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In some respects Forest Hills is a wannabe Suburban neighborhood. Too dense to be suburban yet lacking in some of the the urban amenities of TriBeCa or the Carnegie Hill for example. Not to mention it's subliminal attempt at exclusiveness in a city known for being a "melting pot".
Wannabe suburban is a pretty negative way of looking at it. The people who live in those houses have property, space, land, driveways and yet they are walking distance to the express subway and LIRR. When they want to see and be around people, they can just walk out to Austin Street and enjoy the hustle and bustle of city living or jump on the subway and be in Midtown in 30 minutes.
Not everyone wants the emptiness of the suburbs. I would not consider Forest Hills "wannabe" anything. Perhaps you didn't mean "wannabe" in such a derogatory way but that's the way I interpreted it. Plus, I suspect if the people who own that houses preferred to live elsewhere, they would simply sell their property for millions and move on.
As for "subliminal" attempts at exclusivity, what exactly is subliminal about it? Forest Hills Gardens was designed for the well-to-do from the time it was built. "Subliminal" means "below the threshold of consciousness" and it's clear that the intention for this community to be for the well-off was quite above the threshold of consciousness. The rest of Forest Hills is not exclusive like this. It's a melting pot and includes people of many different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Wannabe suburban is a pretty negative way of looking at it. The people who live in those houses have property, space, land, driveways and yet they are walking distance to the express subway and LIRR. When they want to see and be around people, they can just walk out to Austin Street and enjoy the hustle and bustle of city living or jump on the subway and be in Midtown in 30 minutes.
Not everyone wants the emptiness of the suburbs. I would not consider Forest Hills "wannabe" anything. Perhaps you didn't mean "wannabe" in such a derogatory way but that's the way I interpreted it. Plus, I suspect if the people who own that houses preferred to live elsewhere, they would simply sell their property for millions and move on.
As for "subliminal" attempts at exclusivity, what exactly is subliminal about it? Forest Hills Gardens was designed for the well-to-do from the time it was built. "Subliminal" means "below the threshold of consciousness" and it's clear that the intention for this community to be for the well-off was quite above the threshold of consciousness. The rest of Forest Hills is not exclusive like this. It's a melting pot and includes people of many different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Agreed, I also wanted to ask at what price point does it make the neighborhood exclusive? Does a home or apartment have to have a million dollar price tag to be considered exclusive?
I took a friend who recently moved to NYC a year ago (and lives on the UWS) through Forest Hills Gardens hoping to show her the beauty of the neighborhood and that there is more to NYC than Manhattan and as we were walking through she said, "This place is kinda cheesy." I said, "Really?" This is not the response I usually get when I do this "tour" so I was taken aback and didn't really press her on what she meant. She's crazy, right? Are there people that don't like Forest Hills Gardens?
Must be a pretty shallow and insecure person with a poor command of the English language.I can understand someone preferring to live in other parts of the city for a number of reasons but to use the word "cheesy" in describing FHG is just idiotic.It's the kind of thing someone would say when they feel insecure about their own choices.
I took a friend who recently moved to NYC a year ago (and lives on the UWS) through Forest Hills Gardens hoping to show her the beauty of the neighborhood and that there is more to NYC than Manhattan and as we were walking through she said, "This place is kinda cheesy." I said, "Really?" This is not the response I usually get when I do this "tour" so I was taken aback and didn't really press her on what she meant. She's crazy, right? Are there people that don't like Forest Hills Gardens?
No she's not crazy. She's just a newly-arrived Upper West Side snob who would hate any suburban-looking neighborhood.
Must be a pretty shallow and insecure person with a poor command of the English language.I can understand someone preferring to live in other parts of the city for a number of reasons but to use the word "cheesy" in describing FHG is just idiotic.It's the kind of thing someone would say when they feel insecure about their own choices.
"Ritzy", "classy", "upscale", "leafy", "pricey", "toney", etc. But definitely not "cheesy".
Wannabe suburban is a pretty negative way of looking at it. The people who live in those houses have property, space, land, driveways and yet they are walking distance to the express subway and LIRR. When they want to see and be around people, they can just walk out to Austin Street and enjoy the hustle and bustle of city living or jump on the subway and be in Midtown in 30 minutes.
Not everyone wants the emptiness of the suburbs. I would not consider Forest Hills "wannabe" anything. Perhaps you didn't mean "wannabe" in such a derogatory way but that's the way I interpreted it. Plus, I suspect if the people who own that houses preferred to live elsewhere, they would simply sell their property for millions and move on.
As for "subliminal" attempts at exclusivity, what exactly is subliminal about it? Forest Hills Gardens was designed for the well-to-do from the time it was built. "Subliminal" means "below the threshold of consciousness" and it's clear that the intention for this community to be for the well-off was quite above the threshold of consciousness. The rest of Forest Hills is not exclusive like this. It's a melting pot and includes people of many different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.
Didn't mean to offend but I tried to look at it from her point of view. I think Forest Hill is a nice neighborhood but a little too family oriented for my taste.
In fact that could explain the choice of "cheesy". Maybe the neighborhood screams family and affluence too much, not young and trendy.
I also understand it's urbanity.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Chad
Agreed, I also wanted to ask at what price point does it make the neighborhood exclusive? Does a home or apartment have to have a million dollar price tag to be considered exclusive?
I'm curious what peoples thoughts are?
Exactly what I meant by subliminal exclusiveness. I have also noticed the open street fences on at least one of the primary thoroughfares, which I cannot currently recall.
I agree....the neighborhood is exclusive to people based on income and economic status. Private houses here go for 1.7 -$6 million dollars.
LOL,there are houses identical to the best of these in parts of Pelham Parkway,Pelham Gardens and Morris Park in The Bronx and they sell for around $600,000 here.The exclusivity of FHG is pricey.
LOL,there are houses identical to the best of these in parts of Pelham Parkway,Pelham Gardens and Morris Park in The Bronx and they sell for around $600,000 here.The exclusivity of FHG is pricey.
Very true, there are also tons of Tudor style apartment buildings located across the Bronx. Bronx Park East/Pelham Parkway having one of the largest concentrations in the city. Did they ever designate that area a landmark district yet, I know it was in the talks? For the apartment buildings at least.
LOL,there are houses identical to the best of these in parts of Pelham Parkway,Pelham Gardens and Morris Park in The Bronx and they sell for around $600,000 here.The exclusivity of FHG is pricey.
Really? If so, you should post photos, too!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluedog2
Must be a pretty shallow and insecure person with a poor command of the English language.I can understand someone preferring to live in other parts of the city for a number of reasons but to use the word "cheesy" in describing FHG is just idiotic.It's the kind of thing someone would say when they feel insecure about their own choices.
There's something a little bit cheesy about the fake Tudor style of the neighborhood. Still like it, though.
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