655 Sixth ave (O'Nille Building)

Stand on 6th Avenue and 21st Street any day of the week, or at 4 am when the clubs let out, and let me know what you think about the noise.

O'Neill Building = One ill building

if you're early 20s, perfect "Frat" location ;)

You mean other than the ridiculous plastic domes on top? Or the outrageous prices for the location?

Steve, limelight hasn't been a club in years. Centro Fly gone too. I can think of the one gay club several blocks down. Which are you talking about?

The club scene has moved about 23rd street and elsewhere.

eataly, trader joes, tons of good restaurants, whole foods, madison square park, multiple subway lines....yep, its bad

It isn't a bad location in terms of conveniences, services, or transportation. Quite good for that. So is Grand Central Station. Doesn't mean it is a great place to live. In fairness, the O'Neill Building is in a safe area and is vibrant and convenient to many things. But it is also an ugly location, heavily trafficked most hours of the day and night, and charmless. For a top-dollar building, many would expect something more. Like a view of a park, or water, or townhouses. This is a gritty commercial avenue location.

Agree about the clubs, though. What in the world is stevejhx talking about?

> So is Grand Central Station.

Not really. When I worked around there, services were actually crappy. Restaurant choices weren't great unless you like food courts and fast food. Its made for people about to jump a train, not really living.

And you actually have a lot more train choices on 23rd (unless you're leaving town). Lex Ave line and the 7, versus having almost every line stopping on 23rd (local, but since you're in the middle of manhattan, not a huge deal) - ce - 1 - fm - 6 - nr

or walk a couple blocks to union square.

near the oneill building you might have the highest concentration of good restaurants in Manhattan withing a few blocks. plus the big box stores if you like that.

oh, and walking....

Let's not get carried away with "nearby" restaurants. I'd say Washington Square puts you a lot closer to more of the better eateries of central GV, Soho, East Vill, West Vill, Chelsea a 10 min walk. In the 1990s Chelsea had many more good restaurants IMO. Today I find them stale and the area somewhat stagnant aside from the large retail stores. I think Chelsea's heyday has been reached along 6, 7 and 8 Aves. The energy has shifted to the west with the coming of the rest of the Highline.

School me if I'm wrong. What are the 6-8 Ave great restaurants from 14-23 Street? How many are there, really?

Olive Garden, Outback, 2 Bros Pizza, McDonald's, Cosi, Chipotle, Qdoba...the list goes on and on

kyle, you're going the wrong direction. i'd not look from 6th-8th for food near this building, i'd look east. plenty of options.

i agree central chelsea's dragging a bit these days. and the olive garden, oh the horror.

> School me if I'm wrong. What are the 6-8 Ave great restaurants from 14-23 Street

Given the building is *on* 6th, that's not the right range to look at, lets say 7th to 5th to keep the same distance, or Park adding an extra block.
The advantage of this is this location is that its on the outskirts of Chelsea and basically Flatiron, so you get the access to that as well. I actually agree on the Chelsea in decline part, thats why I think 5th-6th is a sweet spot in Manhattan.

But, if you go with that range... You get those tiny out of the way unkowns like Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern. ;-) Markt is great, Aldea. BLT Prime is 4 blocks away. BLT fish. The place at the Gramercy Park hotel. Wildwood. Boqueria. Rosa Mexicana. Those are just the first few that came to mind.... some of the blocks between 5th and 6th are packed with good stuff.

It certainly 'aint Grand Central.

wait, scratch Gramercy.... wrong side of Park.

Add back the two places in ABC (although I miss Pipa). And Lily's is a great spot, more bar though.

olives, tamarind, 11 mad, a voce, veritas, etc., etc.

isn't gramercy b/t b'way and park?

Yes, these better places are possible to walk to, but they aren't really benefits to living on 6th Ave. I think they are more like Gramercy haunts. And here in GV near Wash.Sq there is a terrific restaurant about every 15 feet without walking endless avenue-length blocks. We truly are surrounded with great places. 6th is on the border and not surrounded--it is on the fringe and you have to walk to the "center" of the good stuff which is east. Thus, living in the center of the good stuff would be better; living on the fringe is just ok.

I lived in Chelsea for 18 years. I saw it rise from a warehouse/sleepy/low-rise, low-rent 'hood to a gay vibrant pulsing mecca of fun, shopping, and cool eats. And then I saw the decline begin as the gay people migrated further north, the hideous apartment towers went up on 6th, the restaurants slipped and most great ones closed (are Gascogne and Red Cat still there at least?), and the place just began to look...uglier. Maybe I just got tired of it and needed a change. But during the end of my days in Chelsea, that O'Neill building went up. It could have been great. It wasn't. The layouts were not stunning. They were pedestrian and rooms badly proportioned in too many units. Prices were stupidly high. And what could have been a brilliant restoration of a cool building was utterly destroyed in my view by the developer's decision to put plastic breasts on top of the corners. Those could have been brilliant gold leafed domes or stunning copper cupolas. Instead those hideous things were put on that are plastic and look plastic--actually look like dirty plastic now. Just AWFUL. I trek up there now to shop big box stores and Trader Joe on occasion, but I invariably come away being very glad I moved away from anywhere near 6th Ave in the teens or 20's. It certainly doesn't strike me as a fitting place for a high end building. That's just me though; to each his own. Someone must like it--O'Neill isn't empty.

> but they aren't really benefits to living on 6th Ave

Places between 5th and 6th (several of those) aren't really benefits to living on 6th?

Huh?

We getting into wackytown?

Sounds like you left years ago and aren't sure what's there anymore.

And how did we miss Shake Shack. And, on 23, eataly! Thats a huge draw now.

I think you just got tired of it, and don't realize how much it has changed.

> And here in GV near Wash.Sq there is a terrific restaurant about every 15 feet without walking
> endless avenue-length blocks.

I think we differ immensely on terrific. Some fairly empty stretches around Wash Square. Go east, gets very empty. Go above... you talking Johnny Rockets and Soupberg? South to horrific Bleeker St? 6th ave?

Tell me the exact spot you are talking about.

I'll easily take the middle 20s...

somewherelse: whose out of touch? Johnny Rockets has been closed for months.

Flatiron is not Chelsea and 6th Ave is not Flatiron. Funny you ignore stars like Babbo and Blue Hill, old neighborhood joints like Knickerbocker or if in the mood for steaks there's Strip House just a couple short blocks. To the south of the park are awesome places like upscale korean bbq or swank Mercer Kitchen for brunch. To the east are places that are like stepping into the Marais in Paris, the best bubble tea for miles, city's best falafel on St Marks if you want a $3.50 dinner. The Smith sizzles with youthful energy 24/7. The Cooper Square, China Grill add to the fun to the east. Go west and in 2 minutes you're at Blue Ribbon Bakery or even better: Mas (Farmhouse) or the little gem I Sodi on Christopher.

Your are surrounded by awesome choices in literally every direction.

On 6th, you have one way to go: East. The streets are dark and nasty with no charm whatsoever for the most part between 5th and 6th. There may be exceptional moments, but for the most part this is true. I didn't leave ages ago. I said goodbye to my 2 decades in Chelsea just 3 years ago and don't live so far that I've never been back. I'm there all the time for shopping as I said.

I stand by what I said: 6th Ave is not the place to have developed a top-dollar condo with silly plastic domes on top. I just don't knkow why anyone would spend that kind of money to be in that spot.

U couldn't pay me to live in that area.

Not jazzed about the location but you are in walking distance to some fun spots. The apartments look gorgeous but not the deal of the century considering the location.

> somewherelse: whose out of touch? Johnny Rockets has been closed for months.

If knowing whether Johnny Rockets is open or closed is being "in touch", you win. Maybe you can find a Ruby's. ;-)

Kyle, this is why I asked you to give an exact location. You're being inconsistent with what is "close". Strip house is on 12th and Mercer Kitchen is on Prince, more than half a mile away. And you're talking about St. Marks as the neighborhood (which, btw, is not the best falafel in town). You're giving completely inconsistent comparisons.

It is just getting wacky, after you tried to apply a 2 avenue range to the oneill building. Strip House is closer to the oneill than the mercer kitchen!

If you applied that range to the Oneil, you're adding much, much more as well. Hell, with the kind of distances you're talking about.

If I give that kind of half mile range in all directions to the oneill, you start getting...

Red Cat, RockingHorse, Quinto Pino / Tia Pol, Del Posto, Colicchio and Sons, Co., Cookshop, Abe & Arthurs, Matsuri, Morimoto, Bar Veloce, Scarpetta, Inoteca, Blue Smoke, Defontes, Maialino comes back in, Lloves

Hell, the Breslin and the Ace Hotel, and the Eventi

Also forgot RUB and Cafeteria and Suenos

> Flatiron is not Chelsea and 6th Ave is not Flatiron.

What do you consider 6th avenue then? The folks who live in Chelsea generally don't see it as part of chelsea (objecting to the rental buildings on 6th calling themselves chelsea).

Oneill is one avenue and one block from the flatiron building...

Personally, I think its one of the advantages of being right in the middle (and a couple blocks from union square).

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/sales/flatiron-manhattan/status:open

That's plain silly: "Flatiron" is not a neighborhood, it's just a building.

Speaking of Chelsea and its environs, kudos to "Hell's Hundred Acres" and "Satan's Circus". See http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/01/26/nyregion/gentleman.html from http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/26/on-the-records-a-well-preserved-roadmap-to-perdition/?ref=nyregion ... click on lots of links there for original documents. I like that story so much, perhaps I'll start a new thread for it.

kw - I lived right next to the One Ill Building, which is the O'Neill building spelt the same way, just divided differently.

HOWEVER, it is very noisy: that was my point. Even 21 Chelsea, where I lived, was very noisy (noisier now with the Trader Joe's there), and my apartment was midblock. If you face 6th, you get a free lifetime supply of earplugs, I hear. (HAHAHAHA to that pun!)

BUT - in terms of shopping there's nothing better; I still visit the nabe to shop, even though I'm in midtown now.

Really depends what you're shopping for. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there a ton of big box retailers on that stretch of 6th?

Steve: agree about shopping for basics and household stuff and food. 6th is good for that. It is not good for living--so we're agreed on that, too.

somewhere: we were comparing Washington Sq. area to 6th Ave at 20th. Places I list radiate out from the park in every single direction. That was my point. And the walks in every direction are completely pleasant and typically charming. Walking south or north from O'Neill is gross and grosser. To the east are dark, gritting streets just off Sixth and to the west ain't all that much better although the grit diminishes a touch. Saying O'Neill is good because of Blue Smoke is just silly. All the places I described are closer to Washington Sq. than that and getting to them is fun as you pass through wonderful streets and the 'hoods just north of the park, to the west, south or east (although tad less to the east, but the vibrancy and diversity of the area to the east of the park is pretty fantastic).

We can go back and forth on this--we just have different taste levels. You like 6th Avenue, I say it cannot compare in anyway to the heart of Greenwich Village. Paying top-dollar for 6Ave is lunacy to me.

And PS: the O'Neill building IS Chelsea and always has been. http://newyorkcity2005.web.infoseek.co.jp/information/maps/chelsea-map.html It is no more Flatiron than 6th Ave and 10th Street is "Gold Coast" of lower Fifth Ave. Perhaps you are a realtor and enjoy pushing boundaries in service of silly pricing.

kylewest, I agree with you 100% on the pleasantness of the walk. But that wasn't your assertion that I was responding to, you're on a different story now. I agree on that one, but its different that what you originally said.

You've changed your point from this one "Let's not get carried away with "nearby" restaurants. I'd say Washington Square puts you a lot closer to more of the better eateries of central GV, Soho, East Vill, West Vill, Chelsea..." BTW, only now did I notice you somehow had Washington Sqare closer to Chelsea than 6th ave on your map ;-)

In terms of "charm", of course. 6th ave has some ways to go. But its going...

But, again, its a completely different point. Fact is, by your stated standard, there are tons of great food options "near" oneil.

> And PS: the O'Neill building IS Chelsea and always has been

Your link shows 6th ave as the border of the neighborhood. Meaning a shared border with another neighhorhood. If you call that other neighborhood flatiron, that would mean being equally in both, no?

As I said several times, right on the border.

> All the places I described are closer to Washington Sq

Not to mention, the square itself is large. Again, if you want a fair comparison, pick one specific location.

If you are on the one side of the block, then that means you can't include so many blocks on the other side of the park.

Otherwise, you get the range you noted, which is more than half a mile!

Chelsea's fine - I just prefer it where I am now. Gristide's is closer; and it's just a HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP from Long Island City.

HAHAHAHA!

oh man, I'm scared to into a Gristede's. It is like a little taste of LIC. ;-)

After Whole Foods and Fresh Direct and places like Eatly (plus the occasional suburban trip), I don't know if I can ever go back to the old school craphole Manhattan supermarkets.

Somewhereelse: Alright, truce. We agree on more than we don't. It is a fine point that the west side of 6th is chelsea and the east side is the boundary of SoFi. Is what it is and the world will spin on regardless of what either of us calls O'Neill's technical neighborhood. We do disagree about 6th Ave's direction. I don't see it changing in any meaningful way from where it is now. The roaring traffic will not change, the big box stores seem there to stay indefinitely, the new construction is pretty pedestrian and doesn't add any cache above 23rd, the side streets are dark, and the "fab" left Chelsea along with the gay migration north. It has peaked and is in a maintenance mode but really it has slipped from the 1990s when it was hot, up and coming, and pulsing. Now its just...ok. There's a lot to be said for "ok:" relatively stable, low crime, good transportation, shopping. But it isn't AAA property and I stand-by my belief that spending the type of money the O'Neill apts sold for was/is nuts. Original buyers are taking a bath there. I suspect the common charges are under abatement, and when the abatement draws to a close, the prices will take a further drubbing. This is not somewhere I'd recommend buying.

True Chelsea purists will claim that Chelsea only exists between 8th and the Hudson, but that dates back to the Thomas Clarke era in the mid 18th Century. Now most of "True Chelsea" has been re-branded "Far West Chelsea" and is the most charming part of the neighborhood and where the lion's share of Chelsea's good restaurants reside (and it's a pretty short list).

So for all practical purposes, most people consider Chelsea to be 7th to the Hudson, and if you want to include 6th, go right ahead, but it's a neighborhood boundary at best, and not a very nice one. That stretch of 6th is just too commercial for most people to consider living. Ladies mile hosts some very handsome buildings (620 6th aka Bed, Bath & Beyond or 650 6th aka The Cammeyer or whatever they are calling it today), but it just doesn't "feel" residential. Hence poor resales at the O'Neill and less than stellar sales at The Cammeyer. If you are looking to pay a premium price for one of those iron loft buildings, why not try TriBeCa or some area with more character (and better schools).

On another note, I think 7th Avenue in Chelsea is quite good looking as a whole, while 8th is just dreadful in every possible way. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Verizon building.

> Somewhereelse: Alright, truce

Cool.To be clear, I think what you are describing are some great neighborhoods. But I think there is still some draw to Oneill, and it will get better.

"We do disagree about 6th Ave's direction. I don't see it changing in any meaningful way from where it is now."

The apartments north of 23rd totally changed the neighborhood there. Like 'em or hate 'em, obviously they cleaned up the avenue itself. But the blocks in between have gone through crazy transformation.

I was on 26th street on a thursday night before the winter hit, and it was one of the most crowded scenes I've seen in a while outside of say Meatpacking or when far west 27th was in its prime. I guess you could also call it part of the NOMAD revitalization, but there are crazy amounts of new stuff on that block and overall. And I'm not even including the whole Ace Hotel / Eventi scene up on 29th. The restaurants are quickly filling in, and Eataly is apparently going to anchor a whole lot of other stuff up there (I saw a crain's article saying rents had jumped 15% for retail since it arrived). Nightlife usually comes first, then restaurants, then residential (of course, they already have that anchored). Overall, I think its pretty clear north of 23rd is in the middle of a very quick move upward in terms of commerce.

Now obviously we're focused here on south of 23rd. It was a little further along, and there aren't huge leaps and bounds to be made with a new tower or anything. But the places on 6th seem to be upgrading. They're redoing the building with the Bally's in it. Limelight obviously being less of an eyesore.

There are also condos being finished on a lot of the blocks just off. Lots of expensive mid-sized inventory coming to market... I can think of 3-4 buildings in particular steps off 6th. Plus the stuff on 6th itself, that black building on 17th is relatively new (and expensive), the Cammeyer is finally starting to sell well.

Plus, I happen to know a few startups that are choosing to move there too, replacing some of the other photo-related places on the side streets.

We seem to agree that its a very accessible location close to things... given lack of "problems" (like projects), I think its going to become cleaner as time goes on.

And, fact is, I love the old school ladies mile buildings.

"Ladies mile hosts some very handsome buildings ... , but it just doesn't "feel" residential. "

I agree. But this is Manhattan. Who said our residential neighborhoods needs to feel residential. OF COURSE this won't be a brownstock block. Who said it needs to be.

Our most expensive neighborhood is.... Tribeca. Clearly not residential feel. Clearly everyone doesn't need the suburban-feeling stuff. And it will obviously feel more residential as more residents move in.

But I'm not sure that means it can't be expensive.

Chelsea is 6th to the Hudson, Flatiron is 6th the other way. Don't argue with me: my grandmother grew up in Chelsea, and my great-grandmother (other side) drank herself to death there. I share history.

And another great-grandmother lived very close to where I live now, a few blocks away, but the tenement is now a - GRISTEDE'S!

And your grandmother referred to a neighborhood called "Flatiron"? She must have been quite the rummy.

No offense, I'm just saying.

somewhereelse, yes, not every neighborhood needs to feel residential, but most people, myself included, want to live in one that does.

I thought the Cammeyer was initially priced on-par with TriBeCa loft space, but I could be wrong. I do think TriBeCa feel very residential - Franklin, North Moore, Duane Park seems to have a cohesive neighborhood feel, perhaps not in the traditional brownstone block sense, but certainly a community.

If 6th ave agrees with you, that's terrific (and I mean it), but most don't feel it merits premium prices.

I'll spare you my thoughts on Eataly.

Grandma didn't drink a drop - Italians usually don't.

Great-Grandma Vanderbilt, on the other hand, drank like a fish, died of alcohol poisoning.

6th Ave. is grossly overpriced: berry, berry noisy, especially the uptown clubs on 21st between 5th & 6th. You can always tell when it's 4:05 a.m. - that's when the gunfire starts.

"but most people, myself included, want to live in one that does."
Tribeca seems to disagree with that... but also keep in mind any neighborhood will feel more residential as it *becomes* more residential.

"I thought the Cammeyer was initially priced on-par with TriBeCa loft space"
Its expensive, but not Tribeca-expensive.. for higher end buildings/finishes. $1380 psf

"I do think TriBeCa feel very residential... perhaps not in the traditional brownstone block sense, but certainly a community."

Sounds pretty self-fulfilling to me. Neighborhoods can't be residential because they don't feel residential... unless the people move in and make it feel residential.

Well, sounds like you just need to add the people then... meaning that the 6th ave "feel" will improve as more and more people move in.

If we're defining "residential feel" as anything that gets critical mass of residents, then it sounds like it doesn't make sense to judge a neighborhood as "non-residential" when it on its way to adding residents.

I still don't think Tribeca feels residential, there are some hugely desolate streets, and the tunnel areas are problematic. But even say it is. It certainly wasn't 20 years ago... as it went on to become incredibly expensive.

Buying neighborhoods for what they are makes sense for consumption. If you're looking for return, better to factor on what they will be, no?

> I'll spare you my thoughts on Eataly.

Which is it... you or "most people".

Most people in this town have seen it as a HUGE draw. Lines out the wazoo, folks from all over town, coverage in the mags. Its a pain in the ass with all the crowds, but the offerings are fantastic. I grew up in an Italian neighborhood, and this blows away the local store options.

You might not agree, but we're talking about the masses and neighborhoods and general acceptance, no?

Tourists do love Eataly, it's true. But it does feel a bit overpackaged and prefab. Call me nostalgic, but I kind of prefer the G Espositos and Murray's Cheeses of the world (um, city).

Most people don't like 6th avenue. I personally don't like Eataly which isn't even really located that close to 6th. And even if it were, would you really want it there? From a residential perspective, Eataly seems like a nightmare for the exact reasons you mentioned. Who wants "folks from all over town" crowding the sidewalks. Many people love to shop at Century 21, but who wants one in their neighborhood? It's exactly the type of place you'd prefer to travel to visit.

From a shopping perspective it's a nightmare for a whole host of other reasons: terrible traffic patterns, clueless tourists clogging the aisles, "lines out the wazoo" etc.

From a dining perspective, it's annoying. Besides the long waits, everybody in your party must want to consume the same dish. Some, like pizza, work better than others, but it's not exactly the neighborhood pizzeria you can just drop in and tuck into a slice.

From a tourist perspective, it's absolutely wonderful. So much food glorious food! Such displays! Such spectacles! Such crowds! So much to report back to friends at home! They even stock that same Mario Batali sauce available in fine grocery stores across the nation! But I'm not a tourist. If it pleases others, I'm glad it exists, but you won't find me there, and I wouldn't want one in my neighborhood.

As far as TriBeCa vs 6th go:

I think 6th Ave doesn't feel very residential to me because the ratio of residential to commerce is just off. By residential, I mean residents, neighborhood restaurants, boutiques etc - basically what exists all up and down 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th avenues. It's much more commercial on 6th, and not looking likely to change in the near future. I don't think it's going to get that critical mass needed to feel like a neighborhood the same way TriBeCa has. For some like you, that's fine, and I'm happy it works for you. Then again, I've been wrong about many things, and it could all change overnight.

> I personally don't like Eataly which isn't even really located that close to 6th.

Huh? Main Entrance is between 5th and 6th.

Your post sounds a lot like the classic "no one goes there anymore, it's too crowded" ;-)

> but who wants one in their neighborhood?

It's a *grocery store*. I'd love to have one. The hype will die down, but what's left is a pretty fing fantastic selection of stuff to cook with.

If you think its just Mario Batali sauce... have you actually been there?

The best collection of Italian counters I've seen outside of Italy. Positively blows away Arthur Avenue.

> I wouldn't want one in my neighborhood

BTW, the argument here was on access to restaurants and retail in specific areas.

If you *don't* want good restaurants and good grocery stores in your neighborhood, and only want to visit occasionally....

maybe New Jersey is for you?

;-)

Please. You can have great restaurants and grocery/retail with a tourist invasion. Unless your tastes run closer to a lowest common denominator kind of thing.

*without* duh.

bjw, i'm in that neighborhood all the time. you're making it sound as if the flatiron area has become another times square. it hasn't. i really can't discern a particular increase in foot traffic solely due to eataly. if you have no desire to go into it, it really doesn't have much of an affect that i can see at all, other than being part of a general increase in restaurants and food options in an area that was long dead.

are there more people in madison square park these days than 20 years ago? certainly, but my husband had beer bottles thrown at him in that park back in the day.

Sounds a lot like sour grapes...

ar, well, I was speaking specifically about Eataly. I don't begrudge anyone for liking it, but once you're in there, there is a bit of that tourist mayhem that many of us try to avoid. Flatiron in general is definitely NOT Times Square - I didn't mean for it to come off that way. I actually do frequent quite a bit of the retail on 6th Ave and around there, but I don't think I'd go into Eataly unless it's way off-peak hours.

"Sounds a lot like sour grapes..."

swe, sounds like you're projecting. Seriously though, you're doing a heck of a job "ignoring" me.

btw, was thinking about this some more. Of course it is not for everyone, but it seems like big box goes hand in hand with expensive these days. If you want leafy slower streets, go to Brooklyn or Boston, and save a ton.

But think of what people are actually paying for these days...

Most significant (and I'm fairly sure expensive) west side building as of late...
15 CPW, Best Buy

And Time Warner Center with the Mall

Most significant (and I believe most expensive) east side building as of late.
1 Beacon - Home Depot and Container Store

The most expensive FiDi building I can think of is the one on Warren...
Whole Foods and Barnes & Noble

Also, not insignficant that all of these are very crowded locations - TWC and 15 just off Columbus Circle, Beacon across from Bloomingdales, Warren actually hitting Chambers and the West Side Highway.

It seems like New York's dollars have spoken. Not for everyone, but it doesn't seem to be an obstacle for some of the most expensive apartments in town ("value" being the point of the initial set of complaints).

Again, not for everyone, but if you don't want the crowds and commerce, there are plenty of more boring options available.

"Of course it is not for everyone, but it seems like big box goes hand in hand with expensive these days. If you want leafy slower streets, go to Brooklyn or Boston, and save a ton."

Definitely. By and large, it seems like only big box can afford the higher rents, so if there was going to be a lot of displacement in this cycle, most of it should be underway if it hasn't happened already (and it has in some spots, I believe).

"but if you don't want the crowds and commerce, there are plenty of more boring options available."

Don't agree at all that no immediate crowds/commerce = boring. I think the ideal living situation in this city IS to be on leafy, slower streets that are within short walking distance of retail, restaurants, bars, music/art venues, recreation, etc. Living on 6th Ave might appeal to some, but I think most would go for the leafy, quieter side street a couple minutes away instead.

We live on 6th Avenue and 21st street, and I have to say; it's super noisy everyday because of the cars, and fire trucks... But it's even worse on fridays and saturdays because of the nightclubs located on 21st street!
Taxis stop to drop or pick people up and they Won’t stop using their horns!!!
Also, when people come out from the nightclubs and the avenue is supposed to be quiet for 1 hour, we can hear people yelling in the street, and we get woken up thinking they are in our living room.

BTW, walking down 6th ave last week... noticed all the signs the BID put up... "shop flatiron".

Lowered again to $1.35

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/529260-condo-655-sixth-avenue-chelsea-new-york?email=true

This sold somewhere around $1.7 in 2007....