I visited NYC for the first time ever a few weeks ago...

[Knucklehead]

I was born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn and Queens.Back when I was younger, you could actually afford to live in the neighborhood you grew up in..Fast foward twenty years and all those ''working class'' neighborhoods have been devoured by yuppie,hipster and web designer scum who have displaced lifelong residents who couldn't afford to stay when the rents tripled.

My old neighborhood in Park Slope is a perfect example.Back in the 80's it was an ok place to live, nothing too fancy.Regular people.The last time I was drinking in the neighborhood,I was challenged to find ANYONE in the bar that had grew up within a thousand miles of the place.I guess they were ok people and all,but to me,they have totally changed the character of the neighborhood.They have their own language,codes and customs that are foreign to me..They always talk all this shit that always seems to have the letters 're'' in front of it.They are always ''re gentrifying'' neighborhoods.(code for throwing out poor people." or ''re storing something or re habilitating something.Most of them are pretensious fucks that you just wanna throw down a flight of stairs.

Anyways, it is what it is. Good luck finding a place for 1,200 or 1,400 a month.That might get you a studio or one bedroom.You might be able to make that work with a roomie,but it's gonna be tight.If you want your own bedroom, you might luck out in Queens somewhere.

Avoid Bushwick,it's a ghetto,one of the worst in the city.Likewise most of Harlem.But hell,I tricked with a white guy that lived in Harlem.I thought he was kidding me at first,but he wasn't.I never thought I'd be walking around 125 th street,but there I was.What I wont do to get laid.I wouldn't have gone near it 20 years ago.

That said,I don't want to discourage you.You're young, educated.The city is changing.You might just do well there.Give it a shot.I can understand why you love it.For all the nonsense you put up with there,there really is no place like it.

 

[Knucklehead]

Rent for 600/700? You're not going to find anything in a good neighborhood for that cheap, trust me.

Also, before you decide to move(if that is your decision), please please please visit some more times.

This city is tough.. and it's very very tough to live here unless you're made of money or unless you have a support system.

The past 2 years I've seen more kids(young adults) homeless on the street. It's really sad.

Plus, you're going to meet A LOT of rude people here and you will meet A LOT of nice people here. But you have to be able to handle a lot of assholes. You have to be able to handle the pace..the prices(everything is more expensive here).

It's also VERY impersonal here.... people won't treat you like a tourist once you move here. If you can find your own niche, that's great...having a comfort zone allows you to find a group of friends and a welcome community. Maybe try to make a few friends before moving(again if you decide to do that) b/c the city can be a cold place.

There are a bunch of New Yorkers here on JUB. I know a bit about the ins and outs of the city, maybe not as much as other people but I'd be glad to help with any info I can provide.

Great post and even better advise.

I FINALLY got to go there last summer -- and had the AWESOME opportunity to have knucklehead (a native New Yorker) give me the grand tour...

It didn't take long to fall in LOVE with the city...

What a FANTASTIC TOWN -- I would encourage you to continue looking at your options -- and I DOUBT it would take you long to make GREAT friends up there...

Best of luck...

Yes,too bad you didn't have your walking shoes on, cause thats the only way to really see the city.

I got sober right after that visit.Next time you come up, we'll hit Modell's and I'll buy you a good pair of walking shoes and make sure you see more than the bars in the East Village..

 

[Knucklehead]

Btw, Harlem is getting gentrified. On the west side you're pretty safe if you're smart all the way up to the 160s near Broadway on the west side. Rent is a bitch though with hipsters, yuppies and Columbia University students driving up rent.

Now central harlem and east Harlem are a different story.

Yeah, that's what I hear.I just never really had any reason to go up there.I went to Central Park for the first time in my life about two years ago.I was always happy with Prospect Park in Brooklyn and never understood what the hell was so special about Central Park. The same for the Statue of Liberty.I saw it almost every day from the F train, but never took the boat to Liberty Island until I was almost 40.

I moved out to Pennsyvania last June.I spend $450.00 a month in rent here.It's cheap as hell out here.

If I wanna get back to the city once in a while,I'm about 2 and half hours out.It's not as cool as the City, but it works.

They way New Yorkers are coming out here, I guess it won't be long till I'll be paying retarded rents again.

 

[bankside]

I'm glad you enjoyed New York, but I have to say my experience in Québec has been totally the opposite.

French is my second language, but when I was there on business, everybody helped me along, didn't mind my mistakes, and made sure I was invited out to dinner & drinks with everybody after work. It was a blast, and I felt totally at home, because I wasn't expecting anything different.

I bet if I went to New York with the same attitude, I could find the same reception there, even though New York is not my culture, etc.

 

[saymyname]

Where in PA are you? Pittsburgh? Philly?

I get what you are saying about gentrified neighborhoods. That sucks. But don't you think those regular people moved somewhere? That's my point. There will always be somewhere working class, affordable. Glad to hear it's going down in other boroughs.

Why did you call Bushwick a ghetto? It didn't seem to bad to me. We were close to the Morgan stop. It's really dispersed but it didn't seem dangerous.

 

[saymyname]

I'm glad you enjoyed New York, but I have to say my experience in Québec has been totally the opposite.

French is my second language, but when I was there on business, everybody helped me along, didn't mind my mistakes, and made sure I was invited out to dinner & drinks with everybody after work. It was a blast, and I felt totally at home, because I wasn't expecting anything different.

I bet if I went to New York with the same attitude, I could find the same reception there, even though New York is not my culture, etc.

Montreal is wonderful, don't get me wrong. A great city. I've been in love with it for a few years now. Maybe it was a rash thing to say. It just seems smug compared to New York. People in NY, in bars and cafes, just seemed friendlier. Montreal seems a bit... well, snobby, by comparison. But maybe it's because everyone we met was exited to meet someone from MTL or something.

 

[Knucklehead]

Where in PA are you? Pittsburgh? Philly?

I get what you are saying about gentrified neighborhoods. That sucks. But don't you think those regular people moved somewhere? That's my point. There will always be somewhere working class, affordable. Glad to hear it's going down in other boroughs.

Why did you call Bushwick a ghetto? It didn't seem to bad to me. We were close to the Morgan stop. It's really dispersed but it didn't seem dangerous.

I'm in Northeast Pa, near Wilkes Barre.

Sure the ''regular people''moved somewhere.Probably in with family or out of state or up to Yonkers or something.Who knows? Bloomburg sure doesn't give a shit.He wants to bulldoze the whole city and build luxury apartments.

But we got ours.My grandmothers house in Park Slope just sold for over $500.000. I wouldn't have given you 50,000 grand for the place.It was a tiny cramped old place that was sweltering in the summertime. She paid $8,000 for the place back when Roosevelt was President.That money will no doubt make my Dad and Stepmoms final years a hell of a lot more comfortable as they live out their retirement in Ocean County New Jersey.

I call Bushwick a ghetto because that is my memory of the place.Back in the 70's, while my mom and dad were having some marital problems, my mother dragged us to that shithole.We spent two years there on Bushwick Avenue and Aberdeen Street right off the LL train.

The neighborhood was horrible.Fires all the time and all kinds of terrible shit happening to people.I will say, that for the only white people on the block, we didn't have many problems.Most people just looked confused when they seen us.Like what the fuck are we doing there type of look.Still, it was a dangerous place and we werent allowed to run the streets like we did back in Park Slope or out in Queens.

Anyways,from the roof of our apartment building,I watched the neighborhood burn damn near to the ground during the blackout of '77. I never understood why people there looted and burned out the stores in the neighborhood just because the fucking lights went out.It made no sense and just made a bad place even worse.

Finally, we got the fuck out of there and went back to Park Slope.I couldn't have been happier.We got out of there before crack.I'm sure crack just did wonders for that place.

I havent stepped foot in Bushwick in over 25 years though.To me, that place never looked as good as it did in the rear view mirror.

Normally,I oppose gentrification.I think it destoys neighborhoods.Just because yuppies dont like commuting, they buy up everything and turn into a theme park for their adopted Chinese babies.But in the case of Bushwick, unless things have changed drastically, I don't think gentrifying would make that place livable.I would start with carpet bombing the place.

 

[bankside]

How much money do you have to make to be a yuppie these days?

If I can afford to renovate my house, and get a Chinese baby, I'll be happy. I want to know how much to aim for.

 

[Knucklehead]

How much money do you have to make to be a yuppie these days?

If I can afford to renovate my house, and get a Chinese baby, I'll be happy. I want to know how much to aim for.

This might give you a baseline...

http://newyork.craigslist.org/abo/

 

[Darkflower]

Every time I see this thread I hear Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

 

[80KGold]

I love New York City, especially Manhattan. The guys there let me look at them; they don't even give a shit. Here in Texas (depending on the neighborhood), I have to be ready to fight if I ogle a guy.

 

[Red Storm]

Not sure...I last checked two years ago when my dumbass decided to stay in Toronto.

Having been in all 3, I would say toronto and Vancouver are the most expensive if you want to live downtown, then Montreal.

 

[saymyname]

^ Try San Francisco or Vancouver. The guys there won't give a shit either.

Same for Montreal... Montreal is really gay friendly.

Not sure if living in downtown Van would be more expensive than downtown Montreal... it's tough to say. Montreal is bigger (and better ) though.

For the talk about Bushwick - it's not fair to talk about how it was in the 70's and then the crack epidemic, dude. The general opinion, I think, is that things have gotten a lot better: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushwick lower in the article: "state and local government funded revitalization"

 

[Knucklehead]

For the talk about Bushwick - it's not fair to talk about how it was in the 70's and then the crack epidemic, dude. The general opinion, I think, is that things have gotten a lot better: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushwick lower in the article: "state and local government funded revitalization"

Good thing I really don't give a flying fuck about the ''general opinion'' of most people.Especially people that never lived in that place.

Also, please don't tell me shit about RE vitatalization.I know what yuppies have in mind when they RE vitalize, or RE habilitate ,or RE gentrify or Re store a home or neighborhood.When they finally set their targets on Bushwick, the current residents will have to RE settle somewhere else.That's how that shit works.

Let's not pretend that any of the RE anything thing they do has shit to do with the current residents,because it doesn't.All they're trying to do is make the place safe enough so the first band of settlers doesn't get killed or burned alive in their apartments.These ''settlers'' will buy up the Brownstones and houses for pennies on the dollar and RE store them, and the cycle begins again little by little.Gone are the neighborhood stores, in come sushi shops,doggie spas and brocolli on pizza.

I wonder where the poor people are going to live when the yuppies,and hipster scum have bought up every neighborhood? Where will the people that look after their adopted Chinese babies live?

The last thing they will hear as they load up the U haul bound for Newark will be,''Show me the money, or I'll show you the door.''

 

[saymyname]

Good thing I really don't give a flying fuck about the ''general opinion'' of most people.Especially people that never lived in that place.

Also, please don't tell me shit about RE vitatalization.I know what yuppies have in mind when they RE vitalize, or RE habilitate ,or RE gentrify or Re store a home or neighborhood.When they finally set their targets on Bushwick, the current residents will have to RE settle somewhere else.That's how that shit works.

Let's not pretend that any of the RE anything thing they do has shit to do with the current residents,because it doesn't.All they're trying to do is make the place safe enough so the first band of settlers doesn't get killed or burned alive in their apartments.These ''settlers'' will buy up the Brownstones and houses for pennies on the dollar and RE store them, and the cycle begins again little by little.Gone are the neighborhood stores, in come sushi shops,doggie spas and brocolli on pizza.

I wonder where the poor people are going to live when the yuppies,and hipster scum have bought up every neighborhood? Where will the people that look after their adopted Chinese babies live?

The last thing they will hear as they load up the U haul bound for Newark will be,''Show me the money, or I'll show you the door.''

Dude, I'm sure it's not personal, but you sound like such an angry person. You're talking about how bad a 'hood is based on how it was during the 70's and then the crack epidemic. You could say the same thing about hundreds of cities and hundreds of neighborhoods but then things change now that it's a good 40 years later. First you say it's a shithole and that no one should want to live there, I bring up how it's not that bad anymore and the rents are cheaper, and then you go on to defend the 'working class' people there (even though your previous sentiment was just that it is shit and that no one in their right mind would want to live there anyways). So it's like I can't win with you. The place isn't even that gentrified. If you don't give a fuck about the general opinion, then you clearly only give a fuck about your opinion and your very dated experience, so peace.

 

[saymyname]

Thanks. I'd appreciate that. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you - as long as it is relatively safe if you mind your business, I'm fine. It's not like I haven't been sketched out in this city dozens of times.

 

[erobert]

Btw, there's also a message board about this kind of stuff for New York. A close friend used to frequent it when he lived in New York and was interested in Urban Planning.

If I can get it from him, I'll send you a link in a PM. They'll probably be able to give good advice since it's full of people who are interested in neighborhoods, urban planning, architecture, etc.

Majoring in urban planning also. There's the City Data forums, Wired New York forums and finally the Yelp NYC boards. (I do my fair share of NY forum browsing)

As for Bushwick Knucklehead is right, that neighborhood is still not that safe for non-natives to live in. My aunt lived in East New York nearby and I wouldn't live there. I feel bad for out-of-stater's who were conned into buying or renting in areas of the city that can be dangerous during the real estate boom. (Well, sort of) Do your homework areas before you move. BTW, which area are you looking to move to?

Make friends or contacts in the city, people can be lonely despite having millions of people around them all the time. I'm glad I have family and the internet.

Also, forgot to add read the Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York. Despite the silly title you can find some good tips to save money in there.

 

[Knucklehead]

Dude, I'm sure it's not personal, but you sound like such an angry person. You're talking about how bad a 'hood is based on how it was during the 70's and then the crack epidemic. You could say the same thing about hundreds of cities and hundreds of neighborhoods but then things change now that it's a good 40 years later. First you say it's a shithole and that no one should want to live there, I bring up how it's not that bad anymore and the rents are cheaper, and then you go on to defend the 'working class' people there (even though your previous sentiment was just that it is shit and that no one in their right mind would want to live there anyways). So it's like I can't win with you. The place isn't even that gentrified. If you don't give a fuck about the general opinion, then you clearly only give a fuck about your opinion and your very dated experience, so peace.

Sorry man.I guess I came off like a dick with you.I apologize. It's nothing personal with you.

I really am trying to be helpful,but I can see where you're from and how you might take what I'm saying. The point I'm getting at,and Lucky is saying it a lot better than I am,is that it's all a matter of what your willing to tolerate to live there. What are you looking for type of thing..

Myself, my bullshit threshold has eroded considerably over the years.After bouncing around the country a bit ,I can't see putting up with a lot of the hassles a person puts up with everyday in NY.Then there's the other part of me that has some deranged kind of loyalty to SOME of the places where I grew up.It's hard to explain and probably wouldn't make much sense even if I could find the words to attempt it..

Anyways, I was just trying to steer you from what I remember as a pretty bad neighborhood.You've been there recently.I haven't .I still wouldn't want to live there again.(Bushwick).If you're comfortable there,thats all that matters.My thoughts on the changes I've seen have shit to do with what you have in mind..

Good luck to you and I hope it works out for you.

 

[saymyname]

Whoops. I missed out on this thread for a while.
I have to say, I live Uptown Manhattan in Washington Heights and I'm paying $750. I have lived here three months with different roommates and no one has shot at us or attempted to mug us, (yet!) Yes, I have a roommate, but my apartment is decent sized. My bedroom is bigger than the bedroom I grew up in Texas, and I love the building I live in.

I also have friends living in Bushwick and Harlem, and occasionally I hear a "friend of a friend" story. I personally only know two people who have been mugged. One was in the Bronx, the other was leaving the opera at lincoln center. Yes, it can happen anywhere... But if crime is really an issue, look up statistics. NYC is listed as a lot safer than many other American cities.

If you want to move here, I say do it. Yes, it will suck for a while, and living here is never exactly convenient. But if you love the city, you love the city.

Lucky7 is right- it's all about what you are willing to put up with. I have a friend who pays around $1600 a month for an Upper East Side studio. It's her money, and she can spend it how she wants, but I really don't think being a 23 year old girl in an apartment that expensive is really practical. Especially when it is that cramped.

Good to hear from someone paying a cheaper rent. What kind of stuff have you heard about in terms of mugging? Is it just a stick up, or are they violent?

I mean, that doesn't really put me off. That's the kind of risk you take living in a big city.

 

[saymyname]

He meant what he had personally heard of. Which is what my question was.