If a country boy had to move to NYC where should he live?

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geekcognito

geekcognito

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Nov 19, 2006
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Ok, here's the deal. My girlfriend graduates in December and wants to live somewhere that she can get a career in publishing, advertising, whatever. She WANTS a 9 to 5 for at least a while to gain some experience. Whatever. At any rate, Charleston, South Carolina just doesn't cut it for jobs like that.

So we're looking at large metropolitan areas that have a large market for such jobs. Nothing is set in stone, but one obvious city that we've considered is NYC. I've been there a few times and I love it, but I also love coming home as well. I told her that I'd consider moving there for a year or so in January if she really wanted to and if I got a threesome out of the deal. Well, ok no threesome but whatever.

Since I've only visited, I only know where I want to stay in hotels. I know nothing about getting a place there. I know some of you guys live in Manhattan and could hopefully point me in the right direction so when I start looking for places I won't be completely lost.

I have two adult labrador retrievers so I'd like to be relatively near a park. Or at least a large patch of grass. Ya'll got there there, right? :cool2:

I've heard that the upper west side is pretty cool. Is this true?

My off-the-top-of-my-head guesstimate was that $3,000 a month may net me something slightly larger than a shoe box. Am I way off? I'd like at least 1,500 square feet or so. Preferably larger, of course.

Am I completely freaking insane to even consider this? (Yes.)

Thanks,

Geekcognito
 


One of my best friends moved to NYC a few years ago.

Ever since then, I've heard nothing but horror stories about how expensive that city is. He's adjusted now... but personally, I could never live somewhere where a fuckin room with a toilet costs 3k a month.

In Ohio, for 3k a month you can buy a 8 bedroom house with 25 acres.

What I'm trying to say is.... Good luck, man.
 
Good luck in NYC, but I still don;t see why people want to pay those outrageous prices. Sure you might make 100k a year, but you could live better on 40k here (in WV). Personally I would rather have some land than live near the city so maybe I am a little bias. It just seems like big cities are too expensive. That and people don't even acknowledge you. I could walk down the street and start a conversation with just about anyone. in New York if I said Hi people would either run or try to take my wallet.
 
You should give details on the kinds of neighborhoods you like, what you minimum standards are as far as apartments go and whether you *must* be in Manhattan. It's a big city with five boroughs and if you look past Manhattan, even a country boy might feel at home in NYC. There are countrified places even in NYC.

Give details, and I will make suggestions.

Random thought: Inwood/Ft. Tryon Park at the top of Manhattan, offers better rental deals than downtown. Ft. Tryon Park is a very big patch of green, and there's a cool museum nearby - The Cloisters.

As I said, I have lots of thoughts but need your input.
 
If I were you I would get a house/appartment in Hoboken (New Jersey) 50% cheaper and takes 30 minutes to get to manhattan.
 
spyderman4g63 said:
in New York if I said Hi people would either run or try to take my wallet.
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Do you still see New York the way it was in 80's movies? As long as you live in Manhattan NYC is safer than just about any place you can live - I've never felt unsafe even at 4am walking home wasted from some bar. The city was cleaned up about 10 years back - great place to live now, though I do remember being scared back in the late 80's when I would come in with my parents... much different place now.

The dogs are really going to limit where you live - and w/ two labs you are going to be hurting for space. I pay $2,450/month now for a one bedroom in a doorman building on the upper east side (on 1st ave). Good size for two people, though w/ two dogs it would be tight (our building doesn't allow dogs though).

If you're looking to spend $3k/month you should have no problem finding a good size place - especially if you don't need a doorman building. Just to let you know though that unless you get really lucky you won't be able to find much without a broker - and expect to pay 15% of the first years rent to him/her as commission.

East side is a younger crowd, mostly yuppies - bars are fun, good places to eat, etc

I've never liked the west side too much - but it's not really my scene either. You have areas that are mostly older couples and the neighborhood is nice, or very 'artsy' areas like the west village.

You can find places cheap if you don't really care where you live - you can find lots of cheap places no the west side near 10th ave- 12th ave around midtown... pretty ugly area and not very convienient but you will find a larger place.


I love NYC - wouldn't live anywhere else for now!
 
I lived in Manhatttan with my girlfriend for the last part of 2006. First off, 1500 sq. feet for 3K is not going to happen (at least from my experience) if you want to live right in Manhattan. You'll quickly have to adjust your standards of living if you want to take on that city. I highly suggest using craigslist, look in the rentals section and go the sublet route to get a reality check on prices, see what areas of the city you like and give yourself an easy "out" if you don't like the city. Having the dogs with you, I definitely recommend being close to central park.

Just an example, we subletted a 1 bedroom place on 78th and broadway (decent location in the UWS) for $2000/month and it was about 600 sq feet. It was nothing special, it did have a doorman - but I'm telling you, this was considered a good deal!!!!

Anyways, all the best with the new move. It's a great city, filled with opportunities - I suspect I'll be back in the future.
 
Although i don't live in US i would also suggest you to live in New Jersey instead its much more cheaper and a short drive from new york... living in Manhattan ain't worth he money :)
 
Vin said:
If I were you I would get a house/appartment in Hoboken (New Jersey) 50% cheaper and takes 30 minutes to get to manhattan.
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Hoboken is pretty over-priced, too. Have a look at Jersey City. It's getting gentrified quickly, but you can still find some deals in the Grove Street area.

PATH train runs 24/7 to NYC - just across the Hudson River. It's a quick shot (maybe 15minutes) to either the World Trade Center or West Village.

If you want to keep a car, it's going to be cheaper there, and more wide open space.

I lived in this area and there were lots of small parks, plus a short walk to Liberty State Park (over 1,000 acres).

It's a little light on the nightlife, but you're so close to NYC.

Good mix of urban and suburbia life.
 
My suggestion: ASTORIA in Queens.

It's 3 subway stops from Manhattan, MUCH cheaper, very nice area with a lot of young people and still has the city feel. 15 minutes and you're in midtown. I visit my friends there all the time. If you live in Manhattan, you'll be paying a LOT more for a LOT smaller of a place. So unless you can afford that, I think Astoria is the way to go. It's been getting more expensive though so ya can't wait too long!
 
Forget NYC- move to Chicago instead! Chicago > NYC by far, in my opinion :) I'm a little biased because I've lived in Chicago for 18 years of my life. I've visited NYC ~10 times for short (few days) business trips while I like the city when Im visiting, I could never live there. Chicago has all the opportunities that NYC has and won't bend you over when it comes to renting a place. There are plenty of PR jobs in Chicago- I have a friend who works for Edelman which is one of the top PR firms and they are located in Chicago.

What I'm trying to say, unless you really want to move to NYC, consider other cities like Chicago because not all PR jobs are in NYC.
 
I live in Jersey City, which is a train ride away from New York City. Actually, many of the New Yorkers live outside of the City. My advise is for you to look at the suburbs around New York City. Here are a few places in NJ, which is a bit less expensive than NYC. Though I will provide some cities around NY.

New Jersey

Jersey City
Weehawkeen
Hoboken
West New York

New York

Long Island
Staten Island
Westchester County

While you might say, I want to live in New York City, I am telling you that you don't. Three thousand a month is more than enough outside of the City. As for a patch of grass, have fun. That might be a deal breaker for many of the areas. However, there are a couple of parks in Jersey City that are nice.

As for the comment about why anyone would want to pay the super expensive prices in New York(and the surrounding areas)? Space is a PREMIUM when you are referring to over 20 million people in a three state area(New York, New Jersey and Conneticut). I tell you, if you make the trip to NYC and live there, you will have a blast! It would be great for your work career.

Also, I just moved back up to NJ from Raleigh NC. I lived down there for 10 years after college and the Marine Corps. It is a bit different, but I think that you will quickly learn that the diversity of the Northeast can't be beat. Oh, and don't rule out the threesome. In New York, you can find ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that fits your desires. You just have to look. Believe me, its out there.

PS Look on Craigslist under New York and New Jersey and you will get an idea of the cost of apartments and houses. Any questions, just ask.
 
gladi8tor said:
Long Island.
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Don't go to Buttafucoland. You can trust me on this cuz I'm sitting in it. You'll pay almost NYC prices for housing, then you'll be saddled with paying a $250 a month LIRR ticket that will leave you in Flatbush, Brooklyn or Penn Station/34th Street. If you work on the east side you have to pay another $24 a week for subway weekly tickets. You need a car to get anywhere, traffic is knee-deep and there's strip shopping everywhere.

As for NYC, I would recommend Greenpoint, Brooklyn for its old-timey NY flavor, and it's not especially gentrified. Brighton Beach Brooklyn is full of ethnic (Russian) color, and it's right by a fun and active boardwalk and the beach. There are other areas in Brooklyn that are worth checking out, such as Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens. One name for a country boy to remember is Prospect Park.

Despite its high crime reputation, The Bronx has more parkland than any NYC borough. Nice areas include Riverdale, just over the top of Manhattan, and Spuyten Duyvil. Roosevelt Island is notable for its lack of development, but has breathtaking views of Manhattan. If you wanna get technical, Roosevelt Island is part of the borough of Manhattan. Not too many people know this.

Queens is the most ethnically varied county in the nation, and no matter where you land there is a hodgepodge of humanity. Areas near parks include Forest Hills (home of the US Open), and Forest Park (a bit inaccessible getting to the subway, but the park is beautiful). Remote areas such as Broad Channel might appeal to you in a odd way, as it's pecularly small-townish near a bay with tackle shops and rowboats for hire. College Point, north of Flushing, is pleasant and small-townish.

Staten Island is mostly one big suburb. I haven't lived or checked it out much, but it's a world apart from the mostly urban character of the rest of NYC. If you leave near the ferry, I believe the ride is free, but you wind up at Bowling Green near Wall Street, and have to take a subway out of there.

As for me, I want to live in Los Angeles, for career reasons and NY exhaustion. I'll try to think of more stuff and post here.
 
I agree with Astoria.. have a friend living there now and she likes it, rent isn't that bad. No way you're getting a place for 3k thats big enough for 2 dogs, even if they were the size of rats.
 
Lots of people who can't afford Manhattan move to Astoria or Brooklyn. The Williamsburg area of Brooklyn is just 1 stop away from Manhattan. You get a lot more for your money in Astoria and Brooklyn. I think its like everything else in life tho...you get what you pay for. Living right in Manhattan is nice convenience. I don't ever feel as safe in Brooklyn either.

Fuck the upper west side tho. It's all snobs. Upper east side is sorta the same. I don't really know many people my age (20s) who live in upper Manhattan. Everyone I know lives below 20th st on the east and west sides. Just don't move to Alphabet City.
 
natekapi said:
The Williamsburg area of Brooklyn is just 1 stop away from Manhattan.
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True, and lots of artists seeking loft spaces are moving there, but I didn't recommend it because I find the area fugly.
Just don't move to Alphabet City.
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It's much improved over the past few years, and has a genuine funky and colorful character. Downside is the inaccessibility to the subway. You're really cut off in there.

I know all these different neighborhoods (and more) because for the past year and a half I have been mystery shopping NYC, and went everywhere. The work sucks balls, but I'm a natural explorer.
 
natekapi said:
Lots of people who can't afford Manhattan move to Astoria or Brooklyn. The Williamsburg area of Brooklyn is just 1 stop away from Manhattan. You get a lot more for your money in Astoria and Brooklyn. I think its like everything else in life tho...you get what you pay for. Living right in Manhattan is nice convenience. I don't ever feel as safe in Brooklyn either.

Fuck the upper west side tho. It's all snobs. Upper east side is sorta the same. I don't really know many people my age (20s) who live in upper Manhattan. Everyone I know lives below 20th st on the east and west sides. Just don't move to Alphabet City.
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I would say the entire east side is great... I know most new college grads move to the lower east side, but the upper east side is more fun IMO, and a huge mid twenties crowd (good college bars like aces and eights and brother jimmy's too).
 
Thanks for all the great advice, guys. If we do end up moving there, it will be in January. I'll definitely look into Astoria and Hoboken. And like CLKeenan suggested, she is interested in Chicago too.

Me and the dogs just want to stay here. Near the beach. Ha.
 
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