park place next to brower park

sisterofcain · November 2006

I am looking at an apartment on park place next to brower park. I finally went to see the neighborhood and was kinda dismayed at the subway stop, the surroundings and such.

I have 5 questions:

1) if I come home late from bartending should i take the subway home or should I cab it?

2) If I have out of towner visitors should I worry about their cars being parked around

3) is there any decent (not greasy spoon) food shops, restaurants grocery stores?

4) is there a decent laundromat around there

5) in the summer is there a lot of noise or drug activity in the park?

I noticed when I walked around that I saw some obvious addicts.

enidlovesbeagles · November 2006

I love the neighborhood! I know there are a few scary people around Brower Park; however, most people I've met are very friendly and say hello to you in the morning -- and people seem open to real friendships. There is a decent laundromat on St. John's at Kingston Ave. and a Fine Fare grocery store on Kingston at St. John's (clean!). I think that you should take a cab home late at night, partly because it's safer and also because the number 3 line does not operate frequently at night. If you're interested in crafts, I host a craft club at my apartment, which is two blocks away from Brower Park.

sisterofcain · November 2006

Thanks for the information. I may be moving there in mid december.

paraderest · November 2006

Brower Park is a very busy place in the warmer months. There are people in the park 24 hours a day. DJ's will actually run extension cords from the apt buildings across the street to play music for parties that run late into the night. There have been a few shootings along Kingston Ave in the last few months. One involved two people being shot on the corner of Bergen (I think it was Bergen) and another involved a taxi driver being shot inside his cab by a passenger who then robbed the driver. There is also the unsolved mystery of Chanel Petro-Nixon that was found dead in the garbage on Kingston by Brower Park. It's believed that the killer is not from CH but that doesn't make me feel any better about it.

sisterofcain · November 2006

can one walk by there at night without being harrassed during the warmer months?

Do you live there?
Do you go out at night?
Have you ever been mugged around there?
Is it safe to walk around during the day?
What do you mean when you say busy? Does that mean a bunch of drugs and drunken folks hanging around?

solamami · November 2006

If you're so "dismayed" by the surroundings and the lack of "decency," and potential seasonal harassment, then I'm not sure this is the right nabe for you. One caveat: Your reticence and line of questioning has a slightly racial undertone that's been debated hotly on this board before. (Young Snitch, where for art thou?)

That said, do I take my daughter to the playground in Brower Park during the day? Absolutely. But would I be caught there after dark? Hell no. There's a reason why it closes at dusk. Yes, there are obvious addicts. Yes, there are thugs and other nefarious types. There are also some wonderful folks. I completely understand the need for personal safety. (With a baby, it was a major decision for me, too -- but now that we're here, I feel like we're part of the tapestry.) Things are slowly improving; but if you're uncomfortable with the starkness of how things are now, then perhaps you should consider looking elsewhere.

homeowner · November 2006

For your original five questions:

1)I agree with Enid, if you are coming late, cab is better. 3 trains are full late because you have to wait for one.

2)I wouldn't worry about parking, either on Park or on Brooklyn. Not a lot of car break-ins/thefts. Kingston has meters if I'm not mistaken, so not great on Sat am when you have to feed the meter early.

3)In addition to Enid's suggestion, there is a good Foodtown on Brooklyn and Fulton at Restoration Plaza. Its a bit of a hike, but they have a good selection of everything. The taxi's hang out in Herkimer street to take shoppers home and I hear they have delivery, although I've never used it. For sit down dining, your best option is Tavern on Nostrand at Nostrand and Union (across Eastern Parkway). Do a serch of the forum and you'll get the rest of the recommendations.

4) Don't know, but search the forums again

5) Park is busy during the summer (basketball tournaments, BBQ's etc). Its difficult to say what it's going to be like this summer as they appear to be close to completion of the renovation to the Children's Museum. There have been problems around the park in the past, but I know people who live on Brooklyn who swear that it is quiet and safe. Kingston has its share of problems, but it seems to have quieted down a lot over a year ago. I don't know of anyone getting harassed there. Everytime I go by its got a pretty interesting collection neighborhood kids, young hassidic families with small kids at the playground, etc. I've seen both Hassidic teens and some evangelical teens in town on ministry playing pickup ball there during the summer without incident.

sisterofcain · November 2006

No need to get defensive.

As for the racialist undertones, I have lived in many ethnic communities. I spent 6 years in Jamaica queens. I just want to live with caring folks, not with gangbangers, thugs, drug addicts dealers etc.

I have every right to be concerned or dismayed by seeing drug addicts and desolate subway stations with two drug addicts sitting on the stairwell. Drug abusers dont work, but need money to buy drugs. They usually get money by nefarious means like mugging, prostitution etc. I will have to bartend at night and I have to worry about walking the 3+ blocks to my potential home at 4 am in the morning.

solamami wrote: If you're so "dismayed" by the surroundings and the lack of "decency," and potential seasonal harassment, then I'm not sure this is the right nabe for you. One caveat: Your reticence and line of questioning has a slightly racial undertone that's been debated hotly on this board before. (Young Snitch, where for art thou?)

That said, do I take my daughter to the playground in Brower Park during the day? Absolutely. But would I be caught there after dark? Hell no. There's a reason why it closes at dusk. Yes, there are obvious addicts. Yes, there are thugs and other nefarious types. There are also some wonderful folks. I completely understand the need for personal safety. (With a baby, it was a major decision for me, too -- but now that we're here, I feel like we're part of the tapestry.) Things are slowly improving; but if you're uncomfortable with the starkness of how things are now, then perhaps you should consider looking elsewhere.

sisterofcain · November 2006

Thank you Homeowner.

I may give your suggestions a try. I work late at night and come home at odd early morning hours. If I can consistently find cabs to take me home, I may be okay. I will walk around the block for the next two weeks before I sign the lease just to be sure.

Thanks again

homeowner wrote: For your original five questions:

1)I agree with Enid, if you are coming late, cab is better. 3 trains are full late because you have to wait for one.

2)I wouldn't worry about parking, either on Park or on Brooklyn. Not a lot of car break-ins/thefts. Kingston has meters if I'm not mistaken, so not great on Sat am when you have to feed the meter early.

3)In addition to Enid's suggestion, there is a good Foodtown on Brooklyn and Fulton at Restoration Plaza. Its a bit of a hike, but they have a good selection of everything. The taxi's hang out in Herkimer street to take shoppers home and I hear they have delivery, although I've never used it. For sit down dining, your best option is Tavern on Nostrand at Nostrand and Union (across Eastern Parkway). Do a serch of the forum and you'll get the rest of the recommendations.

4) Don't know, but search the forums again

5) Park is busy during the summer (basketball tournaments, BBQ's etc). Its difficult to say what it's going to be like this summer as they appear to be close to completion of the renovation to the Children's Museum. There have been problems around the park in the past, but I know people who live on Brooklyn who swear that it is quiet and safe. Kingston has its share of problems, but it seems to have quieted down a lot over a year ago. I don't know of anyone getting harassed there. Everytime I go by its got a pretty interesting collection neighborhood kids, young hassidic families with small kids at the playground, etc. I've seen both Hassidic teens and some evangelical teens in town on ministry playing pickup ball there during the summer without incident.

homeowner · November 2006

sisterofcain wrote: I just want to live with caring folks, not with gangbangers, thugs, drug addicts dealers etc.

You're welcome. However, I'd caution you on this. There are plenty of caring folks who live in this neighborhood. It, like most other places is not made up of only one type of people. For every thug, dealer, etc. there is a good neighbor who will look out for you.

One of the best neighborhood characters I've met since I've lived here is a homeless guy (sometimes addict) who squatted in the large mansion on New York and Park until it was purchased and renovated. He's shoveled my sidewalk during the winter when I was our of town on business, helped move trash for me, and has always had a smile for me no matter how bad my day has been. He sometimes will hit me up for a dollar if he's having a bad day, but will always come to work off his debt.

Bottom line is you can't judge a community by the couple of bad apples. If you don't think you can keep an open mind about living here, or you think you are going to be afraid to exist while you are here, then you should probably look elsewhere.

solamami · November 2006

For the record, I was not being defensive; I was being cautionary (Homeowner was more diplomatic, but arrived at the same conclusion). I even validated your desire for safety, but you gotta be realistic, hun: In this hood, to be a single white female who regularly comes home at "crack'head o'clock" (attribution to rt220), is a cocktail for disaster. To even consider taking a subway at 4 a.m.??? Hell, YOU might just be smoking crack; even in a cab, you could be a potential mark with a pocketful of cash (trust that people will mind your comings and goings). Sure, you have every right to be dismayed and concerned; but it is your choice to sign that lease; so make sure have the right mindset first. Read the previous thread by rt220 (a horrible incident, compounded by the shoulder-shrugging, do-nothing cops), and any other discussion about the crime rashes. Face it: at 4 a.m., you're not gonna find yourself surrounded by "caring folks."

Good luck in whatever you decide, sister.

sisterofcain · November 2006

Solamami,

I dont think homeowner arrived at the same conclusion. I think homeowner offered me sound advice without any snark or attitude.

I am a bartender. Bartenders make beans. I would love to live a block away from my job, but I cant on my salary. I would love to work 9-5 but thats not my line of work until I can finish school.
I am in a dilemna and I am trying to solve it the best way I can.
Believe it or not lots of people who are not crackheads have to come home from work in the middle of the night:

bartenders,
some cashiers
security gaurds
CNA's
home attendants
nurses
doctors- student residents
mta employees
hotelier servants
dishwashers at restaurants that dont close till 12 pm
waitresses
bar owners

are you saying all these types of working people are on crack because they my need to take the subway at "crackhead o clock".

solamami wrote: For the record, I was not being defensive; I was being cautionary (Homeowner was more diplomatic, but arrived at the same conclusion). I even validated your desire for safety, but you gotta be realistic, hun: In this hood, to be a single white female who regularly comes home at "crack'head o'clock" (attribution to rt220), is a cocktail for disaster. To even consider taking a subway at 4 a.m.??? Hell, YOU might just be smoking crack; even in a cab, you could be a potential mark with a pocketful of cash (trust that people will mind your comings and goings). Sure, you have every right to be dismayed and concerned; but it is your choice to sign that lease; so make sure have the right mindset first. Read the previous thread by rt220 (a horrible incident, compounded by the shoulder-shrugging, do-nothing cops), and any other discussion about the crime rashes. Face it: at 4 a.m., you're not gonna find yourself surrounded by "caring folks."

Good luck in whatever you decide, sister.

tamara · November 2006

Sister of Cain.. I think Solamami was offering a peace treaty. the expression "You must be smokin' crack" in "hoodian" means to be "slightly off in the head, in kind of a funny way". Not meant literally, which is the way I believe you took it. 'Crackhead o'clock" [=really late, like 5 AM-ish ]was an expression coined by rt220 in another thread, and I find it so hilarious I'm going to have to steal it...

The point is that even if you're in a cab, on the train. Coming home at a late hour alone, will sometimes attract the wrong kind of attention, no matter where you live or who you are. If I can I take a cab home at that time both for convenience and also I guess, safety.

I should tell you that I was [almost] robbed in the middle of the day by a crackhead. This is now maybe 9 or so years ago. This man, was sneaking round me while I was making a phone call, and thought he was slick by trying to spark up a convo. All of a sudden he grabbed my bag an pulled HARD. I thought, oh HELL NO, there is NO way I'm letting go! I pulled back and fought him off by kicking him in his knee-caps & groin, and cursing the hell out of him. And off he ran.. fast and crack-ish.
I'm not white by the way, so who says it only happens to newbies? There's actually nowhere I feel safer than around my block at home in Brooklyn. Sometimes I get pissed off at the ignorance of some, but I'd rather walk in BK at night than in, say the E. Vill around the Horse addicts. They creep me out far worse.

What I like about Brooklyn is that I'm away from the city, I'm home. I work in mid-town corporate America, and it just feels so relaxing to come home after a long day of stuck-ups. I can walk out in my sweatpants and my flipflops to move the car. Mohammed at the corner store knows me and the kids, and the Dominican in the othe bodega, too. If I don't have enough cash, it's cool cause they know I'll be back later, and the next day, and the day after that. Even the guys on the corner look out. So all in all, I love my hood.

enidlovesbeagles · December 2006

It's hard to judge this from just walking around, but this neighborhood is truly wonderful. In August, I moved two blocks away from the place you're considering. Before that I lived in a different section of Crown Heights and, before that, a gentrified section of Prospect Heights.

This has been my best experience anywhere -- my favorite neighborhood ever. So many of my neighbors have lived here for years and years and they treat it almost like a small town within Brooklyn. When an elderly person is sick, our block association does home visits and sends cards. When someone gets into college, we put together our money and give them small scholarships. We're having a block association holiday party. I had a craft night and a bunch of my neighbors came over. The first week I lived here, one of my neighbors invited me to his retirement party. People are so friendly and warm. On my way to work in the morning, I usually say hello to at least 8 people I know. It's so beautiful. And it's great to actually know and be friends with your neighbors, you know?

I think that you asked the kinds of reasonable questions you'd think about when you moved to a new neighborhood. Are you going to get hurt here? There's no guarantee in this neighborhood or anywhere. But, I think that you'll find that if you try to reach out to your neighbors and make friends and participating in keeping this neighborhood great you'll feel good about coming home and happy to live in this community . . . and that's what is most important, right?

If you want to come by for tea or walk around the neighborhood together and talk about it someday, please email me at enidcrow [at] hotmail.com.

park place next to brower park

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories