You can try on campus housing, but you will enjoy your life much more if you don't live in Clinton Hill. It's not the most desired neighborhood in Brooklyn. I would think that it should depend on how much money you have to pay for on-campus housing costs and what you get for it. I tried housing on-campus when I went to grad school and I moved out after the first semester. It was awful!!! I didn't go go Pratt though.

are you a grad or undergrad? if you're a grad, then i would recommend not living on campus because the housing isn't that fabulous and it's not very cheap. i would get an apartment if i were you.....rents have been dropping lately and a lot of building owner's have actually been paying the broker's fees, so you could probably get something pretty nice (helps to have a roommate though). also, i don't know what 21Ronin is talking about because Clinton Hill is actually a pretty nice neighborhood.....lots of trees and beautiful old mansions.....maybe he's thinking of neighboring Bed-Stuy?

I live in Bed-Stuy and I wouldn't recommend it because its the hood. It works for me for right now, but that's aside from the point. Anyway, about what I said about Clinton Hill...........the neighborhood right around the campus is not very nice. Those highrise buildings (I'm not sure if they are projects or not) destroy the streets and they are pretty close to the campus. I have been through Clinton Hill and I agree that there are nice areas, but you will be further away from the campus. Also, those mansions that Kalyani mentioned are further away from the trains (A,C and G).

I do not, nor have ever, been a student at Pratt, so I can't comment on their housing situation but I CAN tell you that 21Ronin doesn't know what he/she is talking about. I have lived in several different places in the neighborhood, all in close proximity to Pratt and think it's a fantastic area. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

The architecture building is located in the Clinton Hill historic district and the rest of the campus is nearby. The area around Pratt is perfectly fine, and Clinton Hill IS one of the more desired neighborhoods in Brooklyn. There's a ton of stuff going on, an interesting mix of people, and has become infinitely safer than it was 5, 10 years ago.

And also... the fact of the matter is, if you choose to go to Pratt, you're going to spend a lot of time in Clinton Hill whether you live on campus, off campus or in a different neighborhood altogether.

21Ronin - if you hate the area neighborhood so much, why did you choose Pratt?

As for the rents, prices are indeed coming down. Also, consider dealing with a broker but negotiate that the landlord pays their fee or ask for a free month of rent. Prices are still considerable, but are getting a little lower.

Never went to Pratt. I live in Brooklyn not too far away (Bed-Stuy). I never said that I hated the neighborhood, but Clinton Hill like any other neighborhood in Brooklyn has its nicer parts than others. There are some parts of Clinton Hill that are not as nice as the mansions w/ big trees.

T D, 21Ronin didn't go to Pratt, but I do.

Ok. Now that you understand that I didn't go to Pratt, can we get past that as someone who lives in BK? The fact is that the housing on the two mega blocks (From St. James Place to Franklin Ave {east to west} and Dekalb Ave and Lafayette Ave {north to south}) are not nice. The mega block to the east (between Franklin, Classon, Dekalb and Lafayette) look like housing projects. And if you have researched what housing projects or building typologies like the buildings on those blocks do to adjacent residential neighborhoods, you would understand that there is merit to what I have said. Giving advice to someone moving to Pratt could be helpful, if you say try to stay west or north of the campus. Stay away from south or east. Landlords blur the lines of neighborhoods by claiming that their apartments are in more desired neighborhoods. So, if you find something from a landlord that says its in Clinton Hill and the apartment is on Fulton and Franklin, don't be surprized and definitely don't take it.

sorry, i missed that part.

I live in the neighborhood, I don't need to do academic research to learn the effect that "towers in the park" have on the urban environment - I live it, so do you. Apparently we have differing views about their impact. Would the sites be better utilized as low rise mixed use? Of course. But as far as I'm concerned, the streets remain active and safe despite what Jane Jacobs might say about the superblock.

If I had to give advice to someone moving to the area, I would say anything in the vicinity of Pratt is perfectly fine. My borders would be Myrtle to the north, Fulton to the south, Franklin to the east and as far west as you want to go.

That being said, the entirety of Bed Stuy is by no means the 'hood. some areas are, most areas aren't. For a student on a budget, there's nothing wrong with extending the boundary to Bedford or Nostrand (just not along Fulton Street). The further east you go, the cheaper your rent. And what 21Ronin says is correct... don't let the realtors fool you. Clinton Hill ends at Classon Ave, but there's no reason not to get an apartment beyond Classon.

It depends on what side of the University you live on. I am not opposed to this type of apartment complex, but the effect on the community around it is harsh. The mansions w/ tall trees are not too far away, but you would never guess that when you are walking down Fulton Ave in Clinton Hill. There are abandoned construction sites, severely cracked and broken sidewalks, boarded up windows, etc. My goal is not to bash Clinton Hill, but I'm being honest about the reality of the neighborhood. The blight is there as much as sucess and wealth. You just have to be careful of where you look. If the boundaries of Clinton Hill are as you say, then we can agree that certain parts are nicer than others. I have the same opinion about Bed-Stuy. Where I live is considered the hood. Not all of Bed-Stuy is the hood. I just will not sugar coat my description of these places the way TD did......

"but I CAN tell you that 21Ronin doesn't know what he/she is talking about. I have lived in several different places in the neighborhood, all in close proximity to Pratt and think it's a fantastic area. I wouldn't live anywhere else."

With respect to academic research regarding high rise apartment buildings like this or high rise projects, studies have shown that the crime rates are much higher and the environment is much less safe due to the design and layout of these super blocks. My opinion does not matter, but the research that has been done clearly supports what I am saying. Accessibility for the police and fire department is poor for projects like these.

This is a completely different topic, but I think higher density is what these blocks need. The large voids along streets like DeKalb and Lafayette destroy the rhythm of the neighborhood. Urban infill doesn't always have to be between two commercial lots. Building masses need to be brought back to the street with some function/programming designs to give the life back to it.

'Thanks guys for the responses..It helps a little to know the situation. I will be a grad student. Not sure if I will be able to find a roommate by the time I get there.. I looked up the price for a 1 bedroom/studio and its around 1100-1300/month. Does that sound about right or is it lower around the area??
The graduate house will run around 1275/month on a 12 month lease for the Grand St apartment but I wouldn't have to worry about 1st/last month rent and deposit nor utilities.
What do you think if I deal with the on-campus housing the first year and then try to find off-campus housing the following year? I will be doing my master in architecture so I will be there for 3 years anyway.
Ideally my budget would be around 900/month but I know that is only possible with a roommate.
Please elaborate if you have anything thoughts..

$1100-1300 sounds about right. $1275 and no utilities though???? That sounds like a great deal. I would look into it further. If that's the case and you live in a closet, may not be not worth it though. You may be able to work out your budget to similar numbers if you a have a roommate.

It is a good idea to try the housing for a year and then see how it works for you. You will get an opportunity to familiarize yourself w/ the neighborhoods and make a more informed decision.

Suggestions?...............Craigslist. You can meet find some wierdos, but you can also find some good opportunities. Do you have any contacts in the area? I would reach out and have anyone you know to put their feelers out.

I do have some contacts but they are all pretty much on the island and none has ever lived in one of the borough. Other contacts I was hoping to rely on has fled the city due to lay offs or job transfers. I am assuming if the recession has hit Houston, it would be 10 times worse up there. I also have my old landlord in Chelsea I can contact but I was paying 1300/month back in 2003 so I would assume rent would be like 1700 or 1800/month for that same shoe box.
Can I really trust Craigslist .. I had several friends that has been scammed using that website and I am very cautious about living with people I've only met once or twice.
Oh thanks 21Ronin for your insight...I almost forgotten about the stress involve in NYC apartment hunting..
I have a ? for Kalyani...
I am assuming you are also in the Architecture Program.. do you think its worth it to be that close to campus? or going further out to look for housing would be better? If its anything like my previous studios, it should be open all night and I am usually there late so how safe and easy would it be fore me to leave campus around 1 or 2 in the morning and not get mug around Pratt?

If I were in your shoes, I'd live within walking distance to campus if possible. The only subway line that directly serves the Pratt campus is the G train, which is a crosstown line that does not go to Manhattan. As such, it suffers from unreliable and infrequent service, decrepit stations, and lots of hoodlums from Bed-Sty at all hours. Unless you find an apartment that's also on the G train (there's some decent, affordable neighborhoods along Queens Boulevard if you feel like commuting), you'll always need to be transferring between lines, which adds time and another level of hassle to your commute.

i used to live at clinton, it was quite a depressing neighborhood, no one will walk on the street by him/herself after 11:00pm, i was pointed by a knife twice...

if pratt has studio there where u can work, then u can live further away like brooklyn heights which is more more decent.

i was there about 14 years ago, may be is better now.

i live in bed stuy and have for 3 years without any trouble (and i'm a small girl). it's not an ideal neighborhood, but it has changed a lot. there are cops on the street corners all the time, for better or worse. a handful of decent coffee shops have opened in the past two years and now there is a duane reade and a home depot. it is pretty inexpensive and was nicer than other parts of new york i've lived in.

clinton hill is nicer than bed stuy in terms of housing stock and food. there are more grocery stores and restaurants. it isn't particularly dangerous, but i had a subleter get mugged around there. basically if you aren't stupid and listening to your ipod while slowly walking in heels you will be fine. there are a bunch of new condos going in this area, some of which may be turning into pratt grad student housing.

fort green is on the other side of clinton hill and has a few nicer restaurants and a little farmers market. there are fancy wine stores and convenience stores on myrtle and you can catch the bus or train (or walk) really easily to pratt. it isn't a fancy dancy neighborhood like brooklyn heights, but it is quite cute - on weekends there are baby strollers every two feet.

basically anywhere is fine if you have some street smarts. the area has changed and is continually changing - partly because of pratt.

zero,
i'm a 2nd year in the m.arch I program here at pratt. i'd suggest putting a post up here on archinect saying that you're looking for a roommate....that's how i found my roommate (she's in the same program here). i'd also recommend living within walking distance of campus since you'll probably be spending a lot of late nights in studio. i've heard of people being mugged in the neighborhood, but i never have and i've never felt unsafe walking home late at night (and i live all the way down on bedford). let me know if you have any more questions!

That's actually possible sans roomate if you are willing to "rough it" a bit in Crown Heights or Bed Stuy. I live in the Heights and its a great neighborhood although I will say I try to stay off the streets after midnight. Rents, to my knowledge are going down all across the city so you may even be able to find a place in prospect heights (which is quite gentrified) on your budget.