Parkside Q Area?

brooklynleather

My budget has landing me around Parkside. I was told Prospect Park is better, Church is worse and to stay off the little blocks west of Flatbush cause they are filled with drug peddling. Any other insight? I am moving from a crime infested neighborhood and would like peace, some quiet, and safety this time around. Thanks!

bolletje

Well, it's definitely not quiet but I've found this area to be really great so far. Mostly chill, working people, families, etc.

There's got to be drug peddling around here (I've never lived anywhere without drugs: suburbs, cities and rural areas--many people use drugs for various reasons), I'm not bothered by it but I keep regular 9-5 hours so possibly I just don't see it overtly. FWIW, I moved to Flatbush from Clinton Hill and there were a lot more cracked out looking hard drug using people wandering along Fulton Street in Clinton Hill and fairly regularly I would see the presence of broken crack pipes/human poop/tons of matches and other junky detritus in the subway station at the Clinton-Washington C stop. It was noticeable there.

I repeat--it is NOT quiet by the Parkside Q, lol. Lots of car alarms, music playing all over the streets and people being pretty loud... :twisted:
But I like not having to be super-quiet myself.

brooklynleather

Oy! I didn't rrealize that stretch of Fulton was such a mess. I wonder if I went a few blocks east into Flatbush to one of the residential streets? I can't seem to find any place quieter than where I am now. It's a lively area.

Any other thoughts on the neighborhood?

bolletje

I haven't been here too long but I like it!

I do miss having a variety of restaurants out the door like in the FG/CH area, but there's good West Indian food and plenty of markets selling fresh fruit and veggies. There's one at the end of my block that's totally cheap and has TONS of stuff--beets, celery, fresh herbs, tofu, organic eggs and it's open very late (never gotten home late enough to see it closed!). No olives or fancy cheese, but I just make sure to have a decently stocked pantry. There's rasta juice bars and veggie take out restaurants too. Also, duane reade and lots of pretty good dollar stores.

The park is right around the corner, as is the botanical garden, buses and subways take you everywhere else in Brooklyn within 15-20 minutes, the people in my building have been cool so far and it's interesting living somewhere there's some cultures going on that I didn't really know about before. I've lived overseas for long periods of time so my comfort level with being "different" is pretty high at this point. Also, one of my favorite nyc things to do it get on the bus to wherever neighborhood and experience the scene going on there.

I think if you had an apartment not facing the street it would be less loud. Also, now that school's started the kids aren't hanging out as much and it's already gotten less blaring in the day. Still loud at night though. :P

brooklynleather

That is super positive to hear. Thanks. Let me know if you stumble across a block or building you wouldn't recommend so I can keep my eyes peeled. We looked at a unit at 12 Hawthorne and there were dead cockroaches in it and no bars on the window -- first floor unit! They said they'd put in the bars, though. But a little internet research revealed a fire in the building 3 years ago, lots of vacancies for whatever reason and a neighbor complaining about an intense mouse infestation. We ended up passing....

bolletje

Well, truthfully I would be careful about apartment buildings around here because there seems to be a lot of neglectful landlords who don't care for the buildings properly. Always check property shark for violations, etc. as well as taking to the people who live in the building.

If you can get a place in one of the awesome limestones or victorian houses in the area that would be better I think.

brooklynleather

yeah i definitely go to propertyshark, bedbugregistry, and HPD websites. But some gigantic buildings are just going to have violations. I try to weigh what they are - ie "incorrect paint color" vs "roaches/mildew/mold/missing door" or whatever.

andypern

I just moved into this area about 3 weeks ago, and while I was a bit skeptical at first, I've been pleasantly surprised by how friendly pretty much everyone in my building, block, and neighborhood has been. I live on what looks like a 'less desirable' block (crooke ave between St Paul + Parade), but I'm 1/2 a block from a playground, 1.5 blocks to the Church Ave B/Q stop, and 1.5 blocks to Prospect Park.

It gets a bit noisy, and there are a lot of kids/teens hanging out at all hours, but all the interactions I've had have been positive. Now, there are police walking around my block pretty much day and night, which could be seen both as a positive (less chance of getting harassed with a cop right there), or a negative (police generally don't walk on strictly residential blocks unless there's a need).

One thing I do miss is there seems to be a lack of places to go after 9 or 10pm, and I have yet to find a bar to grab a pint/etc in. Of course...I've only been here a few weeks, so I haven't explored too far yet.

FWIW, my apartment itself is pretty large (real 2bdrm, one of the bedrooms is huuge), and cheap ($1400). The building isn't attractive, but I can't have everything...yet.

bolletje

Yeah, there's Lime on Flatbush which is an okay place to get a beer. I mostly am still enthralled with my ginormous apartment, so just invite people over for dinner, BYOB and the chance to enjoy the LARGENESS :P

andypern

I just passed by that place on my bike. maybe i'll check it out some time.
i agree with the niceties of the largness, makes me a little lazy though :P