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the historic districts in St. George and Stapleton look like they came out of a Charles Dickens Christmas Carol. These neighborhoods have many liberal artists and professionals. The homes are on hills so they offer beautiful waterfront views with cheap rent. There is Bay street which looks like Bedford Ave did 10 years ago. On Victory BLvd I get cheap meals from authentic Mexican to Sri Lankan, Polish, Albanian, Nigerian, Italian,Irish pubs etc. Nicer than Ditmas Park, Bklyn. Our friends are going to open up a coffee shop eatery on Van DuZer street. Stapleton Heights looks and feels like a Bostonish Brooklyn with some San Fran added.

I'm part of the source of rising rents insofar as I am a 20-something with a high paying job who is moving to G-W from Connecticut because I'd rather live in a place where most people do not unwind en-mass after work before the television. I like "real" people who are active and thinking about the world around them. I'm able to afford a higher rent then most because my monthly income is greater. But I'm also able to purchase art, food, music and add to the vitality of the community that way. I'd imagine if you look at this deeply that this has been a constant phenomena since the 18th century. I'm not too concerned.

Shhh. Post-industrial N NJ (Garfield).

Moved here in 2004 when Williamsburg and -- even then -- Bushwick were overpriced.

10-year lease. 5000sf. 1% / year increase. Almost $1200/mo now.

Brian:
I live between Beijing, Bushwick and Calgary. Once the massive evictions in Williamsburg went down most people in my building left the country. I am writing this to you from Beijing, tons of cheap artist studios, great community, its like there is a direct flight from Brooklyn to Beijing.

I can't tell you the amount of artists from NY and the east coast have their studios here.
Ellen

Moved from the East Village to Brooklyn, now to Stapleton (Stapleton Heights) Staten Island. Cheap housing--$1400 a month for a whole house. Interesting 19th century architecture (including historic district) Walking distance to ferry (15 minutes) a few cafes and bars. Many ethnic restaurants, other artists, etc.
But ferry plus subway can make for long commutes.

Many artists of all sorts (musicians, painters, singers, writers, etc.) have long lived in and are moving to Inwood and Washington Heights. Outer Brooklyn is too far and rents are cheap (relatively speaking) in Northern Manhattan. And the A train is an easy way to get around.

Brooklyn has jumped the shark.

I just moved from small railroad in greenpoint to a lovely tree lined block in Crown Heights! I have a huge duplex apartment and its the least I've paid in rent since living in the dorms at pratt 8 years ago. Oh AND I have a backyard.
My bedroom is over 200 sq feet and the basement that I share with roomates is twice that size. I love my tree lined block and I really think this neighborhood is coming up.
I've lived in bed stuy and near morgan town in bushwick before I lived in Greenpoint for 3 years. Crown Heights might be a crappy neighborhood, but its a whole lot greener, cheaper and livelier then anywhere else I've lived. Plus I'm really close to the botanic gardens and brooklyn museum if I'm ever in need for some inspiration.

Bushwick... lots of young artists all over all sides of Bushwick and yes in industrial buildings, live work situations. The recession is actually making Bushwick more affordable again. And yes, lots are illegal and will *hopefully* benefit from the loft law changes.

Long Island City is great for sculptors. It does need a stronger sense of community, but there are many industrial buildings with large floor space, freight elevators and concrete floors.

Greenwood Heights -- south south Slope. Lots of diversity. No strollers. Lots of noise -- in a good way. And fairly reasonable rents. And cool cemetery.

The area between south Park Slope (the South South Slope) and Greenwood cemetary has significant number of artists. There is a an old warehouse on 18th St. (between 5th and 6th) with artist loft space and with a gallery on the ground floor (called Mad Arts).

Sweating it out in Redhook Brian! Cheap rent, big freight elevator. Just enough blight to keep away the sycophantic hipsters.

Studio right across from the pool. Gonna go take a dip!

ps: This new "beta" website is messed up/wonky.

Joe from SI: It's happening, trust me. They just don't congregate and stick out as "artists" the way the ironically facial haired and vintaged clothed diletantes do in Brooklyn.

It's all about Bushwick, isn't it? Well, at this point, basically Ridgewood as the side Bushwick closer to Williamsburg is already too expensive for those artists who are truly poor.

My studio is in LIC, but it's not too affordable and while there is definitely an artist's community, there is a Queens stigma

I love Staten Island, but no, artists will not move here. The commute is too long and the place is too stodgy for the hipsters.
They can have the L train. I'll enjoy my cheap rent.

We are not all moving because we are in financial need. I am delivering a painting today to a client. I live in Manhattan and I even have health insurance!

Is there any longer a lag time between an area becoming an "artists' neighborhood" and the wealthy moving in to take advantage of "the vibe"?

Isn't "artist neighborhood" more of a real estate tycoon planned phenomenon now?

St. George and other Staten Island north shore neighborhoods (Stapleton, New Brighton, etc). There are a lot of artists around here - the kind who actually do art, rather than preen and look precious in coffee shops and bars all day. Residential rent is stupid-cheap here and studio space plentiful. God bless the Staten Island stigma!

Crown Heights, especially around Franklin Ave between Eastern Parkway and Atlantic, has a budding artist community.