What neighborhood would you move to?

jarvis · January 2015

I've lived in Prospect Heights my entire adult life. Our lease went to market (had been stabilized, but had a preferential clause attached to it.. the usual) and we can't afford to live here anymore. I've lived in a couple apartments in the neighborhood but always within the St. Marks -> Pros Park, and Underhill -> Carlton borders. So I'm starting to look for places to move to in May. I don't need to tell you folks the reasons that I love this neighborhood.. it's always been obvious to me that this is the place to be -- even when it was the 'bad old days' and before a single bar was open on Vanderbilt ; ). But I won't get too nostalgic right now - I'd just like to ask what other Brooklyn neighborhood you would consider moving to? I'm thinking Ditmas, PLG, Flatbush, etc.. not too much of an F/G train fan. Thoughts?

Thanks!

bobmarvin · January 2015

FWIW I bought a house in PLG 40 years ago and moved there from Park Slope. I've been very happy in that neighborhood.

ehgee · January 2015

I see a lot of things to like when I bike/run out through Flatbush/Ditmas Park, and the B/Q will get your to a lot of Manhattan mighty quick.

Southern Crown Heights near Nostrand also has solid transportation (though fewer amenities it appears to me) but it feels like the money wave will get there bigtime soon so buy or scope out something stabilized.

mike dunlap · January 2015

If you're planning to stay for awhile, PLG near Nostrand. It will be Starbucks-approved in 5 years.

xlizellx · January 2015

We were priced out of the Frankling Avenue area and now live in Ditmas Park near the B/Q. Lots of nice things in the area - with more to come - and a great family-friendly area as well.

I'd also go for the area of PLG near Winthrop -- gets your B/Q and 2/5 service with lots opening in the area.

southeast · January 2015

Consider eastern CH, down the 3-4 line... If you stay to the north of EP, you pretty much have the 3/4 and A/C within walking distance.

suppleknuckles · January 2015

I used to live on the edge of Prospect heights/Crown Heights in a rent stabilized apartment too, although it was not a pretty block at all (Dean St and Washington Ave). I recently bought an apartment in Flatbush south of PLG and just east of Flatbush Ave. I'm right off the Church Ave B/Q stop and 3 blocks away from Prospect Park. I'm psyched.

I'm not a big fan of the F/G either, and when i lived on Dean st i used to walk through P Heights to get to the 7th Ave stop for work every morning. it's a pretty gorgeous neighborhood and not much compares to it, with the exception of Clinton Hill IMO. but then again, by the time i left i had gotten pretty sick of the traffic around Barclays, and crossing GAP to get to the park for my morning runs was a huge headache. My rent didn't go up for 3 years, but then again it was a shit building with an electrical fire towards the end of my stay, so you get what you pay for i guess. Nowadays i'm in the Park in 5 minutes flat (walking!) and suffice to say it's really the best corner of the park--the lakeside area has been renovated beautifully, and i'm not just talking about the ice skating rink.

Anyway, I could talk up this area for ages, but i'll just echo what someone said about the area around Winthrop between the Q and 2/5 trains. Affordable, close to the park, and close to amenities in PLG proper. Ditmas Park is glorious, but in my mind a bit too far from PP (since i couldn't afford to live in a proper victorian mansion anyway).

ehgee · January 2015

A thought: $1000 for a folding Brompton bike makes (say) a 20-minute walk to the subway into a 5-minute bike ride, which can do very nice things for your real estate options.

What neighborhood would you move to?

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