Anyone live in NYC?

[justhat]

Well we live in DC but could be moving to NYC in the next year so we've been researching it a lot, plus living in a city now helps us figure things out. Personally, I love living in the city and am not looking forward to moving to the suburbs if we go anywhere other than NYC (or stay here in DC). It's so convenient to be able to walk to whatever you want, take the metro (or subway in your case), etc. It works out really well for us, and when I want to give my daughter some time to play in the grass, we walk a few blocks to the park/playground and she can run around to her heart's content. We're having another child in August and if we can stay in the city we will.

The one thing I'd look into though in your case is the price of the apts you're looking at. Here in DC the apts we've looked at (all 2 bedrooms) are $3000 at a minimum (most around $3400) and I'm pretty sure NYC is more expensive than DC. That price is for a place approximately 1100-1300 square feet, with a/c, a dishwasher, washer/dryer in unit, and parking (which in most cases is an additional $250/month). Those are necessities for us to have, though I guess I could do without the dishwasher if I had to, but with 2 young kids no way could I go to a laundromat all the time.

Aside from that, I think you've got everything planned out and it sounds like a good fit for you.

 

[clori]

My husband was born and raised in Manhatten. He moved after graduating college. He lived on 52nd/1st East and I believe he said it is midtown area. I know I can walk from his father's apartment (same one) to Rockerfeller Center. I don't know much about NYC schools. Dh went to Hunter College Elemantary/High school which is a public test magnet school. He graduated with honors from Columbia University. His brother attended the same schools/college. We currently live in the Boston area closer to the suburbs. I have asked dh if he found it strange to have to go to Central Park to run on grass etc and he said he never thought about it since he only really knew city life. If we knew we could get the schools into good schools and dh's job moved to Manhatten dh would love to live there again but we probably couldn't afford the rent. I would move there if we had to but I would have trouble with the crowds and I always laugh at the narrow grocery store aisles. Dh didn't get his license until his senior year of college. His brother still lives in Manhatten has no desire to drive. When fil (mil deceased) or sil want to go out of the city they rent a car since it is much cheaper than owning a car in Manhatten. I know dh learned to swim at the ymca, took some music lessons etc same as if he grew up in the suburbs. His favorite playground was at the United Nations but it is no longer open to the public. His brother (mid 30s) and wife are planning on trying to have a baby soon and will be raising the baby in Manhatten. Sil already says the baby will be going to Hunter. I would just look at rental prices in the area you want and see if $3000 is a realistic price or not. Dh's father is in a rent stabilized apartment or something like that but I don't think you can do that anymore.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

My husband was born and raised in Manhatten. He moved after graduating college. He lived on 52nd/1st East and I believe he said it is midtown area. I know I can walk from his father's apartment (same one) to Rockerfeller Center. I don't know much about NYC schools. Dh went to Hunter College Elemantary/High school which is a public test magnet school. He graduated with honors from Columbia University. His brother attended the same schools/college. We currently live in the Boston area closer to the suburbs. I have asked dh if he found it strange to have to go to Central Park to run on grass etc and he said he never thought about it since he only really knew city life. If we knew we could get the schools into good schools and dh's job moved to Manhatten dh would love to live there again but we probably couldn't afford the rent. I would move there if we had to but I would have trouble with the crowds and I always laugh at the narrow grocery store aisles. Dh didn't get his license until his senior year of college. His brother still lives in Manhatten has no desire to drive. When fil (mil deceased) or sil want to go out of the city they rent a car since it is much cheaper than owning a car in Manhatten. I know dh learned to swim at the ymca, took some music lessons etc same as if he grew up in the suburbs. His favorite playground was at the United Nations but it is no longer open to the public. His brother (mid 30s) and wife are planning on trying to have a baby soon and will be raising the baby in Manhatten. Sil already says the baby will be going to Hunter. I would just look at rental prices in the area you want and see if $3000 is a realistic price or not. Dh's father is in a rent stabilized apartment or something like that but I don't think you can do that anymore.

Columbia is an incredible school and has a fantasic campus. I can only hope that one day my daughter has the opportunity to study there. Unfortunately, the day that a Coumbia honors grad can't afford to pay Manhtan real estate prices is the day I know that the economy is not going as well as has been advertised. Hang in there, with that pedegree, you'll be able to live anywhere you like eventually!!

 

[frndshpcptn]

I live in the city - Murray Hill area.

There are a TON of families in my builiding. We have a park right in the neighborhood and a swimming pool in our rooftop gym that offers kiddie classes.

I think its doable if you have the $$.

 

[manhattan]

I was born and raised in Midtown, first in Chelsea and then the Garment District. I absolutely loved growing up in the city. I loved being able to do all the things that NY is known for. I have great memories of doing silly things around Madison Square Garden, or running up and down the front stairs of the main post office on 8th Avenue. Or during the summer going to one of the parks and just running around the sprinklers. I only went to PS 33 for a few years before moving to NJ, but always went back into the city. As a parent, I would try to do the same things with my children. Nothing to do on a Saturday, well let's hop on the bus go into the city and walk around, or go to Central Park, the Bronx Zoo, or just walk around and have a nice lunch. I would love to be able to afford to live in NYC (my father still has his apt, but its a one bedroom ) but for now we are in South Florida due to work. But the way the South Florida real estate market is heading, living in NYC may be cheaper in a year or too! LOL!! I say go for it!

 

[SleepyatDVC]

DH won't use public transportation. If he doesn't live in Manhattan, he has to drive to work because of his job. He is claustrophobic and won't go on trains, planes, elevators. No offense, but we would not go to Westchester, I'll just leave it at that. The other option I was talking about, where the housing prices are crazy is Rockland county, where we lived before. DH will only consider renting if it is in Manhattan. Renting for a short time was my idea.

As far as having 2 kids in an apartment. We really evaluated how we live, not what we think we should have by others standards. What space we actually use. The living room and the bedrooms to sleep! We are always out and about doing something. I don't cook, so a small kitchen is fine. Yes the rooms would be smaller, but our quality of life would be so much better.

DH has a great, stable job in the city. We could go higher than the $3000. It may sound alot, and it is, and it may not get a big apartment, but we're not really concerned about the size too much. I am a super organized person and even with 2 kids, there is no clutter anywhere! DH says if anyone can make living in a small apartment with 2 kids work, it would be his wife!!LOL

I really appreciate all the comments. I do not want to go ahead and do this with rose colored glasses. I know our lives will be completely different. Last Sept. my family and I almost died in a horific car accident. As long as we are together, all is good. We really look at life differently and don't want to live our lives like what we "should be doing". Like the big house in the suburbs, SUV, large yard. Been there, done that and it isn't all it's cracked up to be. Maybe it's just not us.

NYC girl born and raised!

Lived Manhattan until I started elementary school. Moved to Queens (PS69, IS145), then briefly to Staten Island for a summer (didn't like it), then back to Manhattan for junior high (JHS104), and then finally to the Bronx for high school (Bronx Science). Been here ever since except for college in sunny FLORIDA!!

Our homes in the city "suburbs" were all huge. Whereas our apartments (all rentals) in Manhattan were tiny. We always had people living with us in Manhattan too. We always had someone from out of town or out of the country living with us long term. There was a foreign student (female) sharing my room for at least 2 years. She basically slept on a mattress on the floor of my room. We slid the mattress under my bed during the day. Some of my best and most vivid memories are of that tiny apartment and living in Manhattan.

Looks like you have given this a lot of thought and that your whole family is on the same page. You also mentioned that it would be short term for a few years.

I think that you should definitely try it. I bet you that your kids will remember your years living in the city for the rest of their lives. And your DH should have a few years of easy commute! Wow - 2 hours each way every day! As you mentioned, it's only for a few years while you decide where to go from here.

Check out the rentals available and see if there is anything that would suit you within your budget. One place to check out listings without going through a broker is craigslist.org.

One thing has me puzzled though. Would you be looking for a place within walking distance of your DH's work? Because if not, how will he get to work WITHOUT taking public transportation? Keep in mind that if he still intends to drive, it may take longer than he thinks - he may need to allocate 1 hour to the commute when walking or public transportation may only take him 15 to 30 minutes. Will you be gargaging the car on parking it on the street?

Good luck with your decision!

 

[PatriciaH]

That's why I live in a brownstone in Forest Hills, Queens. Much, much cheaper.

That is where I am from

 

[suzannen]

Another one who is in Queens. But, I lived in Manhattan for quite a few years and absolutely LOVED it! DH and I have told our 11-year old DD for years, that the day she graduates from her school, Daddy and Mommy are moving back to Manhattan. It's only 6 miles away, but the private school we have her in is 1) much easier to get into-in Manhattan you practically have to apply and have references the day they're born and 2) the tuition is $12,000 instead of $22,000 to $30,000. There are indeed some great public schools in the city, but they are VERY hard to get into since EVERYONE is trying to get into them. That will be your biggest challenge.

Meanwhile, my oldest DD currently lives with one roommate in a very small 2-bedroom in the West Village that costs $4,000 a month. Biggest problem is closet space for the 2 of them. But, she is having the time of her life.

The cultural advantages and experiences your kids will have will be awesome. There is nothing like having the Metropolitan Museum or the American Museum of Natural History and Planetarium so close. They will learn to try different ethnic foods and be exposed to folks from all walks of life. Even though we're not actually in Manhattan, we take our DD in ALL the time and she loves it also. Good luck in your decision.

 

[stemikger]

I live in Staten Island, but owned a business in the city for many years. My take is that if you don't have a lot of money you can not live in the city and would have to settle for a not so nice neighborhood and a tiny place. If you have kids the tradeoff would not be worth it.

The business my family and I owned was a fancy hair salon in a very nice upscale neighborhood. Some of my clients were the movers and shakers of ABC television because the salon was right next door to the studios. I got to know a lot of them very well and they lived in the city the right way. Their kids went to private schools, they had million dollar apartments on Central Park West and all the rest that comes with that life style.

It has always been my dream to live in the city, but unless you are willing to pay a several million (at least) for a nice place and pay thousands a month for maintenance, then I don't think it's worth it. The very rich and the very poor are not far from each other within this city, but the boundaries are very well defined and if you have kids I would not want to be in some of those neighborhoods.

Staten Island is the only place I ever lived and I like it but it is not NYC. However, I am only 16 miles from the city and vist quite often so that's a good thing.

 

[summerrluvv]

I say go for it! I would LOVE to live in the city and if I could afford it I would. Maybe when I win the lottery I took DS a couple of weeks ago and he came home from school the next day and informed me that he told everyone we were moving to the city LOL. I had to explain to the teacher that I said to DS that it would be nice to live in the city, not that we are moving there hehe.

 

[Desnik]

I really want to thank you all for posting!! Sorry I haven't responed to this thread. DH and I took 2 days to look at apartments in the city. We have researched and found about 4 public elementary schools that we are happy with. Remember this is only for a couple of years so as far as the school, I'm just concerned about the K-5 ones. Well, we looked at apartments in the Upper East side, I really didn't like it there or the "feel" of it. Yes there are alot of families and great school, but it is not a fit for us. Then we looked into the Financial District. We are happy with the school, and actually found 2 places we like. We fully understand that with the price range we have we are not going to get a huge 3 bedroom. I live in a house now and for me, the space is overratted. The more space you have, the more junk you have!!LOL I know that the kids would have to share a room. We would give them the bigger one. We looked at places that were $3000-$3500 and were either 2 bedrooms or flex 1 bedrooms. All the places were luxury hi rises. They all had a gym included, lounge, some had kid play rooms, some door men, laundry on the same floor, or on the main level. All had a parking garage. We don't need one because DH can leave the car at his work garage. We'll only keep 1 car. DH is now the one who is questioning things. If we go downtown, he will be far from work. So, I told him we should be looking at places that are closer to his work. But, it's in an area we would never live in. Now my first choice would be to live in the village. I absolutely love it there. It is me. I use to go there all the time in my teenage years. When I go back there, I just love everything!! We did find a school that looks really good, P.S. 41. So we are going to look into apartments there. DH also loves this area and is the most familiar with it. Now we know it is really expensive. We could pay more in rent if we found something worth it. The only way we will know if it is even doable is by going there and looking at all the diferent options of apartments.

frndshpcptn
I would love to hear about Murry Hill if you care to tell me about it!

I should say that we know what areas we definately do not want and we know what areas to stay clear of!

DH was born and raised in Rockland county, so even though he works in the city I think this whole idea is starting to scare him. I'm not sure what's going on in his head. I think he is just really worried if our DD will be OK. Like I said before, I'm a city girl at heart and being there the last couple of days, I felt right at home. I was back in the swing of things! Also, for the first 8 years of my life I lived in a building on the 19th floor in the Bronx. My whole life I've been going into the city because it was so close. DH never did that. He's never even been on the subway!!! I think he'll be the one to have the hardest time adjusting. We'll see what happens. I really love hearing all your stories and thoughts!
Thanks!!

Oh, the one thing that is hurting us in the apartment search is the fact that we have a Yorkie. But she is part of the family and we have to find a place that is pet friendly.