New York City Thread Location • Page 36

I'm curious to know what is keeping y'all in NYC during this economic meltdown? Personally, all the things I enjoyed here before 2020 are no longer enjoyable (safe), but I was wondering if maybe I'm missing out on something.

 

I mean I go to concerts or other music events all the time here that I wouldn't otherwise. I've only been here since 2021 but I love it and it's way better than long island (where I came from). I can't see myself leaving for the foreseeable future either. I think you meet more interesting and cooler people out here

 

I was born and raised in Queens. I left a few times to try living elsewhere, but there’s seriously no place like Manhattan. Especially as a live music lover, it makes it so easy to attend most shows. Also enjoy the little things like walking to the office and being able to take a random stroll through Central Park.
I’ve tried living in the suburbs, I tried living in LA, but in the end there’s just an energy in NYC that can’t be matched anywhere else.

That being said I really hate spending 30% of my income on rent for an apartment most people consider a shoe box.

 

I grew up in the middle of nowhere in the mountains, going to the grocery store/movie theater/mall was an hour drive each way, & I was surrounded by intolerant uneducated people. I'd rather struggle financially while surrounded by all types of different people in the cultural & economic hub of the world where minority groups are more accepted as they are than have a huge house & all the money in the world in the middle of nowhere. Also, I don't have to drive 3-5 hours for B & C market shows, I like having to pick between 5+ shows in a weekend

 

as someone who grew up as an army brat in various parts of the country - Brooklyn is the longest I've lived in one single location/area and it's the closest thing I can call 'home' now. I can walk to 5 different venues and 3 different breweries from my apt, I'll never leave.

 

Get this crap out of this thread. Complete FUD. Economic meltdown? Where? I'm not saying a recession isn't on the horizon, or that the economy isn't a little uncertain. But meltdown? Please.

What did you enjoy pre-covid that you feel is unsafe now? The city feels as safe as it always has to me. Within tolerance.

 

I'm from Chicago and it is similar (on a smaller scale), but with cheaper rent. Off the top of my head, the only thing BK has that Chicago doesn't is the variety of queer/trans spaces for music. I'm not saying there is no difference between the two, but compared to the other major US cities, they are similar.

lmao Relax dude. Have you ever been homeless? Do you know how hard it is, and how long it takes, to escape homelessness? The state of the economy as it is now makes it x100 times harder than it already was, and it is only going to become harder. Do you really think its safe for an immunocompromised person to get onto a bus or train full of maskless people? I know its like that everywhere now, but in a city of 9 million people, the risk is only higher.

 

it was just a question…. lol

 

You're bringing up homelessness now like it's a gotcha, when it wasn't mentioned at all previously. Homelessness is a major problem which saddens me immensely. And covid has made it worse. But it's been an issue for years, in good times and bad times. The problem is not inherently how good the economy is, but the inequality and callousness of our economic and governmental systems.

You also didn't say anything previously about immunocompromised folks. They have it real tough with everyone pretending covid is over when it isn't. But people cannot live in a bubble forever, nor can we expect everyone to wear masks forever. I still frequently wear my mask on public transit, and wish others would too. But at some point human nature and preference takes over.

 

I just can't wrap my head around how legit anyone could afford it? I grew up in the NJ suburbs, lived in upstate NY for a bit, and now Austin for the last 3 years.

I desperately miss the northeast but I keep going back to "where the hell could I live??". Upstate ny is beautiful but theres not enough work opportunities and I like to at least be 90mins from a major city...and then there's NYC which isn't even remotely feasible (and I have dogs).

How does anyone do it?

 

As a dog owner I always choose my apartments based on the proximity to dog parks. You'd be surprised how many there are in the city, especially along the east river and hudson. From that aspect its actually much easier for me to live in the city as opposed to when I lived in the suburbs.
But yes it is disgustingly expensive. On paper I have a great paying job, but rent is just so damn high that it feels like my entire paycheck goes towards rent utilities and food. It's impossible to grow your savings here. And because most landlords now refuse to rent stabilize/control, you just never know how much they're gonna jack it up at lease renewal. I renewed my lease 2 months ago and it was a 20% increase from the year prior!

And when it comes to owning, its also shitty since most building in NYC are co-ops instead of condos, which means in addition to your mortgage you're also paying an insane HOA maintenance fees, which again can increase any given year.

 

My wife and I are coming from Boston to see Ruston Kelly tomorrow night at the Webster Hall. We're staying a hotel across the street. For those you know the area, are there any good pizza places nearby where I can get a classic NY slice?

 

Artichoke on 14th street is the most famous place in the area

 

Good news you're essential the lower east side. No need to go hunting for for like :the best pizza of nyc". Definitely just Google pizzle and find one that's a decent score and boom.... solid great ny pizza.

God i miss home

 

Joe's on 14th an 3rd

 

wtf Dude, this isn't any kind of gotcha. I asked an innocent question, you took offense to it for some reason, and I explained why someone (me) is finding it hard to live there. Its good to know your feelings about on this, though.

 

Everyone stay safe out there today if you have to go outside, this is a fucking doozy

 

it’s apocalyptic out there

 

Rent lease ending soon, going from 2150 to 2450 and I definitely can't swing that. Living in this city by yourself is so hard. If anyone has any good leads in a decent area let me know lol

 

Have you tried negotiating? My fiancé and I negotiated a $400 increase to $200. Still a ton, but moving costs can be even more expensive than a rent increase. Basically we just looked for similar units in the neighborhood to argue that the increase was too high. Worth a shot even if it doesn’t work out.

Flatbush/PLG/Windsor terrace is .. somewhat?.. affordable, and we love it here! Prospect Park as a backyard is pretty cool.

 

Yeah I mean the sad thing is they could probably get that price or a little more in my area, currently have a 1br in Williamsburg a few blocks from the L train. I'm looking in those areas and maybe Astoria queens. Just really trying to avoid a broker fee and have a decent commute (hopefully 40 minutes max) when I have to go into my office near Bryant park.

And yeah I tried negotiating but they weren't having it. They whined to me about the woes of the landlord of their expenses increasing lol like I'm sure they're doing fine. I did have an in person discussion and she said maybe they could help me find a new spot in Greenpoint for around the same price now but I'd have to see. One brightside is they didn't give me any written notice so I have until 10/1 to find a place at the same rate since I'm not renewing and my lease expires end of this month.

 

That's really frustrating, sorry you're dealing with it. I unfortunately don't have any leads but I'll keep my eye out. Astoria is my favorite neighborhood in the city, if you do end up having to move, it's wonderful. I live in Jersey but very close to the city, & the longer I'm here the more I'm realizing you really do need two 6 figure incomes to be comfortable here. Which is just fucking insane. I love it here but I'm really considering Philly in the near future.

 

Yea it’s rough. I have the best teaching gig, found the love of my life, feel at home in my neighborhood. But I do not have any idea how we will afford child care in a few years if we have a kid.

 

Astoria is gonna be pretty damn pricey too, though. I'd recommend looking into Sunnyside. If you work in Bryant Park the 7 train should take you there pretty quickly.

I live on the east side, was paying 2,400 a month for a tiny 1 bedroom which I thought was extreme. But then they raised my rent to 2900. And it sounded like when my lease was gonna renew in a few months they were gonna raise it again to 3200.
I finally said fuck this and bought a place in White Plains. A huge 2 bedroom, fully renovated, and the monthly payments are less than what my rent is now lol (and thats's even with these high interest rates!). And with a 35 minute express train to Grand Central my commute to work isnt that much longer.

I love this city, but it's absurd the way they're trying to price out the middle class. Rent stabilization is a thing of the past, so you're seeing people get hit with 20% increases year after year. On already high rents. Who can prepare for that?? And don't even get me started on brokers fees. Everywhere in this county outside of NYC, the landlord pays that fee. And even then, the fee is no more than a month's rent.
Charging tenant's 20% brokers fees, then jacking the rent up to the point that they can't afford to renew, just so they have to rent a new place and pay yet another broker's fee, and on and on and on. Absurd.

 

Seconding Flatbush/PLG/Windsor terrace area. I'm in Kensington and pay just over 1800 for a rent stabilized 1 bedroom. Not "cheap" and but for the space you can get it's pretty good.