#1 — $1750 — loft: Oh, this is cool. The top, corner unit at the beginning of a row of tall former mansions on Bushwick Avenue, across from the Freedom Square monument and the Cook Mansion. What!? But also the KFC. Can’t win’ em all. This is still an awesome corner. Unfortunately, it seems no old details survived inside, but I’m sure the owner had no choice in the matter. Willoughby and Bushwick
#2 — $1200 — 2br rr: Large, clean, nice floors, good shape. A couple could be very comfortable here and save a lot of money. PETS OK DeKalb and Evergreen
#3 — $2150 — 3br: I’m listing this one cautiously, but since it’s a 3/1.5 duplex with all utilities included and a private yard, I think the price could be justified. Even though it’s all up on the projects. CATS OK Harman and Central
#4 — $1200/1400 — 1 and 2br: Two apartments available in what I think is the same building. One-bedroom has access to a shared yard and a renovated kitchen. Wood floors, a few old details may have survived. Nothing amazing, but gets the job done at a decent price. Central and Willoughby (1br | 2br)
#5 — $1600 — 2br: Too expensive, but it’s a nice place. Decent new kitchen with a dishwasher, nice wood floors and very cool old details on the walls. But the Aberdeen stop on the L!? Take about $250 off the price — if it’s not a railroad — and we’re in business. Doesn’t say where on the street it is but I’m guessing Chauncey and Bushwick/Evergreen
habitat67 September 13th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I walk past #1 all the time.. it’s really close to the Myrtle JMZ station, grocery store and also a good cheap gym.
Matt L September 13th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
My boyfriend and I actually went and saw that second one, the railroad for $1200, about a week and a half ago. The building seemed nice but it was next to a vacant lot and…not much else. It was also a disaster when we saw it, they’ve obviously cleaned up. We ultimately passed because of the location, and (this might sound crazy) because the stairs to get up to the apartment curve so weirdly we knew we wouldn’t be able to fit our couch up there.
Matt L September 13th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Oh, and another thing – we were ready to put a deposit down on an apartment on Wyckoff and Suydam, when we got a call from the Hasidic realtor (are they all Hasidic around here?) telling us that the landlord actually wanted it rented earlier so we couldn’t have it. This was after he had strongly emphasized that it was a one bedroom, and were we sure we were ok with that? (Read – why are two guys sharing a one bedroom apartment?).
We’re pretty sure we got screwed because we’re gay – the argument about wanting it rented earlier doesn’t hold water because we were prepared to put down a deposit, and were going to move in a week later. Has anyone else had an experience like that?
turgan September 13th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
speaking of… do you know how much http://www.bushwick.com goes for?
Matt September 13th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
MAtt L, from what you say, I see no other explanation other than ‘sexual orientation’ discrimination.
Bummer dood. Not sure what if anything can be done about that specific lameness. How can you prove discrimination? Grr. Good luck and hopefully you’ll find something even better!
Jeremy September 13th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Matt L, I think you’re digging too deeply here — the JEWISH landlord says he wants someone in there earlier, you should probably just take that at face value. LOL.
Commence hate mail.
jay September 13th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Matt L why are you guys moving? I thought you were happy living around Maria H. park with your dog. the kitchen (in #2) does look huge, or is it the same size kitchen in most of these 20′ wide buildings.
Isn’t it hard not to have a railroad apt. when you only got that much space to work with?
Curvy steps are not good, you can easily trip, and if you drink excessively watch out for slip and falls.
Besides if you couldn’t get the couch up than it would mean both tenants would have to sleep in the 1 bedroom!
So I guess the “non L Matt” is married.
#1 looks nice, but what is the actual square footage, what does everyone thinks the size of a loft should be minimally.
#5 does look like between Bushwick and Evergreen, although I didn’t think Jeremy made it around to SoBu that much.
Matt L September 13th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
We’re in a sublet that is up next month with no possibility of renewal (its promised to my landlord’s friend).
Jaybushwick September 13th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
did u see how they did the closets in #2 – no doors. plus what’s that black thing in the kitchen on the back wall.
Jeremy September 14th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Jay, I don’t now make it to the south end very much. Scratch that — at all. But I looked around there more times than not when looking for a place last year. Also, I always look at satellite images — or did you think I memorized the location of every single Hope Gardens building? :-D
Sarah Jenny September 14th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I would love to learn more about the Cook Mansion, can you do a piece on that? Thanks!
Jimmy Legs September 14th, 2007 at 11:05 am
FNY has a decent piece about the Cook Mansion. i’m annoyed, somebody tagged the whole building up recently, no class at all.
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/bushwick/bushwick.html
Jeremy September 14th, 2007 at 11:40 am
That’s weird, I thought someone had moved in, because we saw dogs in the yard and lights on inside, and new windows installed.
pedro September 14th, 2007 at 11:45 am
Matt, I wouldn’t doubt it I tried getting an apt. through a Hassidic realator for a while, and they can be very racist! After several time of hearing that someone already rented the apt, I knew what was up? Then he asked me what languages I speak after I told him I speak Spanish and English, he said “you’re PR right?” then I knew what was up.
Jeremy September 14th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Pedro, fuck them — and turn it back on em. When you call them, go “oh you’re Hasidic? Forget it.” *click* In the meantime, seek out apartments not owned by those dirtbags.
Did you eventually get a place?
PKW September 14th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Matt L
Don’t give up on Bushwick. My boyfriend and I have great Landlords and we live on Central a little farther out. You just have to find the right people to rent from. We actually live in a building where all of the neighbors know each other. Crazy but true!!
Good luck ;)
jay September 14th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Jeremy kinda figure you were a north bushwick kinda guy, place where the homes are the same prices but half the size. so SoBu is second in line for gentrification okay? You fell in love with Irving Square park, but what sold you on your area, or was it the house.
Are you sure the tagging is recently. Lots going on there – new windows, kitchens, dogs, clean up.
Wait so they don’t like renting to PR, and guys in bushwick? With PR – come on there are PR flags all over the place as discussed on this blog just weeks ago. Unless it’s the guy and PR thing that’s being held against people.
Matt L are you having any luck finding an apt.? What is your criteria?
Matt L September 15th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Thanks everyone for the support!
Jay – We don’t have a whole lot of criteria (seeing as we’re both searching for jobs right now), just hoping for a one bedroom but willing to look at a studio (we’re in a studio now) and looking for something less than $2000. Ideally we’d like to stay within walking distance of Maria Hernandez Park for the pooch.
Jeremy September 15th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Jay, last year, the houses were pretty much the same price per sqft in North and South Bushwick. But we took this one because it wasn’t completely rotten on the inside and could be moved right into. We had a low price range and couldn’t afford the 150K in renovations most places needed after having been treated like dirt by the inhabitants for 40 years.
Jaybushwick September 16th, 2007 at 8:56 am
Matt there are LOTS of options for under $2,000 especially if you are talking only studios and 1 bedrooms.
Don’t forget about Irving Square park also, not as big as Maria but decent.
What type of work are each of you looking for and what’s each of your experience? I know you used to be a PA, but your other half.
Keep us up to date if you can on your job search. Perhaps start a new blog entry about it so we can give you comments about each apt. and the area. Also with your job search, as you both seem like nice fellows and we want everyone in nice places, employed, and bushwick bloggers, okay??
Jeremy so true about houses needing $150K of renovations. Is that insane or what. Still the contrast between buying a place in the suburbs that doesnt need that and living in the city and having to shell out the 150 just to get the place in decent order.
Well the new construction homes are rotten that is for sure, but I’m guessing you like the charm of an older house?
You’re in a good area that is for sure. You are close to Maria park, and to Brooklyn Natural, life cafe, around Johnston St. and Flushing Ave, and that area continues to be remote yet cool.
Army April 7th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Pedro, just keep looking; Hasidic landlords will rent out apts. to anybody; providing you could pay the rent w/out any special programs! my friend…J & his girlfriend are both PR’s & the hasidic landlord rented them the apt. w/out any Questions or problems!!! and he knows they are PR’s.