Jared:

I have never lived in the neighborhood but I first came there in 1974 as an apartment manager for two large buildings. At the time there were only a handful of American Black and Caribbean residents. The neighborhood was predominantly Jewish. Perhaps out of the 220 residents I had twenty Black families. I left after the sale in 1976. In 1978 I was called back to operate the properties after a foreclosure. By then it was solidly Black. Those were the days of a bankrupt city, massive police layoffs and White flight. Becasue of that, where I would have perhaps 4 or 5 vacances a month in 1974 by 1978 it was not unusual to have 20. The quality of the tenancy was not as good not becasue of color but quality. Rental standards for income were much lower and therefore more rent delinquincy. That contributed to less spent on maintenance.

My second tour was over in 1980 and by then the neighborhood had few Jewish residents. One of the hardest things to accomplish is integrated neighborhoods. Before I retired a few years ago, I saw many changes throughout the outer boroughs. In my opinion it was only from the late 1990s that integration without White or Black flight was possible. It is much more income driven now. And diverse with Indian, Chinese, and Koreans in the mix.

I am sure within the next several years your neighborhood will have that happen. It has good bones as we said in the infustry and that your story makes clear.