trying to get a feel for the UWS

Take a look at the if you can show market movement with comps, uws thread. there is a ton of discussion regarding building quality, prestige, location advantages/disadvantages.

In the $1.8m range you can do alot better than the Merrion.

this thread has great info:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/9165-if-you-could-live-anywhere-in-uws

Are you children school age? I am a huge fan of the UWS, but most of the private schools are on the East Side. One thing to do might be to see where your kids end up in terms of admissions, and then look for a neighborhood.

What's your budget?

If kids are in high school, it doesn't matter where you live - they'll get to school themselves. If I was moving back from the suburbs, with two kids in high school, I think a great buy right now would be a classic 7 or 8 along CPW with a park view in the 60s or 70s. I wouldn't want to buy anything too big, because I think that market has been overbuilt, and you might have trouble selling even a decade from now. In addition, those huge units come with maintenance costs that are out of control! The 7s and 8s are not considered too big by family standards, and right now may just be the perfect time to buy a rarely available high floor, park view unit. It was virtually impossible to find one on the market at a conceivable price just 18 months ago.

It may be too early to do this, but you may want to consider knowing what's on the market in the $7-$10 million range. These apartments may very well be combos that can't sell. However, there might be an opportunity to buy back the original classic 7 component for a fraction of the price, and offer to pay the break up fee. Good luck!

Prime UWS, IMHO is anywhere b/w 72nd and 86th. There are good blocks and great blocks in this range but very few bad blocks. Units on the avenues facing the street will be loud, particularly on Broadway, Amsterdam & Columbus. Most of the side streets are pretty peaceful. We live near the Nat. History Museum and LOVE the area - very convenient to both parks (Central & Riverside), great restaurants, all amenities, etc. We also spent many years on the UES and can say without hesitation that it is much easier/more fun to parent on the UWS. Also, while many private schools are on the UES, the UWS has Trinity, Collegiate, Fieldstone and a handful of other great schools. The public schools on the UWS I think are also generally more desirable, with the exception of PS 6 on the UES.

The threads suggested above are certainly good places to start, but beware agendas and do your own research. You should be able to find a generously sized 3-bed for under $2M if you're not married to CPW or prime Riverside. West End in the 70's & 80's is a good place to start, as are some of the side streets off CPW.

I moved to West End Avenue in the 90's because my kids were in Trinity (what a great education they got!) and I wanted them to be able to walk to school. West End is beautiful from 72nd Street up to 106th, all residential with big comfortable apartments and lots of doormen to watch out for the kids. It's also by Riverside Park which has great playgrounds - the 91st Street playground has a rangers' station with kids' activities during the summmer, (although accessed by a steep path known in my family as the "Hill of Doom.") 76th St has water-sprinkler heaven. We used to live near the Museum of Natural History, which has the world's best toddler playground for rainy days -- it's called The Gems and Minerals Exhibit. It's all carpeted stairs and they love it!

Ah, yes, the Hill of Doom. You know the lamp post where the path forks, halfway down the hill? I hit that thing on a sled when I was seven. Middle finger of my left hand is still crooked.

etrostle: There are some great buildings in the 90s, mostly west of Broadway or along CPW. The "Yorkville" of the Upper West Side, per your metaphor, would probably be along Amsterdam and Columbus, north of 90th or so. Whether the price difference there makes sense is a matter of individual preferences and priorities.

Depends on what you want and your price range. We have 2 kids and like below 93rd/above 106th for Broadway; Almost all of West End; below 88th for Columbus; not much on Amsterdam; and almost all of Riverside, with the exception of 94th-99th. CPW is out of our price range as well. If your kids are older and going in and out at night on their own, any of these areas should be fine. There are a couple of great apts up on 107th-110th. One I really love and I'm still hoping to convince my husband that it's not one room too small, dammit. That's the Columbia area, and it's very nice.

You should really check out West End and Riverside areas. They are quieter and less touristy--especially if you want to be lower down, and there are some beautiful buildings.

Now that the weather is nicer perhaps the whole family can start hanging around different areas of the city on a Saturday or Sunday to decide where you want to live? Have fun! On a Sunday, you can also hit a few open houses.