Greenpoint

Little Warsaws big makeover

By Radmilla Suleymanova | Special to amNewYork

November 9, 2006

Greenpoint is a neighborhood in transition -- one where its identity as Little Warsaw is slowly losing ground to the slew of luxury high-rises that are rapidly changing the neighborhood.

Polish meat markets, bars, restaurants and grocery stores may still dot its commercial avenues, but there are also the Thai restaurants, coffee shops and chic bars catering to the influx of young professionals and artists capitalizing on the neighborhood's still relatively low rents.

"I live in Greenpoint as if I live in Poland," said Henryk Aleksandrowicz, a truck driver who moved to Greenpoint from Poland six years ago. He is one of the 16,198 foreign-born Poles, or 10% of the total population, who live in Community Board 1, a district that includes Greenpoint and Williamsburg.

But gentrification is seeping into the neighborhood, especially from Williamsburg. More and more, an army of hipsters in their 20s and 30s make the 10-minute march each morning from Greenpoint to the L train's Bedford Avenue station, on their way to work or school in Manhattan.

"It's the perfect blend of sophistication and casualness in a neighborhood where I can just relax," said John Hadley, 32, who moved to Greenpoint from Williamsburg three years ago.

The big changes are happening at Greenpoint's waterfront, which was rezoned last year from manufacturing to residential. The city plans to build a park and has opened the waterfront to new development, including high-rises and subsidized housing.

The project is slated to bring 10,000 new apartments to Greenpoint in 10 years. But critics fear the luxury apartments will ruin the flavor of the neighborhood and drive out long-time residents.

Real estate

Development and gentrification are driving up Greenpoint's real estate prices, according real estate agents.

"The young spillover from Williamsburg is increasing property value," said David J. Maundrell, president of aptsandlofts.com. "They bring along with them trendy stores, bars and restaurants to add to the existing mom-and-pop local stores."

What's renting
-Studios: $900 to $1,500 a month
-One-bedrooms: $1,100 to $1,500 a month
-Two-bedrooms: $1,300 to $1,800 a month
Source: aptsandlofts.com and the Greenpoint Homes Realty Corp.

To buy
-Studios: $250,00 to $400,00
-One-bedrooms: $350,000 to $500,000
-Two-bedrooms: $450,000 to $800,000
-One-family house: From $700,000 to $900,000