Anyone On Here In The Nyc Area? Or Familiar With Nyc?
Lounge By mnmmommy Updated 19 Aug 2006 , 2:21pm by sweetsuccess
My husband is possibly being transfered to NYC and I don't really know too much about the city.
I'm trying to find out where the best areas are in Manhattan to live with small children. We would need to keep our rent to about $2400 monthly. We have a 3 and 2 year old and would like to be close to a park. I am looking for a safe area that's close to maybe a grocery store(I'm sure they have those there, right?) and to the subway. We will not have a car with us and it should be for just a year. We think we could get by with a 2 bedroom possibly a one bedroom and me and my husband use a sofa bed.
Or maybe somewhere like Brooklyn, some areas that are within walking distance to the subway and not too long of a ride on it either to the city.
We do not want to take a car and would like to be as close to the city as possible. Someone told us to look at the upper east side.
Also, does anyone know about how much utlities run. I know there are alot variables. Just asking in general, like phone service and cable which aren't metered. Or maybe even internet service.
I could pretty much hang it up as far as selling cakes I would think with all of the fantastic decorators up there. Maybe I could get a job with Elyssa or Colette or Ron 
Thanks for any help
rule of thumb on rents: the closer to "the city" (aka manhattan) the higher the rents
the closer to the subway, the higher the rents
the closer to the bus stop, the higher the rents
higher floors, better views, higher rents
fewer apts in building, higher rents
having lived and rented there 20 years ...
i'd go w/ Queens, not Brooklyn, as the most desireable neighboorhoods in Brookln are VERY expensive, esp. those right by the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges -- beautiful brownstones w/ sky-high rents.
I was in Glendale Queens -- close enough (50 min to city by bus & subway). rents much more affordable and more like living in tightly packed suburbs.
be prepared to pay 1st month's rent, last month's rent, deposit equal to a month's rent and fee equal to at least 1 month's rent to real estate agent...at your top end, that means $11,200 the day you sign the lease.
Forest Park on Queens/Brooklyn border is very nice, w/ excellent play grounds on Woodhaven Blvd, a band shell w/ concerts in summer and 18-hole golf course. Surrounding it within walking distance are: Glendale, Rego Park, Woodhaven. Excellent bus service in area. Many go straight up to Queens Center (a veritical shopping mall) and take subway (G & R) from there to Queens Plaza for transfer to F & E which pretty much get you anywhere in "the city"
other very nice (aka expensive) neighborhoods are Forest Park and Kew Gardens. Forest Park is especially beautiful but also pricey.
if you are comfortable w/ bus and subway, no car is needed.
but if you insist on "big box" shopping (lowes, home depot, Ikea, big grocery store) you WILL need a car.
city is so tightly packed that big supermarkets, big box stores don't exist. In the city, residents lug shopping bags or have it delivered.
in the boroughs, you use the shopping carts and walk or lug it on the bus, unless you have a car.
the big problem for a car is not the taxes or registration or even the gas (OUCH!) -- it's parking!!! especially if you get in an alternate side of the street neighboorhood- twice weekly one side is off limits for street cleaning!!! let the fight for a spot and musical cars begin!
yes, they have BIG supermarkets -- but you really have to drive to them they are so far apart.
instead, there are lots of little mom & pop stores. from where I lived in Glendale with a bus stop for the Q59 literally right in front of my door, it was two blocks to two a deli, a dry cleaner, a bakery (oh...crumb cake!!!!! yum) and two blocks to an italian resturant, a chinese take out, a small hardware store, a green grocer, and a laundromat (be prepared to do all your laundry this way, very rare to find a rental that allows washer/dryer)
utlitilties run to the high end but not that high. depends upon type of apt. most have heat included in the rent. you pay cooking gas (usual), electric and phone. those three for me usually ran about a $100 for a 2bedroom, 5 room apt.
the life style, especially in the city, is much more a European lifestyle..lots of walking, lots of little stores, usually buying just the foods you need for today -- none of this stock up for a month routine.
first thing I'd advise...find a really good, trustworthy real estate agent (apts. almost always listed through them -- it's a way for landlords to "filter" the prospects) and then be prepared for a wonderful, tho' expensive year.
PM me if you have more questions
I don't live in NYC, but I am a little familiar with it. My sister lives in Manhattan (Upper East Side), and I visit very regularly.
Based on what I've seen and what she's told me, I think the Upper East Side would be a place to live in. She has 2 kids (4 and 2 years old), and I think it's a safe area, and there are quite a few parks around. They do have a car, but don't use it on a daily basis. It's so easy to get around by bus or subway, and be prepared to walk a lot!
As far as grocery stores go, there a lot of little markets, and a few larger groceries. But my sister uses FreshDirect.com. You buy all your groceries online, and they deliver the next day...how great is that?
Unfortunately, I have no idea what rent runs in the area because they own their place. I'm sure it's ridiculously expensive though. Before my sister and her husband had kids, they said if they did ever have to move out of Manhattan, they would want to be in the suburbs close to a stop on the 6 Train (the subway line that runs through the east side of Manhattan. I don't remember what suburbs those would be though.
I hope this helps a littl. I absolutely love New York. I think it would be so much fun to live there for a year! Good luck, and let us know what happens!
Thanks for everyone's help.
I'm really hope this goes thru. I would love to live there for a year.
My husbands work will be on Park Ave in Midtown, I guess. I think it's 99 Park Ave. Would it take just as long to get from UES or UWS as it would say Park Slope? What is Park Slope close to. I really think we are going to concentrate on those areas.
As far as the stores in Manhattan can you buy regular food? like cake mixes and the typical snack food for kids?
And also, just to make sure, we wouldn't need a car in the Brooklyn area right?
Does anyone know of any eithical, reliable real estate agents in NYC? I've been on a couple of websites that have rental listings and I've discovered they use the same pictures of an apt for different listings!!! If we were going to go up there to look in person how far in advance should we go?
Thanks again
Michelle
Thanks for everyone's help.
I'm really hope this goes thru. I would love to live there for a year.
My husbands work will be on Park Ave in Midtown, I guess. I think it's 99 Park Ave. Would it take just as long to get from UES or UWS as it would say Park Slope? What is Park Slope close to. I really think we are going to concentrate on those areas. VERY distinct differences in neighborhoods.
As far as the stores in Manhattan can you buy regular food? like cake mixes and the typical snack food for kids?
And also, just to make sure, we wouldn't need a car in the Brooklyn area right?
Does anyone know of any eithical, reliable real estate agents in NYC? I've been on a couple of websites that have rental listings and I've discovered they use the same pictures of an apt for different listings!!! If we were going to go up there to look in person how far in advance should we go?
Thanks again
Michelle
mapquest it and you will see it is much closer to UES. UWS is next best bet and Park Slope is a hike. ALL are EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes you can get the typical stuff -- but don't think you're going to find big supermarkets or supercenters. Landcosts just TOOOOOOOOO high. Living in Manhattan more like living in central London or Paris. Lots of little shops, green grocers, bodegas, markets etc. Even one of the most famous -- Zabars -- on the UWS is in a two story building just over 50 feet square.
car is problematic anywhere in NYC. depends upon your needs. if satisfied w/ what local neighborhood offers, with what you can do walking and using PT (public transit -- tho' commonly call PT --aka the pits) you'll do fine w/out a car. many people don't own one and will rent one when they want to get out of city to the beaches or upstate to the mountains (and you are close, NYC time concept, to both -- can be skiing in just over 4 hours!)
go NOW if possible and be ready to see lots of apts, and to sign lease IMMEDIATELY when you find one you like. the market is FIERCE and bidding wars are common.
you may also want to check into Battery City area on southwest side of Manhattan...it's just to the west and south of ground zero. a beautiful community with parks, trails, playgrounds, stores and many apts for rent and condos for purchase.
and of course, tho' hard to get into, there's also the Village
and WeHo (West of Houston -- and that is said HOW-ston no matter how it looks like it should be said!!)
and SoHo (South of Houston)
and NoHo (North of Houston)
and Chelsea
and interesting neighborhoods w/ individual personalities.
You almost need to go for a week or so to explore the different areas of NYC to find the one that fits both your wallet and your personalities.
does the company your husband will be working for have on staff or a contract w/ a relocation specialist. These people specialize in helping people move and have contacts w/ realtors etc.
If you can get a hold of a copy of the NY Times Sunday Magazine there are realtor display ads in there. You might also go the NY Times website for leads as well -- their real estate advertising is geared to the markets/neighborhoods you seek.
for a more "funky" take on the city try The Village Voice
for info on Queens and Brooklyn average middle class: The Daily News
and for "longuyland" Newsweek.
I'm a native New Yorker. All the tips provided thus far are really good. I agree that travelling by subway in Manhattan is the quickest way to go. With the amount of rent cited, you may want to consider Battery Park City. It's located at the tip of Manhattan and is VERY family friendly. Near Battery Park, museums, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Governor's Island, with spectacular waterfront views and secret gardens. Restaurants, Movies---it's truly a city within a city. You are within walking distance of the No. 4 and No. 5 trains which go into Midtown Manhattan as well as the Express Bus lines which go into Midtown, and the No. 1 Bus, No. 15 Bus, and 2 other Bus lines which travel across to the Eastside of Manhattan. From Battery Park, you can also walk over to Chinatown, Tribeca, and SoHo. If you really like to walk or bike you can also visit the Village.
Peter Cooper Village is another option which is located on the EastSide of Manhattan. A lovely gated community with beautiful details on the buildings. Personally though, I love Battery Park City.
The areas of Brooklyn closest to Manhattan are extremely pricey. Queens and the Bronx may require a longer commute than you may want. Also, since July 2005, the police are conducting random searches of backpacks and large containers, as a measure to twart terrorism, so at times there are delays on the subways. I personally travel on the local or express bus as much as possible now, and I am fortunate that I have other options beside the subway. My commute time to Midtown from Staten Island to work is approx. 40 minutes by ferry & bus or 30 minutes by Express Bus.
For the money you can spend on rent, you may want to consider the St. George Area of Staten Island, and rent or buy a Condo or home on waterfront property. The Staten Island Ferry ride to Manhattan (about 20 minutes) is FREE, and once there you could transfer to the No. 4 or No. 5 subway and continue your journey. Staten Island in my opinion is the MOST FAMILY ORIENTED BOROUGH in NYC with musuems, many parks, beaches, Staten Island Ball Park, Staten Island County Fair etc. It is a very safe borough in comparison with the rest of NYC. Safety and open spaces were the reasons why I chose to raise my family in Staten Island. I've lived in Brooklyn, Queens, the north Bronx and Manhattan, so I have an opinion based on actual experience living in the Big Apple.
Good Luck!!! If you need any additional info, feel free to PM. 
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