NYC neighborhoods

joepa, fun question. I'm curious to read what others have to say.

a) East or West Village. I know it's not the most orthodox choice, but I would have given anything to grow up in a diverse, fun neighborhood. I couldn't wait to get out of my small-minded childhood burb.
b) East Village. Meathead factor aside, a great, fun neighborhood for a single, straight guy.
c) Ding ding ding! East or West Village. I enjoy the East Village more, generally, but would love a quicker commute, proximity to the Hudson and easy access to the bike path.
d) I don't have deep enough pockets to find the kind of place that would be a sure enough bet, and wouldn't expect to be able to rent anything I could buy today at a profit.
e) I know the borough would be Bkln (I've lived in Queens, worked in Staten Island and visited the Bronx enough to know they're not for me), but I'd have to do a lot of research to pick a neighborhood. My girlfriend's choice would be Park Slope, no question.

a)UWS. It should be noted that I don't want kids, and if I did I doubt I would raise them in the city so take it FWIW.
b)East 50's. It isn't fun or cool or hip or any of that but you can't beat a 5 minute walk to work (for me) and one of the few things in life you have a finite amount of is time.
c) West Village. I am sure it will get ruined at some point but still.
d)Washington Heights or Harlem probably. I would only buy a building. I'll leave buying new condos and trying to rent them out (at a loss) to the foreigners.
e)Lots of factors involved in this one but I would say Forest Hills. Tough to answer without any other parameters (for me at least)

a) Tribeca, which I why I sell down there. At this point, it's like a hipper more fun Upper East Side -- and the prices reflect it. I got a little bored living in the West Village.

b) Gramercy Park/Kips Bay -- to be near all the other young single people, many of whom are drawn by the hospitals. There are some fun restaurants, too.

c) This is currently me, and hubby and I are in Midtown West/Lincoln Square. However, the neighborhood is less fun than five years ago, and more noisy. Maybe that's why Battery Park City, Morningside Heights, and Central Park North are rising in my estimation.

d) For investment, I'd try to get a condo right near a busy subway stop. West Harlem, FiDi, and Midtown West all have their appeals to me.

e) I hate houses because I think they're too much work, so I'd at least want a pretty one -- that's a toss-up between Forest Hills Gardens, Queens, and Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

a) UWS, onRiverside Drive near 96th street. Send the kids to the Bank Street School. Play in Riverside Park which has playgrounds, fields and tennis courts. Not as crowded as Central Park.
b) Meatpacking District. Plenty of Jersey and Long Island girls who'll be happy to come upstairs for a nitecap.
c) Madison Square. There's a great dog run on 23rd. I just know she'd want to get a dog and I'll end up walking it.
d) Anything purchased before 2002
e) I suppose a house with a lawn and a pool in Riverdale.

Great question joepa. tenemental, are we seeing a bit of bias here? It's tough because all the neighborhoods are great for different reasons but here are my choices:

a) UWS. Just a great place for kids, access to both parks, good schools, and the restaurants are actually getting better as well. People just seem a lot more laid back.
b) Its a good thing I was never young and single in NY, because I probably wouldn't have lived through it, but I would have to go with East Village or Gramercy
c) West Village all the way
d) I would buy the unit in my building above me
e) Man...That’s a tough one. I think I would leave NY before moving out of Manhattan.

a) west village
b) almost anywhere but I'll say West Village
c) West Village
d) around Madison Square Park, although I think investment is tough right now pretty much anywhere
e) don't know a lot about this but I'd have to say Park Slope (note I'm married with kids)

JuiceMan, it's an opinion question. I thought it was all about bias? :)

a) UES or UWS; I like UWS a bit more (low 80's around CPW/Col
b) W Village/Gramercy
c) W Village/Gramercy
d) E Harlem
e) Bklyn Heights/F Greene/Park Slope/Dumbo ; agree with Juice. I would prob leave NY if I had to leave Manhattan.

Great topic of conversation.

digs' e) response just jogged my brain. If I had to pick today I'd chose Dumbo (as a place to live, not an investment). I like the "lost world" quality, the parks are great and the bridges are excellent for biking. Great brunch at Water Street restaurant. My girlfriend, however, would not be pleased.

Glad this took off - thought it was going to be one of those loser posts that get no attention or response.

I almost added that responses should be as objective as possible and should avoid bias based on where you live now - but, I figured, the responses would be biased whether I said it or not.

Anyway - forgot to add my own:

a) UES/UWS - close to the park (just think that the schools/Central Park/residential nature/amenities lends itself nicely to raising a family)
b) West Village or Soho (young vibe, bustling with activity, and a good combo of lively restaurants and nightlife)
c) UES/UWS - with or without kids - Central Park is still my favorite thing about the city; West Village is a close second
d) Risk taker: LIC (no reason that this can't be any more valuable or moreso than Brooklyn Heights - amazing views of the city, great commute); stable investment: UES - close to the park (Tried and true. It will always be in demand, will outlast any fad neighborhood and will be the last hit neighborhood in a recession).
e) Family: Park Slope (if I can't have Central Park - might as well be Prospect). Non-family: Brooklyn Heights/Dumbo.

a) UWS in the 1960s-1970s (I had an ideal childhood there/then)
b) no place in NYC (it's become a necropolis) . . . maybe London, maybe BsAs; maybe EVill/TriBeCa late 70s-early 80s (yes, ideal teen-years hanging out there/then)
c) WV
d) WV
e) Neponsit

a) The Village
b) The Village
c) The Village
d) The Village
e) Florence, Italy

So - using my powers of intuition - let me take a stab at the demographics of this board:

Tenemental - a suburban transplant (Long Island perhaps?) who has chosen to find his lost youth and, after many failed searches, has finally found his perfect home and has taken refuge with his significant other in a rebuilt tenement in the East Village.

The Fed - works way too hard (perhaps for the Fed?) and spends a great deal of his life in the East 50s commuting between work, home and the mass of bars along 2nd Avenue.

front porch - married real estate broker living in Midtown West (which has really no name but she likes to call it Lincoln Square to give it an identity). Prefers the time when the city was a bit gritier and less touristy and gentried.

80's man - lives on Riverside with his wife and kids. Fondly recalls his younger days, 80's big hair bands and Jersey girls.

Juiceman - a partier in his younger days, has now settled down a bit and prefers the calmer but colorful streets of the West Village. Once the kids come - the greener pastures of the UWS may be calling.

cc - as pure a West Villager as they come. Why live anywhere else?

digs - a Union College grad with a BS degree in Psychology. During college, he enjoyed numerous stints interning at Salomon Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley alongside top brokers, where he learned many real life lessons that couldn't be taught in any classroom. Now a real estate broker who enjoys his trade and likes to keep his pulse on what's going on (and maybe drum up some business in the process) by surfing these sites.

alanhart - a former PETA rep, pines for the days when New York was about drugs, disco and disestablishment.

malraux - tough to call. My crystal ball says that he lives in the Village and thinks Florence, Italy is in the Bronx, though.

How'd I do?

I hate PETA and always have, but otherwise you're quite right.

Now take a stab at self-pop-psychoanalysis.

How did I miss this thread before?

a) If money really no object UES (west of lex), otherwise UWS
b) Lower East Side
c) East Village (and yes, this is my current situation), with Nolita and West Village as other attractive options, especially if you're in mid to late 30s (Evill better for 20s to early 30s)
d) East Village and LES. Yes, yes, I am biased, but I do think it it's a great neighborhood, with has a lot of potential to improve without losing its soul. I don't expect PSF values to reach WVillage but I do expect the gap to narrow a bit in coming years.
e) Depends on situation in life. If young and single, Williamsburg. If a little older and/or married, then Brooklyn Heights or Cobble Hill

you forgot former jewish porn star in my bio

Hah - I was confused digs. I was sensing dirty things with pastrami and figured that my intuitive powers must be off. Guess they were spot on.

yes clearly we like the West Village but we don't quite live there, close though, although moving a bit further away soon to Madison Sq Park (not because of the investment potential, but we really like the Park and happened to find a place we fell in love with and could afford)

Well this didnt go as planned.

http://curbed.com/
The Bridges NYC is a former Curbed Development Du Jour at Third Avenue and 124th Street in East Harlem, two new-construction buildings comprised of 31 total condo units. The Bridges NYC is also East Harlem's newest rental property. According to the Sun, the north building—consisting of two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 1,200 to 1,700 square feet—failed to attract a single buyer. The developer will now charge rents starting at $4,000 per month, and bring on Wachovia and a government agency to occupy retail space in the building (the building wasn't supposed to have commercial space). The south building has sold some units, per the report, and the website and listings are still active. So why the failure up north? According to Halstead broker Stephen Kliegerman, the apartments were too big and expensive for the gentrifying East Harlem 'hood: "Studios, one-bedrooms would have been fine. The trend in East Harlem is affordability, and the building just missed the mark a bit."
· Credit Crunch Turns Condos Into Rentals [Sun]
· Development Du Jour: The Bridges NYC [Curbed]
· The Bridges NYC [thebridgesnyc.com]

dco, thanks for yet another pointless post. Are you saying that Park and 75th is like 124th and 3rd? You don't get out much do you?

Hell's Kitchen!! It (and UWS) cover pretty much everything. West Village is ok but there's no trees at all. And tourists, my god.

why in the world are you posting that in this thread?

And investment: Manhattan Valley hands down. West 96-116.

that was meant for dco of course

I meant Hell's Kitchen proper, not what RE rats try to pass for it. Proper: W 50-w 57. 7th ave all the way west.

oops, apologies, I thought I was posting to the Park Ave thread.

a) Upper East Side (west of Lexington) - only to be close to all of the great private schools in the area and to ensure my children are tapped into the right social networks, or West Village - lots of amazing houses, very little pretension (compared to the UES), but still accessible to good schools.
b) Optimally, West Village for the energy, historic architecture, and lifestyle (Waverly Inn, Beatrice Inn, etc.) but would also consider SoHo, Union Square, or NoLiTa. DISCLAIMER: I am a young, single resident of the West Village already and I love it.
c) West Village with a townhouse to boot.
d) Anywhere near the High Line/Far West Chelsea - the values are soaring - and NoLiTa.
e) Forest Hills Gardens or Brooklyn Heights - beautiful neighborhoods with easy access to Manhattan and a relative high level of amenities.

ccdevi/JM-I was pointing it out as a place not to raise your family. OK. I'm sorry that any negative and truthful news ruins your day. So just go back and bury your head in the sand.

I like this joepa. Here's mine; not sure what conclusions you'll draw about my demographic.

a) Family w/children: UWS - it's a safe answer, but when you have kids, that's probably what happens to you. Lots of other kids around, the parks, and a generally friendly vibe.
b) Young and single: Nolita - I wouldn't call it a secret, but I'm still amazed at how many people don't know much about this area. It's really far and away my favorite in Manhattan. Good restaurants, bars, shopping, close to lots of trains and other, good but busier/louder neighborhoods.
c) Significant other, no kids: Nolita again - Lovely Day has the best brunch I've ever had.
d) Investment only: This is tougher. Parts of the LES or Harlem are very appealing, but appreciation is likely already priced into many places on the market. Washington Heights probably has more in that department, and having gone to school in the area, I can say firsthand that it's not a bad place to live either.
e) Williamsburg. Because I'll actually be living there soon. But I also like Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Fort Greene a lot. Wish I knew more about Queens to speak to that.

"to ensure my children are tapped into the right social networks"

don't want to get the thread off track, but can't resist, that is a seriously f'd up comment.

dco, as always you're just clueless, first of all this thread has nothing to do with where not to raise your family, second you didn't identify that as what you were nor did what you posted have anything to do with that, it simply was a blurb ona development that didn't sell, third, it didn't ruin my day, I couldn't care less about that news, I care that you posted in this otherwise interesting good natured thread. Please just go away.

dco - when will you realize that prices in Manhattan and LIC are never, ever going to drop to levels that you can afford, no matter how much you wish it or post negative comments everywhere?

joepa

I'm not a big hair bands guy. I'm, a old school rap/nu-wave guy. I used to love going to Danceteria, Cat Club, Nells, MK's. But you are correct, I love the park and the river. My favorite honey is half Puerto-Rican and half Jewish. I love New York!

bjw2103, your right about Nolita, good call out.

I have to second Stakan. Hell's Kitchen is great, NOT for the kids though. I wonder why not many more posters know and appreciate it.
Investing —and living—between West 96 and West 116 up to Columbia: YES. I don't think the prices there have the appreciation built in yet. Especially along CPW and nearby.

This is a fun/funny thread....OK, here goes....

a) Family w/children: UWS - Morningside Heights. Totally biased, but this where I am now...very little night life but...great schools, down right bucolic if you live on Riverside, easy commute and still in Manahattan. I wouldn't live in MH if I were still in category b or c
b) Young and single: Nolita or East Village...just fun places..have lived in both...when I was young and single (and I do miss them!)
c) Significant other, no kids: Nolita or East Village again
d) Investment only: LES, Manhattan Valley or West Harlem
e) Wouldn't live in the outer boroughs - Let's see...Paris or London OR San Francisco or Chicago. Lived in a couple of these...I've heard Singapore is great too.

e) Tel Aviv or Barcelona

Yes, great call thebelltollsforthy. Barcelona too!

joepa, you've got me perfectly -- this city could use a touch of its old grit back.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

ccdevi- You should do a better job at reading the original post.

"which neighborhood would you choose to live (and why)" if:

a) you had a family with children

To me it's all about Gramercy Park... I'm so in love with that area - especially on the park.

As for outer boroughs - I just don't see it... If I'm not in NYC I'd rather be on Long Island and get the benefits of being by the beach with some land...

I grew up in Brooklyn and lived in NYC as well as Long Island...

"If I'm not in NYC I'd rather be on Long Island and get the benefits of being by the beach with some land..." --> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neponsit (okay, SOME land, not a huge amount)

a) Battery Park City. After living on UES for 3 years, I like the area much better for a family with kids.
b) West Village
c) West Village or Chelsea
d) I do not think RE investment is a good idea these days.
e) I'd rather move to NJ and get tax advantage.

yes dco , I read the original post and as I said, posting where not to live with a family (which of course you didn't even mention you were doing) is not responsive. why by the way have you not answered the 5 questions as others have done? because its an inherently positive, happy, hopeful exercise I suppose.

a) Tribeca, BPC, FiDist
b) East Village, 1994 (pre frat boy, post real hardcore addicts -- yay sophies and barramundi!)
c) West village anytime
d) Astoria (for long term rental investment; cheap to get in)
e) Brooklyn Heights (closest to Manhattan!)

Sorry to break it you reaper but NYC is comprised of 5 boroughs.

"I grew up in Brooklyn and lived in NYC" ...that does not make sense! :-)

sharise, "NYC" could be construed to mean "New York County", which is Manhattan -- only. Anyway, this city's name is New York, not New York City.

Always overlooked and has great potential - morningside heights.

I'm 55 and grew up in Manhattan West 80's. Neighborhood has arrived but prohibitively expensive for me.

Lived on Roosevelt Island for awhile but hate depending on the tram.

Washington Heights -some nice sections.

Feel in love with Brooklyn and now live in Heights but if I was looking fresh I would check out Fort Greene and Boerum Hill, still can find bargains. Park Slope and Cobble Hill are already priced upward. Take a day trip to Brooklyn and walk around the different neighborhoods and I think you will be impressed. Has a very West Village feel for half the price.

Just went into contract at Flatbush and Myrtle for the Toren. This building in Manhattan would go for, at least, twice the amount. Flatbush will be the new Battery Park IMHO with new zoning, if you are looking for modern skyscrapers at a reasonable cost with great neighborhoods surrounding you, give it a look. Probably will take 3 years to really take off. Look at dbpartnership and check out future 2012 and watch Ian McKellan vid, very interesting.

This was a great thread and I'm happy to revive it rather than continue my thread on the same topic.

My favorite quotes on this thread:

- "b) Gramercy Park/Kips Bay -- to be near all the other young single people, many of whom are drawn by the hospitals."

Are you planning on OD'ing??

- "Meatpacking District. Plenty of Jersey and Long Island girls who'll be happy to come upstairs for a nitecap. "

LOL! Sounds like somebody envisions a "stabbin' cabin"!

- "I hate PETA and always have"

Does that stand for "People Eating Tasty Animals"?

- "when will you realize that prices in Manhattan ...are never, ever going to drop to levels that you can afford?"

LOL. How very mid-2008.