Jackson Heights Life

Thanks, I'll check them out.

Hello,

Looking to rent out my coop unit (which is allowed by building). Any suggestions on what is most effective in JH? Broker vs self? NYTimes vs. Craigslist? All of the above? Are potential renters in JH willing to pay all or part of a broker's fee? Any pitfalls/risks to watch out for or to avoid? Thx - Kiam

Pretty interesting interview. Reminds us that JH is a special place.

Going back to the original topic . . .  I feel that the neighborhood will continue to evolve, primarily because the middle class is being priced out of Brooklyn etc., especially those folks starting a family and needing space.  Some of the factors that are tempering the gentrification (for lack of a better word) include the limited public green space, the limited supply of rental units, and the commuting time to downtown Manhattan. However, overall, you have the housing, transportation, and commercial infrastructure in place to see significant gentrification over the next decade.

I have lived in South Brooklyn and loved it while I was there, the food, the bars, the parks, the overall scene. I am now in JH and I love this place, albeit for different reasons. I love the Uruguayan bakery, the Polish deli, the tamaleras near the subway entrances, even a roasted chicken every so often. I will never go hungry in this n’hood. I love that LGBT couples make up 20%+ of my building. I love seeing Tibetan ladies dressed in their traditional garbs. I like walking down Roosevelt and wondering what happens beyond all the dark stairwells late at night. I love that people in the neighborhood seem obsessed with having dogs as pets. I love seeing the teenagers make out against trees, cars, and entryways because they have nowhere else to go. I also like stopping by Table Wine and grabbing a decent bottle of wine come Friday night.

I am not into the littered streets, nor into people not picking up after their dogs, nor into the calling cards handed out on weekends, nor into the lack of public greenspace, nor into the number of women with cosmetic surgery. I don’t care much for E77 for some of the reasons expressed before, but I wish the owners all the best in making their business work for them. At the end of the day, none of these are deal breakers for me. Like any relationship, you take with good with the bad . . . .and overall there is lots of good here.

I don’t think JH will become the next Brooklyn (nor do I want it to be). However, it will change significantly, but in a way that builds off of what we have here. We will likely see more professionals, more money, more kids, but it will be people who appreciate and embrace the diversity of JH. Mind you, my sense is that many of the immigrants in JH are “middle class”. They may not be college educated or read the New Yorker, but they are hard working, take pride in who they are, are happy with where they are in life, etc. I think those folks helped JH become the safe and prosperous place it is today.

My last observation, I get the sense that there are some people who moved to JH from Brooklyn etc. and either resent having to live here or resent not being able to live there. That sucks because they should live where they will be happy. I suspect some of these folks end up leaving JH, some just come to terms with the place and get past it, while others just keep hoping for the gentrification that has grabbed hold of Brooklyn etc. For better or worse, some of that gentrification is inevitable and likely sooner than we think.

A week and a half ago went to Criolla Esquina on Junction Blvd. Argentine grilled meat along the lines of Chivito de Oro along 37th Ave. Great meat and a very cozy feel to it.

 

Any recommendations for a local insurance agent to provide homeowners insurance.

Thanks,

Kiam

It all depends on what matters to you, i.e. space, location, price, garden, walk-up vs. elevator, being able to say you live in "x" or "y" building. There is a wide range to choose from. Try to get a feel for the different blocks and different buildings. Each is unique and has a distinct vibe. Nothing beats walking around, and going to open houses, if at minimum, to see what the buildings are like from the inside. Don't just focus on the apt that is being shown. Walk around during the day and at night, weekday and weekend. You can keep an inventory of potential favorite buildings and slowly narrow in on a couple.

I would say keep in mind that you are buying a unit and buying into a building. Ideally you find a combination that works for you. However, you might have to make some tradeoffs, on one or the other. It all depends on what are you are looking for in a unit/building, how quickly you want to buy, and what is available for sale. Some marquee buildings might not have units that make sense for you, others might not have anything available for sale. Lesser known buildings might provide good value.

It is a great time to buy given where mortgage rates are today. It continues to be a buyers market (lots of inventory has been sitting on the mkt), so you can take your time to find the right place for you. Be proactive in thinking about what matters to you and don't just react to what you see listed on NYT or Craigslist.