After months of threatening news about the shutdown of the L train, residents of north Brooklyn now have a fun choice to consider: Will the MTA shut down the line completely for 18 months or just stop most service for up to three years?
Whatever the transit agency decides, it’s clear a lot of Brooklynites are going for a third option: Getting the heck out.
But where to? It depends.
For many, Crown Heights seems to be the answer.
In a thoroughly unscientific survey, chatter online about the impending L train debacle seems to focus around the neighborhood — both from those who see it as an alternative to Williamsburg and Bushwick and from locals who worry the train repairs will make rising rents in the area even worse.
At the town hall meeting Thursday where the MTA discussed its plans for the L train, an attendee suggested relocating to the neighborhood as an option following three other choices: having longer waits for trains for three years, having "no L train at all for 18 months” and, reasonably, “death.”
@maggie162 D) move to crown heights
— Lindsey Adler (@Lahlahlindsey) May 5, 2016
The hysteria has been building for months.
I'm having a panic attack! Where do I move when the L train shuts down?
— HipsterJew.com (@HipsterJew) February 4, 2016
time to start thinking in earnest about moving. not out of nyc, just off the dang L train.
— INVISIGOTH (@spacecrone) April 6, 2016
Crown Heights Forever ❤️✌️ https://t.co/ldwJJDoQEW
— India M. Nicholas (@indiamorgan) January 13, 2016
Savvy Brooklyn residents see the writing on the wall.
I think this L Train shutdown is going to usher in a mass exodus from Williamsburg to Crown Heights. Making my rent higher in the process.
— James (@jamesohh) January 13, 2016
I overheard who White women talking about moving to crown heights if the L train gets shut down.
— Geraldine (@SimpleDimple_) March 1, 2016
@davidmackau someone should graph L Train closure reports with searches for Crown Heights rentals . . .
— Mordechai Lightstone (@Mottel) February 10, 2016
But on the bright side?
with the L, train shutting down will all the gentrifiers move out of Williamsburg and make the housing market in north BK affordable again?
— Aaron Barksdale (@sharks_dale) March 18, 2016
Not everyone, however, is in the running for a rental on Franklin Avenue; Astoria, L.A. and Canada are options, too.
Miranda and Steve consider moving to Astoria, because Brooklyn is overpriced and the L-train shutdown is a turnoff.
— Modern SATC (@presentdaysatc) January 14, 2016
if the L train actually does get shut down for a year I'm moving to LA and starting a new life
— Sam Stone (@Sam_the_stone) January 14, 2016
I don't mean to sound hyperbolic but if the L train shuts down I'm moving to Canada.
— Beth Ponsot (@bponsot) January 29, 2016
And for those who aren't able to move? Well, the MTA says they’ll have extra service on the M, J, Z and G trains.