Peace and Quiet in the City

lobster - it's location IN location that can make a difference. Try not to live on an avenue/street with buses (they are the worst noisemakers with stops and starts). Try not to live in/near driving route to a hospital (sirens can make you nuts), same with firehouses.

Side streets are usually best, or, apartments not facing the street (nice if they face onto interior gardens, not dark courtyards).

Tudor City Place is quiet, but apartments tend to be on the small side. East End Avenue (since Beth Israel North closed) - not that convenient, but quiet.

lobster, it's not clear what you're asking: a quiet place to live, or quiet spots (to sort of meditate, but not in a religious, philosophical or similar sense) adjacent to various neighborhoods. I ask because the Cloisters is an example of the latter, while Sutton Place is an example of the former.

For the former, any of many more-or-less dead-end streets, or those that don't logically lead to anyplace.

For the latter, I really like Stover Bench in Central Park: http://www.centralpark2000.com/database/bench_stover.html ... and (not near to it) all of the North Wood in the same park. The Ramble would be even better, but for the fact that it has too many other people taking nice quiet walks ... or, um, birdwatching.

I was just up by the Cloisters this a.m. If you are in search for a little quiet, take the train up to 175th & Fort Washington, grab a coffee and walk up to Fort Tryon. Other quiet spots - Riverside Park, bike path - start at 70th St. Pier, go up to GW bridge. You may pass by other people, and there's always the hum of WS highway, but on bike, you just fly by.

For hidden places to live in, there are always mews-y places. Check out Pomander Walk on UWS (1br, 2br apts in faux Tudor-style cottages), Sniffen Ct Murray Hill (more $$), and Henderson Place UES (even more $$). Plus all the sweet back alley places in the Village.

Inwood is quiet and pretty as well.

good catch Alan - think she WAS asking about quiet spots to hang out.

Tudor City Park - small, quiet, very peaceful.

i was walking in battery park city yesterday and some of the apts are nestled over a cove with peaceful breathtaking views of the water and statue of liberty....if it wasnt on a leased landfill i would buy there in a heartbeat........tudor city is also lovely.....but all these areas are a bit far from transport but still better than commuting from something like grenwich ct.........i wonder what the hype of park avenue living is all about.......wouldnt that be extremely noisy!!!!!!!!?????????

Some of the dead end cobble stone streets in Brooklyn Heights are amazingly quiet and give you the sense that you have traveled back in time.

Peace & quiet also depends on the time of year. Spring & summer brings visitors and traffics to some of the more scenic spots. I was in Bk Heights the day of the snowstorm, and there was just enough snow on the ground to keep people at home. It was magical, walking on white clean snow.

come on up to the UES and find yourself an inside apartment.

Quiet enough to hear the asthmatic wheezing of the South Bronx...it sounds like the wind sweeping over the open plains of Oklahoma.

It's breath taking.

There's a story in today's paper about Vinegar Hill, just off Brooklyn Heights. Cobblestones and the whole shebang. Was driving around there a few summers ago and liked it. Maybe a bit too quiet, though.

Bridwatching in the Ramble? I wonder what finely plumed species one can discover.

Ask Alan.

lobster, I must put in a good word for Battery Park City. It's quiet, you have a yard, albiet shared, and if you just want to visit and meditate per Alan it fulfills that requirement too.

This is a wonderful place The General Theological Seminary in Chelsea.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/general-theological-seminary-of-the-episcopal-church-new-york

Chelsea Enclave is of course there now as well, but the public still as access during certain hours. Spent many days there with my children over the years, we lived just a block away...

How about a high floor? I'm in a fairly active area, and I'm high up, and hear very little even with the windows open.

High floor is not always a guarantee of quiet. Depends on how many other tall buildings are across from you, as sound ricochets from building to building

"High floor is not always a guarantee of quiet. Depends on how many other tall buildings are across from you, as sound ricochets from building to building"

Spot on.

I had a friend who lived on the 28th floor and could hear sidewalk conversations with perfect clarity.

Yes, I was asking about quiet places in NYC to hang out, meditate and just have some peace and quiet. My husband read my question and told me that it wasn't clear, but I ignored his advice. Thanks to everyone for your great responses - many interesting places for me to visit.

nyc10023, I just re-read your comment about mews-y places to live and I will definitely check out the locations you've suggested. They sound really interesting. Thanks very much.

Pomander Walk was much more amusing before they gated the entries. It's rumored to be even more dollhousey in scale inside the buildings than it is outside.

I knew someone who lived on the 16th floor and could hear from her apartment the E train below her sidewalk going "bing-bong" before the doors closed.

http://www.lacasaspa.com/tranquility.html

alan: it is dollhousey. Low ceilings, small rooms. Cute though.

lobster - go up to the new Swindler Cove park:
http://www.harlemonestop.com/organization.php?id=111
at its southern edge you will enter into a likewise brand new park which stretches along the East River all the way down to 155th Street. It is immaculate (not maintained by city) and even has ducks. You can sit on benches and watch boats go by. For Swindler Cove, you take subway to Inwood, walk 15 minutes. Must have map. Will probably not see other people except bicyclists.

Or try Inwood Hill Park in NW corner of Inwood.

The gardens at St.Lukes are also very peaceful and beautiful at Hudson and St.Lukes place. A great spot to enjoy a peaceful lunch.

http://tinyurl.com/yjm2qvu

Battery Park City. There is not a more suburban place in Manhattan. Yes, maintenance and RE taxes are very high, but the quality of life and low prices per square foot offset those issues.

Even if you're not moving, I have to agree with BPC. Take a walk from the World Financial Center marina & head south. Cut inland a little off the main promenade & there are these lovely winding paths all the way down to the tip of the island, past the Holocaust museum over across a boardwalk-like bridge, where there's a great park at the end to sit out and watch the boats go by. It is so quiet. Absolutely lovely in the Spring/Summer.

...and the lease issue isa really not a major concern. The lease is held by the City and State, not a private developer-this is why banks lend in BPC (even when credit is tight).

The conservatory gardens in Central Park--105th street I think on the east side of the park. A favorite place for me when I used to cut school!

Low 90's on the east side

Virtually any Victorian Gothic Revival church, when services aren't in session ... Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian at least ... maybe others. Maybe the magnificent (pre-Victorian, but not yet finished) Cathedral of St. John the Divine, but generally the less well-known and touristed, the better.

Wow...that Swindler Cove Park sounds cool. Never heard of it but want to check it out. Based on the map it looks like the 1 train to Dyckman Street? Of course for all my professed expertise in all things NYC, somehow one tends to forget about everything north of 125th Street (except of course for some key real estate at 161st and River Ave in the Bronx).

BPC is absolutely lovely....every time I am there I remember why I love it so much. Wanted very much to move there in the 90s as a renter but didn't go because it was getting to be awfully "family oriented". Some of us would rather screaming sirens than screaming kids any day. I think that right after 9/11 a lot of the family element may have left but it wouldn't surprise me if they have returned as more of downtown is becoming residential and I keep reading they are opening new schools. I could see where it would be a great area to live in with kids...lots of parks/playgrounds and ultra convenient if mommy and/or daddy is burning the hours on Wall Street.

lizyank, Swindler Cove is new. If you go there, you'll find signs with photos of what used to be there, a derelict waterfront disaster area that may have been a park decades ago. If you do go there, don't forget to take a long several-mile stroll down the new waterfront bikepath, walkway, park which is between the Harlem River Drive and the East River. I found all of this by accident when I was just curious to see what else was in Manhattan about 181st Street besides Ft Tryon Park and Cloisters. There is plenty of cool stuff east of Broadway, but these parks were just recently completed, thanks to Bette Midler's foundation.

Also, the formerly scarey Highbridge Park is being improved, and there are plans to make the High Bridge itself a pedestrian/bike promenade. If and when that is completed, it will open up spectacular views, and of course bring Highbridge Park more traffic.

LY: I am surprised by your love of BPC. I lived there for a couple of months 12+ years ago and hated it.

Roosevelt Island.

10023, I never lived there and who knows if I had, I might have hated it as well. I did enjoy the peace and quiet especially the presence of water...not a big park person but always liked water

Liz, are you sure it's not the beach that preceded most of BPC that you're in love with, and not BPC itself. BPC = Newport/Pavonia or whatever the New Territories in NJ are called.

i only know OF bpc, never actually been there. hubby likens it to tysons corner, va. anyone familiar? sorry, i just spit up a little in my mouth.

It's more like a district of nothing but faceless oversized residential hi-rises in Bombay, Shanghai, or Hong Kong, filled with mostly domestic-variety expats from the mainland. In the early years of BPC, it was populated entirely with Californians who were afraid of New York. They found it comforting that it was called xyz CITY, so they could feel like "it's like not even being in New York." Their friends had to sign in at the lobby desk. Great security!

On the plus side, it maintains the street grid, and many of the buildings have architecture and cladding that gives a courteous nod to those of classic NY buildings from the pre-war era.

Don't do it.

Lobster - you're going to have enough material to write a book when you're done, or become a buyers agent. Seriously, are you even close to buying yet or still trying to figure out where to live and what to live in?

Spin -be gentle with Lobster. Sooner or later (probably later) she will figure out where she wants to live/what she's looking for/ what she's willing to live with/ what she's willing to pay and what she really likes.

Everything in this world takes time.

Spin -you could ask similar questions of LeeLaura who is trying to do a 2,000sf renovation by asking opinions of everybody on SE re : costs, contractors, finishes, equipment, etc.etc.etc.

And seriously, at some point I would love to have somebody here define "high end finishes". As one person's "high end" might be another person's "just barely acceptable."

As usual, excellent synopsis of BPC. Views are great, it's clean. But it's just like any other newish hi-rise residential area in any city. No street life, boring buildings. Full of Asians & E. Europeans, who like "all new" construction (I say that in a loving tone).

"High floor is not always a guarantee of quiet. Depends on how many other tall buildings are across from you, as sound ricochets from building to building "

Well, obviously LISTEN. I'm not telling you to rent the apartment without going there, off some magic web site.

There are generally exceptions to everything. Pretty much every piece of advice given here - neighborhoods, window types, side streets - can have exceptions.

And some work beautifully (like mine).

You have to check it out for yourself.

Jeez.

"It's more like a district of nothing but faceless oversized residential hi-rises in Bombay, Shanghai, or Hong Kong, filled with mostly domestic-variety expats from the mainland. In the early years of BPC, it was populated entirely with Californians who were afraid of New York. They found it comforting that it was called xyz CITY, so they could feel like "it's like not even being in New York." Their friends had to sign in at the lobby desk. Great security!"

Alan, great characterization.

I've always thought of BPC as its own island entity, more Jersey (or someplace else) than NYC. Actually, more like a movie set or a copy of a city in some suburban area they're trying to form a "city center" in. Think Reston, VA.

I found it funniest when they started calling it "Tribeca".

> but the quality of life and low prices per square foot offset those issues.

Interesting how some would call the LACK of life there "quality of life"... especially in Manhattan.

If one doesn't want the vibrant life of Manhattan, why pay for it?

spinnaker, I'm not sure if you're teasing me or not. Yes, I have a very definite idea of what I want and where I want to live, but haven't seen anything worthwhile in my price range for a while. My question here was about quiet places to hang out in the city. If my comments disturb you(or others), please feel free to put me on ignore. I'm too old and tired to argue with anyone on SE.

bump

Hi lobster, sorry maybe a little too sarcastic. I haven't been following, what nabe have you narrowed it down to?