Living on 4th Ave?

canyontothesky · May 2010

Does anyone live on 4th Ave (not in a mid/high-rise, though) and have anything to say about it's pluses/minuses? I saw an AMAZING apartment today on 4th between 18th/19th, across from the huge 24 hour laundrymat. It's perfect and an amazing price, but 4th is SO noisy, especially right there by the BQE. The bedrooms face the back, but not the livingroom. The biggest issue I have is walking around the area. I have two dogs. and we live on 6th ave now, so I always have a lovely stroll with them down it, and it's not like I can't walk up to 6th for dog walks, but I feel like I'm never going to want to go past 5th (I'd miss Union Market *sniff*), and also that pee breaks at night would be standing there on 4th, which has always seemed slightly sketchy to me. Also the park is a bit farther and there is no greenery nearby.

So, any other comments that I haven't covered?

opossumqueen · May 2010

I also live on 6th Ave, and actually sometimes walk that way (Gowanus) with my dog to get away from the crowded sidewalks, fwiw. I take him over to 2 Ave and back to that "park" behind Lowes (which I think is gross, but my dog loves to sniff around.) It's a nice place to have a quiet walk, at least while it's light out.

domino · May 2010

OMG - when the R train rumbles thru you can actually hear/feel it! Lived on the corner of 76th and 4th Ave in Bay Ridge on the 3rd Floor - I had the schedule down pat for the first few weeks. After a while it became background noise but it took some getting used to. The dogs and cats on the other hand did NOT like it at all.

Had a friend that lived ON that block just up from 4th Avenue and she would come home at all hours with no problem. Pretty safe given the traffic flow on 4th.

bklynnewbie · May 2010

I live in the area. 5th Ave around 17th and the surrounding blocks are pretty pleasant. I am out mostly during business hours, but, you have Eagle provisions (a great store), Little Buddy Bakery which is fabulous, Adam's Wine Store.... Korzo Restaurant is great too.... new places seem to be popping up all the time. I come home late at night at that R Stop at prospect and always feel safe. Just take the pooches up 17th to 5th to walk around.

canyontothesky · May 2010

Domino -- I guess I wasn't in the apartment long enough today (though I definitely think it was for longer than 5 minutes), but I didn't at all notice any train noise, only street noise, and I would put in an AC and a white noise machine anyway.

I'm realllly considering it now. It's SO cheap, even two people could live in it for less than I've heard most people getting places for, but if it's three of us, it'll be freakin' $465 each!

Thanks for the opinions so far, keep em coming. I'd love to hear from more people who live on 4th. And, for the devil's advocate's side, is there anyone who would never, or would really, really disprefer to live in 4th, and why?

killerchimps · May 2010

Longtime listener, first-time caller...

We moved to 4th Avenue between 11th and 12th streets about a year ago (from 13th Street between 5th and 6th streets), and it was a tough call. That said, we're happier with the apartment space, and abutting a tire shop AND that not-so-lovely speedway hasn't been anything like the drag we expected. And parking, if that's yr thing, is much easier in these parts.

The negs: yes, it get's noisy, but we're lucky to have thick, double-panes windows and our bedroom is to the back of the apartment. This does seem to be the year of the motorcycle, complete with lots of vrooming while the traffic light's red. And you get the dudes who want you to enjoy their blasting tunes while they wait. Seriously, though, not suckage to the degree we expected. We do feel the subway, but no different than other places I've lived since moving to the city. Besides, it's tres cool to say you live in Gowanus, right?

You will continue going to the park, yr favorite shops (oh, Grab, how you rock my socks...), strolling 5th and 7th, promise.

Would we prefer a small, prettier tree-lined lane? Sure... but we're close to the subway, and Cafe 747 is on the way there.

pm · May 2010

4th and 19th is not 'cool' Gowanus. At all.

While I love the idea of Eagle, you have to be careful
shopping there. So much is out of date - their 'fresh' salads currently show expiration dates of January and March of 2010...

If you have to ask about a block on a website then it's probably not for you. That's not being assy, but if you have that many doubts you're unlikely to settle there.

matthurst · May 2010

I live nearby (4th ave and 14th strett), on the other side of the BQE, and we've been happy with the extra space, much less living closer to the trains. You'd be surprised how quickly and easily you adjust to any traffic noise, much less the subway rumbling down 4th ave. We love our roomy, comfy apartment, and enjoy being closer to the businesses on 5th ave that we enjoy.

As the other commenters have added, there are plenty of perks living on this side of South Slope/Gowanus, although every apartment is unique and has it's compromises. My advice is to make a list of priorities for your next apartment and use it to decide where your move might be; it's how I moved here at least.

canyontothesky · May 2010

Thank you killerchimps! That seems to be a lot like what other people are saying. We're going to go take a walk over there in a bit. The price is so lovely and the apartment is even lovelier. Even my really yuppie, ritzy suburban NJ-dwelling mother says take it, after looking at google street views.

PM - I actually am not a fan of Eagle. That said, there are loads of markets on 5th that I've been into before, and worst case the really nice C-Town on 25th would be only 7 short blocks away.

We're going to take it, definitely!

PS... What the heck is this area called anyway? It's like, Greenwood Gowanus Heights, haha.

domino · May 2010

Believe it is South Slope - but some call it Greenwood Heights. Too far north for Gowanus!

pm · May 2010

Domino wrote: Believe it is South Slope - but some call it Greenwood Heights. Too far north for Gowanus!

Too far south for Gowanus, surely?!

South Slope, definitely.

canyontothesky · May 2010

We decided to get the apartment, by the way, and I'm signing the lease tomorrow.

There's nothing wrong with asking for opinions of blocks online. It wasn't as though I was petrified of living there, I just had some doubts, and everyone cleared that up for me. Also we took a walk down there at 1am and everything was fine, and I don't expect to be out late on my own anyway.

For me, I'd call Greenwood Heights anything below the expressway, and if you're talking realtor speak, South Slope, besides 9th-15th st, is 15th St-25th St, I'd say. But technically that the cemetery doesn't begin until 20th St, so I'll go with both.

bklynnewbie · May 2010

Ok, I don't usually buy food at Eagle.... they have really interesting plants/veggies/berries to plant in your garden and a kick ass beer selection. And I am on 21st St. and the cemetary is still a few blocks away from me. The Realtors call my block, near 6th Ave, South Slope.

tyroneshoelaces · May 2010

I should say that the wine store on 4th and 10th has some excellent stuff! A new owner opened up the back to foot traffic and the selection is amazingly refreshing.

PLUS they have all sorts of exotic stuff (like Absinthe).

AND, there's a very cute someone behind the counter whenever I go.

Edit: The wine store is 4th and 10th, not 4th and 11th as initially posted.

canyontothesky · May 2010

Please keep sharing the cool places that exist on 4th, this is great to hear about!

canyontothesky · May 2010

Just wondering, has anyone experienced any funny business on the west side of 4th ave between 17th & 18th? I noticed a lot of guys hanging out outside of the auto shop over the weekend, and the 24 hour Express Foods seems to also have cars often double parked outside of it late at night and people hanging out.

Ok, I'm a really paranoid short blond girl and I take lots of precautions sometimes, so I was just wondering if anything's happened to anyone on that block. I was even thinking of crossing the street to the Manhattan R side after getting out coming from in town just to avoid that one tiny block. I'm sure after a week or two I'll be fine, I always get worried about new neighbohoods no matter where they are, before I move into them. I'm not crazy, I swear.

brokechick · May 2010

i live here, on 17th between 3rd and 4th aves. i've lived here for almost two years. there are always guys hanging out, and sometimes noisy sidewalk parties on the weekends, but no funny business of the sort you're thinking of (at least not that i've ever encountered). i'm a single girl, i live alone, i feel completely safe. it is sometimes a nuisance when i have to wait for the gaggle of teenage boys to clear the stoop so i can get into my building, but they usually open the door for me once they're up.

Living on 4th Ave?

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