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Agreed. Cypress Hills needs revitalization, does not have to be and won't be Williamsburg style. Are you familiar with the Cypress Hills Development Corp or have an opinion on them?
ShadowMassa & G-Dale, do you enjoy living there?
ps ShadowMassa, I've seen that old corner building you posted that was recently refurbished, so cool!!!
CHD ? Yes, I am aware about the company. As for it's history, I'm not too certain. I am not sure what new developments are planned for the area. The neighborhood does contain space for expansion.
It's not all that bad. Like I stated before, if people are rushing to move into Bushwick where it can be just as 'dangerous' or if not more, it's also grittier and at locations appears rougher or not even well managed. Then, I don't see the negative big deal about Cypress Hills. Cypress Hills, like the name, is a greener neighborhood than Bushwick or Bed stuy, there are many trees, Highland Park and some historical graveyards in the area.
Honestly, travel along the the J/Z line along Broadway on foot, which is the border of Bed Stuy and Bushwick. The area looks rougher and if not dirtier than Fulton St under the elevated J/Z in Cypress Hills.
Cypress Hills has a large population of Latinos, South Asians, Caribbeans, noticeable Chinese, some Whites, and from what I noticed recently, and I've seen Roma Gypsies in the area. I know someone will ask me to show the evidence for that one. LOL
People speak English in the neighborhood. You will definitely hear a lot of Spanish, and even Bengali, Hindi, Chinese, Patois, Arabic around the streets. Arabs are another small and growing notable population in the area. Arabs are buying a number of storefronts on Fulton.
Angela's and Mike's pizzeria have some good ratings for neighborhood Pizza. On Atlantic Ave (border of CH and ENY proper) there are a number of fast-food chains ranging from White Castle, Wendy's, Subway, McDonalds, Papa Johns if that is what you and your family enjoy once in a while.
As for Commercial strips, that would be Fulton St in Cypress Hills. Jamaica Ave in nearby Woodhaven and Liberty Ave in nearby City Line are others. If you happen to have a car you are a hop away from Myrtle Ave in Glendale via Cypress Hills St which cuts across the graveyards.
You will have Highland Park and the Ridgewood Reservoir, and finally not so far way you will also have access to Forest Park. You will see Joggers and cyclist of many ethnicities and ages around Jamaica Ave. I believe many of the joggers/cyclist come and cross from a number of nearby neighborhoods entering CH. You will even see joggers and cyclist on Cypress Hills St which feels a bit hidden due to the lack of pedestrian movement, but there are plenty traffic going through.
As for Yupsters-Hipsters-Transplants or however you may profile them in terms of appearance in the area. I've seen a few in recent months, in particular getting off at very late hours or very early mornings on Crescent St. Are they targeting the area ? I can't really say at the moment, but then ask this, what are they doing in an 'unpopular neighborhood' at this time ? .. However they are in a very small minority (they are more notable in southeast Bushwick) and no evidence yet if they are moving into the larger buildings along the J/Z line.
As for crime, there is crime, but not as common as you will think. A lot of the confrontations are personal, I've seen quite a few at late hours along Fulton St this year. The individuals involved range between older men in their 50's to male and females in their teens. As for some other annoyances, there are some beggars who linger around the station asking for swipes and money. They are not at the same location all the time, but you will see them once in a while. The majority don't even appear homeless!
The banks in the neighborhood are Capital One, Chase and Citibank. Chase is usually crowded daily around closing hours.
Around the neighborhood, as I stated before, some blocks are worst than others during the summer season in terms of noise and people socializing outside in numbers. Open fire hydrants are common. Some huge house parties are held and the smell of marijuana consumes the air. But remember, this ranges from block to block. My particular street is like this during the summer, then 1 block later it is much calm.
ShadowMassa you are awesome! Thanks so much for all the info!!!
Nice street shots. I've seen that blue house a bunch of times, cracks me up!
Trying to think of what else..any good place to grab a beer?
Thanks for the breakdown. I hope the neighborhood keeps getting more diverse. Thats what I always loved about Queens, there is such a mixture of people in most neighborhoods.
So in general it seems you just have to be aware walking around at night. Being a female I might try to avoid getting off the J late at night if by myself. I might steer clear of the park at night when I am by myself too? At least in the warmer months there are always lots of people playing tennis and soccer though. I will enjoy walking or riding my bike around Highland on the weekends!
Funny what you said about the transplants, I understand it is such a small minority but I would assume they would be closer to the L (which is also closer to Bushwick) I think people are getting priced out of a lot of neighborhoods so even though CH isn't "popular" people have to start looking elsewhere. Lots of people are looking towards Bushwick, I like Bushwick a lot but the south side can be a little rough. I actually think CH up by the park has a lot more appeal...green space, ymca, and the library make for a good foundation for community.
Yes we went to the Sunnyside ave area a few times during the summer, always seemed pretty quiet? At night there was a lot of people playing tennis and soccer. Once we went over and there was a block party going on but I took that as a good sign. Means there is a block association and sense of neighborhood, I hope anyways.
OP - Tell us how much potential you have, then we can compare.
Essentially I like the neighborhood and just looking for some point of view from those who live there. Maybe asking if it has potential isn't the right phrasing.
ShadowMassa you are awesome! Thanks so much for all the info!!!
Nice street shots. I've seen that blue house a bunch of times, cracks me up!
Trying to think of what else..any good place to grab a beer?
Thanks for the breakdown. I hope the neighborhood keeps getting more diverse. Thats what I always loved about Queens, there is such a mixture of people in most neighborhoods.
So in general it seems you just have to be aware walking around at night. Being a female I might try to avoid getting off the J late at night if by myself. I might steer clear of the park at night when I am by myself too? At least in the warmer months there are always lots of people playing tennis and soccer though. I will enjoy walking or riding my bike around Highland on the weekends!
Funny what you said about the transplants, I understand it is such a small minority but I would assume they would be closer to the L (which is also closer to Bushwick) I think people are getting priced out of a lot of neighborhoods so even though CH isn't "popular" people have to start looking elsewhere. Lots of people are looking towards Bushwick, I like Bushwick a lot but the south side can be a little rough. I actually think CH up by the park has a lot more appeal...green space, ymca, and the library make for a good foundation for community.
Yes we went to the Sunnyside ave area a few times during the summer, always seemed pretty quiet? At night there was a lot of people playing tennis and soccer. Once we went over and there was a block party going on but I took that as a good sign. Means there is a block association and sense of neighborhood, I hope anyways.
Some of the neighborhood restaurants become socially active at night and serve alcohol and play music. Some even have a notable security presence, inside and outside of the door. El Gran Mar de Plata is one, located on Force Tube ave and Fulton st. The other is Santiago, located off Lincoln ave and Fulton St. Santiago has a notable security guard presence every night, I see this daily on my way home around 1:00 AM. Nice looking females there too, but that's not what you are interested in .
You just have to practice caution, but for someone like me I practice caution almost everywhere. Not paranoid, just caution, use some street smarts. I see women coming home from work at later hours, this is when I've seen the so called 'white-hipsters' getting off the same stop at 3 different occasions at 12am - 1am. I know someone who recently moved into Cleveland St and he came from South 4th in Williamsburg and he stated the area is not bad as he assumed and he likes the area, said his block near the park is quiet.
I believe eventually they will come, the amount is unknown. I like Bushwick near the Glendale and Ridgewood border, that particular part is more attractive in my opinion. What may scare the new comers off is location, location.. The neighborhood is located in the ''treacherous' Eastern Brooklyn, that may scare some of the new comers off. Then thinking about it again, they are moving as far as Chauncey station, the Utica station and the Wilson station. 2 of those mentioned stations are just outside of Cypress Hills, so they are in the periphery.
Sunnyside is a street with character and potential, although it's not a large area, but rather unique.
I'll add to this with some historic pictures so people can see the potential by viewing what the neighborhood once was. this site has a ton of old pictures when these homes were in their prime:
What we need are more home owners that are willing to restore these brick and woodframe houses much like what has gone on in Clinton Hill, Park Slope and Crown Heights right now. To see what I mean check out:
To give the south end (Cityline) of East New York some love here's a few houses with potential. There's less potential but maybe we can get newer development in those spots:
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I'm going to give you a run down - 
.. However they are in a very small minority (they are more notable in southeast Bushwick) and no evidence yet if they are moving into the larger buildings along the J/Z line. 
) at least -
