East Harlem

Try to move closer to the Fifth avenue side. There are lots of new residents living in the luxury condo buildings the demographics is changing quickly.

CCC, If you take a walk around the area, you will quickly notice that there is virtually no retail on 5th,Madison,or Park north of 97th street.Lexington north of 96th. has the highest concentration of empty storefronts that I have seen in Manhattan in decades,and what is operating is not great in quality and variety.Streets are fairly safe,but really lacking in retail/restaurants;"bedroom" community in my opinion.

I've lived in East Harlem for 10 years and I love it. We are on 112th and 2nd. It's a great community of people and we know all of our neighbors. Easy street parking, low rents, and wonderful people are all reasons we've stayed. Check the crime stats on the NYPD website - they're not significantly different than other parts of the city. There is a decent grocery store on 110th and for organic stuff we go to Fairway on 86th or Whole Foods on the UWS. We have a sushi place, steakhouse, and wine bar within walking distance. And definitely the best Mexican food in the city (outside of Sunset Park).

Retail comes once there is enough of a demographic to support it.

Below 125th street seems to be more popular. Right around Mt. Morris Park seems nice.

East Harlem has a lot less going for it than Central or West Harlem. That said, both the 23rd and 25th Precincts that cover East Harlem have seen huge declines in Murders year to date vs. last year. The Mt. Morris Park area is better on the Central Harlem side than than the East Harlem side. The park itself falls into the 25th precinct. Personally I have found the park to be quite beautiful- but the feedback I have received from a friend in the precinct is that the park itself has more than its share of problems compared to other nearby parks.

@semerun - what sort of problems does the park have? We are seriously considering moving to upper Fifth avenue to have direct access to central park. The feedback I got was that the north side of the park is less commercialized and touristy so makes a more family friendly environment. I will be interested to get your feedback re the problems.

Hi MattThompson,
The northern section of Central Park is far different than Mt. Morris Park (aka Marcus Garvey park). I just want to make sure we are talking about the same thing- as my comments were directed to Mt. Morris Park. If you want further details on the issues of Mt. Morris Park, I would suggest going down to the 25th precinct and meeting with the community officer. MMP isn't really touristy no matter which side of the park.

Upper 5th Avenue along Central Park is very nice- and setting sales records as the brokers have successfully re-branded the area as seperate from East Harlem. The problems of that area tend to be east of 5th itself as you have some really high crime public housing projects. West of 5th Avenue (obviously north of Central Park), you enter into Central Harlem- which has changed so dramatically..especially 8th Avenue (aka Fredrick Douglas Blvd, FDB)- which has been at the heart of change in Harlem by way of new developments. It has become far more commercialized- however you still have Central Park nearby and Morningside Park as well.

I'm don't care much about restaurants etc since I cook in most of the time. I want a good rent with a decent amount of space since I have been hit with the horrid rent increase in Peter Cooper. I need to be near the 6 to commute my daughter to school so it's either EH or Brooklyn but I'm not sure I can go to Brooklyn and still be grandfathered into school since it's a different county. I need to check with the school. So it's the 6 or the L. Too bad I didn't do this before they started raising all the rents. I figured it's just a place to live and not a place to hang out. My whole family lives on the UES so it isn't very far or hard to get there. Guess I'll take a trip up and look around. Very few apartments are listsed here on SE so I'll have to look on other sites. I have a few months so we'll see. I think it will be fully gentrified but I don't know if it will before I expire from this earth.

If you live below 106th, you can get a lot of deliveries from restaurants and such from the 90s and even 80s. It makes a HUGE difference versus when I lived around 120th, and could get very few deliveries. Also, you are one or select bus stops from 86th on second ave, so its literally five-ten minutes to Fairway, the movie theaters on 86th/3rd, equinox gym, etc. Also, taxis routinely come up to East Harlem to get gas, and zoom down second ave. So I have NEVER had an easier time, day or night, I mean 6 AM or noon or 2 AM, getting a taxi ANYWHERE in Manhattan. And I have lived and worked in different parts for over ten year.

For me, living in the southern part of East Harlem is just SO much more like living in the rest of Manhattan versus when I lived farther up.

If you ARE going to live farther up, go west to FDB (8th ave) btw 110-25th. Do not go the Marcus Garvey Park area unless you have kids and want a giant brownstone to yourself. That area is barren.

@semerun, sorry I meant to ask about central park. Haven't been to Mt Morris Park but I should check it out.

What are your thoughts about amenities i.e. pharmacy, banks, restaurants, food delivery etc in the area compared to the rest of the UES?

I have never been a fan of the UES- so best I stick with what I know. While I am sure the new developments on 5th adjacent to Central Park will be just fine (i.e. 1 Museum Mile), I would rather spend my money in Central or West Harlem. If properties such as 1 Museum Mile are your target- I would also suggest you look at http://www.onemorningsidepark.com/ (it's currently under construction- but it's on the cusp of Central Park and Morningside Park).

Thanks Semerun.

The Upper Upper East Side north of 96th street is getting better everyday, You get real value in the area the further East and north you go, but its not for everyone and you have to feel safe so go to the blocks you like at night and during the day and make your own judgment.

Does anyone know of some good real estate companies that deal with East Harlem? I need to start looking soon. I am certainly not going to pay over $3500 for a 1 br in PCVST

"Does anyone know of some good real estate companies that deal with East Harlem? "

If you are looking to rent, I do know a women who actually lives there in its her specialty. I don't think people who live in NYC need brokers, but if you are willing to pay for one, she knows where all the new doorman buildings are in upper Manhattan.

See Dianne's contact info here:

http://www.corcoran.com/nyc/Listings/Display/2590456

She knows even for rent by owner condos and coops, and will show you other company's listings.

My advice is get a free month or two or somehow negotiate out of the net impact of her fee if you find a place you like.

Thanks Jason. I've been looking online in EH and Yorkville. This is just so stressful. The thought of packing makes me sick. I'll check her out and some of the smaller companies that deal with small landlords.

>I do know a women

Is it that difficult for you to say Jason?

I think you may actually be a teenaged boy. Your posting certainly suggests it.

Guys, whole foods is coming to east harken in 2014. This must mean something. I bet this is going to become soon, the next best place to invest.

Actually Whole Foods is coming to Central Harlem in 2014- not east Harlem. 125th street @ Lenox Avenue.

onemorningisdepark prices are starting from 1200 $ /sq ft , with the price for 1 br 700s-800s and 2 br 1.2 mln-1.6mln

so its not really affordable building that you going to run for....

That is true Muromec- my reference to onemorningsidepark was for the sub-conversation since MattThompson was expressing interest in the apartments on 5th Ave in the vicinity of 108th-110th st or so. $1,200 sq foot is pricy for Harlem- Morningside Park on one side of the building- and about a half block from Central Park with some apartments having views of both parks, not many buildings have such easy access to two large parks.

Building has no garage , no kids room , no residence lounge .... even with two parks....1200 $/ sq ft with tiny 630 sq ft (the size they have) 1 br makes it 750k and a tiny 2 br 1070 sq ft (the size they have) makes it 1.2 mln !!!

The Whole Foods that will be coming to Central Harlem - if aboutready buys a banana there and then it turns out she doesn't like the banana, can she return it, or does that only work for her at Fresh Direct?