Please help us find the right neighborhood (Brighton, Floral Park: to rent, homes)

[eight26]

ok, I've randomly asked about certain neighborhoods on here, but we still don't know a whole lot about NYC, and what may be a good fit for us. Can you help by suggesting a neighborhood that may fit us?

Looking to rent (2000 mo limit)
Interracial married couple (black/hispanic and white) aged 26 and 30
one child (15 mos)
93k year salary (I am SAHM)
Husband works on UWs in the mid 70's
commute no more than 45 min
we are looking for good public schools
safe
more integrated than gentrified areas
we are laid-back, not into snotty, trendy neighborhoods
want a place with a sense of community

where is this magical NYC neighborhood?

[bnyy]

Forest Hills/Briarwood (Queens), Bay Ridge/Brighton Beach (Brooklyn), Norwood (Bronx)

[DAS]

I would suggest Bayside Queens, Midwood section of Brooklyn, College Point Queens, and Floral Park Queens and and all sections mentioned in the other post above except Norwood. The elementary schools might be good, but after that you will have a hard time finding a good JHS and HS. However the commute may be a little more than 45 minutes, from any of these sections. More like an hour or so. It will be difficult to find something that is comfortable for you, within 45 minutes of the mid 70's , has good schools, and sense of community.

[Dark of the Moon]

With your husband working on the UWS, would you consider living in New Jersey? The commute across the Hudson might be shorter than coming from Brooklyn or Queens, and the housing costs would, I imagine, be less.

[eight26]

Originally Posted by squeezeboxgal

With your husband working on the UWS, would you consider living in New Jersey? The commute across the Hudson might be shorter than coming from Brooklyn or Queens, and the housing costs would, I imagine, be less.

We'd consider it. We have absolutely no knowledge of NJ and it's neighborhoods though.

[clevedark]

You won't get a 45 minute commute from NJ and have all your qualifications met. However if you wanted to consider NJ I would suggest looking in Bergen County, it's close to the GW Bridge, and hubby could drive or take a bus, or a train from certain towns (Ridgewood, for example has a train).

Also, Montclair and Maplewood and S. Orange are lovely, charming integrated suburbs in NJ (Essex County) with decent school systems. The commute will be by train, about 30 minutes, but then you have the door to door part which can add another half hour or more. Going home is esp. hellish from Penn Station.

I've been reading horror stories about kindergarten placement in NYC schools this year--parents have bought homes in certain neighborhoods assuming that their kids would get into the well-rated public school, and in many cases their kids are being put on waiting lists. It's alarming, and officials claim it will all be sorted out by fall, but I were one of those parents I'd be freaking out.

[eight26]

Originally Posted by clevedark

I've been reading horror stories about kindergarten placement in NYC schools this year--parents have bought homes in certain neighborhoods assuming that their kids would get into the well-rated public school, and in many cases their kids are being put on waiting lists. It's alarming, and officials claim it will all be sorted out by fall, but I were one of those parents I'd be freaking out.

this is EXACTLY why I'm already freaking out. I might say to hell with it and move back to CT and let my husband commute into the city once our son is ready for school as much as I'd like to stay.

[bluedog2]

Where have you looked? And why have you decided against those places?Have you gone to Riverdale and looked around and maybe visited a school ?
Don't make up your mind based solely on anything you hear here.

[7 Wishes]

Except for the 45 minutes (though it's possible, Metro North is 30 minutes then subway to UWs), you might like the nice parts of Mt. Vernon in southern Westchester north of the Metro North tracks like Fleetwood. Elementary schools strictly based on what part of town you live in, no "waiting lists", so don't have to worry about schools until 7th grade. Very diverse and a lot of interracial families around. And not snotty at all.

[eight26]

Originally Posted by bluedog2

Where have you looked? And why have you decided against those places?Have you gone to Riverdale and looked around and maybe visited a school ?
Don't make up your mind based solely on anything you hear here.

I haven't written any place off yet. we are researching good and bad and planning on making several trips to each neighborhood, talking to the schools to get our own impressions before we dismiss any place. If we'd had more time to move, we would have done the same thing in regards to where we live now. If we had had time to do that before, we would not have chosen this neighborhood.