@igloo…oh, that’s different. I thought they were gonna be working in the financial district, but now I see it is further north. In that case, Williamsburg in Brooklyn might be a good choice, or where I live on the Hudson River on the Jersey side across from Lower Manhattan. One of my kids has a place (owns) in West Village.
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I was there when it was the only building down there, and then moved back again for a short time after D2 was born (25+ years ago).
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Another option with a 25-30 minute commute would be Long Island City in Queens. The 7 to Bryant Park and then any number of trains to the Washington Square area. There are many buildings there (with parking, I think) right on the river and a young professional demographic. The area is booming and the outdoor space in the vicinity is terrific. Williamsburg does work for that area, too, but it’s quite congested and noisy and parking (unless you find a building with a lot) is not that easy.
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That sounds promising. How often does 7 run? Thanks.
It’s the main artery to Manhattan from that area of Queens so pretty frequently. A very quick search shows that it runs about every 5 minutes during rush hours and just a little less frequently at other times. The first stop in Manhattan is Grand Central and the 3rd (I think) is Bryant Park where you’d change trains to go to the Village. Have your kids go on Google maps (public transit option) or MTA NYCT - Trip Planner+ to map out the exact options from a prospective apartment to their respective workplaces.
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For the price of a parking space, your kids could renting zipcars for weekend errands and an actual car rental for weekend trips.
But they’ll need to figure that out. I know young people who bought cars in NYC for Covid and are now doing zoom calls from the drivers seat on alternate side parking days. They are busy logging on to car sales websites to see how much they can get for their low mileage cars! Just not worth the hassle of owning, and in some neighborhoods, a parking space costs the same as an extra bedroom…
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@blossom, you perfectly described a picture my DIL posted on Instagram last week! Their car predates the pandemic and they find it worth the hassle with a child (another due in 2 weeks) and grandparents in another borough and the suburbs. But while street parking was easily available when they returned to the city in July, it’s now a little more challenging. City living = tradeoffs and compromise! Thank goodness phones can be hot posts - makes working while navigating alternate side of the the street parking more feasible!
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From where I live (Jersey City waterfront), it is 29 minutes via subway to Washington Square Park (not sure exactly where their jobs are).
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For that budget and the current housing climate, they can probably even find something in SOHO or West Village, and walk to work. Both are great areas. I’d say ditch the car, and just rent on the weekends whenever they need to get out of the city.
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I know your sentiments about the car in nyc. It is one of those things we do against the wisdom. They own the car and love it. They got it before ny move appeared in the picture. The car is staying.
From what I gather they would like quiet, spacious, basically suburb that is close to work if there is such thing.
If they want a more “suburban” feel, I feel Staten Island has that. Just not sure about apartments as everyone I know who has lived there has lived in houses.
If suburbia is what they want, maybe look on Long Island. It will be a way longer commute, but to get to a real suburban feel from NY, that might involve a longer commute. There are also suburbs in NJ that would work if they want suburbs.
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But the G train, LOL!
Suburban living in NYC- you are talking Riverdale (in the Bronx), many of the neighborhoods on Staten Island, some of the expensive parts of Queens (Douglaston, Forest Hills), maybe Midwood in Brooklyn although also expensive. None of these are “suburban quiet” but they are quiet compared to Boerum Hill in Brooklyn or Murray Hill in Manhattan.
And none of these are close to work, although all are commutable in some fashion and many of their neighbors will have been doing the commute to midtown or lower Manhattan for years.
Trade-offs!
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I’m not sure what the bigger dealbreaker was - riding the G train, living in a basement apartment on top of the 30 million gallons of gasoline in the ground in Greenpoint or living in a three family house with my great aunt on one floor and spinster cousin on the other.
Actually, I do know…
I always wonder how many Greenpoint hipsters realize that they live in a Superfund site. I guess having Paulie Gee’s pizza and Word bookstore in the neighborhood makes up for that, LOL.
Having a car is a huge headache. Alternate side of the street parking and digging out after snowstorms is a PIA. They should go to Jersey City or Hoboken. New beautiful full amenity buildings with garage parking… more residential feeling although not suburban by any stretch. 10 minute PATH train ride to their general work neighborhood. Also, easy escape on the weekends to do what they want. Just getting your car out of NYC on a Friday afternoon can be a nightmare… same with Queens, Brooklyn & SI. Those bridges/tunnels make things tough.
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Don’t forget ‘affordable housing,’ if they qualify. They might want to explore this site for some ideas…but beware, it takes months (but it can’t hurt to get their names on some lists).
These two, in particular, look very nice…
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Another thought is lower Westchester County, NY if they are truly looking for suburban feel. White Plains, Pelham Manor, Larchmont, Mamaroneck etc. They would have to take Metro North into Grand Central and transfer to the subway. My guess is 1 hour commute door to door?
In NJ it would be “The Oranges”, Montclair or that neck of the woods. Train/bus probably into Penn Station.
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I’m in this area and it’s an hour bus or train (preferably train). Montclair has a lot of NYC transplants, or those that started the journey west from hoboken/Jersey city/weehawken. I agree with a pp that if they are planning frequent weekend escapes it might be nice to begin the trip outside the city vs. escaping the island by bridges or tunnels, Friday’s are a mess.
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With a budget of $4000-$5000/month. I doubt they will need “affordable” housing. Most of D and SIL’s friends who still live in NYC rent on budgets that are half of that.
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