My son just accepted a position in New York when he graduates in May. Obviously, he will be networking
with friends to find recent grads in similar spots but was wondering if anyone had any other ideas on finding roommates
Recommendations for nice areas to live or certain apartment buildings etc would be appreciated
Thanks
He would be much better off in Hoboken than lower Manhattan. I am a native of the area and would never live down there. Despite efforts to make it more residential it simply isn’t. The only argument to live down there would be very late hours.
Where exactly will his office be?
The nice areas to live would be the east/west village, SOHO, Chelsea, Grammercy Park, Union Square but they are extremely pricey. A minimum of $3,500 a month with many much more for a two bedroom. Something a parent would consider reasonablly inhabitable far more.
Recommending a specific building is hard. Many times the company can help out with recommendations.
6th avenue and 42 nd st
If he’s going to work in midtown, why would he want to be near Wall Street?
I second the Hoboken/Jersey City suggestion.
What is the potential budget?
I apologize, as I do not know New York at all
He is hoping to find two others in a similar situation to split the rent
Just trying to get some ideas on areas for him to look
will tell him Hoboken but I know he will work late hours so not sure about the ease of transportation there
thanks
That location is the Bank America building on the park most likely. He could live in Hoboken and take the bus. Hoboken is fantastic, not cheap but the value is much better and the cost considerably lower.
That area where the office is not residential except as you go west but the neighborhoods are not great. One street over is Times Square. There are some decent apartment buildings up in the 50s below Central Park on 6th and West of 6th that are OK.
There are lots of apartment buildings on the east side of Park Avenue from the 20s up to grand central, Grammercy/Kips Bay should be cheaper. It’s nice in that area.
Wall Street is downtown and isn’t the most residential-friendly area, although it’s improved in the last decade.
42nd Street and Sixth Avenue (which is near where I work) is not the least residential. Hell’s Kitchen is close and there are parts of midtown, particularly west, which could work well. Hoboken and Jersey City are a snap on the PATH and the rents are reasonable - insofar as rents in this area ever are.
Hoboken is like college all over again and incredibley well policed.
East 30’s would be a quick commute to 42nd and 6th and the rents in that neighborhood are generally cheaper than more trendy neighborhoods. UWS by subway is also a quick commute and rents there while high are more reasonable than the village, Soho, Chelsea, Meatpacking etc.
I disagree with the posters nay saying downtown. That neighborhood has changed dramatically and is full of great rentals, restaurants, shopping, a great park etc. It used to clear out after the work day ended, but is now vibrant and a neighborhood of choice for many, especially families. The opening of Freedom Tower, the new Path station and Brookfield Place mall have added much to the neighborhood
Look on Craigslist and on his college’s alumni Facebook page, if there is one.
My daughters live in Brooklyn (not together); one works in the financial district and the other will be working near the West Village. So far, commuting for the one who’s already working has been going okay.
It would be easier to get to Hoboken from the west side of Manhattan where his office is than many of the traditional residential neighborhoods in Manhattan, even late.
The subway is time consuming across town. Like I said above say 45th street to Central Park west of 6th there are apartments that are fairly close and walkable.
I can tell you from experience that many kids will spend more than 50% of take home just on rent in Manhattan, even with a roommate.
@wisteria100 The east 30s would be Rose Hill or Kips Bay. Apartments are less there as I said but a decent 2 bedroom is about $4,000 a month to split of course. You are talking 3rd avenue and east.
That would be a good area to live.
I appreciate everyone’s help . Not being familiar with the area makes it even more problematic
Would be much easier if he was in philly
Please continue with your helpful hints Do people take cabs from their office to Path station if living in Hoboken to go home?
Every young person I know lives in Brooklyn!
From that part of town you would take the bus to Hoboken. At night there is no traffic. It is fast. The Path station ends at 33rd street. By the time he got there he would be through the Lincoln Tunnel on the bus. Most of Hoboken nowadays are people like your son and increasingly young marrieds with kids.
If he wants a walkable commute the east 30s are fine. Just have him Google Kips Bay apartments.
If he doesn’t mind an older apartment then the east 30s are fine. Just south of there is primo NY night life. There is no part of Manhattan that you need worry about in terms of safety. Seriously.
@compmom True but the trip from Brooklyn to the west side near times square is a good hour.
I live in a New York suburb and many kids in my town who have graduated and are back for work are living on the east side…midtown and also to save on rent, up into the east 90s. Another good option is living near Columbia.
So here’s one near Columbia, which is a fun place to live when you’re in your 20s -and it’s reasonable for NYC as long as he finds a roommate:
http://streeteasy.com/building/1268-amsterdam-avenue-new_york/4c?featured=1
My dd moved works in union square and lives in Brooklyn. She says it is 15 min subway ride.
She must live in North Brooklyn and take the L train. To get to this kids office would require a subway change. That part of Brooklyn is closer though. That would be near Williamsburg.