When I first moved to Jersey City in ‘96, people looked at me as if I was crazy. I just wanted a good space close to Manhattan and giving up, say, eating for rent money: not an option. I paid $725 a month for a true 1BR in an old school building (super high ceilings!) with a terrace and a bit of a view of downtown NYC. Now, last month my brother sent me a link to a real estate article in the NY Times…some young turk just moved to J.C. and told (out of town) friends it was, “Manhattan West.” And I threw up a little in my mouth. Remember when Brooklyn Heights started to sprout wings and seemingly fly across Brooklyn?! Now it’s OK to call it what it is and live in Carroll Gardens, Clinton Hill, Park Slope, etc., etc. I think it’s not amenities…I think it’s all about being cool. And…being priced out of the other ‘hoods, and giving in to making the other ones “work.” ANYWAY…Great for you to invest when you did! I probably couldn’t afford to live in my old J.C. apt. now!

Comment by laura @ shorehouse chic. — July 7, 2008 @ 6:32 pm

I actually prefer neighborhoods with some grit left. The problem is, gentrification always goes too far. All I’m asking for is some restaurants, not a Starbucks and Barnes and Noble. I give Bed Stuy about 5 years until it sickens me like Park Slope (my previous neighborhood) and I move on to East NY. BTW, Jersey Girl, what do you think of Newark? I’m keeping my eye on that!

Comment by RH — July 8, 2008 @ 8:13 am

I really hope that Bedford Stuyvesant dose not turn into Park Slope. I lived in that area for 5 years before I brought in BS and going back to visit my old hood you notice how unfriendly and fake the people are in PS. My friends are looking at me crazy for buying in BS now and keep asking me how long do you think it will take before it gentrifies. They see the nice brownstone but the guys on the corner make them feel uncomfortable…. I really don’t want it to turn into a area full of wall street types like BH and PS. I like the area like it is… I can find food for take out places. Bedford Stuyvesant forces you to get out and walk on the streets. The only thing I really want from the area is to get more blocks landmark so that we can protect the wonderful structures that grace the neighborhood.

Comment by Stuy-heightsguy — July 8, 2008 @ 1:51 pm

Newark is interesting…Not all that familiar with it myself, but it is very spread out and the neighborhoods differ dramatically; some very industrial. I love that it’s got a huge train station that can get you virtually anywhere (Amtrak hub), and the Iron Bound section has the best, best Portuguese food that will ever pass your lips with not a Starbucks or B&N in site. Total old school and I love it. I am concerned about the “aggressive” building going on — the new Prudential arena has brought major building and traffic snarls to the downtown area. There are pockets on the outskirts of newark with amazing loft rehabs but then you’re remote from transportation.

Comment by laura @ shorehouse chic. — July 8, 2008 @ 2:37 pm

Since moving to Bed Stuy I notice how unfriendly people are everywhere. It’s the friendliest place I’ve ever lived, but it has spoiled me. Now I get really pissed off when strangers don’t say hello to me.

I agree about the landmarking, but I still say I could use more food! Especially veggie options.

Comment by RH — July 8, 2008 @ 2:38 pm

RH you are right… Maybe the problem with me is that I am spoiled… Funny thing is that I am somewhat southern and lived in Ft Greene and Park Slope and it did not bother me before when people did not speak but today I get pissed off. I love walking down the street and saying a friend hello to people that I do not know… For the under 21 crowed its a sup lol… I think people have to really be blind or have serious hang-ups not see how great Bedford Stuyvesant really is as a neighborhood. The area really is a huge big diamond in the rough…

Comment by Stuy-heightsguy — July 8, 2008 @ 4:51 pm

I have to say the racist comment really bugs me. Bedstuy and Bushwick have something like 90% of all the crime in NYC (yes that includes every other borough) (and yes - STILL). I read some recent crime statistics and I wish I had them on hand now to link to. I’ll try to dig them up later and post. The reason that the stigma has faded somewhat is mostly about demand. People are priced out of Williamsburg, Park Slope, Fort Greene and other adjacent areas and are moving there in greater numbers. I love love loved the pictures of your apartment. It looks so gorgeous that I wished I could live there. But I’m completely unwilling to live in that neighborhood and I’m not a racist. I’m too old to give a shit about my street cred any more. I just want to feel (and be) safe.

Comment by hallie — July 9, 2008 @ 12:53 am

Ok after digging a bit I can only conclude that I pulled that statistic out of my ass. You’ll all have to forgive me. But please let it be ok that I think the pricing is not in line with the amount of crime there still is around there. If I did not know two people who had been violently attacked and seriously injured I probably wouldn’t sound so preachy and defensive. Still bummed about the racist comment.

Comment by hallie — July 9, 2008 @ 1:25 am

Hallie, Sorry to upset you. I hope you didn’t lose sleep over it! I see you were posting at 1:25am.

I’m talking about people from 2 years ago who either did or did not check out crime statistics, but came to look at the apartment anyway. Upon looking around the neighborhood, they thought it was “too rough”. I don’t get that. I live on a relatively quiet, tree lined street with lots of old timers. No burnt out houses. I don’t believe anyone was mugged or shot while they were at my house. Dirty? Yes. Amenities? Not much. But “rough”? I can only come to one conclusion as to why they would say that AFTER having seen the area. Frankly, it’s insulting to me to tell me I live in a “bad” neighborhood when I see it as a wonderful community. (I don’t mean you’ve insulted me, I’m talking about others.)

You would have to be living under a rock not to know that Bed Stuy WAS one of the worst neighborhoods in the city. But if I may pull my own statistic out of my ass, the crime rate is down by, like, 70%. I posted a Brooklyn neighborhood map above. Bed Stuy is as large as the area of Park Slope all the way to Red Hook. So if someone was assaulted near the Marcy Projects (probably a mile from my house), is it fair to say all of Bed Stuy is bad? There are still many rough patches, but my general vicinity isn’t one of them.

I see you mention Williamsburg as one of the more desirable neighborhoods. Do you not remember what a pit Williamsburg was? And when I lived in Ft Greene and Park Slope, I definitely encountered more problems than I have in Bed Stuy. In the 2000’s alone in Park Slope (15th St) there was a shootout around the corner and we had a drug dealer living next door (got rid of his ass!). EVERY neighborhood has their problems. Cut The Stuy some slack!

Ok, I have to get to work now. Hope you got over your bummedness from my comment. Peace.

Comment by RH — July 9, 2008 @ 7:02 am

Hallie I think you might be a little racist but you don’t know it… the 79th Precinct
which is my precinct is NOT the worst in the city… I think the 101st in Queens wins that prize. If you can tell me the last time a white woman was mugged, raped attached, or killed in Bedford Stuyvesant…
it was not this century. you seem to be looking down on this neighborhood without knowing it truly. The area is the most REAL and friendly neighborhood in the CITY… There are women on my block that are in there 80s that have been living here since the 40s and no harm has ever came to them in 60+ years. The couple that started this blog are the type of young blood we need in the neighborhood no people that read wrong information and get things twisted.

Comment by Stuy-heightsguy — July 9, 2008 @ 12:16 pm

Thanks RH - all your points are awesome. Especially the point about the size of it and how certain areas are still hairy while others are peaceful. Williamsburg is still a pit in some places - and I have to say almost none of it is beautiful which isn’t true about the beautiful buildings of Bed Stuy. I stay in Willy because of my cheapo rent and the fact that there aren’t bars on even the ground level of the buildings on my block. Oh - don’t worry about me staying up all night steaming over your entry I swear I’m not that big of a hot head. I just happen to read and post late at night - it’s my only down time. Still love your blog. just wanted to voice a contrary opinion. didn’t meant to poop in anyone’s flower box!

Oh, and Stuy-heightsguy - the suggestion that I would only care about crimes that happen to other white women is “a little bit racist.”

Comment by hallie — July 9, 2008 @ 1:10 pm

Hallie I just really hate when people say negative things about my neighborhood as to say that we living here are either ignorant too poor to live in Williamsburg etc… I live in Park Slope and owned my condo for 5 years there. I wanted to move to Bedford Stuyvesant because I liked it here crime, guys on the corner doing nothing and all. It is not possible for me to be racist my people are not the ones in power in this country. You are the one that made a blanket statement about an area and its people. Using words like “that neighborhood “it the same as you people. Did you know many “richer” areas do not report there crime stats… But maybe you are not prejudice but you sound like you are in the words typed. It just seems like you are looking down on the people that live in Bedford Stuyvesant…

Comment by Stuy-heightsguy — July 9, 2008 @ 3:34 pm

[…] are choosing Bed Stuy? She thinks that potential renters are being lured to the neighborhood with Dinner parties! Maybe she’s […]

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Hi RC
Just wanted to stop back by and say I still feel rotten about dissing your hood. Epecially since I clearly did not know what I was talking about. Thanks for being so gracious about it!

I still think Stuy-heightsguy is out of his helmet though… not possible to be racist because his people are not in power??? Um. Ok.

Comment by hallie — July 15, 2008 @ 2:34 pm

Don’t worry about it! I can dish out that Jewish guilt thing along with the best of them! I don’t even mean to do it sometimes. I just can’t help it. I come from a long line of guilt givers.

I have friends who come to visit and LOVE the neighborhood, but would never live there. I don’t know why, but I see it as their loss.

Well, Stuy Heights Guy called me “young” at 12:16, so I’ve gotta give him some love. I’m curious myself as to where he is from. I’d say English isn’t his first language? Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

And this could’ve been worse. It could’ve gone down like it does on Curbed or Brownstoner with name calling and such. I’m really glad my readers can disagree without stooping to those levels.

Comment by RH — July 15, 2008 @ 3:03 pm

Me too! I am so relieved that it didn’t get all Brownstoner! Love that you love your nabe and as always, your blog.

Comment by hallie — July 16, 2008 @ 1:07 am

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