West 14th Street bet 7th & 8th

Not necessarily "sketchy" but no vibe imo from meat packing. Just kind of ugly with no particular appeal. Low brow strip just outside AAA locations in GV and Chelsea. It is decidedly "undesirable" for many people.

Thanks kylewest for the input. Would one jackson square be considered of "same" location ?

I agree with Kyle. 14th from Union Sq to 8th is interchangeable with west 34th street or frankly even west 125th. Scholckey.

However, some might like the PROXIMITY to Union Sq and meatpacking.

I would like to offer a slightly different perspective about the location. Although the area isn't particularly interesting (especially w/ Dean & Deluca gone), I think it's a typical, non-descript NYC block. To me, if someone considers the area "undesirable," that is probably because of the lack of appealing features, rather than the presence of undesirable ones.

I'd probably equate this block to, say, 23rd between 5th and 7th. Now, THOSE are non-descript NYC blocks!!!

Anyhow, the block in question has continued to change for the last couple of years, and I attribute it to: (1) the energy created by the High Line traffic; and (2) the increase presence of an entirely different population of younger people with money in the general area. Some may think these are good things, while other may not...

It never gets as congested as 34th St--East or West, auto or pedestrian. Also, it isn't at all as edgy or socioeconomically diverse as W 125th, particularly at night. In addition, I find the area to be typically clearner than most Manhattan nabes.

To me, this is just a non-descript NYC block with nothing particularly interesting. At the same time, it doesn't have the features many NYC residents find aversive--such as excessive traffic or masses of people. On a personal note, I miss the Latino presence in the area, which was quite noticeable up until the mid-1990s or so...

I used to live in that area and thought it was great. Mot sure why this block would be considered "undesirable' or negative. First off, it's convenient mass-transit wise (zccess to 1,2,3 and ACE trains), near the WV, MePa, Chelsea, Union Sq and Flatiron nabes.

Secondly there are some cool restaurants/bars on that block or closeby. Not to mention the highline.

Thirdly, it's very different from the frenetic craziness of w 34th St.

I'd ascribe a significant penalty to living on a two-way street in Manhattan. There's a reason One Madison Park was intended to have a 22nd Street entrance, even though the building is on 23rd Street.

The neighb is fine, its that exact block. As flarf says its the Manhattan two-way east-west street thing. But 96th, 72nd, 79th, 86th, 23rd, and 57th are nicer IMO than 42nd, 34th, 125th, or 14th. Not so many tacky times-square like shops.

One thing you *can* get on blocks like those mentioned are much better city-scape views. Side street apartments are often dark, and many face brick walls or "Eraserhead"-type abysses where the mechanicals are housed.

"I used to live in that area and thought it was great. Mot sure why this block would be considered "undesirable' or negative. First off, it's convenient mass-transit wise (zccess to 1,2,3 and ACE trains), near the WV, MePa, Chelsea, Union Sq and Flatiron nabes."

Agreed. Maybe they haven't put cool stuff specifically on the block, but you are talking about being between W Village, Chelsea, and Union Square, some of the most desired neighborhoods in the city.

Again, it's proximity to great areas doesn't make it great, too. It's a gateway, if you will. And close to transportation isn't unique or very special. If that's the only standard, living across from Penn Station would be terrific. 9th Street is also near tons of subways, but 14th and 9th are galaxies apart from a RE perspective.

And 14th is, imo, worse than 23rd as someone suggested as a comparable. At least there is SOMETHING you may want on 23rd St between 5th Ave and 7th Ave: Home Depot, Tekserve, Garden of Eden, Reminisence... 14th is just a low-end wasteland between 5th and 8th avenues. Ugly, noisy, crowded, ... not appealing. Now 23rd is not appealing either, but relatively, I'd take 23rd if I had to pick. One Jackson Square is better as it is at least nominally closer to the Village streets and has a modicum more of that vibe. It looks out (to the south) on prewars and the patch of park. It's hardly a great location with traffic cruising by it all day long and its architecture all but rapes the GV aesthetic, but to each his own. I think the kind of money they ask for those units is for lunatics with money only.

In sum, the location of West 14th Street between 6th and 9th Aves (may as well make it 5th ave to 9th ave) is a compromise--you get possibly good light and are just 1 block from good stuff north and south, but it is really ugly and charmless with schlocky stores. If you want nothing more than to live in GV or Chelsea but can't afford the kind of space you want, AND you find a bargain somewhere on 14th St, then I guess you have a decision to make.

Having lived on both 14th street and 23rd street on the middle avenues I can say I agree with most of what kylewest says.
Though there is one store and only one on 14th that interests me, Guitar Center. But that is it.

14th is superior as a gateway, but substancially seedier enough to warrant living 9 block north instead if those were the 2 choices.

And if your talking about Loft 14, you may want to scrutinize those floorplans.

I lived on 14th across the salvation army and seeing the homeless seating there at all times after a while gets to you

> Again, it's proximity to great areas doesn't make it great, too

It is *certainly* part of the equation. And we're not talking about big distances, we're talking about being a couple blocks from Gansevort, Chelsea Market, prime meatpacking, union sq, etc.

It might not be a great block, but we're not talking about a separate neighborhood.

kylewest (et al) I respect your opinion here but I think you are off base. West 14th used to be a dump but is changing...fast and for good reason. Just like all of many of the formerly bad 'hoods (alphabet city, meatpacking, west chelsea, etc etc..remember when the UWS was rough?) in Manhattan there is demand, especially downtown, so the place changes. If you compare it directly to One Jackson, Superior Ink or some high end condo in Chelsea it doesn't work. However look at the the psft in the new condo buildings on w 14th. You are getting a a huge discount to buildings just a block or two away - Loft 14 and The Prime sold for ~850 psft vs the average (according to streeteasy for the west village and chelsea is ~1300 (2 br) - not mention the 2000 - 3000 psft at One Jackson sq. By comparison, thats a great value for essential the same place.

Developers sure like the area, the Rudins (they're pretty smart right?) are doing the huge St. Vincent's project - it's a block and half away from where we are talking about. There are two new condo buildings going in on 14th near 7th. Google just payed 2 billion for their building on 15th & 9th.

Remember what it's within easy walking distance to:
- subway lines on 14th & 6th, 7th, 8th and Union Square
- PS 41
- The Highline and Hudson River Park
- New Long Island Jewish Hospital going in on 12 & 7th
- Quintessential NYC restaurants/ nightlife/ culture in the west village, Meatpacking, Union Square, Chelsea.

If you want a quiet leafy suburb, move to Short Hills or if you want award winning architecture move to 15 CPW but look around the area and you will notice significant changes and some great comparative values...

agree with cpalsm.. i could see how w14th could seem 'dumpy,' but if we're speaking citywide relative, then 23rd isn't far behind (hello path train)..

if you go further west, the highline has a stronger presence downtown (tho not sure if open yet up on 23rd) and retail to follow, ala apple store on west 14th, if that's the kind of stores that make the strip less 'dumpy' i guess..

though with all the new glass devs one can appreciate dumpy facades with unexpected surprises like serena tuesdays (rip, tear) at hotel chelsea though technically im cheating by going west of 8th

only thing im surprised about this location is that it hasn't been built up quickly to the extent of say 10th ave in hk, but im guessing it has to do partly with low-rise zoning??.. personally, prefer midtown west convenience, but if i were stuck between 23/14, id give very slight edge to 14.

Curious about this thread...could someone clarify for me what neighborhood West 14th Street lies in (between 6th and 9th Avenues)? According to Streeteasy, the North side of the street is Chelsea and the South side of the Street is either Greenwich Village (between 6th & 7th) or West Village (between 7th & 9th). Or is all of West 14th Street Chelsea?