BUYER BEWARE - suspicious rehab project. We looked at this building a few times as we loved the architecture but were appalled by the lack of effort made by the seller - overflowing open trash from neighbors, bugs in the sinks, constant barking dog next door. The first floor units are horrible - damp smell, grim views outside of barbed wire, disheveled back yard (why not put some effort into... [more]
BUYER BEWARE - suspicious rehab project. We looked at this building a few times as we loved the architecture but were appalled by the lack of effort made by the seller - overflowing open trash from neighbors, bugs in the sinks, constant barking dog next door. The first floor units are horrible - damp smell, grim views outside of barbed wire, disheveled back yard (why not put some effort into making this a little nicer for potential buyers??) The wood frames around most of the windows have rotted away (chunks missing, splitting wood) and since this is a landmarked building - this will take YEARS to change (if the seller even cares to make these improvements). I highly anticipate this building will fail inspection. I feel sorry for the people who have signed contracts on this property. It's a beautiful building - but sadly in a dreadfully unsafe neighborhood which has a LONG way to go before it will be diverse. It's diagonal to the Armory homeless shelter - a very poorly run & dangerous shelter (soon to be the ONLY intake center for all of NYC) Sad for the homeless and sad for the area. There are men loitering on the streets & right outside your doorstep as they are kicked out during the day until shelter opens up in the evenings.
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Response by grantsquare
over 15 years ago
Posts: 4
Member since: Apr 2010
As one of the owner / occupants of the Bedfordshire, I couldn't disagree more with brooklyn540's year-old post. I can't speak for the other owners (though I'm sure they would agree), but my wife and I are completely in love with our exceptionally beautiful apartment, not to mention our equally beautiful and architecturally significant landmarked building, the amenities we enjoy here (a 12 minute commute to Manhattan, abundant storage space, abundant light, in apt. washer/dryer, high ceilings, the list goes on...) the wonderful community of owners (7 of the 10 units have sold to date), and our historic neighborhood. As first time buyers, we couldn't be happier with or more enthusiastic about our purchase.
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Response by Somelyn
about 15 years ago
Posts: 3
Member since: Jun 2008
Hello, as I stated on brownstoner:
Beautiful building, great interior renovations ... HORRENDOUS NEIGHBORHOOD!!! If you don't mind living next to the men's homeless shelter (soon to be NYC's central intake center for ALL HOMELESS!!!) this building is for you... If you don't mind piles of garbage from the adjacent building on your doorstep (that will never change) and a non-stop barking dog this building is for you... If you don't mind loads homeless men (don't get me wrong, I feel terrible for them and the conditions they suffer through at that armory) loitering, urinating, hissing, dealing drugs, promoting violence and further decay of Crown Heights on your doorstep this building is for you... If you don't mind being part of the losing battle against the growing number of residential social service beds in Crown Heights this building is for you... If you don't mind that the powers that be in NYC are bussing more and more homeless to the armory right next door late in the night, right under your nose this building is for you... If you don't mind that this neighborhood is home to some of the worst public school systems in NYC this building is for you... If you don't mind locking yourself inside starting at 8:30pm to avoid becoming a statistic or a victim of a heinous crime this building is for you... If you don't mind living in a neighborhood without diversity this building is for you... If you don%u2019t mind living very, very far away from other Brooklyn communities with stable environments, low incidence of crime, and lots going on in terms of business development, diversity, and overall growth this building is for you... If you%u2019re willing to compromise your safety for the enticingly low prices of these condos this building is for you... If you%u2019re willing to wait about 50 more years for this neighborhood to actually be talked about as %u201Cup and coming%u201D this building is for you...
Good luck, though...
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Response by grantsquare
about 15 years ago
Posts: 4
Member since: Apr 2010
Somelyn, you clearly don't live in North Crown Heights. My wife and I do, and we have for several years. We know firsthand that ours is a wonderfully diverse neighborhood with much to offer. Also, you are seriously misinformed about the Bedford Armory and local crime. Let me quickly address your misconceptions.
First, the Armory. Yes, it is a DHS facility. No, it is not and will not become the intake center for NYC. Legislation was passed last year in Albany prohibiting the city from combining all intake centers into a single entity at the Bedford Armory, thanks to some very engaged residents and responsive local elected officials. There is an active community here that is working to transition the armory to a mutli-use community center. If you think that's unlikely, check out the armory on 8th Ave in Park Slope, which was recently renovated to be a DHS shelter, YMCA, and veterans facility. To your point about homeless people on the corner across the street, all I can say is that neither my wife, my fellow owner-occupants, nor I have had any issues with anyone in the neighborhood, homeless or otherwise.
Second, crime. Nothing to take lightly, to be sure. Though, again, my neighbors and I have had no issues, and we walk the neighborhood at all hours. There are NYPD Impact Zones on Franklin and Nostrand Avenues that have had a very positive effect on local crime. 50-60 cops patrol the neighborhood between 6pm and 2am every day. There are also two officers posted 24-7 outside the armory. I doubt you have full-time police protection across the street from wherever it is you live.
Third, business and amenities in the neighborhood. There has been an incredible amount of business development in the past few months alone and that trend will only continue and accelerate. A beautiful new coffee shop is opening next week on Pacific and Nostrand, just down the block (I stopped to say hello to the owners the other day). There is a new sushi place on Nostrand between Atlantic and Pacific that opened in November, also a block away. A new restaurant and wine bar just opened on Classon and Pacific, two blocks away (and one block from the Bedford Armory). The chef apparently left Prune, an amazing restaurant in the East Village, to run this kitchen in North Crown Heights. Finally, Anthony Mackie (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1107001/) is opening a restaurant on the corner of Pacific and Nostrand as well. You can read more about what's going on in the neighborhood here:
I should note that, apart from what is coming, consider what is already here. Our apartment is four blocks from an A express that puts us downtown in about 12 minutes. We're three blocks from an LIRR stop for easy access to JFK. Bars and restaurants on Franklin Ave are a short 5-10 minute walk. One of those bars, Franklin Park, hosts an acclaimed literary reading series. We get our veggies from the local Crown Heights CSA, which distributes from a church on Bedford and Prospect, also four blocks away.
North Crown Heights isn't Brooklyn Heights. That's why we live here. We looked in many neighborhoods before we bought here. At the end of the day, we wanted to be here more than anywhere else. Ours is a diverse neighborhood with residents who care about and are invested in the community. It's also one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in NYC. We love it. So thanks for wishing us good luck, but we already feel incredibly lucky to be a part of this community and to live in the Bedfordshire.
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Response by grantsquare
about 15 years ago
Posts: 4
Member since: Apr 2010
PS, for anyone reading these posts who might be interested in a perspective other than mine and Somelyn's, here are some recent stories on Crown Heights:
I appreciate all of your comments ... and you are completely right --- we do not live in a neighborhood requiring full-time police protection (THANK GOD!!!) That wouldn’t be fair to our 6-month old (below the belt?) You purchased your new home in a crap neighborhood because the price was right per square foot ... And now you’re trying to make yourself feel better about it. I get it. You were like, “Wow! All this space in a beautiful building ... and so reasonable!” Maybe you’re more of a fashion over comfort type. Hate to break it to you, but that neighborhood isn’t changing any time soon. You know this too, and that is why you are so vigilantly trying to promote it. The Bedfordshire is a beautiful example of Romanesque Revival by Montrose Morris, but sadly her golden years are gone ... Replaced by the ghetto. If you feel safe in Crown Heights (oh wait, you’re in the “Jewel of Crown Heights” CH NORTH) more power to you...
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Response by grantsquare
about 15 years ago
Posts: 4
Member since: Apr 2010
Hi Somelyn, I'm not really interested in bantering with you, or in your opinion frankly. My post was to correct your misstatements of fact. As far as opinions go, our building is almost completely sold, and two children live here. So, while Crown Heights may not be for you, it's a great place to live for my family and many others. Cheers.
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Response by Dido
about 15 years ago
Posts: 1
Member since: Jan 2011
Somelyn, I want to know why you are so bitter. What happened to you? Why do you hate the Bedfordshire so much? Grantsquare lets us know a bit about his position and his investment in the community. So why are you so against it? Did you have a bad experience there? Have you ever lived there? Did you consider and decide against it, finding yourself in a smaller apartment with that 6-month old? What is at stake in this argument for you? If you want anyone here to take you as seriously, you must offer some context and explain your position as Grantsquare has done. I am contemplating buying in the area and I would appreciate fuller disclosure-- otherwise your comments remain rather unhelpful.
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Response by Somelyn
about 15 years ago
Posts: 3
Member since: Jun 2008
Hi Dido - a year ago my wife and I were close to buying into the bedfordshire. We had our offer accepted, financing in order etc. But everything went sour. The listing agent was lying through her teeth (everything from roof rights and a promised roof deck to the CofO.) the building sponsor and his minions were impossible, the offering plan was ominous beyond anything our lawyer had ever seen... it became so ridiculous. We were so blinded by how much we loved the space, loved the building. We didn't care about the armory, the loitering, the sketchy guys hanging out on the corner (I don't care what anyone says, they were hustling something and the armory guards turn a blind eye.) we thought about it more, attended a local neighborhood meeting and listened to horrific stories of men and women who all experienced violence, even hospitalization as a result of what goes on after hours on the streets surrounding the armory - not to mention the fact that those doors are closed and the homeless kicked out starting very early in the morning until late in the afternoon ... So where do you think they relieve themselves? Your doorstep. My wife was harassed when she decided to visit the property alone after leaving work a little early. That was enough for us. After walking away from the bedfordshire and crown heights we continued our search for a year and finally found our dream home in a park slope brownstone which we just finished renovating. So yes - my diatribe is fueled by personal experience. We went through many brokers, many neighborhoods, many deals falling through ... But that is just new York real-estate for you. In the end we found a broker that really helped us. I'm happy to give you his name. He grew up in crown heights and would never even think about taking his customers there to look. He knows the state it has fallen into, and knows it's a long way from recovery. He drove me and my (then heavily pregnant) wife around - weekend after weekend, scouring all listings. It was the most stressful time of our lives, but it was worth it.
As one of the owner / occupants of the Bedfordshire, I couldn't disagree more with brooklyn540's year-old post. I can't speak for the other owners (though I'm sure they would agree), but my wife and I are completely in love with our exceptionally beautiful apartment, not to mention our equally beautiful and architecturally significant landmarked building, the amenities we enjoy here (a 12 minute commute to Manhattan, abundant storage space, abundant light, in apt. washer/dryer, high ceilings, the list goes on...) the wonderful community of owners (7 of the 10 units have sold to date), and our historic neighborhood. As first time buyers, we couldn't be happier with or more enthusiastic about our purchase.
Hello, as I stated on brownstoner:
Beautiful building, great interior renovations ... HORRENDOUS NEIGHBORHOOD!!! If you don't mind living next to the men's homeless shelter (soon to be NYC's central intake center for ALL HOMELESS!!!) this building is for you... If you don't mind piles of garbage from the adjacent building on your doorstep (that will never change) and a non-stop barking dog this building is for you... If you don't mind loads homeless men (don't get me wrong, I feel terrible for them and the conditions they suffer through at that armory) loitering, urinating, hissing, dealing drugs, promoting violence and further decay of Crown Heights on your doorstep this building is for you... If you don't mind being part of the losing battle against the growing number of residential social service beds in Crown Heights this building is for you... If you don't mind that the powers that be in NYC are bussing more and more homeless to the armory right next door late in the night, right under your nose this building is for you... If you don't mind that this neighborhood is home to some of the worst public school systems in NYC this building is for you... If you don't mind locking yourself inside starting at 8:30pm to avoid becoming a statistic or a victim of a heinous crime this building is for you... If you don't mind living in a neighborhood without diversity this building is for you... If you don%u2019t mind living very, very far away from other Brooklyn communities with stable environments, low incidence of crime, and lots going on in terms of business development, diversity, and overall growth this building is for you... If you%u2019re willing to compromise your safety for the enticingly low prices of these condos this building is for you... If you%u2019re willing to wait about 50 more years for this neighborhood to actually be talked about as %u201Cup and coming%u201D this building is for you...
Good luck, though...
Somelyn, you clearly don't live in North Crown Heights. My wife and I do, and we have for several years. We know firsthand that ours is a wonderfully diverse neighborhood with much to offer. Also, you are seriously misinformed about the Bedford Armory and local crime. Let me quickly address your misconceptions.
First, the Armory. Yes, it is a DHS facility. No, it is not and will not become the intake center for NYC. Legislation was passed last year in Albany prohibiting the city from combining all intake centers into a single entity at the Bedford Armory, thanks to some very engaged residents and responsive local elected officials. There is an active community here that is working to transition the armory to a mutli-use community center. If you think that's unlikely, check out the armory on 8th Ave in Park Slope, which was recently renovated to be a DHS shelter, YMCA, and veterans facility. To your point about homeless people on the corner across the street, all I can say is that neither my wife, my fellow owner-occupants, nor I have had any issues with anyone in the neighborhood, homeless or otherwise.
Second, crime. Nothing to take lightly, to be sure. Though, again, my neighbors and I have had no issues, and we walk the neighborhood at all hours. There are NYPD Impact Zones on Franklin and Nostrand Avenues that have had a very positive effect on local crime. 50-60 cops patrol the neighborhood between 6pm and 2am every day. There are also two officers posted 24-7 outside the armory. I doubt you have full-time police protection across the street from wherever it is you live.
Third, business and amenities in the neighborhood. There has been an incredible amount of business development in the past few months alone and that trend will only continue and accelerate. A beautiful new coffee shop is opening next week on Pacific and Nostrand, just down the block (I stopped to say hello to the owners the other day). There is a new sushi place on Nostrand between Atlantic and Pacific that opened in November, also a block away. A new restaurant and wine bar just opened on Classon and Pacific, two blocks away (and one block from the Bedford Armory). The chef apparently left Prune, an amazing restaurant in the East Village, to run this kitchen in North Crown Heights. Finally, Anthony Mackie (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1107001/) is opening a restaurant on the corner of Pacific and Nostrand as well. You can read more about what's going on in the neighborhood here:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2010/12/thirst_bar_a_vi.php
http://nostrandpark.com/2010/11/09/french-bistro-styled-tapas-bar-opening-on-nostrand-next-door-to-a-sushi-bar/
I should note that, apart from what is coming, consider what is already here. Our apartment is four blocks from an A express that puts us downtown in about 12 minutes. We're three blocks from an LIRR stop for easy access to JFK. Bars and restaurants on Franklin Ave are a short 5-10 minute walk. One of those bars, Franklin Park, hosts an acclaimed literary reading series. We get our veggies from the local Crown Heights CSA, which distributes from a church on Bedford and Prospect, also four blocks away.
North Crown Heights isn't Brooklyn Heights. That's why we live here. We looked in many neighborhoods before we bought here. At the end of the day, we wanted to be here more than anywhere else. Ours is a diverse neighborhood with residents who care about and are invested in the community. It's also one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in NYC. We love it. So thanks for wishing us good luck, but we already feel incredibly lucky to be a part of this community and to live in the Bedfordshire.
PS, for anyone reading these posts who might be interested in a perspective other than mine and Somelyn's, here are some recent stories on Crown Heights:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/realestate/20living.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/magazine/10Kosher-t.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.nydailynews.com/real_estate/2010/07/09/2010-07-09_crown_jewels_inside_an_amazing_brooklyn_nabe_crown_heights.html
Hello Grantsquare,
I appreciate all of your comments ... and you are completely right --- we do not live in a neighborhood requiring full-time police protection (THANK GOD!!!) That wouldn’t be fair to our 6-month old (below the belt?) You purchased your new home in a crap neighborhood because the price was right per square foot ... And now you’re trying to make yourself feel better about it. I get it. You were like, “Wow! All this space in a beautiful building ... and so reasonable!” Maybe you’re more of a fashion over comfort type. Hate to break it to you, but that neighborhood isn’t changing any time soon. You know this too, and that is why you are so vigilantly trying to promote it. The Bedfordshire is a beautiful example of Romanesque Revival by Montrose Morris, but sadly her golden years are gone ... Replaced by the ghetto. If you feel safe in Crown Heights (oh wait, you’re in the “Jewel of Crown Heights” CH NORTH) more power to you...
Hi Somelyn, I'm not really interested in bantering with you, or in your opinion frankly. My post was to correct your misstatements of fact. As far as opinions go, our building is almost completely sold, and two children live here. So, while Crown Heights may not be for you, it's a great place to live for my family and many others. Cheers.
Somelyn, I want to know why you are so bitter. What happened to you? Why do you hate the Bedfordshire so much? Grantsquare lets us know a bit about his position and his investment in the community. So why are you so against it? Did you have a bad experience there? Have you ever lived there? Did you consider and decide against it, finding yourself in a smaller apartment with that 6-month old? What is at stake in this argument for you? If you want anyone here to take you as seriously, you must offer some context and explain your position as Grantsquare has done. I am contemplating buying in the area and I would appreciate fuller disclosure-- otherwise your comments remain rather unhelpful.
Hi Dido - a year ago my wife and I were close to buying into the bedfordshire. We had our offer accepted, financing in order etc. But everything went sour. The listing agent was lying through her teeth (everything from roof rights and a promised roof deck to the CofO.) the building sponsor and his minions were impossible, the offering plan was ominous beyond anything our lawyer had ever seen... it became so ridiculous. We were so blinded by how much we loved the space, loved the building. We didn't care about the armory, the loitering, the sketchy guys hanging out on the corner (I don't care what anyone says, they were hustling something and the armory guards turn a blind eye.) we thought about it more, attended a local neighborhood meeting and listened to horrific stories of men and women who all experienced violence, even hospitalization as a result of what goes on after hours on the streets surrounding the armory - not to mention the fact that those doors are closed and the homeless kicked out starting very early in the morning until late in the afternoon ... So where do you think they relieve themselves? Your doorstep. My wife was harassed when she decided to visit the property alone after leaving work a little early. That was enough for us. After walking away from the bedfordshire and crown heights we continued our search for a year and finally found our dream home in a park slope brownstone which we just finished renovating. So yes - my diatribe is fueled by personal experience. We went through many brokers, many neighborhoods, many deals falling through ... But that is just new York real-estate for you. In the end we found a broker that really helped us. I'm happy to give you his name. He grew up in crown heights and would never even think about taking his customers there to look. He knows the state it has fallen into, and knows it's a long way from recovery. He drove me and my (then heavily pregnant) wife around - weekend after weekend, scouring all listings. It was the most stressful time of our lives, but it was worth it.