70th b/t Columbus and CPW?

Street and area are primo. The only possible downside I can think of is traffic around Lincoln Square around showtimes. And the Macy*s Day Parade, of course.

Oh, plus (as with the entire UWS) no restaurants.

Charming area. You are already on top of the number one benefit,close proximity to Central Park. You're also in a great location to have delivery from restaurants in the 60's 70's & 80's deliver to you. The one minor downside is the walk to the 72nd & Broadway subway, but you do gain the B&C at CPW & 72nd. This is a relatively quiet block too.

Great block, more traffic/noise than one might expect. If you are south side on 70th, ask about security.

There is a B&C entrance on CPW and 70th. The post office is on the corner of 68th and Columbus. Closest decent-sized grocery store, Food Emporium, at Broadway and 68th. Movie theater Broadyway and 68th. Best section of Columbus between 65th and 81st.

nyc10023, I'm curious what would cause security concern on south side since 69th Street btw Broadway and CPW seems to be the best two blocks.

In terms of comparison to downtown, it depends on what part. But basically UWS btw 59th and 70th is the cleanest and best kept part because it is part of the Lincoln Center cleaning and security crew that clean and patrol this section every day. We've lived in this section since 1999 (east side before that) and wouldn't live anywhere else. But we do usually go downtown for dinner.

Thanks for the color.

I bit the bullet and signed the lease. Beautiful pre-war boutique building with three real bedrooms and even a side view of the park. It doesn't have a doorman but the virtual doorman will allow for package deliveries and that's a huge upgrade for us. Kitchen is big with typical 'renovated rental' finish, but the unit has nice touches like solid wood doors, beautiful flooring, a working fireplace with an intricate mantel, and a great view.

I'm really just trying to figure out if there are any huge "gotchas" about that area, like if the street is heavily used by fire trucks, if there is a methodone clinic on the block....basically the kind of thing that might not be so apparent until you live there.

I really agonized over the rent vs. buy decision and ultimately decided to rent given concerns over job stability and potential for lower bonuses going forward.

The fire station for this area is on Amsterdam at the corner of 66th. The library is there, as well.

Bird: The block is fine, I was talking about building security.

Tomnevers, I live right around there and know the block well. I love the area. No methodone clinis, SRO's or anthing similar as far as I've seen. As you know by now the block is mostly brownstones that range from decent/pretty nice to beautiful. I can only think of 5 buildings on the block that I assume have elevators-the two on the corners of 70th and Columbus (not sure if those are walk ups); the two on the south side of 70th (one a rental, with a mix of tenants that have been there for decades and young families renting the 7 room apts and one a coop that is quite nice); and the coop on the north-west corner of 70th and CPW (as nice as one would expect given the address).

I will say that I saw a car on the block that was broken into a few weeks ago and the radio was gone. It was a circa 1980 Mercedes, so I'm not sure whether the radio the thief actually got was too valuable. There are certainly a number of nicer cars parked on the street but maybe they are harder to break into. I have a relative who is a cop on the UWS, and from speaking with him, one is taking a bit of a chance parking one's car on the street (his comment was based on his work in the UWS, but I would assume that it applies anywhere in NY).

As you have kids you may have already looked into this, but if my memory serves, the south side of the street is currently zoned for P.S. 199 and the north side of the street is currently zoned for PS 87 (currently being the important word there). I have friends with kids at both schools and I hear great things about each.

Welcome to the neighborhood.

Thanks. We are on the north side of the street, on the Columbus side. The building feels nice with lovely landing areas and pretty wooden doors. Feels very homey.

I suppose the reason for my initial post was because we feel like we are getting a bit of a deal given all the positives (schools, park, trains, etc). Coming from downtown I can't wait to actually have some peace and quiet at night vs. the all-night screaming & partying in the West Village.