Interest in moving to the neighborhood
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Interest in moving to the neighborhood
Posted by
flo
at
May 13. 2003
We are interested in moving to AR because of its proximity to Manhattan. However, the neighborhood was rather quiet on the Saturday we drove around ... hardly anyone was walking around. Is this typical? I would appreciate it if someone will share with us the safety issues of the neighborhood. By the way, I am expecting, do you recommend AR as a place for us to move to? Are there other families with young children in the building or is it a predominately young professional building? Thanks in advance for your response. -- Flo
Hey Flo,
The neighborhood is quiet but safe. If you went down to the park there would have been a lot of people, but certainly not "crowded".
There are tons and tons and tons of babies around and a k-6 school in Citylights.
Jake
The neighborhood is quiet but safe. If you went down to the park there would have been a lot of people, but certainly not "crowded".
There are tons and tons and tons of babies around and a k-6 school in Citylights.
Jake
The neighborhood is quiet. Also, many amenities aren't within walking distance (a real supermarket, Blockbuster, etc.) However, it sounds like you have a car, so you could always drive to Greenpoint, Woodside, Astoria, etc.
I find the neighborhood very safe. It may seem like nobody is around at night, but this seems to include the criminals as well!
AR has a disproportionate share of young professionals, but I see good number of babies.
I find the neighborhood very safe. It may seem like nobody is around at night, but this seems to include the criminals as well!
AR has a disproportionate share of young professionals, but I see good number of babies.
If you are looking for Blockbuster, there is one just over the Bridge in Greenpoint. Also, Netflix.com has been great to me for the last 3 years.
Jake
Jake
hi. This is a great place to have a kid. I have an 18 month old son and I love it here. The neighborhood is small, and there are a lot of families, and a real sense of community.
There is a playgroup Wed and Fri from 10-12 in the church basement. About 10-12 babies and kids and their caregivers and parents go each session. Some bring their little ones (3 months old), in case you're wondering. It's a great place to network with the other parents. It's also a good place to find a babysitter if you need one. I consider it a major resource. The kids can also be found in the "squirrel park" on 49th and the "blue park" by the water. Another major hang-out is the cafe 1063 on Jackson, right near the Chase Bank. The owner, Talitha, has a 12 week old daughter. We also go to the waterfront just about every day in the summer.
On the downside, there aren't too many services right in the neighborhood. We do our grocery shopping online (Freshdirect). When my baby was small and I needed to run errands I would take the train 1 stop to Grand Central and do them there. It was easy and I liked going to GCS. I also did a lot of stuff online so the doorman was essential. Now I work 4 days a week so errands aren't an issue. I would also walk to Williamsburg. It's a little far but given that I still haven't lost the pregnancy weight, I don't mind the exercise. There is also a great big park in Greenpoint on the way to Wburgh.
It is quite likely that we'll get more services in the next year or two
So that's the deal - good luck with your decision
Marya
There is a playgroup Wed and Fri from 10-12 in the church basement. About 10-12 babies and kids and their caregivers and parents go each session. Some bring their little ones (3 months old), in case you're wondering. It's a great place to network with the other parents. It's also a good place to find a babysitter if you need one. I consider it a major resource. The kids can also be found in the "squirrel park" on 49th and the "blue park" by the water. Another major hang-out is the cafe 1063 on Jackson, right near the Chase Bank. The owner, Talitha, has a 12 week old daughter. We also go to the waterfront just about every day in the summer.
On the downside, there aren't too many services right in the neighborhood. We do our grocery shopping online (Freshdirect). When my baby was small and I needed to run errands I would take the train 1 stop to Grand Central and do them there. It was easy and I liked going to GCS. I also did a lot of stuff online so the doorman was essential. Now I work 4 days a week so errands aren't an issue. I would also walk to Williamsburg. It's a little far but given that I still haven't lost the pregnancy weight, I don't mind the exercise. There is also a great big park in Greenpoint on the way to Wburgh.
It is quite likely that we'll get more services in the next year or two
So that's the deal - good luck with your decision
Marya
Hi,
The neighborhood is very safe (check with the police station at the corner of 50th and Vernon).
As for the quietness -- that is a good thing (sleeping, relaxing on the weekend, refuge from the city noise and pace). There aren't any problems in regards to crime from what I have seen in the past year that my husband and I have lived here since May 2002. I understand your concerns about the quietness but it is a positive not a negative here
We don't have children but there are many in the building and it is a great place for families. The Gantry Park is wonderful and the fact that we are at the end of the street on the East River is just the best -- the playground and piers is great for children and adults!
For services available:
- GROCERIES:
* www.freshdirect.com delivers groceries daily (great quality and price)
* Key Food across the Pulaski Bridge in Greenpoint
* Astoria and Williamsburg have great markets
* Green Market on Vernon Blvd. for stuff you run out of anything
* Gristedes also delivers to the building (so I heard but have never used)
* Costco is a 5 minute drive down Vernon
* If you want, you could do Urban Organics as well - they deliver
MOVIE RENTAL:
* www.netflix.com is great for movie rentals though there is also . .
* free dvd's at the conceierge desk (though not the latest and greatest there are hundreds of movies if people return them!)
* the public library at the Citibank building has a great selection and also free
* and of course, Blockbuster (that edits there movies, did everyone know?)
DRY CLEANING delivery service is great
I could go on and on but essentially there are no worries. However, if you have a car it is great but not necessary. Lots of great restaurants too! Manetta's, Tournesol, Bella Via, LIC Cafe, La Vuelta, Manducatis, Brazillian restaurant/cafe, and diners. A new cafe just opened on Jackson as well and new restaurants/cafes are opening all the time. Definitely up and coming! You will see the transformations week by week.
The neighborhood is very safe (check with the police station at the corner of 50th and Vernon).
As for the quietness -- that is a good thing (sleeping, relaxing on the weekend, refuge from the city noise and pace). There aren't any problems in regards to crime from what I have seen in the past year that my husband and I have lived here since May 2002. I understand your concerns about the quietness but it is a positive not a negative here
We don't have children but there are many in the building and it is a great place for families. The Gantry Park is wonderful and the fact that we are at the end of the street on the East River is just the best -- the playground and piers is great for children and adults!
For services available:
- GROCERIES:
* www.freshdirect.com delivers groceries daily (great quality and price)
* Key Food across the Pulaski Bridge in Greenpoint
* Astoria and Williamsburg have great markets
* Green Market on Vernon Blvd. for stuff you run out of anything
* Gristedes also delivers to the building (so I heard but have never used)
* Costco is a 5 minute drive down Vernon
* If you want, you could do Urban Organics as well - they deliver
MOVIE RENTAL:
* www.netflix.com is great for movie rentals though there is also . .
* free dvd's at the conceierge desk (though not the latest and greatest there are hundreds of movies if people return them!)
* the public library at the Citibank building has a great selection and also free
* and of course, Blockbuster (that edits there movies, did everyone know?)
DRY CLEANING delivery service is great
I could go on and on but essentially there are no worries. However, if you have a car it is great but not necessary. Lots of great restaurants too! Manetta's, Tournesol, Bella Via, LIC Cafe, La Vuelta, Manducatis, Brazillian restaurant/cafe, and diners. A new cafe just opened on Jackson as well and new restaurants/cafes are opening all the time. Definitely up and coming! You will see the transformations week by week.