I know that everyone comes here to live in Manhattan here. But what do people who live here do when the landlord raises the rent to an amount that you just can't afford anymore? For those that are new to the city and the market reality of the prices and space here has just smacked you in the face, I have some areas that you will want to consider.
Williamsburg
This is the first place people mention when considering going away from the traditional areas on Manhattan to live. It's hipster vibe, trendy shops and cafes make people gush for days. I lived here for a year and it was decent. There is almost too much to do along Bedford Ave. Cool bars, great restaurants and McCarren park are the pluses of the neighborhood. The subway access if you are close to the L train and no further than Lorimer is actually superb. The problem is that rents here are starting to mirror Manhattan places now that it is a known hot spot.
http://newyork.timeout.com/section/williamsburg
Harlem
This was once an area that people feared. With a huge expanse by Columbia, Bill Clinton coming to town and the lack of acreage on Manhattan Island as a whole, this area is enjoying a new Harlem Renaissance. The rents here are lower than areas below 96th street (but hurry, because they are rising), the commute downtown is not that bad (try to get a spot near an express train) and the food and shopping options are plenty. Your getting the Manhattan zip code, but if you are smart, can pay borough prices. The trade off is less drunk frat kids stumbling around the streets for EVERYBODY hanging out on the streets. From Grandma's and Grandpa's to young children staying out way past their bedtime, this area of NYC is super diverse and becoming more and more gentrified by the week.
http://newyork.timeout.com/section/harlem
Astoria
I have stayed here off and on at times. My father lived here when I was young. This is a great area that looks close on the map to Manhattan, but if you are not right by the subway, it can be a bit of a trek on the late night. The area is becoming trendy and so the prices are nearing Manhattan prices, though you MAY have more flexibility in terms of requirements and negotiating a deal. MAY is the operative word. Dining options are mostly Greek as there is a heavy Greek population in the area. This is the first destination for most when considering the outer boroughs.
http://newyork.timeout.com/section/harlem
Jackson Heights
This area is a hidden jewel of the boroughs. If you don't know, now you know. This is a great area for keeping the costs down. This is a diverse area in Queens with great subway access if you can get a place in the 70's to 80's and not too many avenues away from Roosevelt Ave. In some ways, it can actually be a shorter commute than Astoria if you work it out the right way. I lived here for over five years and loved it. Great food, cheaper prices than Manhattan or Astoria and only a 30 minute commute to Manhattan max.
http://newyork.timeout.com/section/jackson-heights
Park Slope
After Williamsburg, this is usually the next place on peoples map when considering BK. The Brooklyn Heights area is always first on the list, but with it's superior subway access and closer to Manhattan than parts of Manhattan location, it is the one area of the city that is truly across the river with city prices. So heads turn to Park Slop as the next viable choice. There is a great neighborhood feel, great school systems for those families with or having children. Good dining options and a short trip to the city make this a solid value.
http://newyork.timeout.com/section/park-slope
That's the five top areas that people consider when leaving the traditional areas of the Upper West or East sides, midtown to downtown. I have one more bonus area that is perhaps the best jewel in all of the boroughs. The mainstream writers haven't caught up to this old school native yet though. To find out about that one, you will have to go with me ;-)
Showing posts with label Safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Safety. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
The Fall of the Wall?
Here in NYC, we live in a housing market that already has low supply and high demand. Thereforre the rents are above average when compared to the rest of the country. To offset this and find a way to reap the benefits of living in Manhattan, many renters when looking for doorman buildings, have resorted to putting up temporary pressurized walls to create second or third bedrooms. This makes a $3500 one bedroom now affordable for two young professionals who can really only afford $1700 per month in rent.
This will soon be a thing of the past. This year, many landlords are no longer allowing walls to be erected and many are even going so far as to having existing walls removed. What many are being told, which is in compliance with a Department of Buildings code, is that they can only put up a partition or shelving unit which results in obviously, less privacy. The effect of this is massive, as many new tenants in the city rely on doorman buildings for the obvious benefits of security, as well as the convenience of on site staff for everything from repairs to package/dry cleaning reception. Few are the new hires who can come right out of college and afford a $3500 one bedroom at 40 times the monthly rent on thier own.
Many renters are now being forced to consider other areas of the city such as Washington Heights, Harlem, Long Island City and Brooklyn in order to get the same luxury at a more affordable price. The old "boundaries" of what was once deemed a safe area to live are being pushed further and further outwards and upwards with each week.
This will soon be a thing of the past. This year, many landlords are no longer allowing walls to be erected and many are even going so far as to having existing walls removed. What many are being told, which is in compliance with a Department of Buildings code, is that they can only put up a partition or shelving unit which results in obviously, less privacy. The effect of this is massive, as many new tenants in the city rely on doorman buildings for the obvious benefits of security, as well as the convenience of on site staff for everything from repairs to package/dry cleaning reception. Few are the new hires who can come right out of college and afford a $3500 one bedroom at 40 times the monthly rent on thier own.
Many renters are now being forced to consider other areas of the city such as Washington Heights, Harlem, Long Island City and Brooklyn in order to get the same luxury at a more affordable price. The old "boundaries" of what was once deemed a safe area to live are being pushed further and further outwards and upwards with each week.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Is this a safe neighborhood PT2?
So we can all remember my original post a few weeks back. It was more of a rant than a post full of statistics. Well that was because the statistics were not out as of then. They came out today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/nyregion/31murder.html?fta=y
As of this writing, I am pleased to announce that we have the lowest homicide rate in the city ever. It seems odd that in this age of violence, we have had fewer homicides than in 1963, but the numbers don't lie. I guess there is something to be said for gentrification!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/nyregion/31murder.html?fta=y
As of this writing, I am pleased to announce that we have the lowest homicide rate in the city ever. It seems odd that in this age of violence, we have had fewer homicides than in 1963, but the numbers don't lie. I guess there is something to be said for gentrification!
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Is this a safe neighborhood PT1?
That question, while I understand it and really wish I could say what you want me to say, is against fair housing rules in this city. For those unaware of what this means exactly, read this definition of NYC's "Fair Housing Laws".
"It is unlawful for landlords, superintendents, building managers, condominium owners, cooperative owners and boards to discriminate in the sale, rental or lease of a housing accommodation or in the provision of services and facilities because of a person’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender (including gender identity), disability, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, partnership status, alienage or citizenship status, age, lawful occupation, or because children are or may be residing with the person."
This goes the same for brokers telling you an area is safe or unsafe based on any of those criteria listed above. I once had two listings, one in Murray Hill in a Full Time Doorman, white glove conceierge building and one in East Harlem in a townhouse right aroudn the corner from a methadone clinic. I did a crime statistic comparision for the two, guess which one had the higher crime rate?
Now it may seem like an innocent question, but let me just say this much. We may all have a different perception as to what "safe" means. Again, I am treading deadly grounds here and must still be politically correct with what I say. So I'll put it to you this way. I grew up in four of the five boroughs in this city, so when I hear gun shots, it would only scare me if I was a crook doing something wrong. I'll just leave it at that and save my other comments, so as not to offend any families of those who have lost their lives prematurely for unjust reasons.
The last time I checked, my cousin in Detroit lives in the most dangerous city in the country. I think my 91 year old Great, Great Aunt in D.C. is also in a more dangerous city than this place is now. Trust me, I have lived here my whole life and now rent and sell million dollar homes in what is now called a "neighborhood" known as Williamsburg. I can remember that area being nothing but industrial and very desolate and scary at night. People still fear Bushwick, but rent places there all the time now, as some brokers label it as "East Williamsburg". Harlem is another place where this same type of gentrification has taken place. There is a Ben and Jerry's, Bath and Body Works, Staples and a host of other higher end retailers other than the street vendors you would only envision when thinking of Harlem. Even where my company's corporate headquarters and training facility is, just off of Union Square, I can recall walking through that park 10-15 years back and hearing the crunch of crack vials beneath my feet! Ever see that Dave Chappelle skit about him being lost in a limo and a baby is selling drugs in the hood, on the corner at 4AM? That was a ten year old in the lower east side on Avenue A, riding up to you on a bike, offering a cornucopia of illicit substances ten years ago. Tompkins Square Park, which now is one of the best dog runs in the city, was once a haven for the homeless and all of the above shady activities.
To ask a broker if the area is safe, is like asking a car salesman if you will die by driving 100MPH or asking a lawyer if you will get sued for being a jerk. We can advise you on if we feel an area or place is safe based on OUR perceptions, but really think about it for a second. I've lived here my whole life and seen all sorts of really wild stuff go down, so not much fazes me. What is comfortable for a native, may be REALLY uncomfortable and scary for a transplant, tourist or a visitor.
Most brokers aren't even natives, so what can they truly advise you on the real truth of the matter? They will just pitch you that an area is safe as you walk past the cars on cinder blocks and burning trash cans. I will at least laugh about how "I haven't seen THAT in NYC in twenty years!" My bottom line is, I am honest as Abe Lincloln, so if I tell you a place is safe, I would mean it sincerely based on my experiences in said area. Now, if you go and do something silly to get mugged (like stumble home drunk at 4AM with all of your cash hanging out of your pockets, your iPod blasting and never once think "let me keep an eye out as I fumble around for my keys", or bring some dude home you just met at Dorrians, who is obviously the second coming of Robert Chambers) then DON'T BLAME ME! I have found that most criminals are all about seizing a low risk opportunity. So generally speaking, safety revolves around staying alert, aware, in well populated areas (according to police, watch out for well dressed pickpockets though!)
There really is no rhyme or reason to crime in this city any more, so I'll make one up right now, before I head out of the door. If you flaunt all of your rocks, in front of those who have not, then prepare to get got! This city is as safe as you make it, so stay aware and alert, or you just might end up half naked, dazed and confused and hurt!
All jokes aside, I know that this is an important and serious issue, especially for parents with female children coming into the city for the first time. If you are concerned with safety and crime rates, then you can find all of the information you need right here at this link.
http://nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/crime_statistics.shtml
"It is unlawful for landlords, superintendents, building managers, condominium owners, cooperative owners and boards to discriminate in the sale, rental or lease of a housing accommodation or in the provision of services and facilities because of a person’s actual or perceived race, color, national origin, gender (including gender identity), disability, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, partnership status, alienage or citizenship status, age, lawful occupation, or because children are or may be residing with the person."
This goes the same for brokers telling you an area is safe or unsafe based on any of those criteria listed above. I once had two listings, one in Murray Hill in a Full Time Doorman, white glove conceierge building and one in East Harlem in a townhouse right aroudn the corner from a methadone clinic. I did a crime statistic comparision for the two, guess which one had the higher crime rate?
Now it may seem like an innocent question, but let me just say this much. We may all have a different perception as to what "safe" means. Again, I am treading deadly grounds here and must still be politically correct with what I say. So I'll put it to you this way. I grew up in four of the five boroughs in this city, so when I hear gun shots, it would only scare me if I was a crook doing something wrong. I'll just leave it at that and save my other comments, so as not to offend any families of those who have lost their lives prematurely for unjust reasons.
The last time I checked, my cousin in Detroit lives in the most dangerous city in the country. I think my 91 year old Great, Great Aunt in D.C. is also in a more dangerous city than this place is now. Trust me, I have lived here my whole life and now rent and sell million dollar homes in what is now called a "neighborhood" known as Williamsburg. I can remember that area being nothing but industrial and very desolate and scary at night. People still fear Bushwick, but rent places there all the time now, as some brokers label it as "East Williamsburg". Harlem is another place where this same type of gentrification has taken place. There is a Ben and Jerry's, Bath and Body Works, Staples and a host of other higher end retailers other than the street vendors you would only envision when thinking of Harlem. Even where my company's corporate headquarters and training facility is, just off of Union Square, I can recall walking through that park 10-15 years back and hearing the crunch of crack vials beneath my feet! Ever see that Dave Chappelle skit about him being lost in a limo and a baby is selling drugs in the hood, on the corner at 4AM? That was a ten year old in the lower east side on Avenue A, riding up to you on a bike, offering a cornucopia of illicit substances ten years ago. Tompkins Square Park, which now is one of the best dog runs in the city, was once a haven for the homeless and all of the above shady activities.
To ask a broker if the area is safe, is like asking a car salesman if you will die by driving 100MPH or asking a lawyer if you will get sued for being a jerk. We can advise you on if we feel an area or place is safe based on OUR perceptions, but really think about it for a second. I've lived here my whole life and seen all sorts of really wild stuff go down, so not much fazes me. What is comfortable for a native, may be REALLY uncomfortable and scary for a transplant, tourist or a visitor.
Most brokers aren't even natives, so what can they truly advise you on the real truth of the matter? They will just pitch you that an area is safe as you walk past the cars on cinder blocks and burning trash cans. I will at least laugh about how "I haven't seen THAT in NYC in twenty years!" My bottom line is, I am honest as Abe Lincloln, so if I tell you a place is safe, I would mean it sincerely based on my experiences in said area. Now, if you go and do something silly to get mugged (like stumble home drunk at 4AM with all of your cash hanging out of your pockets, your iPod blasting and never once think "let me keep an eye out as I fumble around for my keys", or bring some dude home you just met at Dorrians, who is obviously the second coming of Robert Chambers) then DON'T BLAME ME! I have found that most criminals are all about seizing a low risk opportunity. So generally speaking, safety revolves around staying alert, aware, in well populated areas (according to police, watch out for well dressed pickpockets though!)
There really is no rhyme or reason to crime in this city any more, so I'll make one up right now, before I head out of the door. If you flaunt all of your rocks, in front of those who have not, then prepare to get got! This city is as safe as you make it, so stay aware and alert, or you just might end up half naked, dazed and confused and hurt!
All jokes aside, I know that this is an important and serious issue, especially for parents with female children coming into the city for the first time. If you are concerned with safety and crime rates, then you can find all of the information you need right here at this link.
http://nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/crime_statistics.shtml
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