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Franklin: A Couple of Questions — Brooklynian

Franklin: A Couple of Questions

no name face
no name face
edited November -1 in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bed-Stuy
Hi all, I'm a recent college graduate who just got a place on Franklin on the CH/BS border. My only real question is that I've read so many debates about what is the true border. I've done my research about the area (some have said Classon and some have said Franklin) and the part of Franklin I'm on is pretty close to the station and the library. I was told by a ton of people that Bed Stuy doesn't start until Bedford Avenue. I just wanted to know where I'm technically at because when people ask me, I say I'm on the border.

I personally don't care if I'm in CH or in BS. I was just curious.

Oh and also if you guys have any tips about life on the CH/BS border and what I can do please let me know. I'm originally from upstate New York so I don't know how I'm going to deal with not having a washer/dryer in my house among other things.

I also wanted to know how the Franklin station is. In order to get to work, I'm going to have to take the S. Is the station nice? How is the block at night? (i didn't get to see that, during the day it looked really nice...i even said hi to some of the people on the stoop)

Thanks a lot. I really want to get to know the community as I'm not really from Brooklyn. I spent last summer down in Brooklyn, albeit that was Brooklyn Heights (not really representative of Brooklyn as a whole) so I think I'll be okay...

Any advice/opinions would be great. Thank you so much. I've read through a lot of posts here before posting and I find a lot of you insightful and funny. :D

Comments

  • anonymous
    anonymous
    I've most often heard Classon as the "official" border. I think of Bedford less as border-area than, well, Bed-Stuy proper. As far as tips for that area...Bushbaby coffee on Fulton's good. The Goodwill store near there is one of the better ones in the city (always some decent books). Le Toukelour (sp?) has a good brunch. And yes, saying hi to neighbors sounds right.
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    We live right off Classon and we've been told (at the police precinct) that Classon is the border between Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill....but... when we travel and tell people where we live we always say Bed-Stuy, no one knows where clinton hill is, and it doesn't sound that interesting. If you're talking to your mother you should probably say Brooklyn or downtown Brooklyn. If you're trying to sublet your apartment you probably should say Clinton Hill, etc. etc.

    The boundries between nabes are sort of fluid. When I first moved in I really felt like I was in Bed-Stuy with a little of the Pratt Clinton Hill
    sensibility mixed in. Now I feel the opposite, my block is being gentrified pretty rapidly.

    As to the safety thing.. we've lived here since 99' and never have had a problem. But in the last 2 or 3 months our daughter has been attacked by a bunch of teenagers on Fulton (she wasn't hurt, just shook up) and our neighbor's house has been broken into (the police caught the guy). Stuff like that happens all over NY so it probably dosen't reflect a neighborhood trend, but be aware and don't wear your ipod when you're walking on the street.

    The restaurant scene has really picked up in the last few years. Kush, Brown Betty, Bush Baby, Toukouler, and Vinnie and Ollies are relatively new and very good restaurants and coffee shops.

    I've only took the S once and I thought it sucked. But mine is the minority opinion, most people like the cross brooklyn convenience of it.

    Don't know about laundrymats, but the dollar stores are a lot fun.

    regards
  • kevin_on_putnam
    kevin_on_putnam
    Oooops, above was me
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    Area spots are Bush Baby, Folukie, Le Toukouleur, Heavenly Crumbs, Kush, Brooks Valley, Denim Lounge (drinks), Le Chateau de Frenche (spa), Common Grounds, Exotic Home (furishings & plants) Chase on Bedford and another on Fulton and the Y on Bedford. Support your neighborhood and it will get better.
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    Franklin is bed-stuy. Classon's the border of Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy - for the police precinct, for the landmark extension borders, for the residential rezoning etc. Realtors will push the border out to Bedford try to cash in on the Clinton Hill name for valuation purposes. Either way, the area is improving and more services are slowly moving in.
  • isla
    isla
    The Encyclopedia of NY says Classon.

    More and more, it is being extended to Franklin. I usually consider anything East of Franklin, Bed-Stuy. Even though it is technically Classon.

    The updated encyclopedia is being worked on, and I am curious if they extend it or not.

    I love Bed Stuy, I do not know people are loathe to associate themselves with the area.
  • em26
    em26
    no name face wrote: Hi all, I'm a recent college graduate who just got a place on Franklin on the CH/BS border. My only real question is that I've read so many debates about what is the true border. I've done my research about the area (some have said Classon and some have said Franklin) and the part of Franklin I'm on is pretty close to the station and the library. I was told by a ton of people that Bed Stuy doesn't start until Bedford Avenue. I just wanted to know where I'm technically at because when people ask me, I say I'm on the border.

    I personally don't care if I'm in CH or in BS. I was just curious.

    Oh and also if you guys have any tips about life on the CH/BS border and what I can do please let me know. I'm originally from upstate New York so I don't know how I'm going to deal with not having a washer/dryer in my house among other things.

    I also wanted to know how the Franklin station is. In order to get to work, I'm going to have to take the S. Is the station nice? How is the block at night?
    Maybe you should ask a neighbor if you guys are in Bed-Stuy or Clinton Hill. I'm sure they would know , and they won't think you're wacked for asking that question if you let them know that you are new to that area.

    I live near the Franklin Avenue station , and it's not bad during the day. There are cops usually standing around down there.

    The latest I've been out alone getting out of the Franklin Ave. station was a little after 11pm. It was fine , no freaks , but no more cops around though. I don't know what time they leave that place.
    no name face wrote: I'm originally from upstate New York so I don't know how I'm going to deal with not having a washer/dryer in my house among other things.
    The whole getting out of the house to do laundry was very new to me too. You'll get the hang of it. Just try figuring out when is the slowest day , and choose that as your laundry day. It's alot easier when you don't have to rush to get your shit in and out of the machines , because people are waiting to use them. Or , end up walking down there hauling a heavy ass laundry bag , and then find out there are no available machines. Aaargh , that happened to me twice. I know when to head out now , so it's all good in the hood.

    Goodluck , and welcome to Brooklyn! :)
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    I lived in that area for a year and have since moved deeper into bed-stuy. Franklin is safe and I have gotten off the train there at all hours of the night. As did my female roommates.
  • jocelyn
    jocelyn
    I'm trying to figure out how come you have to take the S to go to work! Where exactly do you work, near Prospect Park????
  • no name face
    no name face
    jocelyn wrote: I'm trying to figure out how come you have to take the S to go to work! Where exactly do you work, near Prospect Park????
    no...my office is right off the 2&3 lines in manhattan. i could take the C but it'd be a longer walk and i'm assuming i'm gonna need all the sleep i can get. :P
  • sweet tea
    sweet tea
    i take the S all the time (since i live by the Park Pl stop), and i love that train. it's very reliable, and it connects to so many lines. plus, since there are only 2 trains running at a time, i know all the drivers by face and temperament. it's homey.

    the only time it annoys me is late night, when they only run one of them, so the wait is longer.
  • carmen
    carmen
    you live rather close to me, most likely- I'm living on Lafayette at Bedford, which, depending on your cross-street, could be like a block from your house.
    What block are you on?
    Ive been here since Sept and admittedly have done almost NOTHING in the local nabe as far as socializing (aside from my direct building neighbors.) Ive never heard of Denim Lounge and its right down the street from me! anything else in this area that I should know about? The roomie and I are always looking to get a drink somewhere other than the dreaded Sputniks ;)
  • isla
    isla
    I wouldn't mind some better bars or places to get a drink either. That would be oh so nice.
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