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I used to work in the North Baldwin area from 2013-2015 and I really liked it. The residential areas were all beautiful and nicely kept, even all the way up to the parkway BUT Grand Avenue itself looked a bit depressed like it could use an upgrade and some better stores. I'm in a line of work where I interact with a lot of people and most of the residents that i've encountered were also very pleasant.
This is a much more accurate depiction of my impression of Baldwin. Also, there are other commercial areas in Baldwin that appear to be doing just fine.
My favorite SE Nassau town is Merrick. That's because it's got a nice commercial area and some interesting architecture in many neighborhoods, particularly Merrick Woods, that stand out from the split/splanch/hi-ranches that permeate SE Nassau (including the parts of Merrick closer to the water).
Beyond that, I'd skip the rest of SE Nassau and head straight to Babylon village. More charm, less traffic and more trains.
But that's just me. Most of south shore Nassau offers a nice quality of life and generally good schools and those midcentury houses that I personally don't like can offer a lot of bang for the buck. I don't want to come across as putting down these neighborhoods, they are just not my preference.
It is unfortunate. It seems that alot of illegal apartments have been popping up in Baldwin. This is all steering by the Real Estate industry. The same folks that keep places like Merrick and Wantagh lily white (and keep out any minorities, programs,etc) steer all the minorities into places like Baldwin. They want it to be the next Roosevelt. It is unfortunate, Baldwin used to be a nice town with a mix of people, but the downtown is dead, and once you go north of the LIRR it gets bad fast. I have very little respect for the Real Estate industry, from personal experience as well as research.
And I hate to say it, but watch out Valley Stream you are next. There are already rumblings & complaints about drastic increases in crime, and this robbery spree that's been going on. Valley Stream Valero gas station robbed by knife-wielding man, cops say | Newsday
It is unfortunate that few towns on Long Island are safe, but also middle class and somewhat diverse. The segregation is getting worse. Towns either decline or get richer & less diverse.
I have to say Westbury is doing better than most, though our schools are pretty bad.
Why must we segregate people by race & income instead of living together in the same town?
But nope, instead we have some people making sure only rich (and often white) people are only allowed to live in Wantagh, while these same people dump ex-cons, sex offenders, and illegals into communities with a more diverse population. Pisses me off to no end.
There have been "rumblings" about Valley Stream for like 20 years (I think). Yet it's still here, the commute to the city is still fantastic, it's still affordable, the schools don't suck and by many accounts the downtown area is nicer than it was in the recent past.That link is about a ONE PERSON crime wave. It sucks and he needs to be stopped, but it's literally one guy, and he's hit Franklin Square, Hewlett and Elmont, too.
What dooms communities is fear. People blowing things out of proportion, freaking out and moving. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. And the real estate industry definitely does not help. We encountered agents who tried to steer us away from Valley Stream and we had to tell an agent to show us the house we ended up buying. Sorry, wasn't going to pay $699,000 for a freaking starter house.
Incidentally, for those who are always whining about the high cost of living on Long Island, why don't you step out of your comfort zone and buy in Valley Stream, Baldwin, or even Elmont (the horror!)? Problem solved. Your children will learn to read, and your neighbors won't bite.
The snobs on the south shore actually seem worse. Unlike the doctors who live on the north shore, these are more uneducated people from the finance and wall street and take that attitude with them.
But yeah, these south shore folks are what New Jerseyans call Bennys.
But they do have the Wall Street job, Mercedes, and NY attitude (well everything thats wrong with the NY attitude).
Very intolerant group, backward thinking, many are racist too.
Interesting point about finance types.
This isn't mean to be a sweeping generalization, just my personal experience..
The Finance guys that I know from the south shore towns are brokers. Aggressive, maybe college educated, type "A" personalities that saw the movie 'boiler room' and wanted to emulate. They will let you know how they feel about you. And they will make sure you know that they earn a good living.
The Finance guys that I know from the North shore tend to be bankers or traders. More reserved, highly educated types. Although they may judge you, they usually keep it quiet. You can tell they are financially successful by the way in which they carry themselves
"keeping up with the Jones's" exists everywhere. The difference is that the people in the North shore towns usually wont go bankrupt doing it.
Baldwin?? That area has gone to Moderator cut: language removed . Even Baldwin down by the water isn't all that great anymore. The north side of Baldwin borders Hempstead and travel down Grand Avenue and it doesn't look any different. Roosevelt is also in your backyard.
When I think of the south shore, I think of the punk kid that's good with the ladies and into his car.
When I think of the north shore, I think of the shy kid that's into arts and a bit of a recluse. Which goes along with the Jersey Shore (South Shore) and antisocial (North Shore) mentality lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by Johninwestbury
It is unfortunate. It seems that alot of illegal apartments have been popping up in Baldwin. This is all steering by the Real Estate industry. The same folks that keep places like Merrick and Wantagh lily white (and keep out any minorities, programs,etc) steer all the minorities into places like Baldwin. They want it to be the next Roosevelt. It is unfortunate, Baldwin used to be a nice town with a mix of people, but the downtown is dead, and once you go north of the LIRR it gets bad fast. I have very little respect for the Real Estate industry, from personal experience as well as research.
And I hate to say it, but watch out Valley Stream you are next. There are already rumblings & complaints about drastic increases in crime, and this robbery spree that's been going on. Valley Stream Valero gas station robbed by knife-wielding man, cops say | Newsday
It is unfortunate that few towns on Long Island are safe, but also middle class and somewhat diverse. The segregation is getting worse. Towns either decline or get richer & less diverse.
I have to say Westbury is doing better than most, though our schools are pretty bad.
Why must we segregate people by race & income instead of living together in the same town?
But nope, instead we have some people making sure only rich (and often white) people are only allowed to live in Wantagh, while these same people dump ex-cons, sex offenders, and illegals into communities with a more diverse population. Pisses me off to no end.
I actually live in Baldwin and it's pretty nice, it does not "get bad" North of the tracks by any means, although Grand Avenue is a little ugly in some spots. I work in Baldwin and Roosevelt, Baldwin is by no means "becoming the next Roosevelt".
Quote:
Originally Posted by MemoryMaker
I used to work in the North Baldwin area from 2013-2015 and I really liked it. The residential areas were all beautiful and nicely kept, even all the way up to the parkway BUT Grand Avenue itself looked a bit depressed like it could use an upgrade and some better stores. I'm in a line of work where I interact with a lot of people and most of the residents that i've encountered were also very pleasant.
I actually live in Baldwin and it's pretty nice, it does not "get bad" North of the tracks by any means, although Grand Avenue is a little ugly in some spots. I work in Baldwin and Roosevelt, Baldwin is by no means "becoming the next Roosevelt".
Thank you, that's the truth
I too, live in Baldwin Harbor (until we close and put our stuff into storage next month) and second this. The attacks on Baldwin in this thread are downright uncalled for and inaccurate. The town may not be Jericho or Manhasset, but it has a very MC feel/vibe to it and the Baldwin Civic Association makes dang sure the town doesn't turn into the next Hempstead.
I too, live in Baldwin Harbor (until we close and put our stuff into storage next month) and second this. The attacks on Baldwin in this thread are downright uncalled for and inaccurate. The town may not be Jericho or Manhasset, but it has a very MC feel/vibe to it and the Baldwin Civic Association makes dang sure the town doesn't turn into the next Hempstead.
Yeah I totally agree, and I think a lot of people make negative comments just because it's not "lily white"
Also, just my opinion, but SW Nassau is the only part of Long Island I like for the most part
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