Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, and the BQE

I think it would be insane to live in something that faces within earshot the bqe or any similar menace to human dignity.

I've spent a lot of time in three different apartments in buildings alongside the BQE.

Surprisingly, not a lot of "shocking" noise like sirens, or crashes. In some ways, its better than street noise. Buts a consistent medium roar. Definitely not soft.

Of course, make sure you're not near a lip or something. Because one apartment has the consistent truck pound when 18 wheelers went over it. So, specific location matters.

But, you know what might actually be worse... the air. Always a thin layer of black "dust" on everything... good windows can get past the noise, but the air thing, thats not so good.

You're also near an exit. The traffic backups can be a pain.

I will say that I'll take the bqe over being above any lively street or avenue. I can sleep with the bqe. But a bar with a crowd or something like that, forget it.

Also consider the soot from car/truck exhaust if you have windows in proximity to the BQE, it will kill you and ruin your walls, furniture and clothes. This was the case with friends who lived facing the BQE in Fort Greene.

thats what I meant by the "black dust".

i have friends at 55 poplar. they had to put in city quiet windows as the 24/7 BQE truck noise was unbearable

I rent near the BQE in DUMBO and luckily our building has soundproofed windows. There used to be a really bad joint on the BQE near Washington St. in DUMBO but they fixed it so traffic is a little quieter. The trucks passing over that were just brutal! Plus the downshifting is pretty loud too.If you are sensitive to noise and or a light sleeper I would look somewhere else like Park Slope or Cobble Hill. Depending on where you live in DUMBO the subway over the Manhattan Bridge can be pretty intense as well. It is a loud neighborhood, no doubt.

i lived in CG where the BQE is below ground and the brownstone was the 6-7 from the intersection. the soot on the windows was horrible. had to paint before the summer and after eventhough we didn't keep the windows open too much. at night, the trucks shook the house. it was scary. on Poplar, the highway is above ground, so the shaking shouldn't be too much of a problem, but the soot will be much worse.

yeah, the below ground BQE seems to be the worst of all! I don't know if its logical, but it seems to be louder, and possibly dirtier there (maybe because no "cross-breeze"?

I live in Brooklyn Heights and it's fine. But the apartments I know that either face the BQE or are just off the BQE really live with a lot of gunk. You can buy windows to bury the sound, but then you can never open your windows? Oy. And I think it can't be good for your health, esp if you have little kids.

I love Brooklyn Heights, and if you live in off the promenade where the BQE is covered and buried, it's fine. If you are looking at something on Poplar or in Willowtown, etc, it would be hard.

I was walking through Brooklyn Heights tonight and I really tuned into the noise of the BQE . Once you focus on it you can hear it throughout the neighborhood. It must not bother me since I've been living here for years and haven't really noticed it. Living right by the BQE is probably different though. Many apartments on Poplar and in DUMBO have great views (Brooklyn Bridge, city, water). Are the views worth tolerating the sound of the BQE? How do you think resale is impacted by the BQE?

bb, i'll give you an example of what i have now. i live across the street from the train. there are houses across the street so the noise is minimal. the bedrooms are in the back, so you don't hear anything. my friend came and met me outside, didn't even bother to walk in. she said "How can you live like this???" she lives on a main street with 4 lanes of traffic and lots of trucks going by. she has lots of soot on her windows. she rather live with that then hearing the train a little in the livingroom.

if something is priced right and is in a desirable location, people will buy.

the poplar duplex would be something that i, personally, would be interested in due to the low taxes/cc and the parking spot. for a family having a reverse duplex is a blessing and a parking spot a huge plus. the location is not top notch and the noise factor/soot from BQE needs to be considered. everyone gets used to everything.

Also something to consider is the BQE is scheduled for demolition and rebuilding sometime in the next few years. yeh i know a real cockup considering the park is just opening now.

25 Jay Street in Dumbo is the loudest apartment building I've ever lived in. The walls were paper thin, there was no insulation from the apartments above or below. Neighbors were inconsiderate. Management and super passed off the problem back and forth to each other, so nothing was done. Forfitted our security deposit. It was that bad