loctaion question,community involvement and biking

shldstudy · September 2008

Hey
So right now i am looking at places at dean st and bedford and another place at hancock and lewis- I guess both technically bed-stuy.

The fact that I am posting on this board about safety means that I am a bit nervous about moving to place where as a new renter in the area and a white young woman I will be part of gentrification of the neighborhood. I am very interested in community activism and in my time spent at various organizations I have heard a lot about the pros and cons and totally understandable frustration for the people that were "originally" inhabiting these areas.
Having said all this, I am really looking forward to moving into a racially diverse neighborhood that has actual neighborhoods, not warehouses, with people that are involved with their community.
The areas where i am looking seem like rapidly changing neighborhoods and they have some of the most incredible apartments.

A few weeks back I was attacked on my bike on 3rd ave. It was not terrible and aside from some cuts and bruises, I was ok. But its left me feeling that I was lucky and much worse things could happen.
So I am feeling really torn between wanting to move to the mentioned areas but the fear from my accident has left me listening to what some of my pals are saying which is- stay out of bedstuy.

So the feedback I am hoping for in regards to this is
1. How do you find these neighborhoods- I am an up early home early kinda gal.
2. What do you suggest for getting involved in local community groups to start to get to know my neighbors ext.
3. Does anyone bike from around here into manhattan- about how long does it take?

Thanks for your time

ashley

sarahlucy · September 2008

i dunno, is dean & bedford still thought of as bedstuy? i live in northern bs, so i'm not too familiar with the southern 'boundaries'. in any case, i'd really suggest looking over other threads in this forum - a lot of them ask about safety in the title of the thread, but you can pretty much gather that any thread with a cross street in the title is asking about safety, heh. people are pretty much gonna give you the same answer over and over: bed stuy gets a bad rep, but the situation these days isn't exactly what it was a decade ago. i'm sure those people telling you to stay out of the neighborhood haven't been here in a while, if ever.

yes you will be part of the gentrification, so am i, so are a lot of people. it's a changing area. i like it a lot, i've never had any problems, i like my neighbors, i've never really felt unsafe, blah blah. in terms of getting to know your neighbors, a lot of blocks have block orgs, block parties and such, and i would definitely recommend patronizing local businesses! i have met some fantastic people since joining the bed stuy YMCA.

i'm sorry about what happened to you, that's really scary, i can understand your trepidation following your attack, but honestly i've heard more about attacks like that happening in wburg than in bed stuy since i've been here. i've biked from around the myrtle-willoughby stop over the willyburg bridge into manhattan, it took about 25-30 minutes. don't do it on a regular basis though, mostly because the idea of biking in the city kind of terrifies me!

brooklynleather · September 2008

someone just posted an similar thread to this.

well, there are community meetings particularly recently around the armory expansion (which would be VERY relevant to you at dean and bedford). as you may know, 123 tompkins houses the freegan bike workshop. as far as community orgs in bed-stuy/NCH i dont know. i know bushwick has make the road, but i am not sure about bed-stuy though i would be curious to know myself.

im really sorry about your attack. my ex used to bike to manhattan and i have no idea how long it took but he was a super fast bicyclist.

halfpint · September 2008

Hey I live down the street from you (Sterling/Bedford). I would say biking to Manhattan depends on which area and which bridge you plan to take. I would agree with sarahlucy. From my place to the Brooklyn Bridge is about 15 - 20 minutes and I'd say it'd be the same to the Manhattan Bridge as well.

Welcome to the neighbourhood.

homeowner · September 2008

Both locations should be okay for you. Remember however, that there is a homeless shelter in the armory on Bedford and Atlantic. You should read the posts on the CH board about the armory and that area generally. Bedford and Dean is considered Crown Heights although you are close enough to Bed-Stuy there to enjoy the benefits of both neighborhoods.

Hancock and Lewis means you'll be a couple of blocks north of Peaches (restaurant), Bread Stuy (bakery) and Brownstone Books. Its really going to be up to you to determine your personal comfort level in each neighborhood, but there has been such gentrification, that no one is going to look shocked at seeing another white girl walking around.

As for community involvement, I'd suggest you start with the block association, as it will allow you to meet those folks you'll come into the greatest amount of contact with. After that, try the local precinct councils (77th in CH and either the 79th or 81st in BS). For architecture and historical preservation, reach out to the Brownstoners of Bed-Stuy or the Crown Heights North Association. Finally, if you are even vaguely religious, try joining a local church, or even better, visit a number of churches. They all have volunteer programs and interesting programing which is open to the greater community.

Not sure about the bike questions as I am a subway rider.

brooklynleather · September 2008

Howsabout synagogues in Crown Heights? (Reform/Reconstructionist only) I don't know if they exist. I found this synagogue walking around Flatbush on Church Ave near Rugby Rd or something along those lines that was "progressive" -- I can only hope as in politically progressive but sadly not my neighborhood.

Thanks!

limestonekid · September 2008

Subject: Re: loctaion question,community involvement and biking

shldstudy wrote: I am very interested in community activism and in my time spent at various organizations I have heard a lot about the pros and cons and totally understandable frustration for the people that were "originally" inhabiting these areas.

You must have some great hearing because I haven't really heard anything from the indigenous people that were "originally" inhabiting these areas.

homeowner · September 2008

I think all of the local CH synagogues are orthodox only. You may be able to find a reform congregation in PH.

tennisfan · September 2008

sarahlucy wrote: i dunno, is dean & bedford still thought of as bedstuy? i live in northern bs, so i'm not too familiar with the southern 'boundaries'. in any case, i'd really suggest looking over other threads in this forum - a lot of them ask about safety in the title of the thread, but you can pretty much gather that any thread with a cross street in the title is asking about safety, heh. people are pretty much gonna give you the same answer over and over: bed stuy gets a bad rep, but the situation these days isn't exactly what it was a decade ago. i'm sure those people telling you to stay out of the neighborhood haven't been here in a while, if ever.

yes you will be part of the gentrification, so am i, so are a lot of people. it's a changing area. i like it a lot, i've never had any problems, i like my neighbors, i've never really felt unsafe, blah blah. in terms of getting to know your neighbors, a lot of blocks have block orgs, block parties and such, and i would definitely recommend patronizing local businesses! i have met some fantastic people since joining the bed stuy YMCA.

I second Sarahlucy. BedStuy has a very bad reputation. So did Williamsburg five to ten years ago. But things are changing. I love the architecture, the quietness, the proximity to the city and to other nice neighborhoods such as Williamsburg. Most of the long time residents are genuinely friendly. I live close to the YMCA and have never had any problems. Lots of my neighbors ride bicycles and seem to enjoy it.

Tennisfan

loctaion question,community involvement and biking

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