Opinions of Garden City (Hempstead, Melville: fit in, homes, to buy)

[tiaam]

Would recommend Garden City for an african american couple with 3 three children ages 23, 14, and 3yrs to buy a house?

[fopt65]

To start, I am not a GC resident, and would welcome comments from GC residents to either back up or confront my observation. Garden City is a beautiful area and very highly sought after. To be honest, if I were African American, I would have to think about this. I don't think you would ostracized, but I wonder if you would feel like you were part of the area. It almost comes to a philosophical question:
How would you feel about being one of the very few African American families living there? Diversity is not one of Garden City's strong points.

I'm not looking to dissuade you, but rather , trying to get you to think about what your comfort zone would be.

Where are you moving from? What qualities of an area are you looking for?

[DonnaReed]

Depends on what you're looking for, what's important to you and hubby for yourself and your children.

If you're asking if you'll have racial problems like rocks through your window and such, I doubt it.

It's lovely...nice homes.

Taxes are higher relative to other areas of Nassau.

Your 14 year-old, if he/she attends the local public high school (Garden City) will be attending a predominantly white high school.

Personally, I've never considered moving my Black son to a predominantly white area or having him attend a predominantly white high school, I think it's healther for him to be around folks who look like him and share his culture and a greater learning experience for him to live in a diverse area and attend a diversely populated school.

I think you and your husband should examine/discuss, even list, your priorities.

Also, check it out and spend time, observe homes, patronize businesses and such before moving anywhere.

[DonnaReed]

Originally Posted by fopt65

To start, I am not a GC resident, and would welcome comments from GC residents to either back up or confront my observation. Garden City is a beautiful area and very highly sought after. To be honest, if I were African American, I would have to think about this. I don't think you would ostracized, but I wonder if you would feel like you were part of the area. It almost comes to a philosophical question:
How would you feel about being one of the very few African American families living there? Diversity is not one of Garden City's strong points.

I'm not looking to dissuade you, but rather , trying to get you to think about what your comfort zone would be.

Where are you moving from? What qualities of an area are you looking for?

We were posting at the same time...thinking along the same lines...*s*

[AlexisT]

GC police have a rep for harassing African Americans. They may assume you're from Hempstead.

Honestly, not AA, but as a Jewish person I would be really uncomfortable moving into GC given its history of discrimination.

[Interlude]

GC is a nice town that doesn't care much for diversity. The unofficial mission of the GC Police is to harass anyone with dark skin. Moving to an equally affluent area without the hassle of the GC Police would be worlds better - then you only have to deal with the racism of your neighbors.

[AndreaII]

Originally Posted by AlexisT

Honestly, not AA, but as a Jewish person I would be really uncomfortable moving into GC given its history of discrimination.

Have to agree with the above statement. It has had quite a reputation for many, many years for shunning people who observe the Jewish religion.

[Crookhaven]

Is there any town on LI more White and uptight than Garden City?

crooks

[tiaam]

Thank you for all the replies and I appreciate your honesty. I will be moving from hemstead. My children attend private school and will not be attending the garden city school district. From all the feedback I think it be kind of uncomfortable living there. I live in one of the better sections of Hempstead and I love all of my neighbors, but I would like to buy a bigger home. I thought about G.C. since it was still close to where I live now, but I don't want any trouble. So I guess I have to look into other areas. I would like at least 5000sq ft.

[AlexisT]

I'll add here that while I don't love everything about where I live now (Melville - HHH SD) I WILL say that it is pretty diverse and people seem to be accepting as long as you fit in economically--and not all the black kids live in Wheatley Heights, either. (Not that there's anything wrong with Wheatley Heights, it's far from the ghetto.) And as much as the district patchwork quilt map is annoying, it does make the schools more balanced.