so who loves bpc?

Fabulous place to live!! In the city but feels like the suburbs!

After living all over Manhattan I wouldn't live anywhere else. Battery Park is absolutely one of best neighborhoods in NYC. It's only going to get better...

I hear that landfills at water level on land lease are a great investment. Well it is beautiful and life is short. Where do I sign?

sounds like jealously PMG....

33496 totally agree, there's a certain feeling you get when you step outside your building in BPC, just makes you smile and glad to be here. and a few steps to the esplanade, magnificent.

The neighborhood is built on a landfill, the buildings are architecturally vapid shoeboxes, and you are removed from every other part of Manhattan.

Other than that, it's just dandy!

Manhattan is in the City of New York. It speaks volumes that that area is called Battery Park CITY -- it's part of this city as much as Kansas CITY is. From the start, it catered to scared Californians with a cloister mentality.

They even had, when the first buildings opened, guests sign in at the lobby desks before being allowed upstairs! Like cleaning ladies! I trust they've stopped that by now, though.

Hate to say it, but I agree with Matt. It's definitely not my cuppa.

Like roosevelt island

yeah ok....

not all landfill is garbage, the dirt that was dug up from when the wtc was being built is the land fill that is under bpc. 1/3 of lower manhattan is built on landfill. today bpc is home to the greenest buildings in the country. and 5 parks not to mention the beautiful esplanade running across the hudson

alan, are you talking Kansas City, Kansas, or Kansas City, Missouri (or Missoura as the natives like to say it)? With your fine analysis on the comparison to Battery Park City, and your general agreement with NYCMatt, you ought to be precise on this point.

where do all you haters live?

No homeless people, overcrowding, trash in the streets. All new projects are wonderful as well as some of the other buildings. The major subway lines are not far away. If you have a car you can jump on the West Side Highway or FDR in seconds. The new Whole Foods is the best one in the city all on level for the most part and room to breath in the isles. If you have a west water and NJ view in Battery Park, it's much more attractive to look at than lets say the West Village to UWS Hudson water view. Battery park has a wonderful park with lots of green and views. It makes the Highline look like someone went to Homedepot and put some cheap plants on an old rail road track.. Oh wait.

Movinup1 - All the haters live on York Avenue in the East 90s

i like it. i even LIKE like it. maybe one day i could grow to love it, if it learned to cook my favorite food, got breast implants and went blonde. it would have to learn to get along with my mom, too. i have a very special relationship with my mom.

fyi, all the haters on this thread seem to live on the uws.

as do 70% or more of streeteasy posters. makes me glad that I live on the opposite side of town. elitist and snobby. about the uws of all places

I like it....I live right near it....i would definitely rent there. buying on a land lease i am not so sure about, but the place is nice NO HOMELESS PEOPLE.....so refreshing for a bit....

I have lived in BPC since 1992. I rented in the Regatta, bought in Liberty Court and now live in The Visionaire at 70 Little West street. I am a native New Yorker and have lived in NY my entire life and my family started here on Pearl Street in the late 1600s. I love BPC.

I love that there isn't any low end commercial space -- like Subway or Bodega's. There is no crime and Ray Kelly (police commissioner) has lived here longer than me. There are a lot of reason why I love it here but in top three order of importance 1) Platinum LEED Green Building (award winning architecture) 2)the hood is immaculate 3) the sidewalks are clean and not jammed with people who don't live here and quite frankly - don't belong in a residential area.

Getting to Tribeca for some of the best food in the city is easy and fast and I don't hang our above 14th street so it's all good in the hood.

That's my 2 cents....

a poor investment, and an isolated, awful place to live, that provides no sense of a NYC neighborhood

probably "loved" by all the peaople trapped there due to inability to sell

might work for a workaholic who lives in his/her wall st office?

not everyone looks at their home as an "investment" people who do don't live in their house.
isolated from what? no sense of a nyc neighboorhood??? inability to sell... how do you know i own there?

haters, all i said it was nice on a sunny day to be fortunate to LIVE in a neighborhood like battery park city. i didn't compare it to new york city or anywhere for the matter. i did not ask you to move there nor like it. i did not ask anyone's opinion nor advice. and certainly didn't ask for details of or by uninformed idiots.

To all of the bpc residents (owners or renters) i am so glad we have this enclave little secret, but i am much more happy that bpc doesnt appeal to the people that have responded so negatively to this pleasant thread....wanna bes!

>>i did not ask anyone's opinion<<

Yeah you did--you asked who loves BPC. And got some colorful responses. That's the nature of a discussion board. :-)

i stand corrected.
i totally get neighborhood loyalty, and i do get discussion boards and forums, heck i visit alot of them, but i have to say street easy is one of the most nastiest forums borderlining violent that i have ever witnessed. i guess THEY are right, when they say what they do about New Yorkers.........

You're right that "not everyone looks at their home as an "investment"" ... the ones that don't are known as "renters".

But as for most of the posters on this thread, I think "dunwannabes" is more correct ... we dunwannabe in master-planned creepy "utopian" Brasilia-on-the-Hudson, at least not until there's good Brazilian cuisine and prominent modernist architecture.

And BPC a secret? Get a grip!

How can you say people are "haters" when they simply gave their opinion on your neighborhood, which you solicited in the first place? No one launched a personal attack against you (which is often the case elsewhere on the board.) I admit that Lucille's response was strange and incomprehensible, but that is par for the course and she did not attack you in any way.

thanks for proving my comments alanhartless
the purpose of my thread was harmless, i was trying to align with and find people who are my neighbors,and share my neighborhood not to be critisized for where i choose to reside. if you don't like my neighborhood, don't respond, why the anger and need to bash? haters. again where do you live?

Movin -- You have an awfully thin skin for a NYer. You just move here?

I like to visit. but i wouldn't want to live there.

just my opinion.

thin skin, no just nice. I am as native as they come.... i am actually getting a kick out of everyone's comment. i'm not working today, so i'm bored. still havent heard where anyone else is living these days, and bad investment? uhmmm how about anyone who bought in 2007 2008 im sure those people thought their purchase was an investment, couldnt build fast enough, bidding wars, what would those people get today? trapped please.

And yes, THEY are right.

again theres neigborhood loyalty, there's is you can be with the one you want, love the one you're with, and then there a just nasty people who think their comments are educated and creative and its always the same ones on here 24 7 with nothing but negative hatful responses to anything and everything, amusing really...

oops typo, i so excited,, i meant to say if you CANT be with the one you want, love the one you're with

Down town is a great place to live. If you live in Battery Park you are a short walk or subway ride to Tribeca, The Village, Soho, The Financial District, LES etc. Where can you walk to change neighborhoods on the Upper East or West? Harlem?

Battery Park is a great neighborhood to live in.

Wbottom, Where do you live?

Depending on where you live in BPC, getting to the subway can be a pretty big PITA. Accessibility to transportation is much better in TriBeCa and the Financial District, although I don't think those neighborhoods appeal to the same folks.

thanks 33496,
i am so amazed how a simple delightful discussion, meant to talk with fellow bpc residents has turned into such an attack. but whatever turns these people on a guess, some people need to knock other people down to feel good about themselves, i think its the napoleon complex, inferiority.

Having a strong opinion about something isn't hateful; attacking other posters personally is.

or maybe some people just don't love BPC

and you are right on about the proximity. looked any many an apt on the upper west and east, borrrrring. and the closet park you would need to cab to..
cannot beat the esplanade with the yachts and statue of liberty, FRIENDLY people jogging, biking strolling dining on the river museums, views ... i could go on.

Moving -- The best approach is to put forward cogent counter-arguments, rather than saying that the people who don't agree with you have a problem (like an inferiority complex). Of course, once they start in on attacks or do crazy shit, then all bets are off and you can have at.

Moving, I think you're being way too sensitive here. No one is attacking you. This is a real estate discussion board--folks talk about pros and cons of everything RE--specific nabes, buildings, apartment lines, etc. There are a lot of differing opinions, which is what makes the discussions interesting. How boring would it be if everyone loved the same thing?

I'm an UWS river rat--I love Riverside Park and I adore high-floor, prewar apartments on Riverside Drive with spectacular views. Is this everyone's cup o' tea? Of course not! Does it hurt my feelings if someone trashes one of the buildings I think is especially great? Absolutely not! Hey, that just leaves more for me, right? :-)

you're right aboutready, but the question was who loves bpc? not what do you think about bpc or do you love or hate bpc. it was a inquiry... who loves battery park city, perhaps a vote, i never said I am being attacked nor the hate is directed toward me, but that bpc was a target of such hatred for what reason? just don't get why people are so opposed about a neighborhood.

bramstar, thanks i do appreciate that, and there are plenty of valued opinions on here. i do think this has been a useful& valuable tool in apt hunting, researching neighborhoods, real estate and even advise on restaurants and shopping etc.
i guess i am guilty of being the attacker here.

as for subways and getting around. south bpc is great, cross west side (which has a crossing guard s0 friendly and traffic light) and there is the NR 1&9 and another block over to wall street for 4&5

I agree. I've lived in the 70's off Central Park West, East 80's 60's etc. I like living in BPC so much more by far. As a snow bird there is no where better to live in NYC during Spring, Summer and Fall even in the hottest of summers. Shaded parks, great breeze off the Hudson. Short walk to Tribeca and West Village Cafes. I'm sure the new World Trade Center won't hurt real estate values either.

I'm sure the new World Trade Center won't hurt real estate values either.

ok, now you're being silly. what new world trade center? the one terrorists will build for us, to prove their point that we are a corrupt society that worships money and that they have, indeed, won? if they could just link the second ave subway to the new wtc, it would be really great for resale values.

33496 i agree. that whole area is going to be great when it's completed. the towers, the memorial, the retail in world financial. all the people that will be working in goldman sacs and the tower will definitely be attracted to bpc real estate.
it is a very quick walk to most major subways and tribeca, seaport, even soho.
taking value out and resale out of the picture, i enjoy my apartment and its location, don't want to be anywhere else....

"what new world trade center? the one terrorists will build for us, to prove their point that we are a corrupt society that worships money and that they have, indeed, won?"

The mind boggles at what this is possibly supposed to mean.

BPC is nice during the dog days of summer, but horrible in the winter, as it's easily 15 degrees below the rest of the city. As to the esthetics, yes, it's very suburban-like, but some people really like that, so that part is subjective. The schools are good, lots of parks and kids' activities, so great for families with young children. The PILOT charges make the rent/buy calculations even more skewed than in the rest of NYC.
Love is a bit too strong; I like BPC well enough, but I would rent, not buy there.

Movingup, first of all, ignore Wtushy / MidtownerVirgin. They are bitter that their "girlfriend in Brooklyn" won't' give them any, even if they were the type to want any. And by any, I mean space, they live in a smallish 1 bedroom in midtowner east for $3200 per month.

woops--i didnt realize the point of this thread was to tally those who love BPC--since i think it would be an awful place to live, and since i understand that it will remain an awful place (from a financial perpective) to own; i will say goodbye

Are there any poems about BPC?

movinup1,

You cannot get too upset with these people. They were the same people who called the OP obnoxious when she posted the so called "top ten" tips to buy a coop. Now, these same group who critize someone's home as a landfill, a vapid shoe box and aweful. How hypocritical.

They will trash everything and anything that might be higher or lower than their own status.

And what could possibly be higher or lower than my own status?

Please compare and contrast BPC and LIC.

Obviously, those who were said to live on a landfill, awful and a vapid shoe box were perceived as lower.

On the other extreme, who wants to buy in a coop that may require one to show a net worth 10X of the apartment's worth may be higher.

You can always compare BPC and LIC without trashing either area. I have full respect for the homes people had picked for their families.

BPC was designed and built new as a residential neighborhood from scratch.
LIC is being converted from an older neighborhood of more mixed usage of industrial and low rise residential

BPC was built with soil from the WTC site. It was free of the contamination risk as other land that may be converted from a real "landfill" or industrial converted land. (up until after 9/11 may be. But then the whole Manhattan could be at risk of the WTC dust too)

BPC has decent view all around, including Statue of Liberty, Hudson river and NYC skysrappers view.
LIC arguably has a superior western view only.

BPC is within walking distance to the world's largest financial employment district.
LIC will still need to take a short ride on subway.

BPC seems to have better schools than LIC. In fact, if you are good, then you can walk to the best high school (Stuyvesant High)in NYC from BPC.

Many LIC's new apartments enjoy property tax abatments. Most abatements in BPC had expired. The abatement at LIC is the incentive to move more people to places like LIC that has trade offs. Over time, the pioneers can develop LIC to be a more sucessful community.

challenge that Stuy is the best HS in NY, and living at BPC doesnt't entitle one to attend

now swe and six-seven, both esteemed alums of stuy, will agree with you

I have established incontrovertibly, however, that Hunter is superior--feel free to read up, via the search box over on the right

and there are several very strong independent schools in NY that might well out shine even Hunter, depending on criteria

also, the westerly view from LIC will soon be blocked by the being-built public housing project

at this point the takeaway i get from your work is that LIC is toxic, BPC is snot

what about that most properties in BPC are land lease, and that this has made them very difficult to sell??

I live in the first green condo (there are older rental green ones in the northern part) building in Battery Park City - the Millennium.

Rigth behind my building is the first brand new green elementary/intermediate school in NYC, absolutely beautiful. Imagine children going to a school with filtered air, without any chemicals used in the construction and finishes!

I have owned and lived here since 1993 and have enjoyed the quality of life that I had in the suburbs but a zillion times better because I am in the city.
I love to watch flowers and plants bloom just like I did when I had my home on Long Island...and I also love that I don't have to do all the work to maintain it :)

We, who own, in BPC pay a special tax for the upkeep of the beautiful parks and esplanade you may enjoy when you come here.
To me the esplanade in BPC along the Hudson, lined with gorgeous linden trees, rivals anything I've seen along lakes and rivers in Europe.

BPC is close to the most historical part of Manhattan and I'm proud to live downtown with so much history around me.
Just my own thoughts on why I love to live here.

"The mind boggles at what this is possibly supposed to mean."

idunno. only that had both projects been contracted out to the team players over at al quaeda, what with their efficient corporate structure, low overhead, and remarkable employee morale, they would have at least had a chance in hell of being finished in my lifetime? not one of my top ten, but not exactly mind boggling, either. sorry, geez, everyone's a critic.

St. Uyvesant on 15th St. is a best high school ... lots of Nobel and other prize winners in all fields (Jimmy Cagney and the rest).

That box on the west side highway is Stooey in name only ... I refer to it (derisively) as Battery Park City High School.

prada,i like and agree with your sentiments and your cognizant summary. especially about the pilot we pay, i enjoy seeing my tax dollars at work right in front of me. i constantly see park employees cleaning and upkeeping the area.the bldgs are green the neighborhood is green and you feel it. south bpc has great city views and water views and a 2 minute walk across the street does not seem removed at all. well done prada!

kazbeen you rock!

Anyone else feel like they are at a Girl Scout jamboree (or watching Barney)?

"I love the mountains. I love the rolling hills. I love the flowers. I love the daffodils. I love the fireside. When all the lights are low. Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah. Boom dee ah dah."

Gack!

Whatever it is, it's quite appalling. And sad ... very very sad.

movinup1, what are the "cons" to Battery Park City?

>I have established incontrovertibly, however, that Hunter is superior--feel free to read up, via the search box over on the right

Why thank you.

>Anyone else feel like they are at a Girl Scout jamboree (or watching Barney)?

I think I speak for many parents on SE when I ask you to avoid the Girl Scouts and Barney.
Get help.

well alan i would guess they are the same cons of your neighborhood, which still has not been disclosed

I don't see myself living there, doesn't feel like a welcoming place. I prefer other area in the city.

Stop and smell the flowers....
Enjoy your life, enjoy every minute....wherever you live :)

Right on!

http://image57.webshots.com/657/4/99/52/2619499520046209414LsgSqo_fs.jpg

congratulations Wbottom you win.
i'm moving!

Don't let Wtushy chase you away.

Luci B. are you old enough to be on the computer? Does you mommy know that you are trying to post your thoughts here?

No, movinup1, you stay right where you are.

Hey GasMan, do you live in midtowner east?

while i understand the draw, im not a fan..

i like isolation A LOT, but not to the point of having to take a cab/train uptown everytime to meet pals..

i can still find isolation yb living on a side street vs avenue..the park's usually swamped with tourists in summer.. same deal in CP, but at least you'll have a lot more options in terms of activities

hello gasman. what can luci b do for you on this lovely sunday evening? do we know eachother? do you pump my gas out here, or something?

lucille, do you visit a gas station in the midtowner east area? That might explain.

of course not. who the hell goes to midtown east unless the have to?

no alanhart i want to be your neighbor so desperately. please tell me where you live so i know where to send the u-haul

rotflmao

i know you want badly to move--but youll have a tough time moving your BPC apt

water view apartments always sell.

That explains the booming market in Coney Island and Co-op City.

"water view apartments always sell."

Not necessarily.

Particularly if the apartment is a ho-hum shoebox with the architectural appeal of a county lockup, in a neighborhood completely isolated from the rest of the city.

grounded by a ground lease

BPC is great, but I liked living right across the highway from it better. That way I was closer to the subway, Tribeca bars/restaurants, etc, but it took me two minutes from my front door to the river. It was grand. I do miss it.

I liked when it was one big man-made beach.

I love Battery Park City and have spent the better part of the last decade as a resident. It's funny that people think you need a passport and a vaccine to come down here.

I guess you have to live in BPC to get it.

Derek Lee
Managing Partner
L.G. Fairmont Group
http://www.lgfairmont.com

we currently live in Chelsea, but are thinking of relocating to BPC with the little one. Why do people say that it is isolated from the rest of the city? seems to me that it is no worse than say UES. probably even better in terms of getting to other parts of the city.

ideally i would like to remain in chelsea, or move even further downtown. but we are going to need a good public school. Tribeca is too expensive. From what i have read, the school in BPC is pretty good. And i would much rather live down there, being close to Tribeca, than anywhere uptown. Not that there is anything wrong with uptown. But i prefer the vibe downtown.

When people say something is isolated, it usually means it is far from things they like to do. People usually like to do things close to their homes. Therefore places that are far from their homes (and by far they mean 5 miles) are isolated.

Well, i guess you know where i come out on this debate given my screen name. We moved into BPC about a year ago (but had wanted to be here for a long time). Hands down, best place in NYC to live with kids. Sure you don't have 10 restaurants on your block, but come on, is walking 10 minutes really that big of a deal? If you're a 20-something out there partying every night and need the excitement of NYC on your doorstep, stay away - we don't want you here anyway!

"The PILOT charges make the rent/buy calculations even more skewed than in the rest of NYC"

Maly -- This is misleading. The PILOT is *exactly* as in *exactly* the same rate as any other New York city resident's real estate tax. PILOT is just administered differently (it's paid through the management company/BPCA, rather than directly to the city.) There is no difference how PILOT is treated by the IRS come April 15. So I write my tax check to a different payee than my non-BPC brethren. And...?

Please explain!

"Particularly if the apartment is a ho-hum shoebox with the architectural appeal of a county lockup, in a neighborhood completely isolated from the rest of the city."

NYCMatt -- As others have noted, "isolation" must be a relative term. Is it the ease of crossing the major traffic patterns that bifurcate the area? In that case, keep in mind that crossing Broadway on the UWS at 96th, 72nd, or 67th (which I did for years) is a helluva lot more difficult and time-consuming than crossing West Street at Thames or Morris. The only difference is the decibel and drama. On the UWS, it's terrifying, but the sounds of the city are all around us.

As for architectural appeal, I doubt any county lockup has won architectural awards (like the Visionaire and its architects, Pelli Clarke Pelli) or comes standard with Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, Travertine marble bathrooms, and white oak cabinetry (like they have over at the Millennium) or stares at the Statue of Liberty at sunset (like the buildings do everywhere).

Are you a real estate agent who can't get traction in this neighborhood? Because everything you say is counterfactual and one wonders at motive.

stares in symbolic desperation at the Statue of Liberty

For anyone interested in buying/living/investing in BPC:

Pier A renovations and anchor tenants are confirmed. This historic landmark is finally getting its facelift (thanks to the Battery Park City Authority) and southern BPC will soon be graced with *another* destination spot. I believe the tenants will be of the cafe/restaurant/catering (read: wedding) space variety. This last point, that there will be brides and grooms in the area, doesn't bother me, because this area is already popular for weddings because it's so beautiful.

Alanhart -- Nice! Wrong, but poetic.

"Fabulous place to live!! In the city but feels like the suburbs!"

I think you just described exactly why I find it the most horrible neighborhood in town.

It's the ideal place for folks who don't want to live in a city (yet somehow want to pay city dollars). To me, it is missing a healthy chunk of what keeps the city in demand. Bla, lifeless, awful shopping, cut off, not diverse, uninteresting.

I'm sure some folks love it, but some folks love Cleveland too.

I've always thought of it as the "ideal" ny for someone who has no idea what NY is.

"I've always thought of it as the "ideal" ny for someone who has no idea what NY is."

Or maybe for someone who knows NY pretty well, but doesn't feel the need to live above his favorite bar or restaurant anymore.

for those in BPC south, how is the restaurant scene? in North BPC you can walk into tribeca. how is it in the southern part? we like some of the buildings down there, but would like to be walking distance to dinning.