Row Houses in Crown Heights North

Welcome Apartment Dwellers!

And to all who have chosen 2010 as the year they declare independence from the room in their parents home for the last 25 years, welcome brave souls.

With Spring fast approaching, the time honored hunt begins by those who’ve left their Tax Preparer’s office humming their theme song (Single Ladies by Beyonce / I’m Coming Out by Diana Ross / Moving Out by Billy Joel / Juicy by Notorious B.I.G….your choice), announcing their Manifesto…

I’m getting my own place this year…by any means necessary

But where do you begin your search?  After all, Brooklyn’s the largest borough in New York City with more neighborhoods than any other county in the State.  Here’s a suggestion; look north to…

Crown Heights North

Crown Heights happens to be one of the smallest neighborhoods in Brooklyn in terms of land mass (with DUMBO, Vinegar Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Red Hook, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill even smaller).

And if you’ve read our Real Estate Round Up, your familiar with the geography of the neighborhood.

So what does Crown Heights North offer someone renting an apartment?

Commuter Friendly Neighborhood

Subway Service in Crown Heights

Crown Heights North has 6 major train lines and cross town shuttle subway servicing the neighborhood:

A & C Trains just past the boundary lines into Bedford Stuyvesant along Fulton Street

• Franklin Avenue (C train local stop)
• Nostrand Avenue (A & C train express stop)
• Kingston-Throop (C train local stop)

2, 3, 4 & 5 Trains at the Southern end along Eastern Parkway

• Franklin Avenue (2,3,4 & 5 train express stop)
• Nostrand Avenue (3 train local stop)
• Kingston Avenue (3 train local stop)

Shuttle Train along Franklin Avenue, traveling North to South

• Franklin Avenue stop
• Park Place stop
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden stop

If your commuting to major work centers in or near New York City (Downtown Brooklyn, Lower to Midtown Manhattan, Jersey City NJ) your travel time will average 25 to 45 minutes to your destination.

Shops, Dining and Attractions

Crown Heights North is home to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the world’s first museum created expressly for Children since 1899.  After renovating to expand its footprint, BCM has become an attraction for those traveling near and far throughout the City.  Children of all ages enjoy the many programs and events held as they learn and play.

The majority of neighborhoods shopping and dining options are concentrated along Nostrand Avenue and Franklin Avenue.

Nostrand Ave in Crown Heights North

On Nostrand Avenue you’ll find merchants offering fresh produce, hair care services, health and healing products, groceries and a broad selection of  takeout Caribbean cuisine.

You will find basic goods and services in abundance from Atlantic Avenue to Eastern Parkway, with metered parking along the strip and B44 bus line service.

This commercial drag is at the crest of it’s rebirth, with more commercial offerings being planned as a result of  a revitalized Merchant Association.

Franklin Ave in Crown Heights North

On Franklin Avenue, the Crow Hill Community Association has been hard at work since 1999 with revitalization efforts of this commercial strip from Atlantic Avenue to Eastern Parkway (click on their link to view local business map).

More dining options, cafes, diverse retailers and professional service providers can be found along this commercial strip, which rivals Washington Avenue in Prospect Heights for foot traffic after events held at the Brooklyn Museum of Art and Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

The Apartment Inventory

Crown Heights North apartment inventory is held in the following housing stock

• Apartment Buildings with 5 to 40 units – 34%
• Residential Buildings with 2 to 4 units – 47%
• Mixed Use Commercial with 1 to 4 units – 19%

While the neighborhood has some of the best pre-war apartment buildings in the City, these apartments are practically never available to the public.  Tenants enjoy rent stabilized occupancy and rarely ever vacate.

Apartments above storefronts is another option available along Nostrand & Franklin Avenues.  However, Crown Heights North holds the unique distinction of having more restaurants/bakeries/food and grocery merchants than in any other part of central Brooklyn.  Add to that the Barber Shops, Hair/Nail Salons and Bars and you’ll note day commerce transforms into a budding nightlife along these drags.

So Where’s the Sweet Spot

Townhouse Apartments!  The best Apartment leasing option Crown Heights North has to offer.  Why?  The answer is simple:

1. Often Exclusive Occupancy of a Single Floor
2. Heat and Hot Water is included in the Rent
3. Landlord on premises as an occupant to respond to Tenant inquiries
4. Better standards maintained for quality of life on premises
5. Improved Safety Factors
6. Landlord’s tend to lease direct to Tenants without a middleman
7. Room to negotiate rental rate from what’s advertised

The only drawback to townhouse apartments are their floor plans.  Room counts range from 4 to 6, including full bath and galley style kitchen.  Room size will depend on the length and width of the building.  Apartments average 500 sq ft, but have been known to possess as much as 750 sq ft.

In addition, these apartments often have oak wood parquet floors, slate and wood mantled fireplaces, pocket & french doors, 10 ft plus ceiling height and beautiful wood treatments around windows and doors.

As of Feb. 21, 2010 there were

• Ten 2 Bedroom Apartments; average asking rent $1,500 *
• Eight 1 Bedroom Apartments; average asking rent $1,200 *

* information furnished by rentometer.com

Best Locations for Crown Heights North Townhouse Apartments

If you focus your search in the following boundaries:

Prospect Place to the North, New York Avenue to the East, Eastern Parkway to the South and Franklin Avenue to the West

You’ll enjoy the best of what the neighborhood offers in Apartment living.  Come and immerse yourself into the growing arts scene (finger snaps).

Stay tuned for the Crown Heights Real Estate Round Up: February 2010 edition.

About the Author: Michael Corley is the publisher of MyBrooklynReport.com, a blog about Brooklyn neighborhoods, its Opportunities and the Politics of Real Estate in NYC, a Real Estate Broker and a resident of Crown Heights South for 12 years.

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