Is Baldwin, NY A Safe Neighborhood - Thinking of Buying a Home? (Merrick: store, business)

[rhmart]

Read the replies to the inquiry about moving to Baldwin. Very interesting, but I gotta tell you that they are more than borderline racist. It's amazing how folks suddenly see all these flaws in a neighborhood once more people of color move in.

Will have lived in Baldwin 19 years come this June; my daughter graduated from the H.S. in 2007 and my son is currently a sophomore there. IMO it's remarkable how much the hamlet has NOT changed over the years. The area is probably more congested than it used to be b/c more two-earning couples moved in which can mean more than one car parked in the street and overall higher levels of traffic.

But aside from these observations, it appears that many of the replies were colored (pun attended) by posters' prejudices. Yes, there have been problems at the H.S., but name me one high school -- even in Long Island's affluent areas -- that hasn't had its share of problems. Do we not remember what happened at Mepham High in Merrick a few years ago? Did anyone hear that Oceanside has an alarmingly high STD rate? Or that there have been incidents at Rockville Centre's South Side High School that manage not to have been widely reported, probably because the village has its own police force? I know of what I speak.

So you see, much of what's been said about Baldwin really comes from folks' lack of comfort with being around people of color not a serious deterioration in the neighborhood. Almost 90% of graduates get their Regents Diplomas, and a significant percentage obtain more prestigious diplomas.

I do agree that Rockville Centre (RVC) is a very nice area and that its schools are highly rated. And, the village does have a nice walkable downtown area. However, it is not very diverse and, perhaps more important to the budget concious, it's very expensive. Generally, speaking you have to spend upwards of $600,000 -- yes, even in today's market -- for a starter home, e.g., three bedrooms with 1.5 to two bathrooms, but the house might still need a fair amount of work.

Oceanside is less expensive than RVC, and I believe its schools perform well, though not as well as RVC's. It's more expensive than Baldwin and a lot less diverse.

[Cosmosandmind]

I have lived here for 11 years now--slightly north of Sunrise. There are some shabby areas but every town has them. I think the worst part of Baldwin is near the parkway, maybe others but not that I am aware of.

Everyone says Baldwin has changed and in my 11 years there it has! For the better. I have seen lots of people, including myself, renovate these gorgeous older homes into nice properties. It also seems that younger people have moved in (under 45/50 years of age) as I have noticed lots more kids around.

I commuted from the LIRR for 7 years and never had a problem. In fact, its one of the best lines with lots of express trains. If you are resident, parking is not an issue if you get there by 7:30am (that's typical with any LIRR statiion).

I grew up in Valley Stream and to me THAT town has changed. it has taken on the character of its neigborhoring Queens ( in terms of crowding) and to me, the changes there are noticeable. The area behind Hawthorne Ave that used to have a ton of woods where we all used to play has been copted by the RR and now is a industrail looking wasteland. More changes than just there..not the same town I grew up in. I don't remember Baldwin as younger person living near it but it seems fine to me.

[oneaccord]

Baldwin is in transitition. Good families are moving in however the old element is still there. In fact, Baldwin is too close to places like Hempstead, Roosevelt, Freeport, Problems problems problems. If you want a really good town look for the North Shore, or far south shore. Levittown, Jericho, Westbury (jericho tpke area), Glen Cove, Massapequa, Franklin Square....

[Walter Greenspan]

What oneaccord refers to colloquially as "towns" are actually villages (Westbury) and hamlets (Levittown, Jericho, Massapequa, Franklin Square), which are within actual towns and cities (Glen Cove); and, because villages and hamlets are referred to as "towns", then, many times, the error is compounded when actual towns are referred to as "townships".

Also, many colloquially refer to a "downtown business district" in a hamlet as a "village".

http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-y...-glossary.html and http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...-resource.html may be of some help to you in understanding the geography of "Lawn Guyland".

http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...you-think.html may help you understand the great geographic confusions caused by non-conforming ZIP Code postal zones.

[scootercottman]

gee thanks for clearing that up really....

[mickey39]

the local gov. has given up on baldwin how?
1. police do not enforce quality of life laws
2. code enforcement do not fine violators who dont maintain property or business
3. no road & sidewalk improvements to give curb appeal to potential businesses
4. section 8 low life coming in by the truckloads
5. canceled building projects
6. wasted funds ex. kate murray hiring her dad back after retirement from time

[sean sean sean sean]

Originally Posted by mickey39

the local gov. has given up on baldwin how?
1. police do not enforce quality of life laws
2. code enforcement do not fine violators who dont maintain property or business
3. no road & sidewalk improvements to give curb appeal to potential businesses
4. section 8 low life coming in by the truckloads
5. canceled building projects
6. wasted funds ex. kate murray hiring her dad back after retirement from time

#5 is probably for the best. Those stores & apartments down by Merrick Road are much less of an eyesore than a Target or Wal-Mart would have been.

[mickey39]

that is silly re: eyesore, nothing is better than good tax revenue, jobs for youth. applebees & bestbuy look great and business is positive.

[grepman]

I agree that it's disappointing that apparently there are delays/cancellations of projects along Grand Ave. (car dealership @ Sunrise & the corner properties @ Merrick Rd). However, what mickey39 has noted regarding Applebees and Best Buy IS postive. I am hopeful that these other projects will get underway as the economy improves.

While I am not a fan a Walmart/Target, right now any functioning business in these areas would be better than nothing.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by grepman

I agree that it's disappointing that apparently there are delays/cancellations of projects along Grand Ave. (car dealership @ Sunrise & the corner properties @ Merrick Rd). However, what mickey39 has noted regarding Applebees and Best Buy IS postive. I am hopeful that these other projects will get underway as the economy improves.

While I am not a fan a Walmart/Target, right now any functioning business in these areas would be better than nothing.

What is happening to what used to be the National Wholesale Liquidators (on Grand Avenue just north of Merrick Road)? I remember when it was a Pergament. It used to be a grocery store back when I was a kid too.