Merrick -- Please Help (Hempstead, Levittown: violent crime, hotel, houses)

[daveoliva]

Merrick is a nice town, regardless of specifically where in Merrick you are. I find it very hard to believe that some people are so afraid that they actually think Merrick is dangerous. If Merrick has too much crime for you you could always live in a reinforced metal box in the forests of Montana.

What these people are speaking of is the fact that some non-white people live nearby. To these uptight white folk that translates as "very bad, stay away". If you are not afraid of non-white people you will not have any problems with the west side of Merrick, especially since Merrick is mostly white anyway (and that's what people are really asking in a roundabout way when they ask if a neighborhood is "safe"). Not to mention that a six lane parkway with a hundred feet of trees on either side and fences separates Merrick from the "oh so dangerous don't even fly over" non-white neighborhoods. But the way the people on this board talk you'd think Merrick is Palestine and Roosevelt is Israel sending over rocket attacks and shooting innocent people from their side of the border.

So, in closing, yes, Merrick is a great place.

[Walter Greenspan]

Currently, and pending release of the 2010 Census, officially there are only two "Merricks": the Hamlet of North Merrick and the Hamlet of Merrick.


A map of the Hamlet of North Merrick in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County:


North Merrick is one of those many villages and hamlets on Long Island where none of the places in the community have the hamlet name in their mailing address: places in the Hamlet of North Merrick have a "Merrick, NY 11566" and "Bellmore, NY 11710" mailing address.


A map of the Hamlet of Merrick in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County:



Merrick is one of those many villages and hamlets on Long Island where many of the places that have the community name in their mailing address are not in the hamlet: places that have a "Merrick, NY 11566" that are not in the Hamlet of Merrick are in the Hamlet of North Merrick and the Hamlet of North Bellmore; and, at the same time, there are places in the Hamlet of Merrick that have a "Bellmore, NY 11710" and "Freeport, NY 11520" mailing address.

[gag]

Originally Posted by IDontKnow86

Thanks again Gag. You are right though the house i liked is 2bd, 1bath, and it looks pretty small. The little experience i have in construction tells me i wont be able to do any extensions, although it has a full basement that i could finish little by little, and perhaps make another bedroom there. The good thing about this house is that t was completely renovated two years ago (the inside)...so everything is new. (check ML# 2224762)

The other one is 3bd, with opportunity for extension, and full basement too. It's a bit more expensive, and like you said, it doesn't look great. (ML#: 2335620)

My main concern is the area; i don't know how good they are considering they are "in the border" with Freeport (yet a bit far)

Thanks for the two recommendations, the problem is that my offer needs to be as high as 300K (maybe a bit more)...and i doubt they would go from 339 or 349 to 300 hehe... then again i'm new at this, so maybe? The one in Bellmore looks nice

Yes, the whole riviera from Merrick to Matzopizza is very nice living for sure. You really can't go wrong, but in your price range just check a little deeper.

Here's more of JM2C. It's all relative about crime; this area is a very, very safe area. Just don't flaunt things, lock your doors on your home and any work truck, etc., you won't attract it and you'll be fine. Forget about my opinion and others about crime, check with the local people on a specific block, and the police , etc. Those home invasions in the Patch were in the high price area deep south Merrick, just where you could expect the thugs to hit, right? It's just that petty crime is expected anywhere, just armed home invasions isn't what you'd usually expect in that area.

Don't worry about Freeport, it's really ok for the most part. Just a few bad areas, and the closer north towards Roosevelt, I find it less desireable. So, i would be more concerned in North Merrick bordering that area than where you're looking in more south. The closer to and south of Merrick Rd., the higher the perceived value by most, but i undertand not much in your range.

Regarding the homes you are lookin' at. I believe you can do better even in your range. They are both near busy main streets, and for me that would be a no. Also, it's usually considered less desireable for a 3rd Br to be in a basement. It may be a 4th if it meets the closet and other general rules, with 3 BR above. So, if you can eventually expand with dormers, it's better. Now, I hear ya on money, but wait for one in a quieter area. Sub/or at the $300K range, you'll find only a few worth moving on. I know you're in a tough range for that nice area; I'm looking too, but i'm only approved max at $275K.

I want to help you because I know what stress house hunting causes. I think I found a good house for you. Really, a few months ago, I saw a 4br/3 bth house around the block from my bro. in my old neighborhood in south Wantagh, south of Merrick Rd. It's a rare find, coming down in price toward your $300K target. I'll DM you with any further specific info., it's better than on the forum. Get a realtor and check this house out, even if you just go and see the area and value to compare to the homes you saw a few "towns" over on the riviera. It's really a house by house comparison, the whole area down south is good, solid, and relatively safe living.

Later

[gag]

Originally Posted by daveoliva

Merrick is a nice town, regardless of specifically where in Merrick you are. I find it very hard to believe that some people are so afraid that they actually think Merrick is dangerous. If Merrick has too much crime for you you could always live in a reinforced metal box in the forests of Montana.

What these people are speaking of is the fact that some non-white people live nearby. To these uptight white folk that translates as "very bad, stay away". If you are not afraid of non-white people you will not have any problems with the west side of Merrick, especially since Merrick is mostly white anyway (and that's what people are really asking in a roundabout way when they ask if a neighborhood is "safe"). Not to mention that a six lane parkway with a hundred feet of trees on either side and fences separates Merrick from the "oh so dangerous don't even fly over" non-white neighborhoods. But the way the people on this board talk you'd think Merrick is Palestine and Roosevelt is Israel sending over rocket attacks and shooting innocent people from their side of the border.

So, in closing, yes, Merrick is a great place.

Dave:

I see you certainly ate your Wheaties today

The OP was just askin about crime in the area----I chimed in with some local info. from a cop i know, and I already told him not to be afraid of Freeport. It's not a race question dude. Petty and advanced crime can be checked on every block to get just the facts. Check your facts about the Mid East; I think you have it backwards though.

[daveoliva]

Originally Posted by gag

Dave:

I see you certainly ate your Wheaties today

The OP was just askin about crime in the area----I chimed in with some local info. from a cop i know, and I already told him not to be afraid of Freeport. It's not a race question dude. Petty and advanced crime can be checked on every block to get just the facts. Check your facts about the Mid East; I think you have it backwards though.

I'm in a confrontational mood today. We can't get off topic, but my facts are indeed straight about the Middle East. If you're interested DM me and I can direct you to a number of sources proving it.

[gag]

Originally Posted by IDontKnow86

I'm new in the forums (although i've been reading them for a while now)...and i haven't found anything about the area that i'm interested in, so i decided to post.

I'm planning on buying a house in Merrick, Bellmore, or Wantagh, and i found a couple in Merrick that fit my budget, and i was wondering how the area was.

One of the houses is South of Smith Street, West of Merrick Ave, East of Babylon Turnpike, and North of the Sunrise.

The other one is South of the Sunrise, West of Babylon Turnpike, East of Meadowbrook PkWy, and North of Merrick Road.

I know the schools are great, so i guess i'm really asking about crime, and stuff like that. I'd like to hear the good things too! Anything would help!

Thanks!

Had to handle some business, but OK, just sent ya a DM. Check out that house, south of Merrick Rd., in Wantagh.

It was originally listed closer to $4ooK, now coming down close enough to your range. Check it out, you won't be disappointed. If I could, I'd buy it tonight; I'd offer $290K. This one though is a rare find, but the market is giving it to ya. Even there, usually that price is for a smaller 2/1, so here it's larger and partially renovated, no extensions here needed. It looks like a much better value than the houses you first brought up.

Later,
G

[IDontKnow86]

wow! Thanks everyone...i appreciate the help. I've been reading the forums for a while, and i did notice that people usually call a "bad" area an area that has African Americans, or Hispanics, or a minority in general. To be honest, i have to admit i've been brainwashed by the huge amount of comments like that...and whether or not they are true...i really don't want to find out.

So far nobody said anything bad about the area, so i feel pretty good about it. If it's not those two houses, then at least i know the area is good to look for other ones.

I might post about Wantagh soon, since the house that Gag showed me looks pretty good

[gag]

[quote=IDontKnow86;17716541]wow! Thanks everyone...i appreciate the help. I've been reading the forums for a while, and i did notice that people usually call a "bad" area an area that has African Americans, or Hispanics, or a minority in general. To be honest, i have to admit i've been brainwashed by the huge amount of comments like that...and whether or not they are true...i really don't want to find out.

So far nobody said anything bad about the area, so i feel pretty good about it. If it's not those two houses, then at least i know the area is good to look for other ones.

I might post about Wantagh soon, since the house that Gag showed me looks pretty good [n /quote]


Glad to help. That whole area is very nice.

An area is bad when it's crime ridden and rundown right? Maybe it's me, but the kind of crime that I was mentioning just got a little bit more aggressive than I ever heard of before. Recently, a (black) guy walked into Dunkin on Sunrise in Merrick and robbed the place at gunpoint at 9pm. Also, they caught the white guy doing some of the armed home invasions in Wantagh. It's just that this isn't petty crime anymore when a gun is used.

Overall, it's still a good place to call home, just stay informed. GL

[sean sean sean sean]

I think that area in Merrick is great and usually a pretty good bargain compared to the rest of town. There were a string of "home invasions"* all over Merrick in the last few months, but things like that always pop up once in awhile and then disappear completely. It's usually one crew or one person hitting the same area and once they get popped it ends completely. Does anybody remember when there were something like 31 break-ins within a month in Levittown around this time last year? Didn't think so...

*=What exactly is a home invasion? I always thought it was like a really theatrical bank robbery style heist, like in the movies where people wear ski masks and get pistol whipped... but from what I can tell, the "invasions" in Merrick were just your average run of the mill burglaries. Are those considered home invasions now too? Can your home be invaded even if you're not home? So confusing...

gag - When you lived in Wantagh (I'm assuming that neighborhood right near Wantagh Park?) did you ever catch a sewage whiff from Cedar Creek? I've always assumed that's why those homes are cheaper down there, I know the ones on the other side of the park (by Jones Beach Hotel) get it, cuz I've smelt it before.

Anyway... Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh - you can't go wrong with any of these.

[gag]

Originally Posted by sean sean sean sean

I think that area in Merrick is great and usually a pretty good bargain compared to the rest of town. There were a string of "home invasions"* all over Merrick in the last few months, but things like that always pop up once in awhile and then disappear completely. It's usually one crew or one person hitting the same area and once they get popped it ends completely. Does anybody remember when there were something like 31 break-ins within a month in Levittown around this time last year? Didn't think so...

*=What exactly is a home invasion? I always thought it was like a really theatrical bank robbery style heist, like in the movies where people wear ski masks and get pistol whipped... but from what I can tell, the "invasions" in Merrick were just your average run of the mill burglaries. Are those considered home invasions now too? Can your home be invaded even if you're not home? So confusing...

gag - When you lived in Wantagh (I'm assuming that neighborhood right near Wantagh Park?) did you ever catch a sewage whiff from Cedar Creek? I've always assumed that's why those homes are cheaper down there, I know the ones on the other side of the park (by Jones Beach Hotel) get it, cuz I've smelt it before.

Anyway... Merrick, Bellmore, Wantagh - you can't go wrong with any of these.

I grew up in the Mandalay Beach section right across from the open marina, and in 1978, I moved out and rented a basement apartment on Richard St. up in your north Wantagh section. That area where I grew up wasn't real affluent then, my dad was a car salesman, but it is very high priced right now. South of Merrick Rd. also has an older section with smaller capes and some bungalow types, and values there are lower than further south past Mandalay school let's say. My brother lives in the older section now, and he said he never smells sewage, only some salt water smells at times. JBH on the Seaford side might be closer to the exhaust area. Also, any sewage smell coming from Cedar Creek would not be limited, and really hit the whole entire area across the very open park, the Mandalay school field, and the Marina. So, the high price homes would get it too anyway, and it doesn't appear to be an issue, and can't have anything to do with home values. Just location and home type affects that. But, when I grew up, I do remember smelling something from there...... It was suspected that the Riviera made guys took Cedar Creek over a few days each month to handle the wacked guys. It didn't smell like sewage though----more like spaghetti sauce! Ah---fond memories of my youth.

This is probably a little off topic, and we need a new thread about people's ideas about crime on LI. Anyway, I guess when I was younger, we had stereos stolen from cars, a garage or shed, or a parked work truck would be broken into, a warehouse, etc. Invading homes implies the possibility that people may be home and confronted, or in an open occupied business like the Merrick Dunkin, and not every thug cases the joints properly like in the movies. It's just more frequent, and way more aggressive than I remember things in the Riviera. Of course, most aren't violent, but if they are armed with a gun or knife it could get bad fast. Merrick, Bell. Wantagh, Seaf. Mass. are not even close to being bad (crime) areas. I would still move there with a Marlin 9mm semi-auto Camp Carbine, small enough for wielding indoors, and a 357 mag. revolver with hollow-points under the bed. Again, the area is not bad, but just in case I was sleeping in at an odd hour with my house dark when those random plain jane robbers broke in to do my run of the mill home invasion.