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

[S.I.B.]

Originally Posted by I_Love_LI_but

Judging from one poster saying he's seen 40-50 kids get off the eastbound train in the AM and some take cabs and some walk to the high school, it sounds like it is rampant in Baldwin ...

If we assume the kids spotted getting off the train are minorities (not a stretch considering much of this thread was spent discussing changing demographics in Baldwin), then Baldwin might be an ideal spot for this to take place. It might not be worth the effort for kids from the city to try and sneak into Roosevelt, Uniondale, or Hempstead...but it might make sense in Baldwin. As for trying to get into a district better than Baldwin, I think it's safe to assume many of those districts (say Lynbrook or RVC) simply doesn't have minority population to draw 50 relatives of residents on a train each morning like Baldwin does.

[Wes927]

Obviously it's a free country (still) and if whites want to live around other whites that is your perogative. And I understand the burden of protecting your home as an investment.

There are two problems here. Minority communities need to recognize the problems that they have. We need W.E.B. DubOis' (or Bill Cosby's) Talented Tenth to openly condemn that Ghetto Culture that has the potential to bring down any high quality minority neighborhood.

If they are more globally minded, whites have a duty too. I believe they should not "panic" and sell their home and invite in an undesirable element to ruin it for strong minority families.

I think things will get better if whites accept more diversity, and minorities are more critical of their communities at large, realizing all people are equal (not to sound like Barney the dinosaur).

Of course, "white flight" is an old story. And social engineering shouldn't be government imposed, IMHO.

[nygirl2517]

Hello....
I am possibly purchasing a co-op in the Baldwin area... Just South of Sunrise Hwy... off of Grand Ave... close to the LIRR. I am hearing all sorts of things from people.... some people say I shouldn't do it and other people say it isn't that bad. Does anyone know anything about this area? I notice most of the forums focus on Baldwin North of Sunrise. How about the area between Sunrise and Merrick Rd?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[LIgirl74]

Originally Posted by nygirl2517

Hello....
I am possibly purchasing a co-op in the Baldwin area... Just South of Sunrise Hwy... off of Grand Ave... close to the LIRR. I am hearing all sorts of things from people.... some people say I shouldn't do it and other people say it isn't that bad. Does anyone know anything about this area? I notice most of the forums focus on Baldwin North of Sunrise. How about the area between Sunrise and Merrick Rd?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

I responded on the thread you created. I have a feeling the co-op development you are interested in is the same that my husband and I looked at. It's a beautiful development but just be careful of the surroundings. I don't believe the area you are looking in is a great area. Grand Avenue is not a street you would want to walk down. This is why we chose to purchase a condo in Farmingdale over Baldwin. Once we drove down Sunrise Highway at night by Grand, we totally changed our tune and decided against buying in Baldwin.

[ianwaters]

Originally Posted by S.I.B.

If we assume the kids spotted getting off the train are minorities (not a stretch considering much of this thread was spent discussing changing demographics in Baldwin), then Baldwin might be an ideal spot for this to take place. It might not be worth the effort for kids from the city to try and sneak into Roosevelt, Uniondale, or Hempstead...but it might make sense in Baldwin. As for trying to get into a district better than Baldwin, I think it's safe to assume many of those districts (say Lynbrook or RVC) simply doesn't have minority population to draw 50 relatives of residents on a train each morning like Baldwin does.

This is what happened to Lawrence High School in the 90's - every minority in Inwood and Lawrence brought in their dozens of cousins who claimed residence but lived in Far Rockaway, Rockaway Beach, etc etc - now the place is a wreck. Sounds like Baldwin in next

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by ianwaters

This is what happened to Lawrence High School in the 90's - every minority in Inwood and Lawrence brought in their dozens of cousins who claimed residence but lived in Far Rockaway, Rockaway Beach, etc etc - now the place is a wreck. Sounds like Baldwin in next

These days the "minority" adversely affecting the Lawrence school district is that of the very religious jews who send their kids to private religious schools, yet are on the public school board and wreak havoc with the budget. Since they are in control, they cut services to the public schools as much as possible to save on taxes while spending more money on the religious school students (free busing to religious schools as far away as Brooklyn, etc.). The only thing worth a darn in Lawrence these days I hear is special ed, since the private religious jewish schools they send their kids to don't do special ed (or don't do it comprehensively), they make sure the special ed is above par in case one of their own has to use it.

[Coolhand68]

Baldwin is bordered by Roosevelt and Freeport, two of the historically worst sections of Long Island. The writing is on the wall...literally and figuratively. I think Lynbrook or Rockville Center would be a better choice.

[nygirl2517]

LIgirl74-
We probably are talking about the same co-op. I am supposed to sign a contract but I have driven through there several times at night, and it is iffy. I am SO disappointed, it is such an amazing deal and I am struggling with the idea of letting it go. I have asked a lot of people in the area what they think of the neighborhood, and everyone just shrugs and says "it depends." NOT very encouraging lol! It will break my heart to let this one go, it seems all I can afford otherwise on LI as a single person is a small studio.

[S.I.B.]

Originally Posted by nygirl2517

LIgirl74-
We probably are talking about the same co-op. I am supposed to sign a contract but I have driven through there several times at night, and it is iffy. I am SO disappointed, it is such an amazing deal and I am struggling with the idea of letting it go. I have asked a lot of people in the area what they think of the neighborhood, and everyone just shrugs and says "it depends." NOT very encouraging lol! It will break my heart to let this one go, it seems all I can afford otherwise on LI as a single person is a small studio.

you should look into Lynbrook, RVC, and East rockaway. There's plenty of co-op buildings that might have something you'd be able to afford.

[REMINGTIN7]

Baldwin was a great place to live........50 years ago.