Thinking about moving to Bed Stuy, need input

tennisfan wrote: [quote=guru]I've done some homework and found out that it would cost me more money to rent in Brownstone if I decided to move to Bed-Suty tomorrow. I viewed some brownstones in the North of Bed-Stuy. For instance, one owner is asking $1,400 for a 750sqft 1-BR (1 bathroom) that was renovated 2 or 3 years ago. On the other hand, a 3-BR with 2 bathrooms in a brand new construction around Quincy can be rented for $1,700. If I can find somebody else to share the apt with us, that option would make much more sense to me.


All else being equal rent has to do with square footage, and new or newly renovated will usually cost more than old or poorly renovated i.e. newly renovated kitchen and bath or new appliances should mean higher rent.

The 1BR in the brownstone was about $750sqft when the 3BR in the new construction was about 950sqft ...

200sqft would be two very small bedrooms, but the way you put it I couldn't argue - plus the extra bath.

Um... yeah. The snipes are unnecessary. And unfunny, which is even worse.

queencallipygos wrote: [quote=guru][quote=queencallipygos][quote=sweet tea]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?

Your question was already answered, so I am sure you failed reading and seeing as well, or maybe your overt bias disorients you.

Now read back and check the time and day when I said I am not opposed to solid construction just the box buildings which I "later" was able to provide a link for. What is your game?

Now, that's not fair, guru. Why do you assume that I had a "bias", instead of me simply having overlooked the answer?

Or, the fact that you posted your answer AFTER I posted that question?

Thanks Sweet Tea, I'll do that. The sniping - if it can be called that - can be uncovered by a re-read of the thread.

guru wrote: [quote=queencallipygos][quote=guru]

Go back and see when your question was asked and if the answer is in an earlier post wipe the cold out of your eyes.

The answer was in a later post. And there's really no need for you to be so rude, I was only asking you a question.

Nice try, but you've already exposed yourself. We know you have trouble reading and counting, which is always excusable, but it is the other stuff that disturbs me.

Guru, if you have a problem with me, please take it to a private message rather than making digs at me like this.

blah, blah, blah, blah......

And yet no blame for those same old-timer home/apt owners that sell out at today's extremely high prices to the newcomers because they can make a pile of dough off of their fellow neighbors that struggled to improve the neighborhood?

They enable this whole process, so perhaps you might first look inward before casting blame outward at all newcomers.

NYBrnNRzD wrote: [quote=jackson]blah, blah, blah, blah......

exactly, you wanna move somewhere and immedietly change it to suit your needs and could care less about what people before you went through to get the neighborhood to what it is already, the years of crime they had to endure to have a hood thats safe enough nowadays for people with money to even consider moving to. [name-calling redacted -- mod.]

you've figured me out. I am defeated...

Yes, you have some very good (and frustrating, unfortunate) points.

On the other hand, throughout neighborhoods like Park Slope, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Bed Stuy, Crown Heights, Flatbush etc there has been opportunity for a strong middle class to emerge, one where individuals have become homeowners while prices were lower, some able to buy multiple homes in their neighborhood (Bed Stuy is full of these stories).

Given that many bought homes decades ago, there are even folks out there who are totally free and clear of mortgage at this point. The last decade of growth in home prices has substantially increased their financial means, allowing them to finance or refi to get vacation homes, pay for kids and grandkids' education etc, open businesses, even expand into other investments.

A small fraction of the overall home ownership picture has involved shady, predatory finance/refi activity (utterly reprehensible), but by and large there is actually quite a large base of solid home ownership of increasingly very valuable homes in neighborhoods (adding to income and means) in ways that were never thought possible decades ago.

But yes, for those who have not had the fortune to convert from renters to owners over those decades, unfortunately much is left to the mercy of landlords who might be jumping at first opportunity to cash out, given perhaps decades of low return and lack of exit strategy.

Sucks, definitely. Can't argue there.

But winds of change are still inevitable, nonetheless.

I am around the corner from the Bedford Nostrand G stop.

tennisfan wrote:
I am surprised to hear that there are not too many kids around ...
How is Lafayette avenue close to Tomkins Park? I heard there was a school and pool not far? Is there also a market next to the park?

How is the G train? Do you take it and then switch to the L train to go to Manhattan?

I live next to the "crappy" store, which I appreciate for what it offers and love the people who work there so I would not call it crappy just limited. But fantastic for middle of cooking food runs, quickie dinner runs and so on. Location is fantastic. All a matter of perspective. And if I need something I cannot find there, I head to C Town on DeKalb or associated on Myrtle or another store in Brooklyn or even stop by Whole Foods or Trader Joe's on my commute home.

I have a child. So do my neighbors and a lot of other people in the area. There are no shortages of children all around. Maybe not directly on top of the intersection, but there are a bunch of young children on my street and in the area. Lots of great families. Some parks are not very busy, but Underhill at Washington and Lafayette is great. Also the Pratt playground and Prospect Park on the bus not too far away. There is Von King on Lafayette and Marcy, that is a great outdoor space and park. Some parks are busier at higher traffic times though. There are a handful of beautiful community gardens, a CSA. Choice bakery is on the way home from Underhill, and it's a nice place.

The pool is on Kosciuszko and Nostrand. We love the pool, and enjoyed it this summer. It was never too packed, and we had a great time. There is a school right across the street from there. and a few others as well in the area. There are a few preschools as well.

I love this area for families. There is a wonderful sense of community. I love that my son is friends with all the neighbor kids, I love the people at the market/cafe/corner store/Chinese place remember me. It's a great area.