Should I move to Harlem, Wash Heights, Inwood, or, uh *SoBro*

But shit, I never even been to NY.

Also, SoBros before SoHos, amirite?

I had thought I really wanted to move to Inwood, because it's so pretty and kind-of strange, but when I actually started looking at places up there, I decided against it. It seemed like very little was open at night and that there were only a few places to eat. The buildings I looked in were all beautiful from the outside, but really dark and lonely inside. But it's probably still worth looking at places up there, especially if you want a lot of space.

off topic but when is gentrification gonna come to the Grand Concourse? those buildings rule!

it's totally already started.

Washington Heights is probably the 'nicest', but would Inwood be more interesting?

http://glob.anewyorkthing.com/wp-content/photos/plastic3.jpg

-- paresthesia hilton (jb...), December 7th, 2006.

Are you taking a shot at me?

this, exactally, in the atlatic terminal Mall too.

FROM THE GW BRIDGE????

bliss is right, btw, depending on what part of Bronx your lady works in it could be either reeeaaally easy from Washington Heights or a huge pain in the ass. Get one subway map, I'm assuming you know where the GW Bridge is, and pin-point from there. None of these neighborhoods are expensive. Nor will you get your fucking windows smashed in every week but I think jbr has already taken shots at you so I'll keep my mouth psuedo-shut.

well, gentrification of the south bronx has already been mentioned in the times, so i guess that it's a matter of time b4 the hipsters, the yupsters, and whatevahs show up.

agreed about those grand concourse buildings, they're sweet!

xp

aw i was just teasing

bliss is right, btw, depending on what part of Bronx your lady works in it could be either reeeaaally easy from Washington Heights or a huge pain in the ass. Get one subway map, I'm assuming you know where the GW Bridge is, and pin-point from there. None of these neighborhoods are expensive. Nor will you get your fucking windows smashed in every week but I think jbr has already taken shots at you so I'll keep my mouth psuedo-shut.

-- Allyzay is cool: with Blue n White, with Eli Manning, with NY Giants (garance8...), December 7th, 2006.

My wife teaches in the Fordham area and her school is along the D line, which might be a good reason for Harlem.

I've lived in a few sketchy places before so it's not like I'm cowering in fear of crime here (there are plenty of muggings, window-smashings, etc. in downtown Jersey City) - the comment was only in reference to the South Bronx. I'm still a little skeptical about the gentrification there even though I've read the Times coverage and whatnot. I'd certainly sacrifice some safety and quietness for an interesting neighborhood with good food and things to do - I didn't mean to make it sound like I want suburban living in the city.

my gentrification sweet spot - a few good restaurants around, but before the baby and pet stores. ft greene has gone way deep into the baby/pet store phase and is moving on to whatever comes next. i still like it tho - def couldn't afford to get a place here @ market prices.

xp

That gets overturned in places where people are both upstanding AND poor, though, Hurts. I eavesdropped on a bus convo once between an older man & woman, both longtime residents, about the fact that all the new apts going up in Prospect/Crown Heights would only be affordable to "working people", ie whites with white-collar jobs. (The term "working people" was repeated several times with particular emphasis.) They shook their heads sadly and sucked their teeth over it but what can you do?

http://web.archive.org/web/20060221203340/http://www.mediumheat.com/odds/toddp.htm

TP: ...The cops, on the other hand, have these mixed feelings of on one end purely trying to push people out and raise real estate prices. And there's actually corruption going on where they harass people to clear the area. But I would say that's the minor motivation. The more important one is that there's actually this attitude that what they're doing is actually fighting gentrification. So they feel that what they're doing is protecting the old-timers.

JM: From young white kids?

I think it makes pretty good sense - the cops wanting to on one hand clear out all the "bad people" (poor) but protect "their people" (working class/middle class)

Plus I just realized there's a Fairway in Harlem. I think the decision is made.

The market up there isn't all insane like most of Manhattan - everyone was laid back about credit checks and none of the people even needed to hear back from us the same day.

East Harlem (6 line) seems like it might be a better value at this point, not to mention good Latin American food. I sure would like to be near that Fairway though. And damn, I must say that Dinosaur BBQ (across the street) is fantastic.

We had back luck with these situations

take the 7 to D.

Take the triborough to drive to Bronx or GW Bridge.

10 minute drive to Grand Concourse/Fordham

Also, what is yr guys's take on paying the broker fee for supposedly better apartments vs. that's bullshit just use craigslist?

we had a broker who showed up our apt. He was very rude and frustrating. We found the ad on craigslist. We went back to apt and saw it again. Super didn't recognize us from when broker showed it. We took apt, minus broker fee, after much debating of ethics. Upon signing of lease, manager says "so you found apt through craigslist? That's the best way...most brokers these days just show you the same apts that management companies/owners are advertising themselves...."