What's Bed-Stuy like?

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

ditto

@jeffrey, wow, those photos are fantastic. Thanks for posting those links.

http://thebrooklynink.com/2011/12/07/38609-in-bed-stuy-loss-gives-life-to-hope/

Great article - thanks

http://www.bkbureau.org/mystery-bed-stuys-missing-jobs-0

http://bed-stuy.patch.com/articles/project-re-generation-expands-efforts-to-employ-teens

Thanks for posting the links. I am adding the website to my favorites.

I used to teach in Bed-stuy. In the projects. I didn't quite know what to expect since I stayed away from there but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be... and yet, it wasn't exactly a nice place to live. (And there were 2 shootings in the school yard during the year I was there. Thankfully none of the kids were hurt but they did witness it and the second graders spoke about it so matter of fact-ly when they told me what they saw.)

I would suggest that you take a look at the neighborhood south of Prospect Park. Cheaper rent than most of the rest of Brookly but also, larger apartments. It's a very quick train ride into Manhattan and in my opinion this neighborhood is very safe, too.

There are some nice parts of Bed-Stuy and a few rougher parts. best thing to do would be to visit yourself during the day and evening, to get a feel of the neighborhoods. It can be nice on one block and a few blocks over, different story. There are some gorgeous pre-war brownstones that are affordable in the area.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nypd-won-t-divulge-key-crime-stats-quota-controversy-article-1.1003638

GoodNeighborPS said:

There are some nice parts of Bed-Stuy and a few rougher parts. best thing to do would be to visit yourself during the day and evening, to get a feel of the neighborhoods. It can be nice on one block and a few blocks over, different story. There are some gorgeous pre-war brownstones that are affordable in the area.

Agree!

-signed, a happy resident of B-S

Well I guess I will get to see for myself what Bed-Stuy looks like in April. However, I am not sure if it would be the ideal place for me.. However if it is all I can afford at the time then it will do. Thanks for the info though. I was initially looking at Prospect Park. I am concerned with the police department not releasing the crime statistics though.

Are you able to visit before you sign a lease? Or stay with friends for a few days? Or maybe sign a temporary sublet?

Subletting would be an ideal way to see if you like a neighborhood.

Baring that, I would try to at least visit the neighborhood at a variety of hours, and talk to people who are doing their laundry at the local laundry mat about their impressions.

Hopefully you will not have to bring your own fresh fruit.

http://www.cityharvest.org/media/pdf/BedstuyCFAfinal.pdf

The selection at Food Bazaar at Broadway and Myrtle is usually great b/c it's so popular that have really high turnover of stock.

Each May, Bridge Street Development Corporation teams up with the Youth Education and Safety Task Force (Y.E.S. Task Force) and local Block and Tenant Associations to organize Flower Bed-Stuy, a day of neighborhood beautification and clean-up.

Click for lots of pictures

You better get in fast.

...Some folks think rents are going to get even higher in Bed Stuy:

http://therealdeal.com/blog/2012/06/14/rents-in-brooklyn-up-10-percent-annually/

Jesus! I am undercharging my tenants!

These folks seem bullish on Bed Stuy:

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/07/market-snapshot-bed-stuy/#disqus_thread

PragmaticGuy said:

Billy Joel also wrote about Bed-Stuy in his song "You May Be Right" where he's talking about doing some crazy stuff and the line goes, "I walked through Bedford-Stuy alone."

Ha! I remember one day, not long after I moved to the city, I had a meeting in Bed-Stuy. It was my first time in the neighborhood, and as I was alone and walking, that song was in my head. When my husband asked me what my day was like I remember responding, "I walked through Bedford-Stuy alone." The reference sailed over his head.

Flipping extravaganza:

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2012/08/flipping-out-in-bed-stuy/#disqus_thread

Changing demographics:

http://thebrooklynink.com/2012/09/07/47803-jewish-life-returns-to-bed-stuy/

Photo from a recent concert, "Restoration Rocks", organized by Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation:

https://www.facebook.com/bedstuyrestoration?ref=stream

Thanks for the updates Whynot!!

Note, it is presently colder than depicted in the video. It will get warmer once May arrives

Booming population:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/bk-population-boom-bed-stuy-babies-article-1.1294424

http://twofortgreenes.thenabe.me/2013/05/18/in-places-around-the-neighborhood/

The "We buy your house for cash now" people have siphoned off the least savvy homeowners.

Now, only the wiser, better-off people --those who are not desperate for cash, those who likely have intact woodwork and lovely kitchens-- remain.

"Excuse me, have you ever thought of listing your home? I'd love to meet with you and give you an evaluation of how much it could bring in this present market, and how the sale could be conducted in a way that meets your long and short term goals"

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2013/06/corcoran-blanketing-bed-stuy-with-flyers/#disqus_thread