Romy wrote:
Hey, great blog. I'm thinking about checking this place out, and I'm wondering if you or anyone you know has had experience with the package drop-off/pick-up facility and procedure there. Does that function smoothly? If so, that totally rocks!Also, it looks like FreshDirect delivers to your zipcode. Does anyone in the area/complex use it? This would be a major selling point for me, but if no one is using it, I don't know what the scheduling will be like. Thanks!
To which, I post:
You know, I thought I posted something about that, but I can't find it. The package room is only open Wed. morning/afternoon (9-3 ish, maybe) and Saturday midday, I forget. The package room is I believe run by the US postal service. Fedex and UPS don't know about it, and I tried to get them to deliver there once and they tried pretty hard but couldn't figure it out. So the deal is, it's fairly great for getting USPS packages. I believe (though I've never actually gotten a package) that no matter what day a package comes to you via USPS, it will be held in the room for you to pick up Wed. or Sat. This is good. They also said they would accept packages from UPS and Fedex etc. but you're on your own in terms of trying to time the Fedex/UPS delivery during package room hours. Also, I noticed a sign the other day that said "The package room is for SMALL packages only." I don't know what that means.
To me, other than incoming USPS packages, it's fairly worthless.
Also, a little annoyed that's one more thing FBG leasing lied about. They said it was open Monday to Saturday. I have most things delivered to work unless I'm sure it's coming USPS.
If you're used to a "full service" mailroom, either from work or a more "luxury" building... this is not that, or even close.
I've never tried FreshDirect at the apt, and I've never seen a truck outside (but I'm rarely home). I don't eat at home much and my post-church trip to key foods on newkirk is sufficient for me. The problem I have calling cars to take me to JFK is that the buildings are very poorly labeled. FD may have a hard time finding your building, and you may have to "guide them in" via phone, but I suspect delivery would go smoothly. There's lots of double parking room for a truck in the area, so that's not an issue.
I should try freshdirect though. Honestly, the produce in this area sucks. The big produce store is ok, but not air conditioned, full of flies, rarely has lettuce, and the smell of their dried fish section (which people actually buy from) makes me sick. They do have some decent fruit I buy, but not vegetables. Key foods usually has ok stuff. Standard urban grocery store quality. I used to make 12 salads with all kinds of stuff from the produce stand to take to work with me. After moving here, I tried, but it's just too hard to put together a salad worth eating with this stuff. So, yeah, I should try FD too.
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4 comments:
Thanks for the response! I guess I'm getting a little afraid of the area, from what I've read about recent crimes there. Too bad, because I visited the place during the day and it didn't seem so bad, and the rent and spaciousness of the apartments was so alluring. But as a single female who will be traveling home alone at night, I think it sounds too risky. Wish someone would talk me out of that...
Thought you might be interested in this new article in the Daily News. They make the place sound pretty lovely (except for the recent attempted assault, that sounds like it went way too far for my tastes).
http://www.nydailynews.com/real_estate/2008/11/06/2008-11-06_brooklyn_complex_is_winning_over_new_ren-2.html
Thanks for the link. The ex-roommate told me about that article, and I found it to be a little one sided. For example, along with the lovely reggae cds you can buy on the street, mentioned in the article, you can also get bootlegged dvds. Movie piracy isn't exactly a threat to anyone in the neighborhood, but it seemed like a perfect "balance" point to the story that was omitted. I believe what they call that story in jounalism is "bonus" ad space. Flatbush buys 1000s in ads in a lot of papers, and a nice one-sided puff piece is usually how the paper repays that large ad contract.
I would very much consider fbg if I were you. I come home at night all the time. Sometimes in suits. Sometimes with iPod. Sometimes with package. No one has ever bothered me at all. Now, I'm a guy, so that's different, but the ex-roommate comes home at night all the time too, and no one has ever bothered her. Also, as she's turned into something of an alcoholic, she comes home very late, quite, quite drunk, and still has had no problems at all. Things do happen, but keep in mind, the recent execution, which is clearly the worst thing that has happened recently, was the result of earlier fighting. Do you get in fights with people, or mind your own business? I don't know the details of the thwarted attack mentioned in the paper, but there's a chance (and statistical probability) that it wasn't random. Domestic violence, an angry ex, etc. The only thing that concerns me is things outside my control, i.e. random violence. I've not seen any reports of that. Though I'm sure it happens, it hasn't happened to me, or even happened enough for me to know about it.
I don't know what's right for you. I know that if I was a betting man, I'd take very large odds that nothing bad would happen to you, but aside from actual harm, you can't live in fear and be happy. So, regardless of what actually happens, if you're afraid of your neighborhood, it's probably a bad idea.
You get my encouragement. The place has problems, and I have complaints, but value to dollar I thinks it's a fair deal worth considering.
I haven't decided yet, but I'd bet I'm staying a while longer. Depends on how much they raise my rent, but at +50 or lower, I'll likely stay another year.
As a single white female living here I thought my opinion might be of value. I come home after dark every night, sometimes as late as 3-4 am. I don't really feel afraid walking home seeing as it is well lit and I'm really close to the train. I go the first entrance to the complex b/c I figure if someone wanted to mug me, it would be less likely if I were on fbg property with the cameras and all.. I do get the occasional sexual comments but that happens everywhere.
Like it has been mentioned before, the violence you hear about does not seem random. I've only heard a couple fighting in their apt one time, never anyone fighting outside, or anything worse.
The only complaint I have is that there's nothing to do around here and the grocery store kinda sucks. So I don't really hang out in the neighborhood. Also, I feel like I don't have much in common with the other tenants. I'm single, childless, educated, have a white collar job... So I feel like I don't fit the profile described in the news story, and don't really relate to a majority of the tenants, at least the ones I've encountered.
All the tenants in my building have been here for years and years, so there's a nice sense of community, and they've all been very nice to me. But I witnessed some dirty tricks by fgb on Sunday. Since the water problem over the weekend, apparently all the apartments on one side of my building had water running down the walls all day sunday (not my apt) and no one from maintenance bothered to come over. I know that they keep only one maintenance person working on the weekends so there is no way he can get to everything in a reasonable amount of time. But an emergency like that is serious and the excuse that there is only one person working is ridiculous and more people must at least be on call. One tenant accidentally turned on the bathroom light and things started sparking so the fire dept came. At this point water was leaking for 15 hours.
There was an informal tenant meeting going on in the hallway after this and I overheard a woman talking about how she has had her belongings in trash bags for the past 2 years b/c leaking water is an ongoing problem that has been ignored. She was very angry and said they are ignoring her b/c they want her out so they can rent her unit for $1500. Unfortunately she's exactly right and tenant abuse is a problem all over the city, not just here.
But so far, my needs have not been ignored. I've had to call maintenance a few time for urgent things and they came over w/in 2-3 hours, and sometimes within minutes.
As a whole, I like it here. My apt is huge, no roaches (!), and it's quiet which is important to me.
But if you can afford a similar sized apt in a nice neighborhood, I would go for that. I wish I could have something in Park Slope or Brooklyn Heights but it's just not possible. $1000 rent is unheard of in places like that.
Hi. I'm a long time resident of FBG. I grew up here moved out in early 90's and moved back in late 90's.
Some observations--
1. Fresh Direct does deliver here. I've seen the truck a few times.
2. The mailroom package policy is a joke. I either order UPS if I know I'll be home or have items mailed to my job in the city.
3. I find maintenance request get resolved faster if you go to the window in person. For all the apts they have, there is usually one lady who answer the calls. I've had the phone ring for 2-3 mins w/o answer.
4. For Romy-- How late is late? The 2 train is usually pretty busy late at night(11pm or so).If you come out with the crowd you should be fine.
I have to say that while there are problems the current management has done more to improve the area than all the previous ones combined. I'm personally all for gentrification/integration of the neighborhood. Having seen areas like fort greene and prospect heights improve I'd love to see something similar happen in Flatbush.
Good blog. If there any local questions I'd gladly help if I can.
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