Putnam and Throop

You asked me (on another thread) what my thoughts were about Putnam Avenue. I live just on the edge of Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy, at Classon, which is quite a few blocks from where you are looking, so I am not so sure how much help I can be. My block is a little empty (side of apartment buildings, Masonic Temple, and four empty houses), so we don't really hang out on the block. We tend to orient more towards Clinton Hill proper (the Underwood playground at Washington and Lafayette) and Fort Greene Park. My son attended PS 20 for pre-k and is now at PS 261 in Boerum Hill. I've looked at other properties closer to where you are, but decided I wanted to remain walking distance to all aforementioned places as well as BAM, Brooklyn Museum etc. I think for those reasons if I were looking now I would focus more on the blocks between Classon and Nostrand (Madison. Monroe, etc) than the much prettier blocks further out in Bed-Stuy.

Putnam Avenue where I live has had a lot of drug dealing, prostitution, and in the six years I have lived here I think about 6 people have been killed on the street within four blocks of my house! Perhaps because of this, there isn't really a vibrant street life in a positive sense around me. That said, it hasn't really affected my son because of his age. I will begin to worry, perhaps, when he comes of the age when he will be travelling to and from the subway by himself. (Read "Fortress of Solitude" for descriptions of clueless bohemian parents in tough neighborhood). But for now he travels always accompanied, and we have a great time.

Hey Wadser,

I live in the area, Madison and MG. I'm a woman and I'm black (since that seems to be a very important point on this board :-p) and I've lived here for a little under a year. I moved to Bed Stuy from West Harlem. I like the neighborhood for the most part. It's pretty much the same as my 'hood in Harlem. In the summer it is very festive. There is a never-ending BBQ/Earth Wind and Party across the street from me and people are out and about at all hours of the night. I have never felt overtly threatened while walking alone, but I don't generally walk home from the train after 11:00pm. If I'm out after that time I always try and catch a gypsy cab on Fulton.

All that being said, if I had an option of purchasing in this neighborhood would I? If I had a car; maybe. If I had to always rely on the train; Probably not. It is really loud in the summer. It's kind of annoying to have to think about always hailing a cab when I come home late. There aren't any grocery stores in the vicinity. If I had a car the grocery thing wouldn't bother me, but I still would be hesitant to buy a house in such a noisy area. That's just me. I'm from Indiana and I guess I miss the quiet. :-p