Pros and cons of DB?

S

starbucks2

Registered User
Hi

I have posted a similar thread on AsiaXpat and received some helpful responses (thanks Cara!) but if anyone on this forum would like to share their thoughts then that would be great.

Considering a move to DB as it seems to be a more child friendly place than Mid-levels. If you have lived there, I'd be interested in hearing the real pros and cons.

Cons (but I have never lived there):

- feels a bit fake
- very expat (pro and con)
- commute into Central (always quoted as 25 mins on ferry but then there is the bus from DB apartment and the walk from the Central side to work ...)

Pros (but I have never lived there):

- more space
- more child friendly - parks/playgrounds and clubs which are more accessible and less expensive than HKCC and HKFC
- less traffic safety concerns for children
- more family orientated environment?
- less expensive than midlevels?

Thanks
SB2
 
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Hi SB2, saw your post on AsiaXpat :) My friends who live in DB love it. We tried going there once, and after a long drive, realised that we couldn't drive our car to DB ... how stupid of us haha!!

Not sure of your requirement, but thought maybe I could throw another option to you. Have you considered Kowloon West? We were living in Mid-levels before, but moved here after I got pregnant. I was hesitant at first about moving to Kowloon, but I am a convert! Kowloon West is really very good for family. There is a good mix of locals and expats. The commute to Central is only 1 stop via the Tung Chung line. The developments are large with good facilities, and there is a lot of open space, playgroup for kids to play in. There is almost no traffic in the compound and extremely child friendly. No clubs here though. I love taking my baby downstairs. There are lots of parents with kids of all ages playing within the development where we live, as well as on the patch of grass and playground just outside. You should check it out :)

DOWNSIDE: property prices are getting more and more expensive here. About the same, if not more expensive than mid-levels. It's crazy. But between Mid-levels and here, I'll pick the latter.
 
Thanks obiwan. Good to have a couple of places to consider. Having been in Midlevels for a while we feel like its time for a change with a second baby on the way and also rental prices in Midlevels going up and landlords don't seem to agree with the Govt that the rental averages are down! Are also considering Pokfulam but not sure that it is different enough from Midlevels to warrant another 15 mins further from Central. Need to get out there and look at what apartments are available and prices.

Thanks again
 
We checked out Belchers and BelAir in Pokfulam. Both are family friendly with big compounds and good facilities. Belchers is closer to Central, while BelAir (though newer) is less convenient when it comes to transportation. Have friends who live in both and they are all happy. Another positive for BelAir is that it's friendly for families with dogs. Thing with Midlevels is that unless one lives in a large development (say Robinson Place), many of the apartments are single block with limited facilities. Not a lot of free space for the kids to run around downstairs with traffic etc. Good to check out your various options - you have quite a few, depending on your criteria (budget, convenience, schools etc).
 
A really big con for me was the fact that it's really hard to get into DBIS and DC, especially without debentures and stuff. There is no way I am going to put a 5yo on a boat to school.

Other, I don't think DB has a lot to do with Hong Kong ...
 
We didn't want our lives centered around ferry schedules. The whole air is better here has never cut it for me either. There is an entire airport right next to the island. You want better air or a suburb like atmosphere for kids, you could live in Clearwater Bay or Saikung. Lack of diversity is another issue for me- one developer thing is very icky for my perspective and everything seems to be about expats. As much as I can appreciate having a expat community like on this forum for advice information etc, not sure I would ever want to live with them.
 
I don't think I could handle the ferry either. I like being able to hop in a taxi and be home within 20 mins :)
 
suv - don't want to live with expats, charming, NOT.

Well, not many responses from people actually living in DB, only those who have never lived there. So to balance it out:

Pros
* I think the air is slightly better than Central and Midlevels because there are generally low rise buildings, surrounded by the sea and you get lots of breezes. Other than that, it is the same revolting air that everyone else breathes.
* Child friendly - everything from the local supermarket stocking lots of child-friendly products to restaurants catering to children (one even has a play area) to children always being able to find someone to play with at the local park. It is very family orientated.
* Better value for money in square foot than Midlevels
* I don't mind the one-developer set up. It means that buildings are well maintained.

Cons
* Schools - not enough school places for the population. Having said that, DBIS and DC provide an excellent education.
* Ferry - I don't live to the ferry schedule, but I did when I first moved to DB. I travel at peak hour into work in Central and if I miss a ferry, there is another in 15 mins. Sure beats the cue for a taxi to Midlevels. My commute (to Princes Building Central) is about 50 mins door-to-door, including the local bus. I spend less time commuting than colleagues on the South-side and it is a much nicer commute (Ferry with a guaranteed seat beats standing on a bus going 100miles an hour anyday).

I'm guessing the population of DB is about 50/50 expats and locals. The 50% expats are a very diverse group and you meet some really interesting people. My daughters school has children from 47 different nationalities, which I think is brilliant.

No, I don't find DB 'fake' at all. Well maintained parks and buildings, yes. Really easy to make friends, yes. Great community spirit (Halloween, Mid Autumn Festival, Chinese New Year, fun run, picnic in the park, etc), yes. Fake, no.
 
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback. One of the things we find about our friends who live in DB is that they are tied to the ferry timetable. It was one of my concerns but taxis can be difficult in town especially peak times to and from midlevels and on Saturdays.

Appreciate your views too Jane01. I was upfront about having all the preconceived ideas of someone who hasn't lived there so good to hear from someone who is there. Our son is not yet 2 so we have a bit of time yet to worry about schools. I understand that it is primary and high school that is problematic but that preschool in DB is ok?? I will be travelling into Central for work 3 days a week so knowing that you can get a seat on the ferry is heartening. The buses from Midlevels are a bit of a bun fight to get a seat (although easier at the moment as I am pregnant :) ).

What is the deal with the one developer? I have heard a few people say that. Is that relating to the management offices of the buildings there or is the point that the developer has retained ownership of most of the apartments there so you do need to deal with them on an ongoing basis?
 
Having lived in countries where one is not labeled an expat is very different from here. So yes, I don't want to live in any place where everyone is an expat/ local for that matter- I like diversity. And if liking diversity is less charming to you, so be it.
 
47 different countries- forgot to see that bit of diversity! So, how is that any different from schools in say, CWB or Midlevels? Any school where expats send their kids is bound to have that, its not specific to DB.
 
i think THAT was the point. that DB IS diverse and NOT the "expat ghetto" many make it out to be. yes, there are a lot of expats, but not much different than say, southside or sai kung... it's just that db is more community oriented. people spend A LOT of time outside, socialising etc so you actually get to meet your neighbours and you see them around. not just the occasional head nod in the lift.


i won't repeat what i wrote in the asiaxpat forum, as jane01 has basically just re-iterated everything i said... i agree with her whole-heartedly.

(not directed at anyone in particular but:

one of the things I HATE about DB is how so many non-dber's have such a negative view of the place, many of them having only every visited... these people put it down as "fake", "truman show-esque", inconvenient, expat ghetto, no "culture" etc. these are people who, generally speaking, live in mid-levels, work in central, go out to LKF or SOHO and like to boast that they know the 'REAL' HK!... i don't think so!)
 
I`m just wondering, is there a fresh market, or local shops in DB?

I`m one of the people Cara mentioned, who have only ever visited DB. I have to say, I was so excited to go because it sounded like a cool place to me, but when I was there, I felt pretty disappointed. Perhaps I didn`t get the see the `real` DB. It just felt a bit less like Hong Kong to me, which would be perfect if one hated HK. I don`t - I quite like the ecelectic mix of chinese/western/local/upscale that I see in many areas here (I almost never go into central, midlevels, LKF). I just thought I might get bored of the same few stores, restaurants and supermarket catering mainly to expats(with expat prices).

But the apartments look really nice, I know they`re mostly more spacious than elsewhere and many have balconeys(what a luxury!). And what might be a deciding factor if I were in Starbucks2`s shoes is the amount of grass. in that there was some! I was just gawking.

But you have to admit, the golf cart thing is pretty lame.
 
I heard that DB can be quite isolating a little bit like Pleasantville. the ferry for me just seems not ideal as what if there is an emergency and I need to get off the island quickly. I don't like the feeling of being stuck somewhere and bound to just a ferry schedule and no other means of transportation. I think you'll find many of the larger bldings around HK Island/Kowloon means more families live there. Most of those bldings are very child-friendly and will have common spots where everyone plays or meets up after school lets out. DB seems a bit restrictive.
 
Cara - thanks, you get it.

suv - you're saying DB is less diverse. I'm saying it is at least as diverse as any other area of HK.

Shenzeniffer - if you're a shopper, DB is not the place for you. I hate shopping, perfect. There is a PnS and an upmarket version of Welcome is opening soon. There are no wet markets. I don't think DB is any 'less HK' than the big houses at Shouson Hill are 'less HK' than the public housing flats in the New Territory. It is just different.

Southside - there is a tunnel open 24 hours. Ambulance and other emergency vehicles can access DB at anytime. The ferry and buses to the airport, Tung Chung and Sunny Bay all operate 24 hours. Actually, possibly not Sunny Bay, as it only meets the MTR which is not open 24 hours. There are plenty of transportation options. The DB-airport service operates 24 hours, in contrast to the airport express !
 
jane01... i lived in db for over 6 years, much of that time without kids! i miss it terribly! we were there last sunday, and now, i miss it even more!

there are downsides to it: ummmmm.....let me think... i'm sure i can come up with one......ah, yes! you have to travel to tung chung for a cinema!

no wet market, but there is a wet market in tung chung if that is what you are after. when we first moved to db, there WAS chinese-y type market that had fresh fish, veg etc. kind of like a small wet market, but it closed shortly after we moved to db.

also, regarding transportation. we never had an emergency where we had to be "off the island" immediately. that includes two terrible pregnancies with lots of hospitalisations.

just wanted to say for the record, i LOVED having the ferry ride when i was working! after commuting to work via mtr, taxi or bus for 6 years prior to db, both hubby and i LOOKED FORWARD to the ferry! it is comfortable (although a little cold at times), convenient, generally quiet in the morning (people reading their paper, sleeping, eating breakfast, working on their laptop) and in the evening there is almost always someone you know that you can have a chat with, enjoy a beer etc on your way home. it was "wind down" time built right into your day!

the ONLY time it was ever inconvenient, was very late at night/early in the morning (12-5am).
 
SB2 - possibly the main inconvenience is the transportation. So if you don't work irregular hours and don't mind watching the ferry schedule, it would probably work fine.

I, personally, prefer places with better accessibility (not that DB is not easily accessible). Some places are more convenient than others. Taxis are generally easy to catch in HK, and with MTR, buses etc, it's easy to get home. One good thing about Central is that, should all things fail (which has happened to me before), you can walk home, and I always enjoy walking, especially on cool days like these :)
 
Thanks all.

Obiwan - I was thinking about what happens in a Typhoon 8?! I assume ferries run for a while or else its MTR to TC and then bus.

On the whole, I think it is probably one of the better places for small children (yes, grass, playrooms, kiddies pools, large paved areas to run around without the same fear of traffic, bigger/low rise apartments) but am still getting my head around the idea so the pros and cons are all very useful.
 
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