By Ben
We are facing a crisis.
That crisis is that rents are going up and up. How many families have left Crown Heights because they simply can no longer afford to raise their children in the neighborhood they grew up in; in the Rebbe’s Shcunah?
There is a housing boom going on in Crown Heights, but many of those developments are not only high-priced, but unsuitable for families. They’re often small, with only one or two bedrooms. And with kitchens that cannot handle a decent Shabbos meal.
Single professionals with disposable income can afford to split rent with other single professionals. They don’t always need kitchens (other than a microwave) because they’re more likely to eat out. This is setting a competitive disadvantage for families; some of them trying to survive on single incomes. Families are being left behind.
Let’s say three friends in their twenties/thirties come together with an average, monthly, take-home income of $4,000 each. If they contribute ¼ of their income, they can easily afford $3K per month apartment. This helps adjust the market to that price.
Even a family with two incomes, is going to have a hard time meeting that market price; with most of their household being non-rent paying children, they’re going to have to devote more income to that cost. Then on top of that, they have to pay for, food, tuition, daycare, healthcare, clothing and more.
In addition to that, working families are less likely to have cash on hand for the other costs of moving into new housing such as first and last months’ rent, security deposit, and broker fees.
I have nothing against any of my fellow young and (hopefully soon-to-be not) singles in our neighborhood. But the game has been tilted in our favor. They have an advantage in acquiring housing; and also have far less to lose if their housing options fall through. Furthermore, these singles will face an uphill battle once they decide to start having families.
Up till now, you have been told that there is nothing to be done about this; that the rents will go up. Not true. You have the power to influence what happens next. If the community unites over this pressing cause, there will be power to enact real change.
If housing becomes more affordable, everybody wins. Families have more room to save, and invest in their children. Schools will be better off. Parents who have had a hard time spreading all the money around will be able to pay more in tuition. Even local businesses should see some growth when neighborhood shoppers have some extra cash in their pockets.
But there needs to be action. No one thing is going to fix the problem. It must be the will of the people. And that will must be turned into words and action. There are many things that can be done to help, but right now there is one in particular.
Right now there is a plan to sell the Armory building on Bedford and Union to private developers who would turn it into mostly luxury apartments.
This plan will is not good for working families. If any new housing is to be built, it must be affordable and family-friendly. That means multiple bedrooms, kitchens made for cooking.; and shabbas-friendly facilities.
I’m sure we all have nothing against the developer. He may be a nice guy, but there will be plenty of opportunities for developers to put high-rises and coops on private land. This land is literally your land and you have a say in how it’s used. There will be limited opportunities for development of this type in the future. Demand that it be used for the betterment of your community.
I hope that we start a conversation in this community about our values. We all value families and economics are at the heart of family function. This should be an issue that goes beyond politics or religious differences.
What can you do? For starters call your Government Representatives and encourage them to do the right thing.
Call City Council member Laurie Crumbo 718-260-9191 and demand that the Bedford Union Armory project be exclusively used for affordable family housing.
Call State Senator Jesse Hamilton at (718)-284-4700. He has a great relationship with the Jewish community and tell him about your concerns.
This isn’t the solution, but something must be done. I welcome you to suggest other options.
The Rebbe spoke out many times very strongly that chassidim should stay in Crown Heights!!! At the time of the riots, you think people didn’t consider moving out?! All the other communities left for Boro Park, Williamsburg, etc, but the rebbe stressed over and over and over that WE STAY IN THE AREA that the frierdiker rebbe ( and now our own rebbe) lived! Why would you consider moving to any other place devoid of Kedusha unless youre going on shlichusinstead of luving in the holiest place in the world?! Moving where there is no kedusha is the same as… Read more »
Unfortunately we can’t all live in Crown Heights so there are many alternatives—–affordable ones where you can go and live comfortably and take part in a beautiful community–like the gated community of Walnut Creek (right near Hollywood, Florida and LEC and other schools) with its own shul and amazing young community lead by the very special schluchim—Zalman and Shana Korf!
In fact Shana is also a realtor and has helped so many get the home of their dreams at a fabulous price!! Call her 954-558-4944.
You are welcome here—come see one of Chabad’s best kept secrets!!
… anyone still believe in G-d? Either He is in charge, or He isn’t. And if He is, then maybe we just don’t get what He’s doing and we should trust Him and relax. Before people get upset, I am going through the same thing as everyone else in CH. I got married this past year, was fortunate to find a one bedroom for way more than it’s worth. My visibly pregnant wife (kah) lost her job at a mosad that owes her quite a lot of money still and I am currently in graduate school full-time and cannot work.… Read more »
I read in the weekly JEM publication that at the time of the Previous Rebbe’s passing, most Lubavitcher’s lived in Brownsville.
Four bedrooms under 100k.
Want to find out more? Call me at 563-517 zero zero 0 five.
To all those who say, “if you don’t like the rent in Crown Heights, then get out”: What if we have jobs here and our children go to school here? Will you please contact the Community Council and offer to cover relocation expenses for struggling families. Some of us would LOVE to leave and there are beautiful, afordable communities we could go to. But we do not have ANY disposable income as everything goes to rent, tuition, groceries, etc. I suggest that all the rich people of Crown Heights (who can’t stand seeing us poor folk walk the same streets… Read more »
behind the hospital is not crown heights anymore. and prices went up there too seeing there is a demand.
Kuddos to you for starting the discussion, however….
Affordable housing in our community has been built periodically. The CHJCC has done little to secure that those apartments actually go to the Jewish residents in the community
This, my friends, is a disgrace in the Crown heights community.
look at satmar, they really care for their own
The Rebbe doesn’t want us here forever. He’s waiting for us to make the move, out of love. There is so much land in Yehuda and Shomron. If we move together, out of love for Hashem, then it will speed up the Geulah. I lived thereb for a few months. It’s beautiful, healthy, and a happy life. It reclaims our destiny.
Israel needs more jews living in Judea and Samaria. Quit whining about crown heights and come join Am Yisroel
The fact that Ben is using the development of the armory to talk about affordable housing shows that he has other motives as crown heights Jews will not move there. You have the same right to live in crown heights as you to sit front row at a yankesss game. If there is someone to blame it is the system on UN-enjocadtion and the inability to take responsibility of your actions. If you wish to live in prime crown heights, fly first class to israel, live in Manhattan or go to a Yankees game then work hard, sacrifice and deliver… Read more »
To be poor or rich is already set up for everyone by Hashem
Only that we don’t know our personal future
The reason that you have money is to give you the possibility to perform mitzva of tzedaja in a mehadrin way and to have less distractions to serve Hashem better
This socialism is ridiculous. There are free markets and no one is responsible to provide anything to you. You have to earn it. You don’t have a right to housing in crown heights. If you can afford it then buy it, if not, work harder looking for new opportunities until you can, or move to a more affordable situation. That or be like the immigrants to European countries who only collect “benefits” and provide nothing to society. Honestly the number of frum people on food stamps and section 8 and Medicaid is embarrassing. What happened to kiddush hashem? Being a… Read more »
Most homeowners are millionaires? I personally know many homeowners who are over their head in debt. Even if they bought their house years ago, they had to completely renovate to live normal, pay tuition, make weddings etc. Their only hope is to sell with a profit b/c yeah they still need to live and buy another place .Don’t just assume you know what is happening in other people’s pockets.
Many great and beatiful places in NJ
Livingston
West Orange
Randolph
Teaneck
You can buy nice Houston for 300 k 400 k
Beutful places ,security,gardens and real houses
2 millón in Ch like 400 k
In the future when everything expands more they ate going to be same price ( be smart make money)
107 is correct! Yes there’s merit to satellite Chabad communities and that could always be an option, but there’s tremendous truth to what number 107 said quoting the Rebbe. And his vision for the community and it’s our responsibility to uphold his words to the best of our ability!
There needs to be a mosad in Crown Heights to raise money for those who can’t afford rent and mortgage. There needs to be a moratorium by the community coucil and Rabbonim about how much people could charge for rent and home sales
actually the Rebbe said it in the Sicha of TRUMA nun bais . Read up and share some insight – but the rebbe said that we all should be wealthy . That is an expansive attitude . Would Like to understand how the Rebbe intended for us to get there besides for creating a bigger vision for ourselves. Please post if you have added insight
Interesting that people post other places to live besides Crown Heights. It doesn’t solve the problem that Crown heights is facing. Remember, the Rebbe spent lots of energy building it, instead of letting everyone run out like many other Chasidim did. What would the Rebbe want for Crown Heights to be? Would he like young Chasidim fortifying it and expanding it? Would the Rebbe want young Chasidim to buy here? Would the Rebbe want it to remain Lubavitch and not turn to a second Park Slope? If you think you know what the Rebbe envisioned for his community, “Kan Tziva… Read more »
New Haven CT-
Affordable homes
Reasonable tuition
Friendly and warm community
The only solution is to get rich! In the Rebbes shchuna anything less is an understatement. Mashiah now
Very affordable housing. Fast growing chabad community with a cheder, shul, Mikva. Friendly low key people. 2.5 hours from CH. COME CHECK IT OUT!
Move to Highland Park/ Edison NJ. One Hour to Brooklyn/ Manhattan for work. Livable for a family. 8 Shuls. 5 Restaurants. Kosher Grocery.
jk
I agree with other commentators. What CH is experiencing is happening in many places. In Toronto, the inability of young people to buy houses is in the news at least weekly if not daily.
People should look into Buffalo. Many families have moved there. Housing is way more affordable there.
For those that would like their boys to have a solid yeshiva experience and also get a real high school diploma, check out Mesivta Ohr Temimim in Toronto.
Dovid
Is now worth 1.7 million. I took a loan and bought 4 homes out of state I live off the rents!!!!!
The Rebbe knew the value of the place. Younger people need to move further out like Satmer in WIlly they move out and out and out each block at a time then open a store and more another few blocks etc.
housing is cheaper but school is DOUBLE so you are back where you started HELP
You cant live in the center of the center of the world (20 minutes from wall st. Times Sq. Ect) and expect to pay the same amount as families in Lakewood! Your unemployed and have a massive family? You belong in an 8 bedroom for 200k in some frakakte place in middle of Colorado, and don’t complain about no kosher food, because in the 1800s before all the yidden decided they have to settle in NYC of all places, their was also no kosher food…
Most CH home owners are millionaires. People that don’t have $5,000 in savings, are included in this group. Anyone who bought a house years ago (majority) can sell, or refinance and be considered a millionaire. The rebbes bracha of living in the schuna.
PS
If your married children can’t afford an apartment, sell your home and downsize. Take the money and help your family. Empty nesters don’t need 3000 sf homes. You can even turn your home into 3 units. How many rooms do you actually use on a regular basis?
This will be understood by people that understand the business. I’m not going To get into the details. Rent stabilization laws are the real problem. Over the past few years it’s gotten much worse. In short, it’s forcing landlords to renovate any vacant apartment they get possession of (spending crazy money, much more then needed) to destabilize it. If they don’t do this, there’s no way to make any money, or in some cases pay the mortgage. Expenses go up every year, yet there’s 0% increase in rent. Taxes are one of the biggest problems. If the city/state would stop… Read more »
As a landlord, I appreciated number 83 comment. He offered practical solutions without name calling or being judgemental to landlords, who like myself are not getting rich off of the rental we have just paying the mortgage along with tons of other expensives that normal folks have. People like him with this mindset in my opinion get far in life, they look for practical solutions rather than pity , pointing fingers and blaming which gets people NO where in life!
Sorry, I believe that this article, though very well-intentioned, is a brochoh levatoloh. NYC has seen horrible times; now it is on the rise again. Asking landlords to buck the trend of rising rents is not realistic. (I live out-of-town and I am completely not noygayah bedovor in any manner). What is realistic is that people may have to move elsewhere to have normal, sustainable living. Everything comes with its pros and cons. There are some real pros to living outside CH & NY. Look into it. You might be surprised at what you find. The OU has has a… Read more »
I joined together with my brother 30 years ago worked at night to save for a down payment so he and I would have a roof over our heads and our children Start now.The Bedford Armory is an example of where we should protest a amassive piece of land belonging to the residents, whey want to develope expensive housing how wrong is is this reach out an fight for real affordable housing what options do we have come out to Medgar Evers tonight fight for your selves and community start a real movement lets save something here at home.630 till… Read more »
oy where to start so many good arguments and points on so many levels.
I just despise the rabble rousers – we all know which one they are.
nunu – lots of stuff here to digest.
Hatzlocho to all!
Everyone here is missing the point.
It’s not about Landlords lowering rent because they can’t do that. They have Morgage and bills to pay just like everyone else.
The issue is our school system, boys and girls are coming out of school with ZERO skills for the real world and no encouragement to further their English education. You can’t afford to pay rent making $15-$20 an hour.
Time for our Schools and heads of education to stand up and start giving our kids the education they need to be successful after they have finished Yeshivah/Sem.
While the author correctly stated that CH is simply not affordable for many of its Jewish households, the solution he offers is wrong and has been – time and again – proven to be wrong.
Society as a whole is much better off when the market forces of supply and demand are left alone to do their job ORGANICALLY – without government interference.
Check out the video below. This would be a good starting point to learn about basic economics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9aDizJpd_s
To those who say to buy after the hospital, well those have gone up too in prices in the last few month. They are already over $700k for a normal size house.
To all those who say to move out of ch. I have one question for you. As ch tuition is cheapest compared to all other chabad schools, how can a person just pick up, move and pay less for rent, but will end up paying double in tuition??? And for a family with a few kids that is a huge jump in expenses.
B”H there are two completely new sections (1,000 residential units + parks, ganei yeladim, shuls) of Efrat being built and some sections finished. Brand new construction. Affordable housing. Local Beit Chabad/Shul. Be a part of building Eretz Yisrael. Wake up to the amazing breathtaking views of Harei Yehuda! Live in fresh mountain air. Walk in the path of Avraham Avinu and Dovid Hamelech. 20 minute drive to Yerushalaim. State of the art security system around entire Efrat Yishuv. 10 minute drive to Beitar Illit with loads of Lubavitch school options (and minyanim until 11 AM). Shlichus opportunity as well –… Read more »
After visiting ch and seeing a tishrei mentality where people are hanging out all day at restaurants and at shul. I find it Very strange that you could complain. Get up early make more money to feed your families instead of looking for a handout from the government you’re putting the blame on someone that’s looking to capitalize off of their apartment
Look around you, Kan Tzivah H’ Es Habracha has already occurred, miraculously, in the form of increased property values and the resulting safety they bring. You are now complaining about that very Bracha. As far as the Din in Shucchan Aruch the Rebbe was quoting, it refers to putting poorer Jews in danger by moving out and leaving them behind in a dangerous neighborhood. Also, there are plenty of bars and clubs in nearby neighborhoods to tempt our at-risk kids.
Open your eyes
Why are only landlords vilified for charging market rent? This is their parnassa, not all landlords are rich. Calling government is mesira because it only comes back to bite us. Public housing is a disaster. At least the yuppies are not muggers, remember those days? The rebbe insisted everyone stay because people had no place else to go, leaving would have left other people in danger. The rebbe stated this many times. That is no longer the case. Living in the shechuna is now an honor and privilege, not a necessity. Certainly not at the risk of poverty. If we… Read more »
It is mostly futile to fight with the market forces. The fat bad landlords cannot afford to follow calls to just give up their profit. They are not as rich as you think, they have families and mortgages to pay too. Yes, the community should try to get more government subsidies in whatever form, but that also adds to the dependence on a very shabby and often corrupt web of programs. If you do not want to live and raise your children to rely on handouts, you should consider moving. Not necessarily completely out of town, although for many families… Read more »
Unfortunately this problem persists in most thriving Jewish communities. Pricing is always inflated winthin walking distance of shuls, wether the neighborhood warrants it or not. Our lifestyle is doubly unaffordable with tuition, food, etc. Not sure what the solution can be to drive down costs, but I do know plenty of people are looking elsewhere , outside the usual Jewish metros and taking a chance on smaller affordable communities. Take a chance, it’s hard to build a new community but the rewards are ultimately greater. There’s the New Lubavitch Community group on Facebook. I know younger couples are moving to… Read more »
This is not he way the Lubavitcher Rebbe taught us to live and educate our children as Chabad Chassidim!!!
It’s time for you to reevaluate if you belong to Lubavitch and it’s values
Gut gezokt,
ASHREINU MAH TOV CHELKEINU.
ALL THE STUBBORN RESIDENTS OF CROWN HEIGHTS WHO ARE OBEYING THE REBBE’S URGENT PLEA NOT TO LEAVE CH
. THE REBBE SAYS IT’S A CLEAR HALACHA IN SHULCHAN ARUCH!
WHAT MORE – THE REBBE PROMISED US “KAN TZIVA HASHEM ES HABERACHA”!!
A committee was set up to prevent this exact problem, property flippers raising the costs of housing in Crown Heights and causing a mass migration out of Crown Heights. However, of course the system was used to the advantage of money hungry families in Crown Heights who created a real estate empire taking advantage of a system created to prevent this exact problem.
Come to new haven, it’s so much cheaper and needs all the community to come to westville. Turn the place back to being Jewish again. There’s lovely houses here, for LESS THAN 300 thousand, and have a big garden. There are Shuls and yeshiva here. Come turn it around, come to westville.
Landlords and brokers will do anything for $….
And then look generous when they make donations in other places ….
Charity starts at home. And if you cared about the Rebbe’s pleas you’d put mentchlichkeit before $, $,$.
the rebbe asked us to stay when my children were younger, l can see why, it us it would not have worked, neither of us drives, no car, we take the public transportion or taxis, in our own way do mitziom, we are forunate to have our mortgage paid, it’s not easy, the cost of food is overwheming, the bills are high, we struggle l don’t think l can handle the cold, this is cold enought we are looking into the future with president trump, imm geula
I wish that all the families and individuals who want to live in ch could afford to do so b’revach. HaShem has always blessed Jewish communities and almost everywhere we go as a people we end up creating desirable communities to live in. There is less crime, often better infrastructure and the amazing support of fellow yidden. I know everything is not perfect, there is work to do to improve our communities but it is also a sign of bracho from HaShem that this scenario repeats itself all over the world. In Eretz Yisroel as well, often housing in religious… Read more »
This problem has nothing to do with Crown Heights. Its exactly the same in Borough Park & Williamsburg & Flatbush.
However they have a solution:
They build other brand new communities (like in Lakewood, in the mountains, in NJ etc).
We should do the same. All we need is 10 families together to start – the rest will follow.
Don’t blame anyone.
You can buy a house on the other side of the hospital for HALF of what it costs on the Jewish crown heights side. I’m not saying it isnt still expensive, but if your serious, then you and everyone else should consider it a serious option. 3 story homes for 750 completely redone. Small 2 story homes for 550. The school buses go there now, theres a shul in Kingsborough Jewish Hospital and you can still walk through the suny downstate to go to 770 on Shabbos. You can still work wherever you did until now and YES your children… Read more »
the houses and rentals are higher than what people make even with both husband and wife working good jobs. also, not enough HUD or rent controoled apartments here. the rebbe spoke storngly about making affordable housing for lubavitchers in crown heights but its not being done
many real estaters convince the owners to hike the prices, thereby making it too expensive
If I had the time I would write an Op-Ed about the pathetic Op-Ed whining that goes on in the frum community. Housing has gone up in every desirable location around the world So has the cost of gas, electric, phones and food along with tuition camp & every other household expense. That’s life. Maybe it is time we stop whining and start really doing something about it We can not fight global economy or sky rocketing costs of living. But we as a community can start to help ourselves and future generations by being prepared to face the cost… Read more »
Ben fullding
Sir you have no idea what a rebbe is not to mention anything about this community.
People find out first who this dude is and where he goes to shul before you listen to him.
He is part of the so redical libral israel Jew hating group
He went to Washington DC to demonstrate against president trump in shaboss
Stay away
And suppose our local jewish council put up a fuss and got it in the name of ‘subsidized housing’ for the community. All they would do is use it to house their families and continue to rip off the community.
Funny how people complain about the prices for a one bedroom apartment, $1600 is nothing compared to the $2200 studios two blocks west of “our” crown heights, even in the middle of BedStuy 1 bedrooms are going for $2200
STOP COMPLAINING! You don’t even realize for how much more your apartment could have been rented to a hipster
A local Broker
You are one 100% correct we are not entitled to anything you can demand whatever you want but how does that make u different then all of the self entitled liberals protesting. We can only fix this ourself we can’t demand from Reuvain or Shimon to build what you want at your demanded fee. I agree it’s beyond expensive here an affordable but boycotting landlords will just give you more yuppies. My personal opinion is for those who cannot afford or that are looking for more peaceful lifestyle is to start a new Lubavitch community. Whether it’s in Rochester, near… Read more »
Commenters have been great here. My 2 cents, for what it’s worth: 1. This is the way of capitalism. Baruch Hashem we have it; it’s the best system out there. 2. “Affordable Housing” and all other government intervention actually hurts the community. For more, PLEASE read The Basics of Economics by Thomas Sowell. 3. We do need to move to other communities. Not everyone can afford to live in the big city. Ultimately this is for everyone’s benefit. There are lots of great low cost places to move that are near kosher food, will allow for kids to be able… Read more »
The value of a rental is only as much as a person is willing to pay
If no One is willing to rent at x dollars then the rental de facto will lower to x- y which in turn becomes the market value
Simple economics
it is hard to afford living here, and/or feel good about it, economically. Personally, I feel there is a housing bubble, and I am also afraid to buy a house in CH for that reason – I have lived like a rat and saved money over the years, single never married, and a professional. as interest rates rise, prices must come down, as nobody will be able to afford (or want to buy) the over-priced garbage.
that Chassidesher family’s stay in CH
The whole Brooklyn is like this.
Who cares what they do money talks that’s why me my kids and my wife are gone.
what about getting better education and better jobs? why blame others -i.e. developers-?
In no particular order:
Property developers – they care about profit not community. 20 tiny units earns more than 10 big ones.
CHJCC – the list of their poor judgment is too long to list here
Landlords – even private home apartments are outrageously high
Building landlords – give less and less, charge more and more, allow drug dealers & criminals to rent through Section 8
Nothing will change because they care only about money: how much they can get in and how little they can get away with spending. And they don’t care WHO they rent to either.
This is the way of life in most big cities like London, LA, Melbourne. neighborhoods change. It’s no ones fault. It’s simply demand.
if you don’t like it, move to a cheaper neighborhood or vote for Bernie Sanders in 2020.
I really don’t understand how anyone can think of moving out of here, after the Rebbe screamed his heart out not to move away from here.
Just imagine the harm and damage it will do to the stubborn residents of Crown Heights who are going to stick it out.
Whoever wants to move out please first read-through the sicha achron shel pesach 5729, and then consult your mashpia and rav.
We lived in CH for 2 years after marriage, realized that we would never be able to buy a house unless we robbed a bank. We picked up and moved to Walnut Creek, FL. There are almost 40 young Lubav families who have moved here in just 4 years. houses are massive (3000 sq f) and go for under 400k, we started off renting a 2 bed 2 bath condo with backyard, lake, pool, parking, playground for $1475 a month. PROS ~weather is amazing here most of the year. ~20 min drive from Lubav. school ~plenty of kosher stuff in… Read more »
The Rebbe begged and begged people to buy real estate in Crown Heights. The Rebbe said very clearly that mayor Linden is giving away buildings just take them! At that time real estate here was very cheap. But everyone was smarter and didn’t want to buy. So those few individual families who listened to the rabbe and bought buildings for dirt cheap, are doing extraordinarily well and are very wealthy because they listen to the rabbe. WHAT DO YOU THINK SHNAS HABINYAN WAS ABOUT.
That is called market forces
If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen
If you are a kollel yungerman you have the right to demand that you have the wherewithal to sustain your life of kedusha
Working guys well work harder study at night to get better paid positions stop the wailing and start taking responsibility for you and your wife and your annual bundle of joy !!!
I think canarsie might be worthwhile to look into
Its close and it’s much cheaper
This is an unfortunate development. If you are moving from Crown Heights, consider South Florida. Hollywood-Emerald Hills has apartments & condominiums such as Fairways & Grandview. Chabad mosdos & shules nearby. Warmer weather can be healthy for children. Florida is more tax-friendly than New York & there are some great Chabad communities.
Spread out, dear Lubavitchers—-Worchester, Hartford etc all need you to build their communities–
112 Newton Ave N,
Worcester, MA 01609
4 beds 3 baths 2,672 sq ft
SOLD: $310,500
we left ch for this reason. we went to a frum community that helped us get into an affordable housing appt. Ch just wouldn’t help us .
my son wants to go back there when he gets married soon for kollel but cant afford to , so he won’t be going to kollel. that’s for rich people these days 🙁
The article is obviously a puff peace for a local politician. Even if we convert the armory in to affordable housing yiden will surely be excluded and we will most likely receive uncivilized hordes. Just look at all the other subsidized housing around us.
ACTUALLY – in and near the five towns (many little towns all around there) u can move into a 500/700K home that’s actually a “home” and u dont need to buy for 1.3/5 million a tear down in CH and then still put in 300/400K to make it a “livable Home”….not to mention the zero yard situation in CH…. very SAD!!!!!!!
In the 80’s, the Rebbe, seeing the influx of residents and the future growth of the community, requested from Mr. Chase invest in building housing in Crown Heights. However, there were a number of smart alecks that convinced Mr. Chase that the Rebbe didn’t really mean it etc.
Anywhere outside brooklyn
Staten island very cheap
I Lived in Crown Heights my whole married life except for first few months where I lived in my wife’s hometown (learned that there’s a world out there). Bottom line is it’s sad but either we will need to see some sort of revealed miracle, or we’ll all need to move out. To live in Crown Heights today you either need to be making over 6 digits (and even that’s not enough) or you need to make nothing and be on every single Government program and fall into that rut. The a third option which myself and most of my… Read more »
There is only one way to solve this crisis and that is to encourage and help developers build. If you will create price caps and restrictions on who can buy, that will discourage developers from building and that will cause the prices for the available apartments to increase even further. If you ostracise homeowners from renting to ‘outsiders’, they will also be discouraged from building new housing and the ‘outsiders’ will compete with our community for the same apartments and the prices will rise further. Get the government involved and, well, you know what happens every time the government tries… Read more »
Behind the hospital is a great idea ALSO seminars from those here who know how to make money to teach others! The writer and these ppl are not just venting but offering practical solutions!!!!
Please give some ideas where is a good place to move…I don’t feel welcome here anymore…
That is the cost of living in Brooklyn that is the market price, unfortunately that is sad. But are you suggesting that people should cut the prices because people cant afford it. this isn’t communism we live in America we live in a capitalist system and that is how it is if you dont like it, there are many very nice chabad communities in the US with very low Living expenses cost versus CH or you can always move to sweden you can lif=ve for free if you want also and get a free education. this is the world we… Read more »
Why are we always complaining about crown heights real estate issue? We grew, the market grew, now let’s move on.
What’s wrong with moving to monsey or other Jewish communities?
I am sure the Rebbe would today would call monsey his shechunah as well.
There are so many talented capable people in CH, that daven at 11am or later and don’t work and then wonder why they can’t afford CH…
If they put their skills to work and got up early they could live on President St.
I can picture my grand children coming here in 40 years on merkaz shlichus, and they visit the shekelstein family on presidnet street, who shows them a picture of their grand father who was a frum Lubavitcher guy.
Many Flatbush ppl are moving to five towns , yes it’s cheaper than Brooklyn, Waterbury Connecticut. Darren island and Jackson nj to name a few. They are being priced out too but difference here is we are bringing in goyim and pritzus with our own hands. Shame on us. The Jews need to go 93 and Lenox or Clark Din and the hipsters get prime real estate. The rebbe is crying and our kids will cry tooo if we don’t stop this
Lots of people started moving here. Beautiful community and lubavitch cheder. 2.5 hr drive from CH
I find it amusing that so many in our community claim to support conservative/republican ideals. Yet, they want government mandated affordable housing & other entitlements.
If we have senior residencies for the older generation, they can then make their larger homes available for families.
Instead of going out of the neighborhood to attract Jews to Judaism, God is sending you many hipsters or a Jewish. They coming here because of Divine Providence. I met some of them and mivtzaim with them. sieze the moment!
If you want to take action it is important to attend the local meetings m, be it community board or whatever Dept in ny handles hearings and appeals for zoning variances.
It’s where developers come to pitch their projects to get all the permits and changes to the law let them move forward l.
In different cities it might be different organizations, where I live in florida there is a neighborhood association with monthly meetings with government officials.
a “wall of shame” if you will!.this needs a bit of organizing but I believe it will be a game changer for the community!
flatbush, bp, 5 towns NONE ARE CHEAPER so where are they going ? i dont see any new neighborhoods popping up aside for staten island a little
Welcome to the next affordable Lubavitch place to live. Lakewood NJ 1 hour and 20 mins from Crown Heights. Brand New 5 Bedroom house for under 2k a month to rent. IYH Lubavitcher Girls School opening within next two years for preschool kindergarten. more info call 718.781.6405
Its crazy i went to see a one bedroom basement when i was about to get married and it was 1600$!!!! For a basement!!! With not even enough room in the living room to put a table of 6 and a couch!! The appartments owned by JEWISH landlords (I am not talking about gut renovated ones) go up to 1500-1600 for a ONE bedroom, most of the time WITHOUT a washer/dryer hookup, without an elevator in the building, bad floors and bad walls… So yes, its good that the writer of this letter does not want to point fingers, but… Read more »
I don’t know how many numbers you should make to live here but new rich here are singles , means all developments are bars and dog parks , and zero parking around because of growing population here …. .. I’m low income but still live here , renting and can’t save because my bills are on a highest scale for me … affordable housing is not for me with 1 income and at least 5 family members to get 3 tiny affordable housing I need to make 72,000$ per year , my income is half of it ……. To live… Read more »
No ones said it yet, so i will.say it. There are plenty of houses for sale on the other side of the hospital. Its nice,.quit, and much cheaper. Plus the buses started gping there now. You can still.walk to 770 on shabbos also. Its worth a serios look if your serious about buying in crown heights.
Unfortunate the council does not do nothing about that we must do something before gets out of hand our own flippers and brokers make the market! we have to stop at ASAP as it is is the shchuno is getting filled with yuppies!! And if the consul will not do nothing about it it’s only getting worse
Sounds like a bunch of people whining to me, it’s unfortunate that chabad people are struggling to buy houses in “chabad headquarters” but the reality is that we are in the middle of Brooklyn an overpriced place to live and why shouldn’t someone make the most that they can off a sale or lease. I’m not sure why government should be getting involved unfortunately you probably have to move somewhere else or figure out a way to make more money.
Placing the blame on singles is ingnorant and grossly misguided. Anyone who studies the market at all can recognize that prices have gone up due to flipping, gentrification and the forming of a bubble (greed). I’m single and I don’t know ANY singles paying $4,000 in rent. Your information is way off. On the other hand using the armory is a GREAT IDEA. I support it 100%, I will call the politicians and than I will expect nothing to be done and nobody to care. Crown Heights Jews have almost zero influence in politics. We are a tiny amount of… Read more »
BS”D 18 makes “sense”the Rebbe screamed about not abandoning the neighborhood bc he knew all the residents were rich
Just need to figure out a way to make it cool to provide affordable housing in our neighborhood for growing families.
And these landlords with paid off housing will jump on board doing a chessed for growing families by offering to sell homes to young people at affordable rates.
One or two need to step up to the plate, and then it will become a trend.
Like the wealthy giving away all their money during their lifetime to charity trend.
If you cannot afford to live here, you should move somwhere else. I come from one of the oldest lubavitch families in Crown Heights, over the years there has been a major shift in the diversity in the neighborhood. People don’t realize that this is not the first time this has happened. Crown Height was built for upper middle class, people use to call Eastern pkwy the bed of Manhatten, that’s why there are two trains that run through it. Eastern Pkwy was created by the same architect who designed Central and Prospect park. It was never meant to be… Read more »
Its time to stand up . !!!!!!!! Hipsters bring pritzus and destruction to out neighborhood. They are not quiet people. No bushah to act untznius in public, as above mentioned, Who will teach our children in yeshiva ????? the same landlords give money to sustain yeshivos but no apartments . the people they want to serve will be gone if this doesnt stop. 840 montogmery, hipsters, 888 montgomery hipsters, crown and troy hipsters and sadly many many more. AD MOSAI, Our rebbe begged and cried.
I lived in Crown Heights 17 years ago in a building that was owned by a big lubavitcher property owner. He had and still has many buildings that were owned and paid off decades ago.
We paid $525 a month, today the same one bedroom apartment is $1200 or more.
The capitalistic idea of charging whatever you can get with no concern for your own community, is counter to Torah values.
The bottom line is, when it comes to business and money everyone will try to charge as much as possible. Money means more than community.
Every single one of my family members has moved out or is about to move out of ch due to growing family and unaffordable houseing , it is utterly despicable that a home worth no more than 6 is going for 2.2 mil its like a daytime nightmare absolutely senseless, all for the love of greed the rich feeding of the community.. all i can say is what goes around comes around dont think anything passes the eyes of g-d!
We need full kitchens too! (Hate microwaved meals)
Just a little rant:
Singles are also people! Chabad mosdos have to stop discriminating in paying singles less. Maybe it keeps the rent lower, but it sure doesn’t help us get married. #stopthediscrimination
It’s sad that we help everyone … across the globe, but nobody rises to the.plate to help our own community.
We BH have successful people, why are you not reaching out to make a difference so that our.community can thrive?
Many of us who are looking to buy or rent, have seen many listings first listed by the owner, landlord itself, and then a few days later by a crown heights broker. The problem is that many do not like this broker and don’t want to deal with it. Me and many others when we see that brokers listing, even tough the rent sounds good, we leave it alone as we don’t want to deal with him/her. So landlords I understand you prefer a broker then you having to find a tenant yourself, but know that many won’t be even… Read more »
You are so right. But the question is what can we do about it? Is there anyone within out community besides chjcc who has some power or pull and can help build affordable housing??
Williamsburg and Boro Park have the same issues, but they use political clout to make sure that there is a lot of low income housing and that it is built for our particular standards.It is not enough for all their needs,but at least they get a decent amount. There is a lot of low income housing being built in our immediate area, and we are getting practically nothing. Those among our “community leaders ” that are politically connected on one hand but on the other hand have private vested interests in real estate development should recuse themselves, and hand the… Read more »
Hope the council and will work toward relieving this untenable situation soon.
I am very upset at the fact that my children can not afford to buy a home in Crown Heights. We stayed here in the Rebbe’s Shechuna even after the riots and after Gimmel Tammuz and now my children have to look else where to live. What is that all about? Why is everything and everyone else more important than our own. Where are those in charge of the Shechuna when it comes to matters such as this? Its very sad………..
Hipsters on Carrol n Kingston? Hipsters on almost every block ? Hipster bars? Our kids are hanging out in franklin ave bar with the goyim and let me tell you this , a few of our kids are renting apartments with these goyim. We are damaging our children!!!!! Our future !!!!!!!!!!
Who will be in our schools in five years from now if this continues? And more importantly who will teach our kids!!! If we are all being chased out . My wife and I love to teach . Chiinuch is our passion but this is our last year in this neighborhood because it’s simply too much ! A broker asked me to show sixty times the rent of a three bedroom. If I had that I would buy my own home! A mensch will pay in time , proof of income is fine but to ask these things just shows… Read more »
Affordable housing in our community has been built periodically. The CHJCC has done little to secure that those apartments actually go to the Jewish residents in the community. Furthermore, those apts are renovated exactly the way you state in your article – small bedrooms (even if there are three) and a single sink kitchen.
He’s not blaming them…
Your good at math
I’m actually a landlord, and I really like your post because you made your point without pointing fingers , name calling etc to landlords. Because of your decency we will strongly consider charging below the market value when the opportunity arises.
BS”D The problem came from our very own flippers and do not
believe the yuppees caused this, for decades they stayed away and only came to CH after our own flippers upped the prices