True, Gowanus isn't super close to manhattan, but I find that a lot of young developers live in Brooklyn to begin with, so not having to commute into the city is a win.  If you're living in upper manhattan it might not be a great commute option, but what young person wants to live in upper manhattan? Brooklyn is way cooler ;)<p>Greenpoint I find is even more isolated than Gowanus, simply by the fact that the only viable transportation is the G.  Gowanus has the 2,3,4,5,D,M,N,R,B,Q,G and LIRR all convenient to it.  The hipsters can take a 10-15 minute G ride down, while everyone else in the city or out on Long Island can still have easy options to get there.  It's beginning to develop in Gowanus over the past year, with new coffee shops, artist studios, big music venues, and plenty of vacant commercial buildings being renovated.