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we’re moving to the area and was wondering what’s the pros and cons of both
Bayswater is beautiful and pretty affordable (major pro), but you have to go through a challenging part of town to get to Far Rockaway, and you can feel almost like being isolated at times. It was hit pretty hard by Sandy.
Far Rockaway has many shuls to choose from, several yeshivas for boys and girls of all ages, and is safe walking distance to the Five Towns also. Home values have risen in recent years, and the community is eclectic in its demographic. It would be my first choice of the two.
In both neighborhoods, people DO say Good Shabbos to you, for the most part, or will answer if you say it first. Many young couples have been moving in to Bayswater in recent years, and are very happy there.
I have a cousin who is very happy in Inwood, which is right next to Far Rockaway. Perhaps that should also be on your short list?
To add to Oomis, from what I hear Far Rockaway is considered to be a “prestigious” location (I know, who would have thought) and housing prices have gone through the roof. Both of those areas have an eruv and are basically served by the same amenities (although there is the LIRR vs. the subway, maybe Oomis can tell you more).
Perhaps if you can describe why you want to move to the Far Rockaway area, the CR can better help you.
I’d say Far Rockaway is the better of the two. But I’m biased. Bayswater has its nice blocks and the area right on the bay is beautiful but a large portion of it isn’t very pleasant. The neighborhood bordering Far Rockaway and Bayswater is pretty scary. Bayswater does have more affordable housing.
Far Rockaway is mostly Jewish- a lot of shuls, yeshivos and schools. The community is a varied one- there are a lot of younger families living there and a few shuls catering to them. It has the LIRR-a fifty minute ride to Penn, and the A train but that takes an hour and a half to Manhattan.
It used to be a very close knit community- not so much anymore just by extension of the fact that is way larger than it ever was.
You get the best of both in Far Rockaway- a nice New York community that’s just a little out of all the overwhelmingness of Brooklyn and Manhattan.
I personally would not use the subway, having had a few experiences that were very uncomfortable, going back a long time ago. LIRR is expensive, but a nice commute and for the men, there is a Daf Yomi on the train in the morning. Can you imagine doing that on a subway in Manhattan (or maybe they do, who knows?)!
Inwood is an up and coming neighborhod for young frum couples,with the Yeshivah Ketana there, as well as a young ladies’ seminary, but bear in mind that as Nassau County, you would be subject to their taxes. There are pluses and minuses to everything.
Far Rockaway seems to be a “stop gap” for many young couples who really want to live in the Five Towns, but can’t afford it for their first living space. So they live in FR for a few years and then move. That said, the neighborhood IS considered prestigious for a number of reasons, primarily because it is relatively affordable, but still on the heels of the suburbs. There is a very different feel there, as compared to Brooklyn and Queens. It’s all in what you are looking for, as GAW suggested you describe.
oomis – interesting, because I heard that the Five Towns (Cedarhust) is much LESS expensive than Far Rockaway. For example, Zillow has a “normal” (1185 sq. foot) size house at 726 Elvira Ave sold in 2011 for 995K. A similar house in Inwood might be in the 400K area, while a much larger house in Cedarhurst, 362 Oak ave, was sold last year for 710K.
My understanding is with the new Rabbis (Rabbi Forst & Rabbi Feiner) Far Rockaway has become the new “in” location that new couples want to move to. This is especially (as you note) that Far Rockaway has relatively low property taxes.
GAW, you are correct. A relative of mine bought a home in Cedarhurst, and it probably would have cost more in FR. Part of the property values issue is that people want to live in a community filled with Yeshivos and shuls, but with ambience, parking, property, and less crowded than Brooklyn or Queens. The rabbis that you mention ARE a big draw, as well.
As a resident of FR for almost 30 years, allow me to weigh in.
Whether you are buying or renting, FR is more expensive than Bayswater. A 3 bedroom in FR scan start at $2000. so you get a lot more for your money in Bayswater. That being said, the concerns mentioned before, such as distance from FR, safety, etc. are greater there.
FR & Bayswater are both part of NYC, so the property taxes are lower, but you also have NYC income tax.
In the 5T, property taxes are based on the school district you are in. so the same house on either side of Woodmere Blvd. could have a difference of $3000!
With regard to shuls, schools and shopping, there are all equal. you can find what you need in all the areas. Nassau County provides busing to all its school aged residents, regardless if the school in Nassau County or not.
If you plan on renting, there is very little the 5T or Inwood. Most houses are single family. So if you want an apartment, it’s Bayswater or FR.
Young couples are moving to the area for many reasons. There are good schools, all the neighborhoods have an “out-of-town” feel, they all have KOSHER L’MEHADRIN EIRUVS.
Yes, houses are not cheap, but much cheaper than Brooklyn or Queens.
Keep in mind the advantage of also being in the same immediate neighborhood as your son’s friends, as well as his school. Especially on Shabbos, when he will want to visit people in his class or vice versa, it will be much easier if they are close by to each other.
Inwood is one of the Five Towns ( Woodmere,Cedarhurst,Lawrence and Hewlett are the other 4 ). Inwood never had much of a Jewish population and was not nearly as wealthy as the other 4
But Inwood is up and coming. Many young families are moving there now. CEDARHURST was not a great frum population 50 years ago, and look at it now!
There are lots of boys from Darchei who live in Bayswater. If you have a car, the distance is really no big deal. There’s a small grocery store in between Bayswater and Far Rockaway. The larger ones are only a couple minutes further away by car.
my husband is from Bayswater and said Darchei is not far at all. My step brother (with 9 kids) also lives there and they all fit in a 3 bedroom apartment. It does seem like a nice communuity. I would consider moving there as we are looking to move to a 2 bedroom, but my husband doesnt want to move back simply because he has a healthier relationship with his family when hes living at a slight distance. Your right it is more affordable then Far Rockaway and Ive seen some pretty nice size apartments there. We live in Queens and small 2 br apartments here are the same price as large 3 br apartments there. I understand your dillema. Maybe its worth it just to move to Bayswater and lease an apartment for a year or so and the extra money you save you can use towards a different apartment in FR. Either way you dont lose and if you do lose its not much. If you love it, great, and if you dont then its only a year lease anyway. Thats what I would do. But obviously you need to do whats best for your family.
Also, depending on how old your kids are, you don’t want to uproot them more than necessary.
lol true! your both right. i didnt quite think of the actual hassle of the “moving” part. and having older kids. probably because we own very little furniture (our 1 bedroom is so small we learned to deal with very little) and my oldest is not even a year and half yet so for us its not so diffult and I forgot to think about other peoples level of difficulty. If you really prefer FR and want or more importantly need the prices of Bayswater its still managable to pick up and move after a year or 2 just to save money for that particular reason. I doubt you’d be the first family to do that. You really cant go wrong with either community. I just like that the apartments are bigger and cheaper and for me thats a total game changer esp when both communities are family oriented. But you need to do whats best for your family and not mine. Good luck!!
CA, Far Rockaway is a wonderful community, and for the most part strangers even say Good Shabbos to each other (take note, Yashi and Pember).
Bayswater Vs. Far Rockaway Both are on the “A” Line.
when are they playing? what is the over/under?
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