Is Baldwin, NY A Safe Neighborhood - Thinking of Buying a Home? (Hempstead: apartment, mortgage)

[rmgg]

Originally Posted by bnyy

To tell you the truth, it's not a great neighborhood, but not that bad. There are a lot of gangs at the high school, but they don't mess with you if they don't have a reason. Your kids will get a great education at Baldwin though, academically it is good. South of Atlantic is actually very nice. Grand Ave in North Baldwin is dangerous. Use street smarts and you'll be just fine. Where exactly is the home?

>>> Thank you for your response. The home is right off Grand Ave on a Street called Stowe. It is right by the Pathmark, CVS, and the Baldwin Theater, fairly close to the high-school.

By way of comparison, I lived in Bed-Stuy/Weeksville, Brooklyn on the far Northeast side adjacent to Crown Heights for three years about 8 years ago. I thought that was very dangerous (was mugged a couple of times and always took cabs home when late). On the other hand, I have lived in Fort Greene Brooklyn for the about the last 5 years and have always felt completely safe morning, night and late-night. I suppose the "test" I would offer is whether my wife can walk four or five blocks alone at night to the Pathmark, by the High School, or anywhere else for that matter and not need to worry. That is the case now, and I'm just interested in whether that would be the same there.

Thank you everyone for your responses. Much appreciated.

rmgg

[bnyy]

Originally Posted by rmgg

>>> Thank you for your response. The home is right off Grand Ave on a Street called Stowe. It is right by the Pathmark, CVS, and the Baldwin Theater, fairly close to the high-school.

By way of comparison, I lived in Bed-Stuy/Weeksville, Brooklyn on the far Northeast side adjacent to Crown Heights for three years about 8 years ago. I thought that was very dangerous (was mugged a couple of times and always took cabs home when late). On the other hand, I have lived in Fort Greene Brooklyn for the about the last 5 years and have always felt completely safe morning, night and late-night. I suppose the "test" I would offer is whether my wife can walk four or five blocks alone at night to the Pathmark, by the High School, or anywhere else for that matter and not need to worry. That is the case now, and I'm just interested in whether that would be the same there.

Thank you everyone for your responses. Much appreciated.

rmgg

Well you cannot compare Baldwin to Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights, hehe, that's a whole different ballgame. Fort Greene is nice, I have relatives there (but i wouldn't go east of bedford ave if you paid me ). It shouldn't be too bad, but just use caution on Grand Ave at night (especially the movie theatre).

[BigMike50]

Originally Posted by rmgg

>>> Thank you for your response. The home is right off Grand Ave on a Street called Stowe. It is right by the Pathmark, CVS, and the Baldwin Theater, fairly close to the high-school.

By way of comparison, I lived in Bed-Stuy/Weeksville, Brooklyn on the far Northeast side adjacent to Crown Heights for three years about 8 years ago. I thought that was very dangerous (was mugged a couple of times and always took cabs home when late). On the other hand, I have lived in Fort Greene Brooklyn for the about the last 5 years and have always felt completely safe morning, night and late-night. I suppose the "test" I would offer is whether my wife can walk four or five blocks alone at night to the Pathmark, by the High School, or anywhere else for that matter and not need to worry. That is the case now, and I'm just interested in whether that would be the same there.

Thank you everyone for your responses. Much appreciated.

rmgg

You should have said that in the first place. Baldwin would be perfect for you, you'll feel right at home there. If you could survive do or die Bed-Stuy Baldwin is nothing. They don't call it the black Garden City for nothing. Enjoy and good luck with the move

[ginovino]

Originally Posted by rmgg

Hello,

My wife and I are considering moving to Baldwin to start a family, but we are reading and hearing very conflicting feedback about how safe the town is. We have been told that the high school has active gangs, and my wife was advised to not walk on Grand Avenue at night because it was unsafe. Is there much merit to these stories? Is the town on its way down, or is it fine?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. We have walked around and it seems fine, but we do not want to buy a home and find out it is a mistake.

Can you help?

Thanks
VLG

I am a Baldwin Harbor resident and home owner. I raised 2 children which attended the Baldwin Schools through High school. They went on to achieve masters degrees is Sociology and Accounting respectively. The school was noted nationally as a "School of Excellence" back in the 80's. I can assure you that is no longer the case...

Now what I am about to state will NOT BE POLITICALLY CORRECT. So if non PC offends you, stop reading any further.

After 23 years of living here and making our 4 level split home among the nicest looking properties and best decorated on our block (off Ann St.), we have sold it and are moving out of 1) Baldwin Harbor 2) Nassau County 3) New York State. Here are our reasons.

When I moved to Baldwin 23 years ago it was highly touted by friends. After numerous trips to investigate the area both during the day and the night we found the ideal home 2 blocks from Baldwin Park. Further visits to the High school during lunch time and at the end of the school day showed a student body made up of 80% Anglo & 20% minorities. That was to be expected based on the census figures available for Baldwin and would not pose an issue. Baldwin Harbor began its life in 1957 with builders luring the young Jewish families from Brooklyn for the chance to own a home and live better. In fact, I was the only Christian on my street for many years.

Over time our high school children began to share with us the growing minority enrollment showing up in their classes. With the introduction of this new population came a segment of troublesome students, cliques and sub groups. Fortunately, my children and their friends graduated long before the quality of education took a downturn.

I can honestly attest to the fact that 23 years ago it would be startling to see minority faces in Baldwin Harbor or south of Merrick Road. Having coached both Girls and Boys Little Leagues teams for a decade one could easily see the turning of the communities complexion.

My particularly street was lily white when I moved in 23 years back. In the last 5 years the "old timers" moved to Florida and were replaced by 4 minority families. Fortunately for me my next door neighbor is an "upscale" and educated professional. These new comers have spent inordinate amounts of money renovating their homes doing things the former "Old timers" failed to do. Many of them are NOT American born but whose roots are in the Caribbean where education and family are placed very high.

That's the good news.

A trip to the high school now shows a disproportionate number of minorities relative to the Anglo population. I truly believe many of these minority students are not really Baldwin residents. I have no problem stating that its likely a case of the "dozens of cousins" syndrome that beleaguered the NYC School system during the 50s & 60s. You don't need to do a head count to see the high school population is clearly 55% Anglo and 45% minority and growing. All of this in just 5 years! I hold the School Board and prior superintendents responsible for not challenging and demanding proof of residency for fear of of not being "politically correct".

It is my assessment with this syndrome comes all of the negatives we have come to know. Falling education, failure to attract bright and motivated Teachers and supervisors. Decline of property values Ergo less tax money for educational purposes. Crime, robbery, closing of businesses. The never ending downward spiral. I am seeing more and more of cars with deeply tinted windows and loud stereos that rattle my teeth.

I find myself on the check out line in the newly renovated Waldbaums Supermarket and watching as the grossly overweight lady in front of me wearing ratty clothes, decrepit shoes and has 4 runny nosed kids glued to her waist paying for her goods with food stamps. Only to catch her getting into what appears to be a late model Mercedes SUV!!!!!

Baldwin within the next 10 years will be a predominately minority town with failing schools and depressed home values.
During the 6 months my home was listed for sale, 80% of the potential buyers were Black and Caribbean born. In and of itself that is not an issue. It seems these groups of folks like to live in proximity to each other.
I can't tell you how many of them came with a brother, sister, aunt or mother also seeking to buy a home. Many seeking homes with 4+ bedrooms, likely needed for the extended family. And while I have 4 bedrooms, my asking price exceeded what they could afford. The majority them were looking in the mid low 400s. Not too many homes here in Baldwin Harbor in that range.

Remember its not the minority home buyer who are the problems, but rather extended family they bring with them who don't have the same values or ability to maintain a standard of living conducive to home ownership and thereby drag everything down to their levels. Recall my earlier comments about "dozens of cousins" that will come home to roost.

So much for my stream of consciousness.

By the way, I moving to Colorado. Real Estate Taxes are 40% of what we pay here.

For those of you interested in minutia here is a great link about Baldwin:
http://www.city-data.com/housing/hou...-New-York.html

[Walter Greenspan]

Concomitant with the 1990 Federal census, the area south of the median of Atlantic Avenue was separated from the Hamlet of Baldwin and became the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor.


For those who may not be familiar with Baldwin Harbor:

Baldwin Harbor is a hamlet (an unincorporated community) in the southern part of the Town of Hempstead, in the center-south part of Nassau County.

Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor in the Town of Hempstead is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of Baldwin and the Village of Freeport; on the east by the Village of Freeport, Baldwin Bay and Middle Bay; on the south by the East Channel; and, on the west by the Hamlet of Oceanside.





Baldwin Harbor 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 Baldwin Harbor have a "Baldwin, NY 11510" and "Freeport, NY 11520" mailing address.


For a good set of town-by-town maps showing all the villages and hamlets in each of LI's 13 towns (3 in Nassau County and 10 in Suffolk County): http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...-resource.html

[ginovino]

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

Concomitant with the 1990 Federal census, the area south of the median of Atlantic Avenue was separated from the Hamlet of Baldwin and became the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor.


For those who may not be familiar with Baldwin Harbor:

Baldwin Harbor is a hamlet (an unincorporated community) in the southern part of the Town of Hempstead, in the center-south part of Nassau County.

Beginning on the north and moving in a clockwise direction, the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor in the Town of Hempstead is bordered on the north by the Hamlet of Baldwin and the Village of Freeport; on the east by the Village of Freeport, Baldwin Bay and Middle Bay; on the south by the East Channel; and, on the west by the Hamlet of Oceanside.





Baldwin Harbor 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 Baldwin Harbor have a "Baldwin, NY 11510" and "Freeport, NY 11520" mailing address.


For a good set of town-by-town maps showing all the villages and hamlets in each of LI's 13 towns (3 in Nassau County and 10 in Suffolk County): http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...-resource.html

I appreciate your adjunct to my posting. However, was it necessary or were you feeling compelled to addendum my post as the expert in residence.

[Walter Greenspan]

Originally Posted by ginovino

I appreciate your adjunct to my posting. However, was it necessary or were you feeling compelled to addendum my post as the expert in residence.

In my opinion, it was necessary so that the folks know that the Hamlet of Baldwin and the Hamlet of Baldwin Harbor are two separate communities.

[BigMike50]

Ginovino,
Very well put. I lived 6 houses in off Grand Ave, two blocks from the Y. I used to see around 40-50 kids get off the train and walk or some lazy ones take the taxi to the High School. Why would you be on the train if you live in Baldwin to get to school? Like I said prior, I just recently moved 3 months ago to Central Va. I went from a 1300 sqf 3 bed 1 1/2 bath built in 1930 home to a 5,000 sqf 6 bedroom 5 bath all brick home that's 2 years old. 60% lower taxes on a 6 x's bigger lot. Car insurance is half, food, utilities, gas are also a lot less. The schools are excellent and people are super friendly. It's a shame what Baldwin is slowly turning into. Good luck with your move!

[AlexisT]

My grandmother lived in Baldwin Harbor (very near where ginovino lived in fact). She moved in 2005. My experience (and I visited her very regularly for many years, so I consider myself to have some personal experience here) is that most of her new neighbors were fine. As you say, many of them did renovations that the previous owners had put off for some time. I did not see families of 8 packed into the houses. 4 bedrooms is hardly evidence of a huge family. The bedrooms in those splits are not huge; if you have 3 kids, you want a fourth. The stereotypes trotted out above about the woman in Waldbaums is a little much.

However, I did feel that north Baldwin was a very different proposition. I also heard many neighbors say that they thought students from Hempstead, Roosevelt, and Freeport were using family members' addresses to get into Baldwin schools.

[I_Love_LI_but]

If the Baldwin SD is no longer considered "any good" then why are people taking the train to get there from other places? If I were trying to sneak into another school district I would at least choose one that is worth sneaking into. I guess what you are saying is the people sneaking into the Baldwin SD are the ones who caused it to go downhill.

As for administrators being afraid to check up on residency because of political correctness, that is ridiculous. In Valley Stream they are very stringent about this and do thorough residency checks, "politically correct" or not. If anyone wants to see the stats they are publicized in the newsletter, just like if anyone wants to take a tour of the capital improvements made to district schools, they are welcome to. If you were still in Baldwin, I would say reach out to the SD and tell them to confer with Valley Stream SD about how to properly do residency checks, but since you are not, I assume it does not matter to you anymore.