NatM

Located between Canarsie and Marine Park, Brooklyn's Flatlands neighborhood boasts a well-maintained community with multicultural residents and businesses. This community also has a very interesting history. It was once an important stop on the Underground Railroad and was later a favorite hangout for the Mafia. Today, it is a very peaceful and safe community with eclectic stores and restaurants that demonstrate its diversity. The Flatlands is known as a "double ticket" town, where residents have to take the bus in order to get to the subway. The commute to Manhattan takes about an hour, which does deter some daily commuters from choosing to live here. There are private express buses that make daily trips to the city, but they are much more expensive than public transportation (and in effect, they take longer - especially when there is traffic). Most residents get around by driving or taking the bus. Although this isn't the best choice for commuters, this town has a lot to offer. There is a lot of shopping nearby, particularly at Kings Plaza Mall, but the area around the mall isn't the greatest or safest. There is a very wide range of pricing for homes in the Flatlands, but overall, it's very affordable.

Located in northwestern Brooklyn, Prospect Heights offers an interesting and unique mix of old and new. The neighborhood has a convenient location, close to some of the best and most popular Brooklyn attractions, including Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Underhill Playground. Prospect Heights will become even more well known once the Barclays Center opens next year and the Nets begin to play there. This town has become somewhat of a hotspot in Brooklyn, as developers invest more money and more retailers move here. Another point of pride for residents here is the fact that the crime rate has dropped amazingly, giving more people confidence to move here. Housing options are plentiful, and range from well preserved brownstones to town houses, co-ops, and apartment complexes. The pricing here varies; there are affordable low end homes and homes with prices that are comparable to Manhattan prices. The busiest streets in Prospect Heights are on Washington and Vanderbilt. There are lots of shops and restaurants. Access to public transportation is amazing. There are nine subway lines, the Long Island Rail Road, and a number of buses. The commute to Manhattan takes about 30-40 minutes. In my opinion, the major problem with living in Prospect Heights is the school district. The schools here are mediocre; one is doing so badly that the city is thinking of getting rid of it altogether.

In the past, downtown Brooklyn was mainly known for being Brooklyn's civil, retail, and business center. However, private investors have spent billions of dollars on developing new apartment complexes and encouraging new businesses to build here as well. More than half of the homes created by the development boom are rentals, which have been in high demand after the foreclosure crisis hit many parts of Brooklyn. The apartments here range from affordable to upscale. The area's increasing popularity isn't surprising considering the area's numerous attractions. Residents have easy access to some of Brooklyn's finest neighborhoods, including Carroll Gardens and Brooklyn Heights. It is also a commuter's dream: a dozen subway lines run through downtown Brooklyn. There is no shortage of places to shop or eat; downtown Brooklyn includes the Fulton Street Mall, the farmer's market in front of Borough Hall, and the Metro Tech center, where a lot of bankers and financiers now work. Starting next year, residents will also be able to watch the Nets play at the new Barclays Center. You can take your kids to the BAM Cultural District for music lessons or to the YMCA on Atlantic Avenue for swimming classes. There are no public schools at the primary level in this area, but there are private schools and there is a pretty good school nearby in Brooklyn Heights.

Located on the Queens-Brooklyn border, Cypress Hills is a vibrant immigrant community where residents have worked to reform the town's negative image. When I was younger (about 15 years ago), my father worked near Cypress Hills. Whenever I went to visit him at work, he would tell me to take a cab there because it wasn't safe to walk around alone - even during the day. Even today, Cypress Hills is part of a larger area of Brooklyn that has a terrible reputation for public safety and consistently sees increases in robberies. This may be caused by the fact that Cypress Hills is generally a lower class neighborhood with many public housing projects and affordable housing developments. Rentals are hard to come by; most of the housing here is in private homes. Many of the homeowners were able to purchase their homes because the prices are very cheap and because they have received subsidies from the government. You'll see that the majority of people here use food stamps. The schools in Cypress Hills are mediocre at best, so I am not convinced that this is the best place to raise your kids. However, there are plenty of recreational activities, such as visiting Highland Park, which is huge and filled with great amenities.

Located in Central Brooklyn, Clinton Hill has been experiencing tremendous growth and change during the past few years. While the town was once known for being poor and run down, the residents of this lovely town have worked with the city to bring culture and businesses here to spark growth and attract more residents. Home to the Pratt Institute, Clinton Hill has a wide variety of housing options. There are buildings in almost every imaginable style and there are gorgeous mansions that add to the neighborhood's elegance. As a result of all of the improvements in the neighborhood, developers have been investing in Clinton Hill as well. New housing developments offer modern affordable housing. Residents have a lot of reasons for choosing to live in Clinton Hill. There are plenty of shops and restaurants on Myrtle Avenue, the town's main artery. There are numerous and diverse choices on other streets as well. A food co-op for residents has been planned and many residents work together on a community garden. There is a community organization that gives legal assistance to residents. That isn't to say that this is a perfect neighborhood; it still has quite a way to go. The town's public schools are barely mediocre and there are still a lot of robberies. The transportation options are inconvenient, making it a poor choice for people who have to commute to Manhattan every day.

Located in east Brooklyn, Brownsville is a tiny area of about one square mile. Interesting fact: Brownsville had the first birth control clinic in the nation. Today, Brownsville is well known for pretty negative reasons. With eighteen public housing projects that house about a quarter of the town's population, Brownsville has the largest concentration of public housing developments in the United States. The rest of the town's population mainly lives in low cost housing developments. Since this is such a low income area, Brownsville has one of the highest crime rates in New York City. While the city is working to improve the town's safety rating, progress has been slow. The city is also promoting change by allowing developers to bring more businesses to the area. However, it will take much more time before Brownsville is up to par with the rest of the city. The main reason why people choose to live in Brownsville is that it is cheap. While $1,500 can usually get you a one-bedroom apartment in most of the outer boroughs, it can get you a three-bedroom in Brownsville. Two subway lines run through Brownsville, and it only takes about a half hour to get to midtown Manhattan.

Brooklyn Navy Yard refers to an industrial waterfront park on the East River. It has a small cluster of historical homes that are known as Admiral's Row because they were once naval officers' homes. Once used as a supply depot for the Union army during the Civil War, this area has become the focus of a major real estate controversy because developers feel that the area should be developed while preservationists want to restore the homes, which have been horribly neglected. Things started to get a little better after Mayor Bloomberg announced that the city would spend millions to expand and improve the yard. The city is also expected to spend millions of dollars in order to bring a large supermarket and some other needed businesses to the area while also preserving important buildings. The vast majority of the area's residents live in three public housing developments that border the yards. The main reasons why people choose to live here are that they like living in a historically important area, and that the rent is somewhat affordable by New York City standards. However, it is pretty under-served commercially and inconvenient as the nearest subway station is a twenty minute walk away. In my opinion, there are far better and more convenient places to live that are in the same price range.

Brooklyn Heights is a beautiful neighborhood that boasts unparalleled views of New York Harbor and Lower Manhattan. This town isn't cheap by most standards, but it offers an affordable option to Manhattanites who are used to paying exorbitant prices for real estate. This neighborhood is protected as a historic district, and it boasts a wide variety of early architectural styles. The park in Brooklyn Heights is absolutely gorgeous; it has well maintained green grass, a playground, views of the city's skyline, and up close views of the Brooklyn Bridge. At the entrance to the park, there is the renowned Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, right across the street from New York's best pizzeria. There are also some great restaurants in Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. Head over to Montague Street, the town's main commercial area for shopping, banks, and some cheaper dining options. Public transportation is super easy; there are a number of subway lines that run in/around Brooklyn Heights, and lower Manhattan is just one stop away. This makes Brooklyn Heights a very popular choice for people working on Wall Street. There isn't much of a school district here. There are a bunch of private schools; the town's only public elementary school is excellent. There are no middle schools, so most parents elect to send their kids to school in Fort Greene or Manhattan.

While I'm not much of a fan of any of the towns on the Rockaway Peninsula, I have to admit that these waterfront towns are lovely. Seaside is no exception, with its waterfront high-rise apartment complexes. This town has an important cultural history, as it has been featured in books, TV shows, and movies. This is an incredibly safe and tight-knit community. During the peak summer season, the town tends to get very crowded with visitors, but the locals can enjoy peace and privacy during the rest of the year. This is a very peaceful town that offers a good escape from city life but its isolation results in problems such as a difficult commute to schools and a ninety minute commute to Manhattan. This is a fairly expensive place to live: housing prices are steep, particularly near the beach. Still, this town is lovely and well maintained. It is known for its colorful bus shelters. The town also has restaurants and shops, but there isn't a lot of diversity. This town, like other towns on the Rockaway Peninsula, is also prone to damage from storms.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is the busiest international commercial and freight airport in the country. There are close to one hundred airlines that fly in and out of JFK's eight passenger terminals. Terminal 5, the Jet Blue terminal, is gorgeous. AirTrain stops throughout the airport and connects to the city's subway station. A lot of buses also travel to the airport. As JFK is one of the busiest airports in the world, this causes many problems for people who live near the airport. For starters, residents in neighboring towns in both Queens and Nassau frequently complain about the noise from planes flying overhead. In particular, they complain about the noise from overnight flights. Several communities in both counties have banded together to complain about the problem. Other issues with living near JFK include concerns over pollution and the threat of terrorist attacks, as there have been quite a few false alarms in the years since 9/11. Another issue that bothers the airport's neighbors is the traffic on the Van Wyck and the Belt Parkway. Both highways are prone to heavy traffic, which is made worse by the cars heading to/from the airport.

Hammels used to be a summer beach community with boardwalks, a dock, and a nice hotel. Over the years, it deteriorated in condition but ironically, ended up with a more permanent population (as opposed to summer residents). Its poor condition and lack of popularity is ironic, considering the fact that it is located on the water and just over one hour from Manhattan. One thing to note is that only the A train runs to the Rockaways, making it difficult and time consuming to commute to the city. Hammels has been known as a pretty unsafe neighborhood because its main housing was designed to be somewhat of a tenement housing project. While Hammels housing is cheap and the town has worked to clean up its image, its reputation is still pretty bad.

While the town is improving every year due to the efforts of town officials and residents, it will be a while before it can attract a huge influx of residents. The main problems are its crime rates, the long commute to the city, and this area (like most of the Rockaways) is often hit the hardest by storms, tornadoes, etc.

Bayswater used to be a lovely beach resort with lots of luxurious hotels and quaint motels. Over the years, it deteriorated leaving strings of decrepit homes and a rapidly dwindling population. Its poor condition and lack of popularity is ironic, considering the fact that it is located on the water, just an hour from the city and has pretty reliable subway service (despite the fact that only one subway line runs here). Still, a huge percentage of the homes in this area are vacant and the prices are extremely low, considering that it's still a part of New York. Developers betting on its potential have begun nicer housing developments with more modern conveniences and very low prices. They are also trying to develop more shops and restaurants to boost the local economy and to attract more residents. Town officials are also taking steps to try to make the area safer (while it isn't the most dangerous town in New York City, safety is still an issue).

While the town is improving every year due to the efforts of town officials and the numerous developers who have invested in properties here, it will be a while before it can attract a huge influx of residents. The main problems are that it has a very long commute to the city, and this area (like most of the Rockaways) is often hit the hardest by storms, tornadoes, etc.

Arverne-Edgemere used to be a beautiful luxury beach resort. Over the years, it deteriorated leaving strings of decrepit homes and the Ocean Promenade, which is supposedly the longest boardwalk on the East Coast. Its poor condition and lack of popularity is ironic, considering the fact that it is located on the water, just an hour from the city (by subway), and has excellent subway service. Still, a huge percentage of the homes in this area are vacant. Many developers have caught on to its potential, building low-cost luxury housing developments that boast modern conveniences and rock bottom prices. They are also trying to develop more shops and restaurants, to boost the local economy and to attract more residents. Town officials are also taking steps to try to make the area safer (while it isn't the most dangerous town in New York City, a large number of robberies take place here every year).

While the town is improving every year due to the efforts of town officials and the numerous developers who have invested in properties here, it will be a while before it can attract a huge influx of residents. If you have money to spare, it may be a good long-term investment, but it isn't a very nice place to live yet.

College Point is another town that is marked by a wide range of ethnically and economically diverse neighborhoods. A number of developers and construction companies have been developing the areas closest to the water because the land was so cheap. Formerly filled with factories and warehouses, College Point now boasts a number of modern shopping centers and large stores like Target and BJ's. There are some lovely and newly constructed apartments and townhomes that are reasonably priced. The one thing to watch out for is that in order to maximize profits, the vast majority of these developers have tried to squeeze in as many homes as possible, resulting in homes that are far narrower than what you would usually expect. There are also some very well ranked public schools in the area. It also has excellent transportation routes for cars (the Van Wyck, the Cross Island, and the Whitestone Bridge are all easily accessible).

On the other hand, public transportation options are sparse. The nearest subway is in Flushing. Also, most of the areas that haven't been developed yet are filled with decrepit homes or industrial parks.

Basically, if you can find a nice sized home in one of College Point's better areas, it is a great place to live.

Murray Hill is a small area of Queens, between Flushing and Auburndale / Bayside. It is a commuter's haven, with tons of apartments for rent within walking distance of the Murray Hill Long Island Railroad station. For those who don't want to spend the extra money on the LIRR, they can walk about 10 minutes to the subway station in Flushing. There are also many bus routes that pass through this area, but for the most part, everything is in walking distance.

The biggest issues in this area are safety and parking. While many of the gangs that others have written about are things of the past, safety remains a large concern for residents. There are a lot of bars in the area, so car accidents (particularly those caused by drunken drivers) happen relatively often. Seeing strange men urinate in the street is also a common sight.

The area immediately surrounding the train station is predominately filled with Korean restaurants. For those who favor Korean barbecue or seafood like myself, there are plenty of options. Most of the restaurants have valet parking as well. However, as I said earlier, most people prefer to visit Murray Hill, rather than live there. My husband and I visit there frequently for the food, but we've never considered living there.