Safety of Brooklyn neighborhoods

[Anonymous]

OP here. He is doing the research and legwork but he’s never lived in a city before and isn’t taking safety into consideration. I lived in Baltimore for many years and I know how just a block or two can make a difference between relatively safe and pretty unsafe. I have no idea if NYC or NJ is the same. So I’m doing my research by asking people who know the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All of my friends who raised their kids in Brooklyn say that their college graduates are moving to Manhattan because it's cheaper! Crazy but true...

I'm 58 and this was true when I moved to NYC. UES was cheaper than the East Village. Normandy Court was called Dorm-andy Court. etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many lovely neighborhoods all along the waterfront and around Prospect Park, but you’ve probably got to be a little lucky to find a nice apartment in those areas at that budget, and of course you’ll have roommates.

These days a lot of new kids are moving to Bushwick (and adjacent areas of Bed-Stuy, so-called East Williamsburg, and Ridgewood, Queens). Certain corners of those very large neighborhoods are sketchier than others, and even the safest parts of Bushwick are ugly. If he’s confident in his street smarts and his ability to judge the terrain on a block-by-block basis, he’ll be great. But Jersey City might be the play.

a Whole Foods is moving to Bushwick. It's full of kids like this one

[Anonymous]

Brooklyn isn’t unsafe. Parts are uglier than others (although I think it’s usually a charming urban eclectic ugly) but there aren’t really unsafe areas these days.

Spend your energy elsewhere.

But as people above said, Brooklyn is very popular and not inexpensive.

Feel free to post where he’s been looking and we can advise further.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many lovely neighborhoods all along the waterfront and around Prospect Park, but you’ve probably got to be a little lucky to find a nice apartment in those areas at that budget, and of course you’ll have roommates.

These days a lot of new kids are moving to Bushwick (and adjacent areas of Bed-Stuy, so-called East Williamsburg, and Ridgewood, Queens). Certain corners of those very large neighborhoods are sketchier than others, and even the safest parts of Bushwick are ugly. If he’s confident in his street smarts and his ability to judge the terrain on a block-by-block basis, he’ll be great. But Jersey City might be the play.

‘These days’ means the last 20 years or so. Started with artsy kids and now it’s finance bros too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he's young and starting out, Greenpoint may be for him. Relatively safe, up and coming. If eh is going into Manhattan to FIDI wanna valid far out Brooklyn...red hook, Bushwick etc

I think many non NYers are answering here. Green point arrived ages ago. It is safe and it is also pricey

[Anonymous]

OP here. He’s found a few places in Crown Heights and he’s also looking at a place or two in Hoboken.

[Anonymous]

I did the same when my NY daughter moved to DC; that is, I asked about safety of places she looked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He’s found a few places in Crown Heights and he’s also looking at a place or two in Hoboken.

crown heights will be more fun, has more kids his age, and is perfectly safe these days (depending on blocks). Hoboken has some charm, but going home to Hoboken late at night is a real pain and you're really relying on public transport. Crown Heights is a $15 uber home from where he'll be out at night (Williamsburg, Bushwick, or crown heights!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. He’s found a few places in Crown Heights and he’s also looking at a place or two in Hoboken.

Both are safe.

Is he more artsy and looking for a trendier Brooklyn/NYC experience? If so, crown heights. It’s cool, artsy, mixed (chabad, Jamaican and younger professionals and artists).

But Hoboken is fun too, it’s just skews more towards a type- young professionals in consulting or banking.

[Anonymous]

^ to put it simply, if he was in a frat in college, choose Hoboken.

[Anonymous]

Girls don't date boys that live in New Jersey.

[Anonymous]

The bougie parts of Brooklyn are safer than most of the UWS with its large number of Section 8 housing and halfway homes.
I say this seriously as an UWS resident. I'd have friends from Brooklyn visit and they'd say 'what is up with the number 1 train ride up here - some whacked out people' and I'd have to remind them that they once lived up here and dont' they remember all those "colorful" characters of Spanish Harlem? The number 1 train carries the Upper Manhattan neighborhood of 'little Dominican Republic'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bougie parts of Brooklyn are safer than most of the UWS with its large number of Section 8 housing and halfway homes.
I say this seriously as an UWS resident. I'd have friends from Brooklyn visit and they'd say 'what is up with the number 1 train ride up here - some whacked out people' and I'd have to remind them that they once lived up here and dont' they remember all those "colorful" characters of Spanish Harlem? The number 1 train carries the Upper Manhattan neighborhood of 'little Dominican Republic'.

Somehow, the UES managed to prevent NYCHA settlement (until east 96th, then it's a completely different neighborhood northwards) and no "bridging" clinics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Girls don't date boys that live in New Jersey.

Eh, no. Not accurate.