S. Oxford Street, Fort Greene, Brooklyn (Fulton, Portland: apartment, rentals, low crime)

[ericka178]

Hello,

I would like to inquire about the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. In particular, a new co-op building being constructed (or may be completed) that is located on S. Oxford Street. I think the building number is 200 and something(?)

How is this area (noisy or quiet)?
Is it safe?
Are there any good grocery stores/supermarkets nearby?
Walking distance to public transportation?
Is it a racially diverse neighborhood?
Clean streets, lots of greenery, residential or commercial area?
Nearby restaurants, clothing stores, pharmacies, laundry service, etc.?
Nearby schools?
Nice area to raise children?

Thanks for any information/opinion given!

[Fred314X]

200 South Oxford is just above Fulton Street--which certainly has enough shopping. Unfortunately, it's not in what you'd call the better part of Fort Greene. It's going to be noisy. If I was looking to bring a family to Fort Greene, I'd want to be at least a few blocks north of there.

[ericka178]

Thank you Fred for your response. It is greatly appreciated. In your opinion, would you say it is somewhat safe (low crime rate)?

[Fred314X]

I think that the closer to Fulton Street you get, the less safe it is. The part of Fort Greene you're thinking of is a chunk of territory between Greene and Myrtle Avenues (north/south boundaries) and St. Felix Street and Washington Avenue (east/west boundaries). Most of that area is an officially designated historic district. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind living there myself--if I thought I could afford it! But, like so much of the rest of Brooklyn, you really have to go there and explore block by block. Sometimes you find something unexpectedly that works out better than you'd imagined!

[ericka178]

Thanks again Fred :-)

[holden125]

I think it's actually a bit below Fulton, near the corner Atlantic Av. Atlantic in that stretch is pretty ugly with a lot of car traffic and unfortunately little foot traffic. It's a bit noisy due to the cars whizzing by at high speed and the LIRR, and Atlantic itself might get pretty desolate for a pedestrian at night. But heading up toward Hanson Pl and Fulton, I don't think the area is so bad. I had a friend who lived a block from there a few years back and never had any problems.

As far as public transportation, it's in a very good location. It's very close to the Lafayette stop on the C and easy walking distance to the Atlantic-Pacific stop, which has about 10 subway lines and the LIRR. There is also a Pathmark and two malls right nearby. Depending on where they put the building's exits--if you can exit on S. Portland the shopping is literally right across the street. Worst case, it's 2-3 blocks.

While I agree with Fred that prime Fort Greene is, say, the beautiful blocks on S. Oxford or S. Portland between DeKalb and Lafayette, I don't agree that Fulton St. is bad in this area. It's pretty gentrified and nothing like Fulton St. farther out. If I had to pick a problem spot in Fort Greene, I'd go with Myrtle and everything north. You've got the projects and the run-down looking blocks leading to the elevated BQE at Park Av. A lot of affordable ads for Fort Greene rentals are for places near Flushing Av, not the brownstone blocks near the park.

One thing to consider is that the South Oxford building is right across from the proposed Atlantic Yards site, so if that ever goes forward you'd have a lot of construction going on just below.

[Fred314X]

Have you ever checked out the old candy factory at 275 Park (between Waverly and Washington)? The location could be prettier--it's right across from the elevated BQE--but the renovation has been spectacular. And the rents are pretty reasonable by current standards. There's also a great area of shopping and restaurants along Myrtle Avenue. It's not Fort Greene, more like the northern reaches of Clinton Hill.

I checked out that building when the renovations were almost completed. Another place in Brooklyn I wouldn't mind living if I hadn't found my current apartment in the interim.

[ericka178]

Thank you for the information Holden. It is indeed helpful. I will one day explore the area(s).

Fred, once again thanks for your comment :-)