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How Do I Convince Potential Roommate to Move To Crown Heights? — Brooklynian

How Do I Convince Potential Roommate to Move To Crown Heights?

crownheightsnewbie
crownheightsnewbie
edited November -1 in Crown Heights/Prospect Lefferts Gardens

Hi Folks,

This summer I'll be moving from Chicago to a 2br apartment in Crown Heights just off Eastern Parkway. The apt is amazing.. living room, dining room, kitchen, foyer and the price is AMAZING. Like really amazing.

The problem is that my potential roommate who just got a job in NYC is scared to move to Crown Heights because she thinks there is too much violence.

Since I'm from Chicago, AND I grew up in a gentrifying neighborhood with boarded up houses, corner drunks, illicit drug activity, the "violence" in NYC doesn't make me scared to move to Crown Heights. That same lakefront neighborhood is coveted now. The neighborhood where my mother bought a boarded up house for $20,000 and now houses go for $500,000 STILL barely has any commercial activity (we only have Popeyes and J&J Fish and one cafe that closes at 6:30pm). So in short, Crown Heights would be heaven for me.

My potential roommate on the otherhand is scared of the violence that has been reported in Crown Heights. I'll admit that the news coming from the neighborhood is very skewed. Up until 1.5 yrs ago, all the online articles ONLY talked of violence and NOTHING else. So I can understand why she might have this view of the neighborhood. And I'm not doubting that violence still exists too.

So what can I say to her to convince her to move here or is it a lost cause? Should I just let her find another neighborhood and PAY DOUBLE?

Comments

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    I'd have to know the address to make a more informed statement, but I would let her know that neighborhoods in NYC have been changing very quickly, and that the decrease in crime rates is real.

    And that, assuming we are not talking about one of the still violent blocks, people far wimpier/cautious already live near by.

  • crownheightsnewbie
    crownheightsnewbie

    Hi Whynot_31,

    The apartment is on Eastern Parkway just west of Nostrand street.

  • whynot_31
    whynot_31

    EP near Nostrand is quite nice.

    Maybe take a few photos of old people sitting on the EP median benches, looking content.

  • landlord
    landlord

    Have her come over during the weekend to spend the day and walk around the neighborhood. She has nothing to fear.

  • epiclylaterd
    epiclylaterd

    Hey Crown Heights Newbie, I'm not too far off from there, park and nostrand, and agree with whynot that it's quite nice. Lots of runners going up and down eastern pkwy at all hours, close enough to Franklin (though Nostrand has a lot to offer and more coming). You seem like you've lived in areas pretty similar. I think there are other blocks (Troy, Albany) that see way more violence/criminal activity, and that eastern & nostrand is nice place to move to. Would be lying if I said I hadn't heard a few gunshots here and there, but that's city life. Plenty of good food, good hang outs and good neighbors.

  • ingenuity-jen
    ingenuity-jen

    A couple of things could could help:

    - You're going to be very close to the subway if that's a selling point, and that makes late night walks/commutes easier and safer. EP is well-lit.

    - Send your roommate some of the Brooklynian threads where we're chatting about coffee shops and bars the entire time. If the locals are talking mostly about where to eat and not how to leave/hide, that's gotta say something?

    - Curbed/Brownstoner articles about real estate prices/gentrification? So many of these businesses wouldn't be moving in if they didn't know they had a client base, and many wouldn't have the client base if it wasn't safe.

    Are you both able to visit before moving in? Or are you asking your roommate to agree to an apartment without visiting? That's a tough situation, even if the apartment's amazing. At any rate, some people never really get comfortable in the area and let past prejudices/events/crime rates color their current perceptions. I had a friend that ended up moving to the Upper East Side even though she loved a 1BR here in Crown Heights. She admitted it felt safe, but she just couldn't get over the area's past reputation. Oh well.

  • crownheightsnewbie
    crownheightsnewbie

    Hi Ingenuity-Jen,

    You have a good point. Although I have physically seen the apt, she has only seen pictures. So it wouldn't be fair to her to take it sight unseen. And honestly maybe it's a lost cause because some people just might not FEEL right even with the gentrification.

    Thanks!

  • goldemi
    goldemi

    Agree w/what others have said. Really gotta visit the neighborhood and walk a bit. Being right on E.Pkwy means she wont have to walk the quieter side streets at night. Its big and well lit. More and more stuff slowly seems to be coming to Nostrand, although it has enough going on (food, little markets, etc). For bars and restaurants, Franklin is a short walk, and with a bike or subway, you'd be to other places in minutes. Plus you'd be short-ish distance to the park, museum, botanical garden, whatever.

    I think if she saw the size/condition/price of manhattan apartments and what you apparently can get on E.Pkwy, she might change her mind.

    Although, there are plenty of people who are happy paying higher prices for less space and crazy amount of noise just to live in the middle of places like the East Village. You only live once, and maybe want to experience it for a year or two. I did, and then made my way to Park Slope, and now own in Crown Heights and LOVE it. I like the easy access to everything but with more of a neighborhood feel, and better prices....and i can finally sleep at night.

  • russellbittner
    russellbittner

    Dear CrownHeightsNewbie,

    If she doesn't take it, will you then be looking for a new roommate?

    If so, would you consider sharing with a guy?

    What would be his portion of the rent? I'm living close by at the moment (actually in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens), but have to be out by the end of this month.

    Please let me know, in any case.

    Thanks!

    Russell

  • thecameralady
    thecameralady

    CrownheightsNewbie said:

    Hi Whynot_31,

    The apartment is on Eastern Parkway just west of Nostrand street.

    You mean Nostrand Avenue. :wink:

    You can have your friend reach this recent article:

    http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130510/crown-heights/bigger-spaces-smaller-rents-lure-new-faces-eastward-crown-heights

    The couple featured in the article is actually further east than your prospective apartment and they are coping without having major issues.

    If she is still not convinced, you might be able to find someone else willing to sign on (try Craigslist but proceed with caution!).

  • crownheightsnewbie
    crownheightsnewbie

    Hey you guys! Thanks for the comments! Guess what. She passed on the apartment. Oh well. Now I'm looking for a roommate. I don't think it'll be a hard sell and NO I am not going to Craigslist!

    Looking forward to moving there in summer!

  • tateinbk
    tateinbk

    Welcome to the neighborhood. What the heck is so wrong with Craigslist? It's generally how roommates are found in this city.

  • newguy88
    newguy88

    tateinbk said:

    Welcome to the neighborhood. What the heck is so wrong with Craigslist? It's generally how roommates are found in this city.

    Also it's generally how roommates who do coke off your dining table are found. True story!

    Seriously, though it can be a good way to find roommate. But I understand the hesitation.

    CrownheightsNewbie welcome to the hood!

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