Young, single, no kids — Park Slope?
Hey all,
I'm thinking about moving to Park Slope. I've visited a few times and liked the vibe. I'm a little concerned, though, about its reputation as a haven for parents.
I'm not planning on having kids anytime soon, and while I don't hate them, I don't know that I'd want to live somewhere that revolves around them. Oh, and I really don't like having dinners/movies/my sleep interrupted by sobbing babies...
I'm 25, new to the city with my first job out of grad school, and I'll be commuting to Grand Central every day (thinking about living near the 4 & 5 trains, which might actually place me in Boerum Hill). I really like everything I've heard about Park Slope, but I'm concerned whether there will be many other people at my stage of life. Do all the young NYC newcomers really live in Manhattan?[/i]
I'm thinking about moving to Park Slope. I've visited a few times and liked the vibe. I'm a little concerned, though, about its reputation as a haven for parents.
I'm not planning on having kids anytime soon, and while I don't hate them, I don't know that I'd want to live somewhere that revolves around them. Oh, and I really don't like having dinners/movies/my sleep interrupted by sobbing babies...
I'm 25, new to the city with my first job out of grad school, and I'll be commuting to Grand Central every day (thinking about living near the 4 & 5 trains, which might actually place me in Boerum Hill). I really like everything I've heard about Park Slope, but I'm concerned whether there will be many other people at my stage of life. Do all the young NYC newcomers really live in Manhattan?[/i]
Comments
-
kids and their parents seem to rarely cross over to 5th ave.
-
In a word, no. There are lots of singles in the Slope.
-
booklaw wrote: In a word, no. There are lots of singles in the Slope.
As well as Prospect Heights and Crown Heights.
...which are often cheaper than Park Slope. -
If you want to be near the IRT trains, check out Plaza Street, which circles Grand Army Plaza in both Park Slope and Prospect Heights. The 2 and 3 trains stop at the corner of Plaza Street and Flatbush Avenue, and you take them 3 stops (takes about 5 minutes) to Nevins Street, walk 15 feet across the platform, and there are the 4 and 5 trains.
-
With these PS babies, come lots of businesses. I can do almost all of my shopping and eating out in walking distance from home, which I think is great.
Like others have said, Prospect Heights is good, too. You can take the 2/3 train to Nevins and just transfer across the platform to a 4/5. Lots of young new to NYCers there, and in most nabes with good train access, imo. -
Subject: Re: Young, single, no kids — Park Slope?
helvetica wrote: Do all the young NYC newcomers really live in Manhattan?[/i]
No, a lot live in Astoria / LIC in queens. Cheaper rents, close to manhattan only problem for me was no nice parks. Maybe check it out if thats not a big deal for you. Then there is always Williamsburg/DUMBO as well if you like living near fauxhemians. -
There's plenty of nightlife: bar & restaurants, that will be perfect for you. I love the slope! I'm not a breeder either and find I rarely see the obnoxious stroller mafia's that others complain about (usually the complaints about PS seem to come from people who don't even live here!)
North, Center or South Slope there are venues for young adults and places to meet others. Hello! Southpaw, Bell house (technically in the Gowanus, but whateves) Union Hall, shoot you can't walk a block with out hitting some bar or local hangout. And we have vintage stores and boutique clothing stores, perfect if you're a hipster
-
The stroller folk are largely dominant during weekdays. Once the sun goes down, and on weekends, it's much more mixed, as all the single and/or working folks are around (and yes, there are a lot of us). The problem is just that, during the day when we're all at work, the stay-at-home parents and nannies take over a bit.
That said, great neighborhood, and if you have normal hours, you should love it. -
I moved to the slope a little over 4 years ago when i was 24. Love the area and I'm happy that I didn't move to manhat. I got to know my neighbors and all of my close friends I've made live in the area as well. There is plenty of action going on here for the young and single. Are there lots of people with kids... yes. Will it inhibit you from having fun and loving the hood, probably not. As soon as the sun goes down the kids are gone and you have plenty of bars to choose from.
-
here is the demographic data for 11215 and 11217 the two major zip codes which make up park slope. as you can see, the onslaught of media attention about park slope as being comprised of only parents with children is quite exaggerated.
as you can see, households without children far outnumber those with children.
11215
Total Households28079
Family Households13273
Non-Family Households14805
Households With Children6602
Households Without Children21477
Average People Per Household2.30
11217
Total Households15549
Family Households6575
Non-Family Households8974
Households With Children3252
Households Without Children12297
Average People Per Household2.20 -
Great stat report Belzjm! Park slope is great because there is such a high demand for quality and convenience... just like Op.Queen said. PS has a yuppy vibe, but most people here are friendly, considerate and laid back... I love it. I'm sorry, but every time I cross over to prospect heights, the vibe is off... tension fills the air.
-
I'm at a very similar stage in life, and find the south side of Park slope to be quite blissful. Lots of great bars and restaurants on every block, with that laid-back vibe you seem to appreciate already. Don't let the haters scare you away witht heir greatly exaggerated tales of Breeders and Ballers... Park Slope is a great place to visit and to stay.
-
I second that South Slope definitely has less of the oft-reported "Child Wars" vibe going for it, with more and more of the amenities.
-
Astigmatism wrote: The problem is just that, during the day when we're all at work, the stay-at-home parents and nannies take over a bit.
Seriously? You find it a problem that other people are active in your neighborhood when you're not there? Just, wow. -
snarkslope wrote: Seriously? You find it a problem that other people are active in your neighborhood when you're not there? Just, wow.
Let's not overdramatize. I'm very happy that the neighborhood has an active street life during the day, but as a 20-something without kids, it can feel a bit foreign, particularly in bars and restaurants in North Slope - this could especially be a "problem" if you're, say, asking about being single in the neighborhood like the OP. That said, I've been here for a few years now, it's my home, and I very much enjoy it when I get a weekday off. -
I'm a 20something without kids- I've lived here for almost 4 years and have never felt "foreign" or out of place. I love this neighborhood.
-
7th Ave. & Center Slope is more family with kid's. 5th Ave. is more for young & singles. (more fun area;- )
-
are you hot?
-
TyroneShoelaces wrote: are you hot?
-
Perhaps Brooklynian doesn't offer the best slice of the demographic, but I love living here, am young at heart and a little bit single. I love the bars and restaurants, the park, proximity to PH, lots of trains, BAM, several live music venues and lots of interesting people. I wish there were more music venues, more diverse population and more of Mpmav's doggie in my lap, but overall, I love it here. Most people who live here do, for their own reasons, but we definitely pay for it. I truly dislike the doublewide strollers crowding the sidewalks when the children in them are old enough to walk miles, but I have found that only on my crankiest and most hungover weekend day do I even notice. I think it depends on what is important to you in a nabe. Time Out just did a survey of sorts that discussed what was important - transit, green space, quality grocery stores, number of bars, etc. that listed Park Slope highly in those categories. That said, I could not deal with living farther from work, but am way too happy here to even consider leaving.
If you do move here, and are in fact hot, man or woman, please be sure to meet some of us! -
Thanks everybody for the firsthand reports! I'm feeling reassured.
-
This is the best neighborhood on the face of the earth for single, married, straight, gay, trans, asexual a la Morrissey, black, white, latin, green people with 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 legs.
-
Astigmatism, I wasn't trying to be overdramatic, just regular dramatic.
I'm sorry if I was defensive- I was just trying to point out that it's unhelpful for any "group" to feel they have a claim on a neighborhood, and it struck me as silly that you would say it's a "problem" that while you're at work, the kids and their caregivers "take over." It was a bit of a knee jerk reaction. Upon further reflection I realize this speaks more to the dominant stereotype of the entitled families in Park Slope than any real bias you have. Believe me, there are some annoying-ass children and parents here to be sure (to be SURE) but us breeders are not all like that! For the record, my kids are not in strollers anymore and I'm not home full-time, but I've spent thousands of weekday hours with them in spaces among childless adults very happily and harmoniously- in restaurants (not bars, I go to bars to avoid my children), bookstores, libraries, the park, the Garden, the museum, etc. It is possible for us to co-exist but unfortunately the bad albeit organic apples among us cause you guys to run in the opposite direction when you see us coming. -
Shortcake, I noticed you didnt mention asians.
No asians in park slope exceps asian girls married to white dudes. -
And where in park slope do you live Pencap? How long have you lived here?
-
Actually, there are at least two Asian couples (one Korean and the other Chinese) living on my block.
-
the asian comment was ill-informed.
park slope's latest demographics show an asian population of a little over 5% which is HIGHER than the 4.5% asian population in the united states. -
pencap75 wrote: Shortcake, I noticed you didnt mention asians.
seen that
No asians in park slope exceps asian girls married to white dudes.
, and all my female asian tenants i ever had always had white boyfriends. -
I would check other neighborhoods out personally
Rents are cheaper just east of Flatbush and there is better nightlife IMO. The conveniences of the Slope are just a short bus ride away -
Just avoid the Starbucks on 7th avenue between 3-5 pm and you'll be just fine in Park Slope.
Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
- 40K All Categories
- 27.1K Neighborhoods
- 5.1K Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens
- 7.1K Prospect Heights
- 2.3K Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy
- 8K Park Slope
- 549 Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick
- 442 Flatbush/Midwood/Ditmas Park
- 657 BoCoCa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens)
- 151 Red Hook
- 104 Gowanus
- 304 Bay Ridge/Bensonhurst
- 130 Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay
- 270 Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and Downtown
- 598 Windsor Terrace / Kensington
- 673 Greenwood Heights and Sunset Park
- 749 Brooklyn and Beyond
- 6.3K Stuff
- 86 Brooklyn Back When
- 1.2K Brooklyn Pets
- 257 Brooklyn Kids
- 241 Brooklyn Eats
- 51 Brooklyn Booze
- 3.6K The Lounge / Random Stuff
- 611 Brooklyn Politics
- 122 Brooklyn Sports and Fitness
- 111 Brooklyn Photos
- 339 Site Issues
- 8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 6.2K Listings
- 1.1K APARTMENTS and REAL ESTATE
- 1.3K Sales Openings Events
- 2.3K The Classifieds