Is Brooklyn in the House?
...without a doubt. It's where everyone's trying to be right now, since Manhattan prices are
ridiculous. If you're one of them, the info below on different Brooklyn neighborhoods might
help you.
Fort Greene/Clinton Hill:
Remember when Fort Greene was considered "rough?" Now the
neighborhood's in like a housecat on a rainy night. Ever since Spike Lee
hit with She's Gotta Have It in the mid-80s, Fort Greene has
become known as the residency of choice for the hip
yuppie/buppie/bohemian/artist set. Clinton Hill
surrounds Pratt Institute, and is known for its attractive tree-lined streets and beautiful
old mansions. Heck, I fell in love with the
brownstones, but my bank account isn't trying to hear it.
Rents in both neighborhoods start at around $1100. The
bad thing about Clinton Hill is that
much of it is on the G line, which usually sucks.
Subway lines: 2,3,4,5,G,B,D,Q
Prospect Heights, Park Slope: These neighborhoods are popular with the Wall
Street/yuppie set who like to retreat from the rat race across the
Brooklyn Bridge. The
neighborhoods' gorgeous brownstones, many subway lines and prime Prospect Park
vicinity put these also out of range for the light of wallet. It's all good, though.
Subway lines: 2,3,4,5,B,Q,N,R(–damn near all of 'em.)
Bed Stuy: "Do-or-Die" in effect, people. As Fort Greene, Prospect Heights
and Clinton Hill start to approach Manhattan-like rents, folks are moving
inward--and naturally, people have started to eye the historical
neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, it seems. In many areas, it's got the brownstones that
many dig--for much lower rents. The funny thing about the neighborhood, though,
is that the vibe can
change abruptly from block to block--you can sometimes go from "Cosby Show" to
Beirut just by crossing the street, it seems.
Subway lines: A,C
Crown Heights: Its main thoroughfare is the
lively Eastern Parkway (home of the
world-famous Labor Day West Indian Parade); a neighborhood that's home to a large
West Indian and Jewish population. I love the beautiful architecture of many of its
buildings, and the rent is much more reasonable than those of the previous
neighborhoods mentioned.
Subway lines: 2,3,4,5
Flatbush/East Flatbush: In my opinion, these are the neighborhoods that
everyone's
sleeping on. They're vibrant, family-oriented communities
with a large mixed/West Indian population, and it's quite easy to find a decently-priced apartment. Main, crowded thoroughfares like
Flatbush and Church Aves. can be hell to drive down, but have so many shops along
them that you won't want for anything (especially on Church Ave.)–that is, if you stick to
public transportation.
Subway lines: 2,5,D,Q
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