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durty devil · April 2005

Greetings everybody! My wife has been offered a job teaching in the Crown Heights area. We have a 3 year old daughter and are thinking of taking the job if we can find a decent area to live in. We have explored the neighborhoods in Park Slope and think it is a great area, but unfortunately too expensive for us at this point. We are looking to rent for now. We would be moving from the Riverdale section of the Bronx, and although it is quiet and peaceful, most of my neighbors are really old and keep to themselves and there is no real "neighborhood feel" We are hoping to get into a more diverse, yet safe area. It's really hard trying to look for a place in a new area when you're not familiar with it and I've been going crazy trying to figure out what's good and what isn't. I want to get out there and have a look at some places, but I'd hate to waste my time only to find that the apartment is in a bad neighborhood. Someone on Craigslist wants to show me a place on Classon near Prospect Place. Is that a good area? Are the rents that much higher if I go a little more west of that area. Someone told me anything east of Washington is no good, but he moved from there over ten years ago, so I don't know if things have changed at all.
Thanks in advance, and I appreciate any replies!

amyg · April 2005

I live on Prospect between Classon and Washington (closer to Washington), and I'm extremely happy here. When I first moved here the guy who owns the hardware store up the street acted like I was taking my life in my hands by moving to this street and urged me to 'watch my back', but I have found it to be nothing but friendly, safe, and lovely in every way. There are occasional issues with noise and such -- it's not the Upper East Side. But I have never felt threatened or unsafe. I wouldn't worry about it much.

anonymous · April 2005

Generally speaking, as you move east prices decrease and crime increases. Still, it all boils down to the block. I'd say that your friend's assessment of the area was more applicable in the late eighties and early nineties than today. Since then, the area around Classon, while not as safe as, say Vanderbilt, has improved. If you read this board, you'll notice that there is a considerable amount of condo and apartment construction in that part of the neighborhood. For example, the old Jewish Hospital building was recently converted to apartments. I'd suggest that you take time to walk around the area to see if it suits your needs. The son of my work colleague recently moved to an apartment on Prospect Place, just off Franklin, and loves it. They rented a huge three-bedroom apartment for $1700.

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