Take It Or Leave It

A Ridgewood share for under $800 a person — but bring your bike

By Virginia K. Smith  | November 5, 2014 - 12:59PM
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You may not be on board with the nickname "Quooklyn," but with or without a silly new moniker, Ridgewood is getting a lot of attention as a relatively affordable outer-borough option. So is this three-bedroom, one-bathroom duplex in the Bushwick-bordering Queens nabe right for you?

The price—$2,300/month—shakes down to around $766 per person, and the landlord accepts guarantors. The exposed brick, hardwood floors, and skylight are nice design touches, and the kitchen seems to have undergone a recent renovation, with a large new fridge and both a dishwasher and microwave built in. (It also seems to double as the living room, making for a small common area.) On the flip side, this place is a half-mile from the nearest subway. Perfect for three roommates willing to ride their bikesOur veteran renters—including RentHackr founder Zeb Dropkin, freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald, and BrickUnderground’s own senior contributing editor, Lucy Cohen Blatter—weigh in for this week’s Take It or Leave It.

Size: 3-bedroom
Location: 6276 60 Place (between Bleecker and Metropolitan)
Cost: $2,300/month
Flexible Layout: No
Days on the market: 38 Days
Subway: M at Forest Ave.

Pros and Cons:

"For a three-bedroom, the price is hard to beat in this city. But it looks as though you're going to have to contend with some steps. I do like the modern-looking kitchen area, complete with a stainless steel fridge, a dishwasher, and what looks like a pantry, though the kitchen is just an 'area' rather than a room of its own. Also, the kitchen island is a good place to eat if you don't want to have, or can't fit, a dining room table. I did notice that the agent used the term 'cozy' in the listing, which in realtor speak translates to 'small.' Ridgewood is getting a lot of attention of late, though, and this may be your last chance to get a real steal there." - Lucy

"This is a renovated three-bedroom for less than a studio in most neighborhoods. But to get around, you'll need to hike half a mile to the M or take a bus to a train—putting you 40 minutes away from Union Square." - Zeb

"If Ridgewood is the new hot neighborhood, you might want to get in on the ground floor with this $2,300 three-bedroom rental. The renovation of the place is pretty appealing—love the exposed brick, three skylights and the oversized kitchen—but sharing one bathroom might be problematic." - Lambeth​

Who would this apartment be perfect for?

"A family or group of friends on a budget who don't mind trying out a neighborhood that's not quite overflowing with amenities/attractions yet. Note: Said family/friends would have to be okay sharing one bathroom." - Lucy

"Students and budget roommates can make this work. Ridgewood is up-and-coming, it's just a pain to get in and out of. Buy a Vespa with your rent savings and you should be alright." - Zeb

"A trio of pioneers who have recently been priced out of Bushwick." - Lambeth​

The Verdict(s):

LEAVE IT "Though the price is great, the neighborhood is not all that happening and the space seems small." - Lucy

TAKE IT "As long as you can make do with the transportation time and you have sane roommates, this looks like a good deal." - Zeb

​TAKE IT "And get ready to love the M train." - Lambeth

Ready to rent? Check out our How to Rent Guide...and if the apartment you like requires a guarantor that you don’t have, see if the landlord accepts Insurent, a guarantor solution from one of BrickUnderground’s sponsors.​

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