Is it safe in Lloyd Street, Brooklyn ? (New York, Utica: apartments, city hall)

[rronizzle]

I'm 17 years old and I'm going to stay this summer in NYC. Currently I live in Europe but I used to live in the Bronx. Even though the area where I lived in Bronx wasn't that dangerous, I still didn't have the real experience of traveling alone at day nor night. So I was wondering is it any dangerous in Lloyd Street, Brooklyn since its pretty close to Flatbush ? I checked it out on Google maps and found out its only 15 minutes away by public transit, and by car only 6 minutes. Anyways, I'll only mind my own business normally, but I just want to know if its safe because I'm also going to work at a restaurant where I'll probably finish my shift sometime after midnight. I'm white, Albanian , 5'9 feet tall.. I think. Mature for my age though. And I also got this mustache which I'm not planning to shave lol. I also make music, not your ordinary white boy music wanna-be gangster ish. But real MUSIC singing/rapping/producing etc.

I'd appreciate it if I get some answers soon

[availableusername]

I was a little worried about you until you mentioned the mustache. You'll be fine...

[checkmatechamp13]

For starters, Lloyd Street is already in Flatbush (west of NY Avenue is Flatbush, east of NY Avenue is East Flatbush). Second of all, if you're worried about crime (in any neighborhood) proximity by walking is a better guide than proximity by driving/public transit.

In any case, that area isn't too bad. You'll be fine.

[BrownstoneNY]

Originally Posted by checkmatechamp13

For starters, Lloyd Street is already in Flatbush (west of NY Avenue is Flatbush, east of NY Avenue is East Flatbush). Second of all, if you're worried about crime (in any neighborhood) proximity by walking is a better guide than proximity by driving/public transit.

In any case, that area isn't too bad. You'll be fine.

I'd always heard the border as being at Rogers or Bedford Ave, or even at Flatbush Ave itself. I think Lloyd St is East Flatbush.

Not a safe area, but not the worst place in Brooklyn, either. Don't get involved in any bad things (gangs or drugs, both of which are a problem in the area) and you should be okay. Bigger issue is quality-of-life rather than crime in that immediate area.

[rronizzle]

Originally Posted by availableusername

I was a little worried about you until you mentioned the mustache. You'll be fine...

Honestly whats wrong with a mustache ? lol. I even have a beard but since I'm going to be working at a restaurant I'll have to shave. Which I know a mustache by its self may make me look like a 80s porn star. But still I never took it off since it came out... Well once and I couldn't wait till it grew back lol. Thanks anyways

[jcoltrane]

Originally Posted by BrownstoneNY

I'd always heard the border as being at Rogers or Bedford Ave, or even at Flatbush Ave itself. I think Lloyd St is East Flatbush.

Not a safe area, but not the worst place in Brooklyn, either. Don't get involved in any bad things (gangs or drugs, both of which are a problem in the area) and you should be okay. Bigger issue is quality-of-life rather than crime in that immediate area.

You can *think* all you want. That street is in the HEART of old Dutch Flatbush! The old Flatbush city hall is just a couple of blocks away at Church and Bedford! The Dutch Reformed Church (which is THE center of Flatbush) is just a block more at Flatbush Ave.

Eramus Street will take you straight to Eramus Hall (Academy) HS.

Note the old houses, odd layout, and the one block nature of Lloyd Street, all speak to old Flatbush. Lloyd was an old Dutch farmer and that street lead to his farm, hence the name. the immediate area iscomparatively undeveloped, because the land was kept as farmland longer than the other lots in the area. There are several strange layouts of land/blocks in the immediate area.

New York Ave is a good demarcation line, but Nostrand is really the border between Flatbush and East Flatbush. Below Nostrand is a different neighborhood than above Nostrand. The housing and apartments in Flatbush are generally superior to East Flatbush. In Flatbush you find brownstones and old the remains of the earlier Victorians, which once covered all of Flatbush.

In East Flatbush, in the older area below Nostrand all the way to Utica, you'll find many wood frame semi detached lower middle class housing, and slightly more upscale brick row houses.

Below Utica is the area more readily, from a middle class standard, known as East Flatbush, much if not most developed during the post war period. The area is very car centric and extends to Remsen, Linden Blvd, and Kings highway, and all the way to Carnarsie.

Another way to distinguish between Flatbush and East Flatbush, is that most of East Flatbush is in a two fare zone. A bus is generally needed to reach the IRT subway along Nostrand Avenue.

Flatbush is generally served by the IND B and Q Train (the old D train express and local), which in the original days of Victorian Flatbush was the Coney Island Railroad. Flatbush is also generally a one fare zone.

Below is a very early hand drawn map of Flatbush. "Cow Lane" is now Church Avenue below Flatbush Ave.

Flatbush of today - Herbert Foster Gunnison - Google Books

****

Anyway OP, why have you chosen that location? I would suggest it is not the best location for someone new to NYC, new to Brooklyn, and not Black. Crime is a factor, but there are worse neighborhoods. Chuch Ave is a very busy commercial strett, but late nights it is pretty desolate, and Lloyd street in particular is likel dark and lonely late nights. So, coming home drunk and not Black is NOT a good idea!!!

You'd be better off several blocks up Church Avenue in Kennsington, in and around Ocean Parkway; or Ocean Avenue in and around Avenue H. Safer areas, yet still relatively affordable.

[rronizzle]

I would go somewhere else but that's the only place where my dads cousin stays at and that's where I'll be staying too. He's like 60 years old or smth and he says its a safe place. I don't blame him much because who would want to deal with a guy like him. And also my father keeps telling me don't worry and stuff.I have nowhere else to stay... Now even getting this info is giving me the creeps, cause I don't want to get mugged or something like that when I'm going to NY only for the summer to get some $$$ and have some fun.

[checkmatechamp13]

Originally Posted by jcoltrane

Another way to distinguish between Flatbush and East Flatbush, is that most of East Flatbush is in a two fare zone. A bus is generally needed to reach the IRT subway along Nostrand Avenue.

Flatbush is generally served by the IND B and Q Train (the old D train express and local), which in the original days of Victorian Flatbush was the Coney Island Railroad. Flatbush is also generally a one fare zone.

That's why I picked NY rather than Nostrand. The way I see it, East Flatbush doesn't have any subway lines within the boundaries. (I know it would be on the boundary itself, but still).

And the (B) & (Q) are more BMT than IND. The Brighton Line was BMT before 1967, and the (Q) runs entirely along former BMT trackage in both Brooklyn & Manhattan. (The (B) runs on IND trackage once it hits Manhattan)

Back when I lived in Brooklyn, I remember it was the (D) local & (Q) express, then the (Q) local & (Q) express, and finally the (Q) local & (B) express. It went through a few patterns before then, with the (D) originally being the express as you said (and local on the weekends). Before 1967, I forget what the pattern was offhand.

Originally Posted by rronizzle

I would go somewhere else but that's the only place where my dads cousin stays at and that's where I'll be staying too. He's like 60 years old or smth and he says its a safe place. I don't blame him much because who would want to deal with a guy like him. And also my father keeps telling me don't worry and stuff.I have nowhere else to stay... Now even getting this info is giving me the creeps, cause I don't want to get mugged or something like that when I'm going to NY only for the summer to get some $$$ and have some fun.

Well, it's only a block from the subway, and it's far from the worst area. If you're that nervous, see if your dad's cousin can show you around for the first couple of days.

[rronizzle]

Yes I've seen it on google maps, the subway is close to a McDonalds. Well anyways thanks for your help. I should really stop worrying, because as long as I keep it on the low I doubt anyone will say anything to me.