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Neighborhoods in NYC

Wolfster — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:18:30 -0800

Mr Roger’s Neighborhood: NYC, introduce me to your neighborhood plus rental places NYC filter

I’ve lived in NYC for about 4 years and really enjoy living here.

Now I like my current neighborhood, but the apartment is very, very small and has a lot of problems. Because the rents are currently dropping (my landlord just offered to lower my rent for a few hundred dollars), I figure this is the time to upgrade.

I would love it if people share what they like/love/don’t like about their neighborhood and what they think I could get for a ballpark sum of $. Even if I can’t afford your neighborhood, please share! Pretend you are a broker for your neighborhood but also tell me about the warts (a broker, with truth serum!). Even if things that you like are not on my list – tell me about them, I knew nothing about this neighborhood when I moved here and have grown to enjoy it.

As a plus please let me know if it has some of the things I am looking for/not looking for although I still would enjoy the introduction to your neighborhood.

Below are things that I enjoy about my neighborhood, like/don’t like about my apartment, and my dream list.

Current neighborhood: UWS/near Lincoln center

Love:
• Hudson path along the water for walking
• Riverside drive for biking (no cars come from opposite lane, can get to GW bridge to ride out of the city, not much traffic)
• Very safe (sometimes I come home very late –not a problem)
• Can easily visit friends on UES
• Proximity to a few subway trains – 1,2, A, C
• Close to activities but not in the middle of everything (eg, Lincoln center free music in August; can walk to theaters ~ Times Square)
• It isn’t that loud compared to other parts of town
• There is a store/deli around every corner (if I need a cookie…I walk 10 feet)

Current apartment: In this neighborhood, I pay about $1400 and the rent will be lowered to $1200

Like: location

Don’t like:
• Very, very small (200 square feet) – I can’t take this anymore!
• The heating system is poor (this system that is either turned completely on or off in the winter…(baking, freezing baking, freezing)
• My neighbors are very, very young/college kids (I am fine with this age group, but I need to work, and they are dancing, drinking, hollering and living la vida loca at 1, 3, and 4 in the morning…too loud)

Where do I want to live?

Amt to pay: Up to $1500, but not much more, and I would love to get a 1-BR, but that may be delusional so …a large studio is ok. Are there buildings that have a normal heating/cooling system or keep it on rather than turn it off most of the day in the winter?

Features of neighborhood: 1) safe (can still walk around late at night), 2) still near activities or things to do (ie, I don’t want to ride a subway or boat for an hour to go to a play), 3) can still get to UES within 30 minutes/45 minutes 4) easy to bike (the highway is not surrounding me on all sides)

Not essential: I freelance and work from home – subway is not essential but makes things easy in the winter.

I like Manhattan, but I am open to Brooklyn and Queens as long as I am not commuting for an hour.

Do I include the unemployed roommate on the apartment application?

Julnyes — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:43:31 -0800

I am planning on moving in with two of my sisters. One of them lost her job and has been unemployed for the past few months. Should we include her on the apartment application / lease? We will be able to cover the rent for the apartments we are looking at without her financially contributing, so should we just not put her on the application? I don't want to defraud anyone, but I also don't want her unemployment being a determining factor when we apply for apartments.

Everything I have seen online is about kicking out an unemployed roommate, not moving in with someone unemployed or very newly employed.

We are in New York City (Brooklyn specifically) if that matters. I am worried about some scenario wherein her not being on the lease could lead to us being evicted or her not having access to the apartment, etc.. does this happen?

It's too darn hot. How to cool off my studio apartment?

lsemel — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:25:33 -0800

How can I cool off my NY studio apartment this summer? Our building has central air conditioning, and while it's cold enough when I sit right next to the unit, the rest of the apartment gets boiling hot. During today's heat wave, when it was 82 outside, a thermometer sitting on the unit read 70 degrees. On the other side of the room, it was more like 75, and on the other side of of the apartment, almost 80. The building doesn't allow window air conditioners. This is making living here really uncomfortable -- what else can I do to cool this place off? I've been putting up with hot, stuffy summer air in my apartment long enough. I want to do anything and everything I can to cool the place down this year. The heat wave of the last few days reminded me once again how uncomfortable it can get.

Here's a plan that's similar to my apartment. (Unlike the apartment depicted, I don't have the main area divided into two rooms.) The central A/C is to the right, underneath the window. This unit has cold water pumped to it, and cools the room by blowing air over the cold water pipes. The window is south-facing, as wide as the entire wall, and extends all the way up to the ceiling,. Today, when it was around 82 degrees out, a thermometer sitting on the unit reads 70 degrees. On the other side of the room, it'll read more like 75, and in the bathroom or kitchen, or by the front door, almost 80. I have a Vornado fan underneath the air conditioner blowing upwards.

The building won't allow a window air conditioner to be installed. Last year I tried getting a portable air conditioner (this model) but it had absolutely no effect whatsoever, even after running it for days.

What else can I do to keep things cooler in this apartment? More fans? Install a ceiling fan? Replace all my inefficient, heat-emitting incandescent light bulbs? Any ideas would be appreciated!

The recession slashed 200 dollars off new apartment rentals, so now I want to renegotiate my existing contract and avoid the increase that's set for next month.

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:55:17 -0800

As contractually agreed by me one year ago, my NYC apartment rent is going up 9% starting next month - from $2,250 to $2,450. But today I found out that, because of the recession, an apartment like mine is now going for $2,050. And now I want to renegotiate. How do I do that? Yes, I signed it. I knew the increase was coming, but the recession is starting to hit home and, since apparently it's already hit the rental office, I want to renegotiate my contract and not pay 400 dollars more than the guy who just moved in above me.

I decided to check on the current rates because there's been talk around the building about vacancies being up. As it turns out, they must be. I anonymously called the rental office and they told me that a unit with my floorplan is going for 200 dollars less than 12 months ago. (I don't think that changes depending on floor because I remember looking at units on different floors and the rates were the same.)

The building is rental only and run by a large property management company. There are several hundreds apartments in more than one tower. The neighborhood's rental vacancy rate has been among the highest in Manhattan.

There's a pretty large fine if I break the contract so I am not about to move out to a cheaper place, and I may or may not consider that if they don't negotiate with me. For now, I just want to find a way to use the market situation, their vacancies being up and their rent prices being down as leverage to postpone increase on my rent. I'm not even saying go down so I pay the same as a new resident (or should I say that?) I just don't want the increase at this point.

Am I being unethical? While I was prepared for the increase, I am like everyone else starting to feel the recession bite. No more dining out, no more cabs. So I can afford it in theory, but the increase will absolutely make things more difficult for me. Should they "care"? Would they, if I pointed this out?

What arguments should I use to avoid the contractual increase? And will this ever happen?

Shady Broker Situation

theseampsgoto11 — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:15:22 -0800

My broker is trying to charge another fee to put someone new on the lease for the NYC apt. we've been living in for 3 years. Is this legal? Do I have any recourse? Brief backstory: About 3+ years ago, two friends paid a broker's fee and signed the lease on an apartment in Manhattan. One moved out and I sublet (legally) for a few months. Eventually, we added my name to the lease. I didn't pay a broker's fee, just $100 or so for a credit check.

Now my roommate is moving out and I found someone new to move in. Our broker is trying to charge this new guy a broker's fee for the new lease, even though I did the work. Is this legal? Do I have any options other than losing the apartment?

I'd appreciate any help - thanks!

Where is Safe, Affordable Housing in Brooklyn?

chinese_fashion — Thu, 24 May 2007 08:38:11 -0800

I need to find an apartment in New York City, quickly, moving from Adams-Morgan in DC. I am looking to live in Brooklyn somewhere, maybe along the L train or the J/M/Z. Apart from Williamsburg hipster haven, can any of you recommend areas that are some combination of affordable and safe? I'd prefer to live alone, but will consider roommates, if that helps.

Any suggestions on apartment hunting in NYC in general are much appreciated as well.

I'm selling my apartment for the first time!

TwilightKid — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:46:52 -0800

I own a one bedroom co-op in NYC. (West village - St. marks Place Area / NYU). I am looking to sell my place after being here almost 6 years. This is my first experience in selling, as it was also the first place I bought. Looking for tips in what to do actually. (more inside) I bought my place through Corcoran, who are big in NYC. I made initial contact with the woman who handled me when I bought the place. Should I get multiple real estate companies involved? I know I am in a good , high demand spot. I just wanna maximise my chances of getting the best price for my place. Your advice is welcomed and appreciated.

Apartment in NYC

sconbie — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 23:51:52 -0800

I want to visit NYC for a month in April/May. Any tips for short term rentals? One bed or studio apartment. I hope to be working in the Tribeca area. I live in Australia so pls assume that I know nothing about the rental process and need to start from scratch!