albany or Kingston and Brooklyn because the biggest threats over there come from the Albany projects not from the people who live in the smaller buildings. Between Kingston and Brooklyn would probably be a better block to be on.

nothinlikeabklyngirl

I would agree that Kingston is pretty safe. I've made that walk myself alone, at least until midnight, just fine. There's a police presence just outside the subway entrance on Eastern Parkway, and on those three blocks to Sterling there is at least one business on each block that stays open late. I'd also agree that things get sketchier going toward Albany -- I think they'd be fine living between Kingston and Albany but I wouldn't advise them to walk down Albany alone late at night.

pitmama

I also make that walk frequently, and I have never felt unsafe. That stretch of Kingston Ave seems to be lively and bustling with business during the day but quieter at night. I would also add that Brower is a lovely park and I really enjoy living close to it. The organization Friends of Brower Park has done a lot to make improvements to the park and it definitely shows!

dl

I think things are definitely improving in that neighborhood. I agree with what everyone said about Kingston-Brooklyn being a better bet than Kingston-Albany. This might not be relevant if they already found a spot, but Brooklyn and New York Avenues are both really great for quiet living---lots of families, friendly folk, pretty houses--although there aren't any stores or subways (other than the occasional bodega) until you hit Kingston or Nostrand. Brower Park is lovely these days--although I still wouldn't go there at night.Good luck!

back to brooklyn

This thread has just upped prices along Kingston by virtue of its very existence.

amomof4

whynot_31 said:

How much is the LL asking for the 3 BR?

The LL is asking $2200 for a 3BR 1BA. My dd needs to stay around $550/month so w/3 other girls it falls right in her price range. From the pics I saw, the place looks very nice - new appliances, beautiful parquet flooring, large (by NYC standards) rooms w/lots of closets. Her old place on was $2,200 and is going up to $2,700. It was a 3 BR also but much smaller, not in great condition and with a landlord that was less than helpful. Thanks "whynot" for the quick response!

amomof4

PragmaticGuy said:

Kingston Ave is pretty safe. Is she going to be between Kingston and Albany or Kingston and Brooklyn because the biggest threats over there come from the Albany projects not from the people who live in the smaller buildings. Between Kingston and Brooklyn would probably be a better block to be on.

This place is actually right on Kingston. What's the cross-street(s) for the Albany projects?

whynot_31

Sterling and Kingston is marked by the red dot.

Brower Park can be seen by going north and left of the dot, the bright yellow roof of the Children's Museum is within the park.

Albany Houses is to north and right of the dot. Tall brick buildings.

amomof4

Thanks everyone for the helpful input. Glad to hear that Brower Park is a nice place. If this falls through, I'll mention taking a look at New York or Brooklyn though I think that close proximity to the subway is something they all want.

The other place she is considering is over in Sunset Park - at 4th and 24th. It's in a large complex. Anyone familiar with that area?

jack krohn

4th and 25th is also nice, probably a bit safer. Still, Kingston Avenue has become much safer over the years and will likely gentrify with time, if Franklin and Nostrand are any indication of things to come. Plus, if she already lives in Crown Heights, she probably prefers to remain there.