Thinking about moving to Bed Stuy, need input

LimestoneKid wrote: [quote=guru]Please boycott all new construction!

To me that means what you're really saying is "Please boycott all economic development and things that would make the nabe better".

Is that what you really wanted to say?

Better for who? The people being priced out?

hate to sound like escap here, but shouldn't more housing stock mean overall lower prices? or at least more places for the dreaded newcomers to infest without displacing the holy old-timers?

To me that means what you're really saying is "Please boycott all economic development and things that would make the nabe better".

Is that what you really wanted to say?


What I am saying is boycott those air conditioner box houses that are sprouting up not any solid new construction.

guru wrote: I want to see an end to new construction that disrupts the existing architecture of Brownstone Brooklyn, my comment had absolutely nothing to do with economics except to the extent that this new construction devalues the community. My statement was about the appearance and quality of these buildings and how anyone could arrive at the conclusions I see here is disturbing. I am a real estate agent and a person that has renovated more than my share of buildings in the area and I always maintained as much of the original detail as possible, even when it was cost prohibitive, so your implications are truly amazing and are no longer surprising.

that's admirable, guru. But I believe if you read back, people were actually making this accusation of BedStuyDoOrDie, not you.

tennisfan wrote: [quote=BedStuyDoOrDie][quote=LimestoneKid][quote=guru]Please boycott all new construction!

To me that means what you're really saying is "Please boycott all economic development and things that would make the nabe better".

Is that what you really wanted to say?

Better for who? The people being priced out?

BedStuyDoOrDie,

I am trying to understand your logic ...
So you are against any economic development in your neighborhood? Wouldn't you like to have more stores like Duane Reade or Wholefood, restaurants, coffee shops? What is your vision of a better life?

I go to the Duane Reade on the Fulton Mall. Having one closer by would be nice though.

I wouldn't like a Wholefood nearby; I have absolutely no interest in buying from there.

What kind of restuarants? Fast food? Chinese? Chain restuarants like Red Lobster? Chicken joints? What kind of eating establishments do you have in mind?

And I detest coffee. I tasted it once when I was a child, and never again.

My idea of a better life?

Making the Franklin Ave. C stop express

Stopping the construction of an illegal parking lot being built on my block.

Better bus service on some of the lines serving the community.

More services available to the homeless/poor/mentally disturbed- too often I hear people's tales of simply having nowhere to spend the night, nothing to eat, nowhere to get food stamps, etc.

And less dog droppings everywhere- for some reason, this has increased in the past few years.

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2007/10/wtf_in_bed_stuy.php#comments

These are reasons why I am against new construction.

they are new. (and fugly.)

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/rfs/446970546.html

sweet tea wrote: they are new. (and fugly.)

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/rfs/446970546.html

Okay, I stand corrected.

But my original question still stands -- not every new construction would be exactly like that. So, guru, is it all new construction, high-priced new construction, ugly new construction, or...what, precisely, do you object to?

The sense that I get is that most of the new construction going up in the area is that its pretty shoddy. The fact that it looks all shiny and pretty doesn't negate what folks have seen of the construction from the ground up.

The thing about that janky spec-style new construction that's getting thrown up all over the Stuy is that it's cynical. It is made as quickly as possible, with the sole purpose of making money.

Bed Stuy is full of empty lots and impending teardowns that could become good, well-priced housing for ordinary people. THIS would do much to keep Bed Stuy from becoming another park slope, evolving instead a solidly middleclass/mixed income community. Owning a brownstone is in some ways idiotic, it takes a certain... passion, or foolishness, or a lot of extra money.

But spec homes do not do anything to legitimately address that need, and I am glad that the market is slowing down beause that means that people will come to their senses and quit buying them.

Instead, developers are exploiting an opportunity in this neighborhood, and are building total shit that will age poorly, and this means a bad return on the hardworking not-rich homeowner's investment. That is bad for the community as a whole and it is bad for the homeowners who buy these homes. My neighbor has one of these crappy homes, and his garage fills with water if it even mists outside and he is getting major, major structural work done on his foundation, on a house that is less than ten years old. Because it was poorly planned and poorly executed, and that sucks.

Guest/LD wrote: I live in new construction. it's not nearly as fugly as some I've seen but it's no majestic brownstone. The construction is fine on the inside. Honestly, I rent and it's a great value, as a previous poster mentioned it's considerably less expanesive than renting in a brownstone. More room, 2 bathrooms (with a roomate it wins), better value, etc.


The way I see it is I rent right now, my criteria is different than if I were purchasing. I wouldn't invest in something like this but when I buy I plan for something much more along the lines of a brownstone or other classic piece of architecture.

Your criteria would be different if you were purchasing puts you in the position of someone who really cares and at that point you agree with others who care. When renters care as much as owners communities improve.

guru wrote: [quote=Guest/LD]I live in new construction. it's not nearly as fugly as some I've seen but it's no majestic brownstone. The construction is fine on the inside. Honestly, I rent and it's a great value, as a previous poster mentioned it's considerably less expanesive than renting in a brownstone. More room, 2 bathrooms (with a roomate it wins), better value, etc.


The way I see it is I rent right now, my criteria is different than if I were purchasing. I wouldn't invest in something like this but when I buy I plan for something much more along the lines of a brownstone or other classic piece of architecture.

Your criteria would be different if you were purchasing puts you in the position of someone who really cares and at that point you agree with others who care. When renters care as much as owners communities improve.

That is not the only way in which a renter shows "they care" about a community although I certainly can see your point.

I looked at well over a dozen apartments when I found my place- from brownstones to new construction to larger multi-unit older buildings. I took my time and made a decision based on many needs and desires for my new home as well as my roomate's. It wasn't all about money. My place is actually one of the more expensive places I saw, not the MOST expensive but it's not dirt cheap either. I feel what I pay is fair and after the time I invested in my search I feel I can say that accurately. I will not apologize for moving into new construction because it had large, equal-sized bedrooms, outdoor space, plenty of room and light, and a wonderful landlord that has shown as much respect and consideration for us as we to him. I also do not believe it determines whether I care about the community or not.

Just my two-cents.