Cedarhurst- unbiased "review"?? how about Inwood?

I was originally looking into Far Rockaway but at this point it's just not possible- maybe maybe a two family, but even then: small property, not too pretty area, neighbors who may be somewhat...less than reputable? hamaivin yavin.
a friend of mine who lives in F.R. said check into Cedarhurst. So, a bit about me so you can help me out!! This is not to be meant in any negative way, please don't take it like that: I always thought Cedarhurst was pretty "five towny"- I do dress up- but only for special occasions- I'm more of a short denim skirt, frugal shopper (half my clothing is from Target). I don't own any big designer sunglasses...or designer anything, actually!
So, I am concerned that the area is more materialistic than I am used to (I will NOT use a Bugaboo- even if given to me for free, that's the type I am). that's a major reason why I want to get out of Brooklyn so badly!
I feel like Far Rockaway is more my "speed" of people but I just can't see how I can afford it.

About Inwood- I know nearly nothing other than it's "new" and growing.

Please help???

Executive Member Joined: Nov 27 2005 Posts: 450

I don't think that you would like Cedarhurst. Don't know about Inwood.
What about Queens or West Hempstead?

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 20 2007 Posts: 4036

When you say Queens are you really saying Kew Gardens/Hills?

Gold Member Joined: Apr 23 2007 Posts: 1398

I don't know. I grew up in the 5 towns and my brother now lives in Woodmere. I think you will find all and I mean all kinds of people there. My SIL walks around in a jean skirt, t-shirt and tichel everyday that she is not working. I never felt pressure to dress up growing up either.

Will you see bugaboos on Central Ave of course. but you will also see McClarens and Gracos also. One of the great things abt the area (at least what I have found) is that you have such a mix of ppl and ppl don't really care what the other one is doing. When I lived there, I wore my jean skirt/t-shirt and my friend wore her designer sunglasses. Who cares? We can still have coffee together....

The bigger issue might be with the shtuyot your kids can come home wanting from school. Thats might make me think twice but honestly, I think you get that everywhere and its more of an issue with the kid then with the community

Executive Member Joined: Nov 27 2005 Posts: 450

Executive Member Joined: Nov 27 2005 Posts: 450

Executive Member Joined: Nov 27 2005 Posts: 450

btw, I just wanted to be clear that none of that is meant negatively - I have a lot of friends and family there. People I know are super nice and there is a ton of chessed. I'm just stating facts as I know them and as I think OP wants to hear.

Gold Member Joined: Apr 23 2007 Posts: 1398

Active Poster Joined: May 12 2008 Posts: 44

Queens has a lot of good, but has also become very materialistic and very into the frummy thing to do. Also, if you have boys, think carefully as the school choices in Queens are limited and not great. For girls school is not an issue - there are a few good choices.

Why don't u try bayswater

Have you looked into Bayswater? It's a section of Far Rockaway (about 3 minutes away) that's really growing and the prices are much cheaper. When we moved to Far Rockaway about 8 years ago we looked at Bayswater and we saw some huge houses for the same prices as much smaller houses in the main area of Far Rockaway. We ended up moving to Far Rockaway, because at that time, there weren't as many young frum families in Bayswater as there are now. Now there are a ton of people and have a number of friends from Bayswater and they're all really happy. If we had to do it over again, we probably would have ended up there.

When we were looking, we also looked at Woodmere-Cedarhurst, but only half-heartedly. It was then, and I think still is, pretty "Five-Townsy". Sure, there are people there who dress down and don't have fancy things, but I think that that's the exception rather than the rule. It's probably getting less like that as time goes on, but based on my kids friends from Cedarhurst (who by the way are all really great kids), it's still like that.

From what I know about Inwood (and I don't know much), it's still very new. They're trying to build it up, but last I heard they still need to import bochurim to make sure they have a minyan on shabbos. Basically, if you move there, you have to be willing to be a pioneer.

Just as a side point, if you say that you can't afford Far Rockaway, then I'm not sure how you could afford Cedarhurst either. You might be able to find a cheaper one family house in Cedarhurst, but the monthly property taxes are at least double those in Queens (Far Rockaway is Queens County).

Also, whoever is recommending Kew Gardens Hills - the housing situation there is worse than in Far Rockaway.

Posted: Thu, Jul 15 2010, 9:29 am Post subject:

Oh, and Bayswater also has a lot of Brooklyn people looking to get away from Brooklyn, and it's still close to visit there regularly.

Posted: Thu, Jul 15 2010, 9:40 am Post subject:

Posted: Thu, Jul 15 2010, 9:47 am Post subject:

We recently bought a house in cedarhurst, moved from FR (Which btw we loved, but there was just nothing in our range to buy) as far as taxes is concerned, you will pay a little more as someone above mentioned, but it balances out, cuz u don't pay city tax if you live in Nassau county, and car insurance will go down cuz every house in cedarhurst has a driveway and garage...
For us it was a great move, the far rockaway people are all shopping and "having coffee" on central ave...so not all the bugaboos you see are cedarhurst ones!!! The kids go to far rockaway schools, the guys still learn with their far rockaway yeshivas and friends etc etc.. We can even walk in on shabbos for simchas and stuff.. And I never felt pressured about what I was wearing at all..you'll find all kinds of styles and colors in the Shuls on shabbos!!!

Posted: Thu, Jul 15 2010, 10:09 am Post subject:

I grew up in far rockaway and considered moving there now but it is out of my price range (at least the areas where I would want to live). cedarhurst is definitely cheaper and so is some of woodmere. we went to cedarhurst for a shabbos to get a feel for it and I was extremely turned off. im sure that there are all types and a lot of very nice people but when a place has an overall reputation, it usually means something. I waited outside of shul for about an hour with all the women and I was totally disgusted (and bored!) by what I saw. literally all I heard about was strollers, sheitals, clothing, vacations, and who-is-cooler-than-who type of talk. its possible that different shuls are different but just from that one hour, there is no way I would move there.
the argument for the five towns is always "well there are such nice people, there is so much chesed, etc" and that is all TRUE. I know some very "five townsy" people who are so nice and are even my good friends (grew up with them and went to school together). but that doesnt mean that you want to live in that environment and raise your kids in that environment.
I would suggest looking into bayswater to see if you like it. personally, I wouldnt move there (for my own reasons) but you may really like it.
I looked into inwood a bit. you really have to be willing to be a pioneer. there is a minyan on shabbos these days. they even appointed one of their own as the "rav". last I heard, there were about 13 families there but its been very slow as the first family moved in around 9 years ago. and to the poster who said that the frum people are near yeshiva ketana, thats not true. the neighborhood where they are is across burnside ave and is actually very pretty and suburban. the nonjews there seem to be middle class with well kept houses and lawns. (however, I did hear that the nonjews in the area are not too pleased that the jews are moving in...just a thought.) the families that live there ive heard are very friendly with each other and are really making an effort to band together to form a community.

bottom line is that all of us have our own perspectives and our own hangups and our own backgrounds so you have to do your own digging. go for a shabbos to each of these places to get a feel for what your looking at.

good luck!

Sounds like West Hempstead is more your speed. Where are you planning on sending to school? A lot of people (me included) send to the 5 towns for school. Hanc is very modern

I have heard good things about Bayswater also... the houses are affordable, and the crowd is more "wholesome" and less snobby... But I think there is a bad lowlife neighborhood near Bayswater... But I think the whole Five Towns has the issue of being near areas of lowlife non-jews.