Is it a safe to drive into brooklyn? (Westbury: crime, school)

[Castro Viejo]

Perhaps I'm late to answer this, but Downstate Medical Center is in East Flatbush, New York. It's certainly not a great area of Brooklyn. Probably one of its most dangerous neighborhoods, but the area immediately around the medical center is actually okay. Not quite the kind of place I'd walk around for no apparent reason, but it's alright. I did a very short part of my medical training there. The explanation which follows may seem complicated, but once you get off 278 and onto Fort Hamilton Parkway, it's basically a straight away drive without any turns until you get to the hospital!

As others have said the only way to get in there quickly and safely is by car. After you cross Staten Island and take the Verazzano Bridge over to Brooklyn, get off 278 at the Fort Hamilton Parkway exit. Bear right onto Fort Hamilton Parkway at the split between it and Seventh Avenue. You're going to follow Fort Hamilton a long way. You'll pass Green-Wood Cemetery on the left about three miles into the drive. At the end of Green-Wood, at McDonald Avenue, I believe, Fort Hamilton Parkway becomes Caton Avenue. Follow Caton Avenue for another two to three miles. You'll pass Ocean Parkway, Ocean Avenue, the Parade Grounds near Prospect Park, and then up to Flatbush Avenue. Once you cross Flatbush Avenue, continue to cross Caton Avenue as it winds through some apartment complexes, and it becomes Route 27 East (Linden Boulevard). Take Linden Boulevard straight east until you get to New York Avenue (in about three or four blocks from when it Caton becomes Linden) and make a left. On New York Avenue, one block north, you'll get to Lenox Road. Make a right onto Lenox Road and Downstate Medical Center will be right there.

445 Lenox Road is the main entrance to the University Hospital of Brooklyn at Downstate Medical Center. The "Childrens' Hospital at Downstate" is the 5th Floor of the hospital, I believe. There is a valet parking service at the main entrance to the hospital at 445 Lenox Road.

Good luck. Depsite its appearances, it's actually a surprisingly good hospital. It just gets sort of a bad rep from being in a crummy neighborhood.

Taking 278 straight down to the Prospect Expressway will only land you in a ton of morning rush hour traffic heading out there. It'll add about 30 minutes to your commute to Downstate Medical Center.

The subway is out of the question, especially if you have young kids. It's a dangerous ride and the walk from the Winthrop Street subway station to the hospital is quite a hike, and you've got to watch your back constantly. It's no fun at all.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask away.

[fly4sarah]

thank you so much! I'll print this out and use it..and thanks for the info on the hospital! Sarah

[wroxgirl297]

Originally Posted by fly4sarah

UpstaterInBklyn-
I have been wondering why someone who is supposed to be such a great doctor would be working in such a slummy area & at a little known hospital.

Because poor people (not equated to savage criminals) deserve good healthcare too. And maybe your physician feels the same way.

You will be fine with the previous directions. Brooklyn has gone through many changes over the past few years, so old tales might not paint today's reality in all cases. I would have never lived where I do now, say 5 years ago. Now people gasp at the costs of my block.

One word of advice--> If you look scared of the locals, it draws more attention to you and your twins. That can be received in different ways, so just be cool and focus on your appointment.

~nina

[Alan B 718]

Originally Posted by fly4sarah

UpstaterInBklyn- thanks so much! sounds like you know your way around pretty well.
I have been wondering why someone who is supposed to be such a great doctor would be working in such a slummy area & at a little known hospital. It didn't make sense to me. Glad to hear that the area is fine. I was about to cancel and drive to john hopkins in baltimore instead. Thanks again, Sarah

follow everyones directions.. print a nice sized map of the blocks around the hospital in case u need to look for parking. Watch for alternate side regulation signs.. you dont want a fat ticket. Its a black area, big deal, people are people.

The hospital may not be world reknowned, but if you think about it, what better place to hone your medical skills than in an underfunded city hospital. Its in a marginal area that used to be REAAALLY bad, so you get all the gunshot/stabbing wounds you want. Plus people in slummy areas tend to have lots of kids. Kids need doctors

[holden125]

Originally Posted by fly4sarah

I have been wondering why someone who is supposed to be such a great doctor would be working in such a slummy area & at a little known hospital.

In addition to the point previously raised that all people need and deserve healthcare, Downstate is the hospital for one of the State University of New York's two medical schools. Teaching hospitals often have top practioners with medical school faculty connections. Some, as in Newark or Camden, are in places with urban poverty. This particular hospital is not little known in the field or to people in Brooklyn. I looked up your doctor and he's a professor at the medical school as well as the head of the department and on the board of the NY Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Sounds like you're in good hands. It's a little insulting that you'd rather drive to Baltimore (one giant slummy area) because you can't imagine a doctor could work at a teaching hospital in Flatbush and be good.

[Castro Viejo]

Originally Posted by Alan B 718

follow everyones directions.. print a nice sized map of the blocks around the hospital in case u need to look for parking. Watch for alternate side regulation signs.. you dont want a fat ticket. Its a black area, big deal, people are people.

The hospital may not be world reknowned, but if you think about it, what better place to hone your medical skills than in an underfunded city hospital. Its in a marginal area that used to be REAAALLY bad, so you get all the gunshot/stabbing wounds you want. Plus people in slummy areas tend to have lots of kids. Kids need doctors

Downstate Medical Center, as another poster had mentioned, is a private, teaching hospital of the State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine located within its campus. It is not the same as Kings County Hospital Center, which is a city hospital that operates across Clarkson Avenue from SUNY Downstate.

For the most part teaching hospitals are the best kinds of hospitals. And even better than just a plain old teaching hospital, is a medical school hospital such as SUNY Downstate, Johns Hopkins, NYU Medical Center, New York Presbyterian, etc. Now I'm not saying that Downstate Medical Center is in the same league as Hopkins or NYU, but the medical school and hospital have a good reputation within medicine.

[Throcky]

SUNY Downstate Medical Center has valet parking for a very reasonable price. I believe that it's $5 for the day. You should follow the directions that have been provided and let the Department of Public Safety, who run the valet parking service take care of your car. East Flatbush is not that bad of a neighborhood anymore - I've been working there for 20 years and it's gotten so much better. Good luck with your appointment!

Throcky

[DITC]

You shouldn't have a problem. Memorize the directions, know exactly where to turn, and things should run smoothly.

[yellowtail]

I think it would be silly to cancel an appt at Downstate and travel all the way to Hopkins. Furthermore, you are going to E. Flatbush during the day. No one will try to rob you. Toughen up and keep it moving.

Also, there are parking "lots" around Downstate, but it's minimal.

[NYC LOLA]

I just want to add that once you cross Flatbush it is more than 3-4 blocks to New york Ave so don't count just watch the signs and once you get onto Lenox from NY ave the do have valet parking. I worked at Downstate for 15 year sand once there you will feel better. Driving is best no matter how long the commute as you are not from here and the trains mess up and take you elsewhere at time. good luck!