Is East New York the new Harlem?

[Coolhand68]

Arguing which is worse, ENY or Harlem is like debating which is worse...death by electric chair or gas chamber? Both neighborhoods were equally dangerous from the 70's - 90's, and today, they are both equally dangerous. No matter how much real estate brokers advertise dumpy railroad room tenements as "colonials" or "brownstones" you can't put lipstick on a pig and expect it to be anymore more than a pig. True there have been improvements to both communities since the 90's but neither will EVER be comparable to places like Bensonhurst, Whitestone, Tribeca or any of the other nicer neighborhods in NYC. All the new construction going up in bad neighborhoods will end up as Section 8 housing when the realtors can't sell them at their over-inflated prices. It's already happening in places like Ridgewood and Bushwick.

[I_Love_LI_but]

Originally Posted by Coolhand68

All the new construction going up in bad neighborhoods will end up as Section 8 housing when the realtors can't sell them at their over-inflated prices. It's already happening in places like Ridgewood and Bushwick.

Add Bed-Sty to that list. I was helping with some animal search and rescue in and around the perimeter (3 blocks out from all directions) of Tompkins Park over there and saw blocks and blocks of empty new housing built. It was at night and on many stoops of the empty homes sat louts drinking, smoking pot, and carrying on loudly. There were plenty of vacant lots with tons of garbage in them. The only really nice people we met were old people and I felt sorry for them having to live in that sty (the name Bed-Sty is so appropriate). I wonder WHERE the fabled gentrification is taking place in Bed-Sty. It is only one block where yuppies have bought the brownstones and converted them to single-family homes? I sure didn't see anything remotely gentrified. The louts drinking and smoking pot on the stoops also made it clear they did not appreciate "white people" in their neighborhood and did not give a pass to the black person with us either!

[DAS]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

...Which is what East New York used to be, half a century ago. Maybe it'll get back there again. Look at all the development (or, I should say, redevelopment) going on up in The Bronx. There's absolutely no reason why the same thing couldn't happen in Brooklyn. And East New York has better transit than The Bronx--Broadway Junction is one of the system's major transfer points.

I don't claim to know a lot about E NY, but redevelopment has started in E NY. I have several colleagues that own new homes, that were built and bought within the last 5 years. They say that in their section of E NY (they all live in the same section) the elementary and middle schools are good, there also places for children to receive dance, music and sports instruction in the area. There are no decent HS in the area and they have to pay for parochial or private when they have children that are HS age. But they are happy to have the chance for affordable home ownership, and a chance to get in on the ground floor of making this community better. All are people born in the Carribean. So they may have a different and fresher perspective than some of us natives.

[Coolhand68]

DAS, your post brings an important issue to the surface...when speaking of safe places and nice homes, you have to consider the race and backgrounds in regard to perspective. A black person who grew up in South Bronx might not feel as though ENY is all that bad, but a white person who grew up in Forest Hills or some suburb in Ohio will have a different experience. The locals in Brownsville or ENY may not blink when a black family moves in, but a white family moving in will not be welcome, or at some point will face some harassment and confrontation. Same can be said for some white neighborhoods. Howard Beach and Bensonhurst are perfectly safe for a white person to walk around at night, maybe not so much for blacks.

[DAS]

Coolhand68 I understand your concerns. I actually have the same concerns and I am a minority person. I am not comfortable in some areas either. I have never been to Howard Beach, I don't know anyone there. Despite the bad press in past years I'm sure there are many fine people there. I have Black friends that went high school in Bensonhurst area in the 1980's, and despite all the bad press they got at that time, my friends have told me they had a positive experience and made friends with all races. I like Forest Hills a lot, and I have family in the suburbs of Columbus OH and I like that also.

I grew up in Morrisania BX and it has changed drastically since that time, but I believe and see that it is on an upswing. Like East NY it may not be for everyone.

For E NY or any area I think anyone buying a house at this point would have to consider how close they are to a Project. I am not familiar with E NY so I don't know how extensive they are. However if a person could buy and not live across the street from one, I don't think they have to worry so much if they are native NYer's, or have lived in NY for some time. What I mean by that is that they will know how to maneuver in that environment.

Homeowners, condo owners, and coop owners are not seen as so much as a threat to the rent going up like renters are. Black Homeowners and Black renters in the community will probably not mind a White homeowner, or any other race, or ethnic group homeowner, moving into the neighborhood this would be considered a positive.

The lack of amenities may be a concern at this point. A person would have to consider this and have a plan for alternatives.

However if people buy and more people invest in the area, there will be a demand for quality services, and this demand will be met. NYC is full of creative entrepreneurs. It is risky now but may pay off for some that want affordable home ownership.

The main point I am making though is that it (the upswing) has started and the people that have bought homes are there to stay for a while. More will follow because of the affordability and because a base is their already. Once you have a large enough areas of this other groups are attracted and also come in.