park slope west?

raygirl2003

what do you guys know about the area around 3rd ave and 11th street? is this even considered part of park slope, or another area? i am looking for apartments and this one is listed as "park slope west". i was mostly wondering about safety.

thanks so much!

jenniferx

"Park Slope West" is a bullshit name made up by a realtor or whoever posted this ad.

Have you ever been to that area? 3rd Ave is not very residential.

willregistersoon

I don't consider anything West of 4th Ave "Park Slope". I never heard the term "Park Slope West" before but I'm not surprised! The only draw I could see to living there would be if it was a brand new, rennovated, huge and amazing apartment at a really good price. There's mostly nothing around there.

joncane

Subject: Re: park slope west?

raygirl2003 wrote: what do you guys know about the area around 3rd ave and 11th street? is this even considered part of park slope, or another area? i am looking for apartments and this one is listed as "park slope west". i was mostly wondering about safety.

thanks so much!

I'm in the process of moving my (cycling and triathlon) business to 3rd ave and 8th st. I think it's an up and coming part of town, and i'm encouraged to see a dance studio, martial arts studio, as well as Powerplay all within a few blocks on 3rd. That said, it's very desolate there late at night, very loud during the day, and i definitely would not call it a residential area. Nor would i call it Park Slope anything.

willregistersoon

What does everyone think the chances are of the area West of 4th actually becoming residential and nice in the next 10 years? Would they have to get rid of all the industrial businesses, warehoues and service stations for this to happen? I wonder if the people that buy there now will be having the last laugh in a few years.

erikka

Uh, Gowanus?

willregistersoon

Is that considered Gowanus nowadays? I thought it was closer to Smith?

erikka

willregistersoon wrote: What does everyone think the chances are of the area West of 4th actually becoming residential and nice in the next 10 years? Would they have to get rid of all the industrial businesses, warehoues and service stations for this to happen? I wonder if the people that buy there now will be having the last laugh in a few years.

I don't know...more and more condos, which is always a sign of end times. My friend just bought--he lives across the street from a pit bull breeding warehouse. Take that, gentrification!

I think the desire to live in PS, coupled with rumors that the gowanus will be trudged and de-stinkified will make that area more attractive. And, of course, don't forget Whole Foods. But this is very long term--I don't think that area will shift anytime soon.

carnivore

If you have the cash now and are willing to ride it out through some rough times, I think you'd be sitting pretty in about 10 years. It's really not that far from places that you'd want to hang out. And if you want to have a car, it's an area where you'd actually be able to park it.

caaahyoko

3rd ave is...well 3rd ave is a block away from 4th ave. lol. I go by 3rd and 11th constantly on my way to Lowe's. Great pizza place, Villa Mia, but otherwise as described. I don't walk back there by myself after 9:30 though, due to the desolateness combined with people high or schitzophrenic or whatever that stand on the corner ranting. Which normally doesn't bother me, but not when there aren't any people around.

I have to say that there is an old wearhouse on 2nd btw 11th and 12th that looks like it may be renovated for condos/lofts...anyone know anything about that building?

8thandprez

I consider Gowanus to be anything between 4th Ave and Hoyt St.

And, yes, it will be residential... there are already a large number of projects planned in the area.

veets

Yes as an investor I would consider buying on 3rd ave... but to live there now... feh.. Think again.. your mom would be horrified when she comes to visit you... in no man's land.. with the smell of that canal waffing through the windows.. Sure they have cleaned it up... I can still smell it when I ride down 9th street over the bridge..

theoryofpractice

For Gowanus to be totally residential it will need to be rezoned by the City. There's a lot of effort (by, e.g., small business groups) to keep this area light industrial, so I really wonder if it will turn. Their argument is that cities need such mixed-use areas relatively close to residential areas, since not ever corner can be a Duane Reade with a co-op over it. Small business owners who work on projects in the City want to stay in Gowanus and don't want to be pushed out to e.g. Jersey.

If zoning stays as-is, zoning variances (the applications are always for manufacturing to residential) are given on a case-by-case basis. Again, there's a lot of resistance from current leaseholders to keep uses in Gowanus as-is.

Residential use is much more lucrative for land owners in Gowanus, though. Who knows how much pressure ($$$) they can bring to bear for change.

evilbert

theoryofpractice wrote: Residential use is much more lucrative for land owners in Gowanus, though. Who knows how much pressure ($$$) they can bring to bear for change.

and there's always Jewish Lightning

raw

veets wrote: Yes as an investor I would consider buying on 3rd ave... but to live there now... feh.. Think again.. your mom would be horrified when she comes to visit you... in no man's land.. with the smell of that canal waffing through the windows.. Sure they have cleaned it up... I can still smell it when I ride down 9th street over the bridge..

Agreed.

If real estate companies had their way every Brooklyn neighborhood would bleed into one of these 7 neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Williamsburgh, and --- just for kicks -- Coney Island. Of course there would be variations, like North Coney Island and East Williamsburgh.

8thandprez

theoryofpractice wrote: For Gowanus to be totally residential it will need to be rezoned by the City. There's a lot of effort (by, e.g., small business groups) to keep this area light industrial, so I really wonder if it will turn. Their argument is that cities need such mixed-use areas relatively close to residential areas, since not ever corner can be a Duane Reade with a co-op over it. Small business owners who work on projects in the City want to stay in Gowanus and don't want to be pushed out to e.g. Jersey.

If zoning stays as-is, zoning variances (the applications are always for manufacturing to residential) are given on a case-by-case basis. Again, there's a lot of resistance from current leaseholders to keep uses in Gowanus as-is.

Residential use is much more lucrative for land owners in Gowanus, though. Who knows how much pressure ($$$) they can bring to bear for change.

Yes, absolutely true. But the rezoning is already in the works. From the Department of City Planning:

The proposed land use framework [for Gowanus], introduced at the January 25th, 2007 public meeting, identifies portions of the study area within which new residential or mixed use may be appropriate, as well as areas proposed to be maintained primarily for continued industrial and commercial activity. These recommendations also take into consideration the relationship between these areas and the adjacent neighborhoods, which are home to thriving residential communities and active retail corridors including 4th Avenue and Smith Street.

Check it out here:
http://nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/gowanus/6_gowanus_framework.pdf

Looks like residential btw 3rd and Sackett, from 4th Ave to Bond.

armchair_warrior

gowanus is between park slope and carrol garden. that area is okay location.

brooklyndula

I live on 3rd Ave at 11th Street --the corner actually. It's perfectly safe. We've had no problems at all in three years. And we have a TON of space + full roof access. You get more for your money down there. I consider it "Faux-Slope"--you are close enough to enjoy what they have to offer, but don't have to pay the $$. There are occasionally "ladies of the evening" but they are way more few and far between than when we moved in a few years ago. Aside from the trucks going by to get to the BQE, it's extremely quiet. Plus you are just 2 1/2 blocks to a real supermarket and Lowes. And some of the best pizza in NY is on 3rd ave and 13th St. Which apt is for rent?

brooklyndula

And PS--It doesn't smell. In fact, it's nice to go up on the roof, and depending on the wind you get an ocean breeze that smells great

caaahyoko

brooklyndula wrote: And PS--It doesn't smell. In fact, it's nice to go up on the roof, and depending on the wind you get an ocean breeze that smells great

Plus, in my backyard btw 3rd and 4th ave, I can smell the fresh batch of Dunkin Donuts being made in the middle of the night. Mmmm...boston creme.

garfunky

gowanus and greenwood are not park slope.
they do have their good points but that does not qualify them for a name change.

if an LL or RE person is BS ing you from the get go about the locale ..
:roll:

everything else they say should be taken with a grain of salt as well (imho)