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I am still wondering why so many want to be NYers put Harlem as their first consideration.
Because it is important for many Americans, especially liberals, to demonstrate that they are not racists, and that we live in a "post-racist" culture. They do so by moving to a predominantly black area like Harlem. In addition, I have observed that many do so in order to consume ghetto culture, keepin' it real and all - deficits in their own lives. The oddest thing ? I don't think they are even consciously aware of this.
Whereas, the natives who have moved here have been priced out of their original neighborhoods, and/or no longer want to live there given absolute transplantization - what I would call it. They are no longer neighborhoods. People who had no business moving to New York in the first place did so, stayed, and changed areas into something close to what they already knew out there in non-New York America.
I am still wondering why so many want to be NYers put Harlem as their first consideration.
I've met many Europeans who move to Harlem and I find that they do so, living in the newer developments or expensive brownstones, because they come w/o the negative stereotypes many Americans still have. Perhaps they romanticize the place, I don't know.
I've also met younger white kids who've moved to H and who also simply don't
Labor under all the negative stereotypes. They want a place to live in the city and find it isn't nearly as awful as Folks say. Plus they like the convenience to the rest of e city. Again, these are kids with decent jobs who don't have live in the worst areas of Harlem
But white families moving here is rarer because, like I say, of the schools. The one that I know has gone private.
I have also talked to people who actually relish Living in a community that is mixed income, unlike most of Manhattan, and don't freak out that they have neighbors who are poor. And those who have bought, of course , believe that their property will ultimately appreciate to downtown levels or close to them
I live on the UWS and I have children. Personally I would not move past 96th.
Its so different when you dont have kids I think and I would probably not mind as much. I live down in the 70's and feel very safe. I do come from a Country where guns are illegal so it does scare the crap out of me these shootings.
I am still wondering why so many want to be NYers put Harlem as their first consideration.
Harlem is definitely not my first choice, my husband was pushing it because its less expensive than the rest of the areas we have looked at. As I said before my husband is cheap. I was never very interested in the possibility but i wanted to make sute i wasn being close minded.
I don't mind living is a diverse neighborhood, either racially or economically. I'm from Reston, VA just outside of DC and while our rough areas aren't nearly as bad as some it is diverse. And the point of Reston, when they were planning it, was to put all different types of housing near each other. You literally have million dollar condos near the homeless shelter and subsidized housing near upscale neighborhoods.
After reading all of these comments I am definitely taking harlem off the list. I was told Williamsburg isn't kid friendly, so I haven't looked there but the affordability of many of the kid friendly suggestions kind of freaks me out. I'm looking forward too exploring the city this summer and seeing our options.
I posted about some of the various kid-friendly activities in Jackson Heights, Queens. You might put it on your list to check out, as rents are very affordable. The post where I listed activities and linked to photos of Play Street is here https://www.city-data.com/forum/23973087-post7.html
The problem is that your husband would not have a 30 minute commute to the Financial District. Jackson Heights is close to Manhattan by train (12-15 minutes on the E or F, once on the train) which could make a 30 minute commute, but that would be to Midtown, not downtown. I think a commute to the Financial District would be 45-50 minutes, and that's only if you got an apartment that is in quick walking distance to the main Jackson Heights train station.
Anyway, definitely check out the post I linked to above.
If you only have time to click one link, click the one on the Play Street as that gives a good indication of the number of small kids and the multicultural nature of the neighborhood.
I don't think Harlem would be a good fit. Harlem is nothing like Reston, more like parts of Northeast DC in terms of overall crime rates and age/condition of housing. Queens is a better consideration for a family, though, as pointed out above, the commute will not be 30 minutes to the financial district. Closer-in areas of Brooklyn, such as Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, etc. would be within the preferred commute range, but the areas are also not bargain-priced. Parts of the Upper East Side would also fall within rental range, if you were considering a 2BR, around $3k, but you might also consider Forest Hills in Queens as it is a good area for families. Forest Hills is about 45-60 minutes to the Financial District, requiring subway connections, or the QM11 express bus which takes about an hour.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
My husband doesnt need to go to the financial district, his job is in midtown so Ill definitely check out some of the areas suggested.
I think its safe to say Harlem isnt going to be considered anymore. The last thing I would ever do is put my kids at risk- no matter how affordable my husband thinks it is.
With kids, I recommend the part of Harlem that's South of 96th Street.
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