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SO/M Community Coalition
Citizen
Username: Coalition
Post Number: 68
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 8:41 am: |     |
In case you can't wait....
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/13/realestate/13COV.html?pagewanted=1 |
Soda
Citizen
Username: Soda
Post Number: 995
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 11:14 am: | |
During the house-hunting process which culminated in my family moving here from Manhattan in 1986, my wife and I had consistently made it known that we wanted to live in a "real-world" community, whereupon every local realtor we spoke with (here in SOMA, in Millburn, and in Summit)would dutifully nod their heads, and proceed to steer us (sometimes not very subtly) towards neighborhoods where we'd fit comfortably into whatever homogeneous niche they thought we fit.
One realtor stands out in my memory. She was driving us around in South Orange Village at twilight, talking nonstop about the great little town we'd be living in, when we passed a well-dressed group of black men walking up South Orange Ave. from the train station. "Oh, they must be investment bankers", she explained, not skipping a beat. "There are loads of investment bankers who live here in South Orange."
I'm glad we moved here. I'm sure that some good friends of ours, deliberately living in less diverse communities, will possibly see -- and maybe even read -- this "Times" article. I doubt that they'll call to congratulate us on making such a wise and prescient choice. But my son, who's away at college, just called. To thank me.
That's the call that counts. |
AZ
Citizen
Username: Azaltsman
Post Number: 91
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 12:53 pm: | |
Just read it this morning. Nice article. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 2875
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 5:02 pm: | |
Who does our PR (has the Iraqi Information Minister been moonlighting?)? They should get a raise.  |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 318
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 9:50 pm: | |
Nice work Barbara (and others )! |
deborahg
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 540
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 13, 2003 - 12:51 pm: | |
Amen, Soda! My daughter is only 7, but every time I visit her school, or meet her friends, who represent multiple races, gay as well as straight families, etc., I am glad we moved here. And I hope to get a call like that someday. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 1153
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 3:59 am: | |
Deborahg,
I’m sure you’re glad you moved here, and I also hope someday your children feel the same way. But, maybe you can share with us and anyone else looking to move here of your experiences with local realtors?
Did you have the same experience as Soda during your house-hunting process that culminated in you moving here?
Did you also consistently make it known to your realtor that you wanted to live in a "real-world" community?
Did every local realtor you spoke to (here in SOMA, in Millburn, and in Summit) dutifully nod their heads, and proceed to steer you (sometimes not very subtly) towards neighborhoods where you would fit comfortably into a homogeneous niche they thought fit you? |
deborahg
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 541
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 8:44 am: | |
Actually, AJC, we were steered towards HOUSES that the realtor thought we would like--ie, houses that *she* liked. She liked colonials with redone kitchens, small but multiple bedrooms, and what I have later heard called "Robert Northfield colors" (beige, taupe, burgundy) on the walls. We, on the other hand, liked an arts and crafts wreck with large but fewer rooms and the windows literally falling off it. She was polite but somewhat shocked.
As for a real world community, yes, we let her know that was important to us--we chose Maplewood over Millburn, Ridgewood etc. for precisely that reason. We are liberal "Park Slope scum," after all. More to the point, we live in a world where people come in many colors and lifestyles. We want our kids to be acquainted with this reality, and not to assume that "different" means "worse."
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ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 1155
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 4:36 pm: | |
Well there you go, that's just the way it should be... welcome again woman! |
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