The Appeal of Living in Bushwick
We asked our members about why they like Bushwick, and there were some pretty great themes that stood out!
Bushwick has long ditched its old “crime-laden”, rough reputation. Last year it was ranked second on Property Shark’s top 2017 “Real Estate Pros Choose NYC’s Hottest Neighborhoods”. It came on top of even neighborhoods such as the Lower and the Upper East Side that are traditionally known to be the more popular places to live.
This is attributed largely to the rapid development of the area that has driven up its property market price — while still being in the affordable range — to invite in more of the middle-class group.
The artsy vibe contributed by the various hip cafes and street arts that sprung up over the last few years have also pulled in the youth as well as the hipster community into the area.
In short, along with a safer neighborhood, Bushwick also offers an attractive lifestyle that caters to all types of people. Hence why Outpost Club has three of its houses located in this area.
Read on for more reasons why Bushwick is the place to live, compiled from the input provided by Outpost’s members themselves.
1. Diversity
“Bushwick is one of the more diverse neighborhoods in Brooklyn. I have lived in four major US cities, and only Brooklyn offers the opportunity to meet people from all sorts of backgrounds.”
- Simon Bogdanov, Outpost’s Bushwick House member since October 2017.
Bushwick has a truly diverse population that is visible even when you’re simply walking down the street to a corner store five minutes away from your apartment. It is also reflected in the composition of our Bushwick and East Bushwick’s Houses.
The diversity makes for an interesting night out, where you can expect to meet and befriend different people with their own unique styles as well as cultural backgrounds.
2. Street Arts
“Bushwick is unique for its urban style. It’s very wild, in the sense that it’s also edgy.”
- Oscar Cerrato, Outpost’s Bushwick House member since August 2017.
Bushwick has a huge and impressive street art scene that gives the area a cool artistic feel.
It is made even more exciting with organized murals coordinated by Bushwick-native Joe Ficalora, through his project coined as “The Bushwick Collective”.
There are also plenty of gallery spaces you can visit to check out the neighborhood’s booming art scene.
And if you’re a fan of street arts and photography, just take your camera out on a bright sunny day and you’re all set for some Instagram-worthy photos!
3. Affordability
“NYC is expensive. There is only a handful of neighborhoods that are affordable, and Bushwick is one of them.”
- Simon Bogdanov, self-proclaimed “broke” UX designer.
Bushwick has unparalleled options when it comes to affordable items.
Just 10 minutes’ walk from Outpost’s Bushwick House is the L Train Vintage shop that boasts of being “the most affordable vintage clothing” in New York City.
And then there is the “Deli and Grill” store just at the corner of Jefferson Street, where our house is located. It has pretty much everything you need — from the standard cooking items, to complete meals like our members’ favorite: chicken over rice (it costs only $5!).
If you’re more of a pizza kind of person, several spots like Jimmy’s Pizza offer a personal-sized pie at just $5.
4. Safety
“There is this international reputation of Brooklyn being dangerous. But when members come they quickly realize that it’s not so. I feel comfortable walking around Bushwick at any time of day or night. My female friends say the same.”
- Jacob Shapiro, Outpost’s New York account manager.
Bushwick was once known as an unsafe area. But this has changed over the last few years, with the rate of crimes reported decreasing significantly.
In fact, Bushwick was noted to be much safer compared to other popular neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, Greenwich Village, and Midtown Manhattan.
5. Location
“Bushwick’s location is really good as it has four subway lines. And there are also a lot of places you can go to chill.”
- Ana Xavier, Outpost’s Bushwick House member since February 2018.
Bushwick has four subway lines: the L, J, M, and Z. On top of that, there are also three bus lines that will take you to major parts of the city.
This means transportation will never be on the list of things you’d have to worry about when living here. You’ll never run out of options to pick from, to ensure you get to your destination within reasonable time.
The neighborhood also has a variety of bars, eateries, and coffee shops for you to explore. A favorite among our members is Father Knows Best, where you can get a pint of beer for as low as $5.
If you’re a vegetarian (and vegan), Routine is the perfect place for you. It is located just a short walk from the Wilson Avenue stop on the L train, and has an interior that would make for some great photos!
Be sure to experience all these for yourself by making a visit to Bushwick an item on your weekend to-do-list. You can also check out our social media pages to get a glimpse of what the neighborhood has to offer!
Facebook: Outpost Club
Instagram: outpost_club