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Working downtown, but living outside Manhattan
For people that work outside the city and commute downtown, or even that have a good knowledge of the best way to work this, where would you recommend living?
I don't want to commute an hour to work every day (maybe 30, even 40 minutes), so I guess that would depend on where I'm working downtown, but I would need to be pretty close to the edge of the city to accomplish this, no?
I'll explain my situation - I'm originally from Upstate (just outside of Buffalo), I've lived in Toronto, and I'm currently working (I wouldn't call this living) in NE PA, about 2 hours from NYC.
I'm tendering offers for new contracts (IT, primarily technical writing, but not limited to), but I won't really start trying to make one work until May or June. I'm trying to get downtown, but I'll even take one that's a 30 minute drive from the city. However, if things do workout that I get a contract downtown, I don't think I'll want to live right downtown.
Hopefully I could get some of your input on where is a good place to live, as I'm not entirely familiar with Brookyln/Queens/Bronx, and the areas within them that I should avoid. I just don't want to worry about getting my ride jacked on a nightly basis, but I also don't want to break my bank every month for a one-room shack. I would like to be around $1000 monthly (inclusive), although I don't know what options that would afford me.
I love the city, and downtown would be great if it was sensible to have a vehicle there, but I just don't see that as being the case. If you can't give me a good recommendation and where to live, where not to live and why would be very helpful!
Thanks for your time everyone 
Park Slope, Brooklyn is the best place, if u ask me...most Manhattanitites (sp?) moved out and Manhattan is now filled with new jacks.
Then there is Astoria, in Queens, which is nice...primarily a Greek area but good food, safe and cheap.
I moved to CT...but to be honest CT is almost as expensive as Manhattan.
^^^ Queens is no where near Downtown nor is CT. Brooklyn is good but to find a place (all included) for $1,000 in park slope most likely isn't going to happen, you pay for how close you are to the city. Although most don't think about it Staten Island is good for Downtown, the ferry drops you off right there and tons of subways or you could walk, the ferry ride is free and about 25 minutes, or you can drive across the bridge but wioth traffic it will be long but good for coming into the city on the weekends. The other ideas are to look in NJ, the PATH is right downtown by WTC and taked you into NJ, to Hoboken and Jersey City and that's only about a 20 minute ride at the most to get to each. You will also be able to get more there...so check Brooklyn, Staten Island and NJ. Queens and the Bronx WAY TOO FAR.
Is there a particular reason you want to drive to work? I mean all the bridges/tunnels downtown are like $4 and you're gonna have to pay craploads for parking. Not only will you be spending lots of cash but you'll be wasting tons of time since it's always much slower to drive during rush hour than it is to take the subway. If you were to drive I wouldn't be surprised if your toll, gas, and parking bill came to $400/month...
Ahhhh...I wouldn't be driving into the city. If I get a contract in Manhattan, no matter where I'm living, I'll grab the subway to work.
I just don't want to live downtown, where it would cost a fortune to park my ride and it wouldn't get used very often.
Thanks for your input everyone, the more the better.
My 2 cents based on your criteria:
* Wants to live in NYC but not pay manhattan prices
* Very easy commute to downtown
* Nice cool neighborhood with stuff to do and young people
Here are my picks. I think you can find a studio in all these places for $800 / mo.
Grove Street - Jersey City - You're on the PATH to manhattan which 24 hours - very convenient.
Long Island City - 21st Street Queens bridge or 23 Street Ely Subway stations.
Queens - Sunnyside - 33rd or 40st stations off 7 train
Brooklyn - Fort Greene or Park Slope - Park Slope is very family, next to Prospect Park (like living next to Central Park but in Brooklyn 
) and is a quiet neighborhood compared to the others. If you want quiet, you may like it here.
Good luck!
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tiesto14 Manhattan is now filled with new jacks. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by kid nyce what about those that have been living here and are still living here? i'm going on 5yrs maybe that makes me a NEW JACK! NEW JACK CITY BITCHES watch yo back you gonna get twisted from my heat like BLA-BLAAAOOOWW then my heat gonna run empty and go cla-click pwned! |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by DigitalMP LMFAO...way to keep it real |
checkout New Jersery
Jersey city, Newport, Newark are only a hop skip jump and away from downtown...
Hoboken too..
| quote: |
| Originally posted by DigitalMP LMFAO...way to keep it real avikonen - thanks! when you refer to studio, are we talking 12x24 here? i used to have one - i guess it might be a super studio - but it did have a kitchen off the main room, and a bathroom off of the kitchen, and also a porch converted into a non-insulated room i used for storage. but i'd imagine for 800 it's pretty small. i'd probably go as high as 1200. who knows, i might even find a potential roommate by then, and that would make numbers fit in easier. i'm ok with "suburbs quiet", though i really like the city, but i'd have to come with a compromise on my own. my vehicle plays into that a bit. i recently started a 3-year lease, so i don't want that to go to waste. i'm ok with taking a subway into the city and only driving around on the weekends (when necessary). |
with a room-mate you can get a decent place for $2000-2400 in Hoboken.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by dcctnycprincess after looking for a place in the city this past weekend - i don't even want to know what you get for $800 - $1200 |
Cross the Bronx off your list. I live in the Bronx and I'm trying to move into Manhattan. You don't wanna move here.
When you say you'd be commuting downtown do you mean Midtown or do you really mean someplace downtown in the lower parts of Manhattan?
For Half an hour commutes or less I'd say Queens of Brooklyn.
Like the Bronx, Queens seems pretty desolate, but if you live on the N, R, W, 7 train lines (as long as you don't go too far out past Queensboro Plaza) your commute wouldn't be more than 20 or 30 minutes into Manhattan. You'd also be able to get a decent sized apartment for your money just about anywhere in Queens.
I'd try for Brooklyn first though. Williamsburg is a bit shabby at first glance but it's a safe, quiet neighborhood for the most part. 10 or 15 minute commute into Manhattan. Not much else really goin' on there.
Park Slope, Brooklyn is nice. I'm thinking about re-locating here. The area is very "Soccer Mom". Definately less of a younge people area than some places in Manhattan. This is more of an area where people go to settle down/raise kids. Great scenery, safe for the most part, quiet, really nice restaraunts, nice bars and lounges as well, and of course, apartments at higher prices. $1,200 should be able to get you something though (studio most likely). Park Slope's median income is about $53,000 a year though the area seems to reflect a bit higher salary than that. The commute would be about 30 minutes into Manhattan. I wouldn't venture any farther out into Brooklyn than that.
I wouldn't mess with commuting from other states but that's just my preferance. All the times that I've used the Path Trains to and from NJ (never during rush hour) it's been a breeze. No more than 10 minutes in transit. That's a big plus. Of course if ANYTHING goes wrong you're either stranded in Manhattan or stranded in NJ. Big minus for me. Good luck on your search.
Re: Working downtown, but living outside Manhattan
Jersey City and take the PATH in.
Otherwise, Brooklyn.
-Your Mother
| quote: |
| Originally posted by DigitalMP For people that work outside the city and commute downtown, or even that have a good knowledge of the best way to work this, where would you recommend living? I don't want to commute an hour to work every day (maybe 30, even 40 minutes), so I guess that would depend on where I'm working downtown, but I would need to be pretty close to the edge of the city to accomplish this, no? I'll explain my situation - I'm originally from Upstate (just outside of Buffalo), I've lived in Toronto, and I'm currently working (I wouldn't call this living) in NE PA, about 2 hours from NYC. I'm tendering offers for new contracts (IT, primarily technical writing, but not limited to), but I won't really start trying to make one work until May or June. I'm trying to get downtown, but I'll even take one that's a 30 minute drive from the city. However, if things do workout that I get a contract downtown, I don't think I'll want to live right downtown. Hopefully I could get some of your input on where is a good place to live, as I'm not entirely familiar with Brookyln/Queens/Bronx, and the areas within them that I should avoid. I just don't want to worry about getting my ride jacked on a nightly basis, but I also don't want to break my bank every month for a one-room shack. I would like to be around $1000 monthly (inclusive), although I don't know what options that would afford me. I love the city, and downtown would be great if it was sensible to have a vehicle there, but I just don't see that as being the case. If you can't give me a good recommendation and where to live, where not to live and why would be very helpful! Thanks for your time everyone |
+1 on the advice about jersey city...jersey city and hoboken have been getting a lot of much needed development and renovations in the area to atract commuters...more apts up for rent, more stores coming into the neighborhood, and theres always a bunch of options for getting into manhattan...bus, train or PATH (PATH is easiest into midtown)
im pretty sure you'd have a better chance of finding either A)a roomier place to live for the same amount of $$ or B)a decent place for cheaper than what you'd pay in NYC
good luck
great advice everyone...thanks again.
this put things much more into perspective!
you can contact me and i can help you find that contract job.
i am the recruiting manager at a 24m consulting firm in NJ. most of our clients are financial and pharma.
also, i would look at places like rutherford, nutley, secaucus as they are about 30 minutes by train to downtown and 10 minutes on a friday night when going to crobar, spirit, pacha, etc.
montclair is also a good area with a train that gets you to nyc in about 40 minutes.
make sure you keep your options open if you are contracting. you could get one contract downtown and then end up midtown down the line.
the beauty about jersey is that you can work in jersey, downtown, or midtown and be just as far from each.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by CosmoKid the beauty about jersey is that you can work in jersey, downtown, or midtown and be just as far from each. |
...most stores are closed on sundays, parts of it smell like something you never ever wanna come across dead or alive, and road rage is rampant (especially in the lee hotti communities 
)but its a nice after-work escape from the hectic atmosphere of nyc, and close enough to the party 
cool, i'm in the exact same boat, i think i may want to live in manhattan for a year or two but i'm not sure
either way i need to find a place to move in for July, i'll be working in midtown on 6th and 52nd
and i'll have to commute to stamford every once in a while.
Ok, I know you said outside of manhattan, but when I was looking for places, the BEST apartments are in Harlem, especially on riverside Drive, which is a nicer neighborhood with a park (where I live) Its MUCH cheaper, away from downtown, but still close near 1,2,3,a,b,c,d trains, and the neighborhoods where I live are full of columbia students, so its decently safe. Also, there has been a lot of renovating of buildings, as well as old architechture (keeping on riverside) so the apartments are REALLY nice for cheaper....also GORGEOUS view of the river and GW bridge 
Its about 15 minutes on an express to midtown, more to downtown.
(when looking in harlem tho, stay towards the river, bc central harlem is GHETTO).....
if you have to do another borough, williamsburg and astoria are nice.
Park Slope! Full of late 20's-early 30's people and young couples raising kids. Beautiful (trees! ah-ha!) and 20-30 minutes to downtown if you live near the R. Prices are a bit steeper than what you're looking for but it's worth it. Cab all the way from Crobar is only $15-17 for those too-drunk-to-ride-the-subway nights.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Miss Bliss Park Slope! Full of late 20's-early 30's people and young couples raising kids. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by dcctnycprincess those ppl are my nightmare j/k of course! |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by kid nyce instead she picked a lavish upper east side corner view condo - did i mention UES breeds "old money" lol........ don't kill me hahah WESTSIIIIDDEE!! |
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