Eastern Parkway at Rogers

raedog

My husband and I are considering buying an apartment on Eastern Parkway at Rogers, and I am wondering if anyone can vouch for that block. Any trouble there or are things generally friendly? I've found the homes in CH very beautiful, but there are an alarming number of posts on this board regarding gunshots and drugs and assaults, and I don't want to enter into anything as expensive as purchasing an apartment without all information I can possibly have. We are moving from Park Slope, which has changed drastically in the 10 years we have rented here--less diverse, so many strollers!, etc. Please don't attack me for being concerned about crime (the stats on the 77th precinct's site are scary)--I happen to be a very small woman and I am specifically concerned about the subway stations at both Franklin and Nostrand (which would be my stop) and about running out for a quart of milk at 10 at night. Any insight would be extremely helpful. Happy Thanksgiving.

neene

if you read other posts about people asking this question you will find the same advice:
only you can evaluate your "safety" threshold,
visit the area at all hours of the day and night,
remember it is cold and there simply isn't as much "street" activity as there will be in the warmer months.
i moved here 5 months ago, so clearly i thought it was fine but i am also quite aware of the stats for our precinct.

i would also suggest going to the next 77th precinct community council meeting:
12/11 at 7:30
St Gregory the Great
980 St John's Place
you'll get an idea of the community and the people who care about it
it should be an interesting one because it is the first under the new commanding officer: Deputy Inspector
John Cosgrove who is coming from the 88th precinct

jack krohn

If your apartment is on Eastern Parkway itself, then you should be OK. I may be mistaken, but it seems that most of the crime posts on this board concern streets north of the parkway. Plus, I'm sure that the apartment is very spacious and will increase in value over time. Crown Heights is slowly gentrifying, so the neighborhood should become safer and get more amenities in the future.

homeowner

I often walk along EP at night, and my impression is that the volume of traffic both vehicular and foot results in it being safer than many places in the area.

My personal observation is that many houses have trees and shrubs that are overgrown (or at least unrully) and the setback on the houses cause the sidewalk next to the service road to be somewhat dark. The funny part is that all of the apartment buildings have exterior lighting, making them feel safer than walking past some of the private homes.

If I'm making a really late night walk (after midnight) I stick to the center medians, which usually have a great deal of foot traffic. I've seen a number of older men on the benches at night, but that's about it.

About the only thing that is different about EP is that many of the hassidic families/insitutions are on that street (although I don't think there are many as far down as Rodgers). This makes it difficult during sabbath observation and holidays for non-believers as they have a different set of rules for stuff like parking. I know that further up EP the service roads often are closed to traffic etc.

As I've said to others, come walk around the neighborhood, day and night. Drive at night and park to see what the parking situation is like. Come by on a Sunday morning to see what impact the local churches have on the block as far as parking and noise. Feel free to stop into some of the local businesses and ask them what they think of the nighborhood. Call the precinct and ask specifically about crime on the block as well as surrounding blocks. Recognize that you are moving into a neighborhood in transition, so there will be some things that are not what you are used to, and resign yourself to the fact that you may need to travel to other places like PH or PS or maybe even further to get some things that you love. If you do all of that and still feel like its a good move for you, we'll welcome you with open arms.

raedog

Thanks, all, for your carefully reasoned replies--I appreciate it. I have definitely walked around the neighborhood at different times of day, both with my husband and without, and with him, experienced nothing other than minor curiosity from people. With a girlfriend, I got a lot of comments, ranging from "Lost?" to "This ain't y'all's neighborhood." We have not entirely made up our minds yet--and are considering other neighborhoods like Sunset Park--but it's great to hear about your experiences, postitive and negative.

cowgirly

I live here, I love it, and I'm a woman who comes home late, on the subway, alone.

enidlovesbeagles

I love it here too. I used to live a couple of blocks from Eastern and Rogers and I felt safer walking home alone late at night in that particular area than I did when I lived in a ritzier section of Prospect Heights.

sje

I live around the corner, and feel safe, and have had no problems walking my little dogs, even late at night. If you are actually on Rogers, be aware of the somewhat heavy traffic that flows down from EP. Trucks, etc.

anonymous

Subject: Be Forewarned

Be Forwarned that around the time of the West Indian Day Parade (Labor Day weekend), that street/area will be OUT OF CONTROL!!!

hal

Great proximity to Prospect Park, the Farmers' Market, the Botanical Garden and the Brooklyn Museum. Guest above is right about the parade. Either you hang around for it and love it, or make other plans for the weekend. If you leave town for the weekend in a car, don't try coming home Monday night. Best wait 'til Tuesday.

margie

I agree with Hal.

shredder

Hi everyone. I was glad to find this thread, because I'm considering a rental on either Eastern Pkwy and Bedford or one on St. Johns btw Nostrand and New York Ave. One broker warned me that Nostrand and St. Johns is a bad drug corner. Any input on this? As a white girl living alone, is this just a bad idea, or can I be vigilant and safe and enjoy living there? I've lived in Prospect Heights for 4 years and love it, despite one purse snatching in 2003...

margie

Hi Shredder,

I live on Sterling between Franklin and Bedford and I've never had any problems. We've certainly had some crazy things go down (someone got shot on Franklin a few months ago, but it was drug-related, not random violence). I can't speak for Nostand and New York, but Eastern Parkway and Bedford is very close the express trains to Manhattan and just a quick walk down to the museum and park.

Bedford is much quieter than Franklin (lots of storefront churches). You might get some unwanted male attention from time-to-time but nothing too disconcerting. They just put a new bank (Washington Mutual) in on the corner of Bedford and E.P. and it looks like more construction is underway down the street, too.

bojolais

I live on on St Johns b/w nostrand and new york..We feel safe and were very nervous about the neighborhood. We spent MONTHS while we were in contract crusing around the neighborhood. And while I do see men on their nextel phones, probably making deals, they don't want to attract attention to themselves and certainly don't want to mess with you because that would in turn draw attention to them. The cops busted the deli (beside the laundromat) on that corner recently for drug dealing and now it is closed down. Also the brownstone side of St John is all families with kids riding their bikes and going by on skateboards.

tamara

there are some really nice houses on that block. I would go for it... I live on the next block. lived here for 10 years and love it, for the most part.

paraderest

margie wrote: Hi Shredder,

I live on Sterling between Franklin and Bedford and I've never had any problems. We've certainly had some crazy things go down (someone got shot on Franklin a few months ago, but it was drug-related, not random violence).

No big deal. Just a drug war on the street. Innocent people never get hurt. How naive.

margie

I didn't mean to seem blase about the drug situation on the street, raedog and shredder. it's certainly a fact of life -- there is definitely drug activity in this neighborhood. and i certainly didn't mean to diminish the loss of any life to the drug trade -- by someone actively involved or otherwise.

when i was thinking about moving to this neighborhood, i certainly did my due diligence -- i walked the streets at different times of the day/night, talked to my new neighbors about their experience, etc.

i must learn to choose my words very carefully on this board. thank you, paraderest.

raedog

Me again. After much thought, we decided to buy a coop in Sunset Park that needs less work--if anybody reading this board lives in SP, please feel free to say so (the SP board is woefully lacking in participation). Thanks to everyone for your advice nonetheless--I know that if I were moving to CH, I'd be among good company. Shredder, good luck making your decision. And to the person who sent me a private message earlier today, I inadvertantly deleted your message--but thanks for weighing in....

margie

Good luck, Raedog! I live in SP before moving to CH and enjoyed it.