Relocating from UK to NYC advice

You can get a very nice one bedroom, maybe even a water view in a luxury 24 hour doorman building in Battery Park City it's close to the 4,5, train which goes to union square in less than ten minutes. Many buildings have amenities including a pool, dry cleaning, etc. you can walk to Tribeca. The Battery Park City Conservancy keeps the area beautiful; there are a number of dog runs.
I have been living here for the past 20 years. I am a realtor also. Free free to contact me.

Ellen Silverman
esfundingco@aol.com

Do you need a doorman/luxury/amenities? Hell's kitchen is quite vibrant with restaurants, close enough to central park, and has a fair share of luxury doorman buildings with 1BRs in the mid 3k range. You can take the N/Q/R/W to union square.

NoMad/Flatiron/Gramercy are also good neighborhoods with madison square park around, good restaurants/shopping, and walking distance to union sq. The streets around gramercy park are also quite peaceful for dog walking.

I don't know why you would give yourself a commute if you don't need one. There are rental buildings lining 4th avenue from 11th Street to 14th Street filled with 20-something year-olds, and lots of rentals available along Union Square Park in Zeckendorf Towers (even though they are condos), more rental buildings north of the park. Some may be a few hundred more than $3500/mo, but very central and there is a dog run in Union Square park.

I think you'll find the 1 BR's in Zeckendorff start at $4,000 and go up from there.

If you don't mind the walk from 1st Avenue or the 'not new" construction, I think the 1 BR's in Peter cooper Village/Stuyvesant Town are about the best value in Manhattan these days.

I have lived in NY for thirty years, and I'm a broker who has done three London-to-NYC relos in a row, and I can't think of a neighborhood that meets all your criteria (FWIW, my clients chose East Village/West Village/Cobble Hill).

IFIWY, I might take a quick look around Brooklyn Heights (maybe a building like 180 Montague, where you can go direct?) it will meet most of your needs pretty well. It's not a particularly foodie neighborhood, but that's the case with Battery Park City (mentioned above) as well.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

It might be worth looking at Georgetown Plaza on 8th street (for convenience to Union Square). I have friends who own there (and there are also rentals available) and it's a lovely, modern building with lots of amenities (roof-deck and pool!) and close to all modes of transportation. The Village is a fun and vibrant area of Manhattan!

http://streeteasy.com/building/georgetown-plaza?semAdgid=21961205055&semMaTy=b&semAdid=78511076535&semKwid=aud-295873270229:dsa-88346159816&k_clickid=91ec8331-6128-428a-aa44-25094b43913b&gclid=CjwKEAjwlpbIBRCx4eT8l9W26igSJAAuQ_HGOuamfxnq0sIeuCq4auUZei34CrcD2NVX8HlD4QiTtRoCQsLw_wcB

In Georgetown Plaza you'll be restricted to certain elevators with the dog, but the pool is nice ... at current pricing you'd get a 12 by 22 room with a separate kitchen, so the question is ... is that big enough?

Battery Park City is a foodie neighborhood. When one can go to Eaterly, Nobu, (which recently moved here) Le Pain Quotidian, Harry's Italian , Le District, authentic French market and restaurant facing the water, P.J. Clarke, Hudson Eats, Shake Shack (if you're into that stuff), and so many more.

All this has come about in the past few years when One World Trade Center opened. Front Porch, when was the last time you were down here.

Hi all, thanks so much much for your responses & advice we will certainly take it into consideration for our search! Is it true to say that we should look out for 'no fee' rentals and try to go through landlords directly? If so does anyone know any websites where we can look direct? On the flip side what are the pros of using a broker / agent directly? Lastly do rental prices tend to reduce around August/ September time after the Spring/Summer rush? Thanks again

You have many options. I suppose more info would be helpful re: what you mean by good commute (15 min? less than 30? option to walk?) and what you mean by good restaurants (trendy, scene-y places? more authentic places?).
Also everyone seems to be assuming that you would want a modern luxury building with loads of amenities but maybe you're looking for something with more charm/character?
I wouldn't do Battery Park City if I were you. It's better than it used to be but still remote to my mind and you're going to want to get to know the city more when you first move down here.
The area near Union Square is great but comes with trade-offs. Immediately there, you'll probably find yourself without too much bang for your buck. If you don't mind a bit of a walk, Peter Cooper/Stuyvesant Town does give you more options (no doorman, but lots of green space for the dog and no broker fees). You could also look in one of the many rental buildings a bit above Union Square in the 20s and 30s. The 30's (Murray Hill) is a little bit more frat-boy heavy but you'd be able to walk to work if you want and you're still close to everything (except maybe not so much green space.
One area no one seems to have recommended so far is the Upper East Side. With the second avenue subway you can be in Union Square very quickly (as long as you're not too far from the subway stops) and you can't beat all the green space - you have Central Park, Carl Schurz, lots of dog runs, places to picnic, etc. Restaurants are plentiful although maybe less trendy than downtown but definitely improving all the time. You're also near a ton of cultural institutions and you can get a lot more bang for your buck. Just look for something near the Lexington Avenue Line (4/5/6, the express train would be at 86th street but all three will take you to work quickly) or the 2nd avenue line.

In general, Union Square is a great location because so many trains go there. Most of NYC is pretty safe these days. Certainly prime Manhattan and Brooklyn where you're likely to be looking.

Honestly, I think Gramercy is a pretty good idea for you. Tons of dog runs nearby (Madison Square Park and Union Square), tons of dogs in the Gramercy neighborhood, lots of great restaurants in Flatiron/Union Square, and a quick walk to work. I live in Gramercy and I love it. There is also cheap rent to be found in the neighborhood in some of the older buildings (e.g. if you're not looking in the condos). They tend to be co-ops, though. Personally, I would even recommend my apartment that I'm leaving in mid-July.

Please don't move to Brooklyn. There are already too many people from the UK and other countries here temporarily driving up the rent for the rest of us here for the long term who can't afford to buy and make too much to qualify for any sort of housing lottery.

SS, I think of BPC as West of the highway; the last time I was "down there" arguably Nobu was in the Financial District.

I like fh and tb's pick of Gramercy for the OP...I think it's got better restaurants, and walk-to-work is a convincing point.

In answer to the timing question, August and September tend to be "hot" as recent grads move to the city for work. You'll likely get a better deal if you can move earlier in the summer (June/July) or later in the fall (November).

Stuyvesant Town/Peter Cooper Village. No fee rentals. Apartments are a good size, have a reasonable rent and there is a lot of green space in the neighborhood. The complex is quite family oriented but is close to the the East Village for nightlife and Union Square.

@UKMovers - a typical broker fee is 15% of one year's rent, which in the case of $3500/mo. rent equals $6,300. If you're okay with paying that or your job is willing to pick up the relocation expenses, obviously a broker makes things convenient esp. if you're new to the city. Otherwise, you can look for a no-fee building direct from a management company. Peter Cooper/Stuyvesant Town is a good example. If you're looking at the Upper East Side, Glenwood might have some no-fee listings in your price range. Google all these and you can see what's available. You can also search for no fee listings in Street Easy.

Also, OP, you should be able to filter for "no fee" in StreetEasy itself.

NOBU moved from Hudson Street to 195 Bradway which is definitely not "arguably"in the Financial District, it is the Financial District and walking distance to BPC. A few blocks away is the centerpiece of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, the Oculus which was designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Santiago Calatrava at a cost of $4 billion. The concourse will connect visitors to 11 different subway lines, the PATH rail system, and the Battery Park City Ferry Terminal. There is also 290,000 square feet of exciting multi level retail and dining space. The theatre district is far more accessible from BPC than from Gramercy.
As a native New Yorker I am not saying that BPC is the only place to be, but the rentals here are reasonably priced, the reason being that area wasn't built up after 9/11 until recently when everything came together and as indicated by comments on this board apparently many are not aware of just what has happened in the past year and a half. Saks Fifth Avenue is two places from my home.

Places is blocks

You can look at Jersey City Downtown/Paulus Hook area as well. The Path train will take you to Union Sq in under 10 minutes, and it is one stop away from Tribeca/Battery Park/Fin District in downtown (for shopping & more). Plenty of new construction buildings with pools, gyms, parking etc. and mostly pet friendly., for example 77 Hudson (a condo). No NYC income tax as well. Most rentals will be slightly under/within your budget. I have a 1 Bed available (no fee from owner) at the moment, but it is unlikely to be available in the next 6 months. P.S. Yes, I live and love JC :-)

I second the idea of East Village / Turtle Bay / Lower East Side (east of 3rd ave, between 34th street and 1st street). This area is generally good for dogs and can be within walking distance of Union Square.

I've lived in this area for 4+ years and love it.

I think you mean Kips Bay rather than Turtle Bay.

I agree with UES_Ida. I would look around 86th and Lex. In the Upper East Side. You both will be more comfortable. Do NOT squeeze yourself into a closet-size apartment to be right next to Union Square. You are about 15-20 minutes away from work and the UES is great neighborhood. You will not regret it.