Commuting to Manhattan (Murray, Vernon, Madison: apartment, to rent, credit check) - City-Data Forum

liza01 · 03-18-2008, 11:04 PM

I am going to start working in Manhattan (midtown, park -48 or so) and am thinking of commuting to work. I am considering forest hills, astoria etc but wanted to ask for advice and any suggestions on other locations i should consider.
I am a single female, so in looking at locations safety is my first priority. I am looking to pay $1600 in rent and am hoping to rent a 1 bedroom apt. I also want a short commute (30 minutes or so).

Also, since i was in business school i dont have any W2-s from the past 2 years, so i dont know if i could show the offer letter as proof of salary... can anyone advice please.

thank you.

Ace Rock · 03-19-2008, 01:29 PM

[quote=liza01;3184016]I am going to start working in Manhattan (midtown, park -48 or so) and am thinking of commuting to work. I am considering forest hills, astoria etc but wanted to ask for advice and any suggestions on other locations i should consider.
I am a single female, so in looking at locations safety is my first priority. I am looking to pay $1600 in rent and am hoping to rent a 1 bedroom apt. I also want a short commute (30 minutes or so).

Astoria fits your requirements.

However, for that range, I would recommend a Manhattan studio (if you look hard enough). Upper eastside, midtown east, midtown west could be a 5-15 minute walk to work, depending on the exact location. Murray Hill and Gramercy are also short subway rides to work.

Also, since i was in business school i dont have any W2-s from the past 2 years, so i dont know if i could show the offer letter as proof of salary... can anyone advice please.

Letter of employment, letter stating salary, and credit check.

mead · 03-19-2008, 02:00 PM

Yeah you might be able to find a studio in the Upper East Side/Murray Hill for about $1,600.

Don't forget that your business address is really close to Grand Central Station. So if you are more interested in living in a suburban area you are a fairly short commute from Westchester/Fairfield Counties by train.

Viralmd · 03-19-2008, 02:52 PM

She wants a one-bedroom apartment, not a studio.

You'll do better in Queens and you'll have a reasonable commute. Forest Hills is nice, but it might be a longer ride than you want...Astoria might fit your bill better.

holden125 · 03-19-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viralmd

She wants a one-bedroom apartment, not a studio.

You'll do better in Queens and you'll have a reasonable commute. Forest Hills is nice, but it might be a longer ride than you want...Astoria might fit your bill better.

Forest Hills isn't so bad since it's an express train with few stops in Queens. It's about 25 mins from 71st Ave to 53rd and Lex, and a few minutes walk after that. Astoria you'd have to take the N/W and either change to the 6 at 59th/Lex or to the 7 at Q'boro Plaza and take that to GCT. It's probably not much difference. Jackson Heights gives a one-train commute and it's closer than Forest Hills. You could also look near Boro Hall and Atlantic/Pacific in Brooklyn and take the 4 to GCT. That's about 25-30 mins on the train though it is generally more expensive than Queens.

Henna · 03-19-2008, 05:56 PM

Don't forget about Sunnyside, Queens which would give you a very quick (around 10-12 minutes on the train, I think) commute on the 7 train to Grand Central. $1600 would most likely get you a really nice one bedroom on the north side of Queens Blvd near Skillman Ave - very cute and quiet street with some nice stores and restauarants.

I know we can't always trust broker ads from craigslist, but here is one in your budget LARGE 1 BR IN PRIME SUNNYSIDE NORTH (broken link)
here's another one
46th St and Skillman-North Side, Beautifully Renovated, Sep Kit - Pics (broken link)

And $1600 does seem to be the going rate for nice one bedrooms in this area of Sunnyside. It's possible to get a one bedroom for less - like $1200 - but it won't be as nice and might be on the south side of Queens blvd. (not as nice an area).

Here are some photo sets of different neighborhoods in Queens so you can get a sense of what everything looks like
Collection: Queens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrvlowdown/collections/72157602697631179/ - broken link)

jcoltrane · 03-20-2008, 12:17 PM

Try the Hunter's Point/Long Island City area of Queens. Hunter's Point is one stop to midtown Manhattan (Grand Central). Can't get better than that. Though it may be closer to $2K for a one bedroom---but it'll be in a brand new *tower* with incredible river views!!

Luck!

holden125 · 03-20-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcoltrane

Try the Hunter's Point/Long Island City area of Queens. Hunter's Point is one stop to midtown Manhattan (Grand Central). Can't get better than that. Though it may be closer to $2K for a one bedroom---but it'll be in a brand new *tower* with incredible river views!!

Luck!

I live there now and there is a lot of upside to the area, but it's expensive. The studios in the new buildings are getting practically 2K. The 1BR available now are mostly more expensive than that. More like $2500 and up. A lot of the less expensive units, on the lower floors, rented a while ago and now it's top price stuff left. What you get for the money is, in addition to the views, a brand new and clean place with much more space and more amenities than in Manhattan, and much closer to Midtown than many parts of Manhattan. I went to the doctor this morning at 49 and Madison and it was 15 minutes door to door.

jcoltrane · 03-20-2008, 05:38 PM

Holden125, may I ask you a question. My GF and I have been looking at that area for some time. One of the problems she has is that there is no supermarket within walking distance.

Where do you shop??

Oh, and I here parking is becoming quite scarce. Do you have a car? How much is garage space running these days.

holden125 · 03-20-2008, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcoltrane

Holden125, may I ask you a question. My GF and I have been looking at that area for some time. One of the problems she has is that there is no supermarket within walking distance.

Where do you shop??

Oh, and I here parking is becoming quite scarce. Do you have a car? How much is garage space running these days.

I was giving you a hard time on the other thread, didn't mean to.

The supermarket thing is a bit of a hassle, but it's not that bad. They are opening an Amish Market, which is more upscale, in a few weeks (allegedly-it's been delayed before), which will fix the problem a lot. Also a Duane Reade at some point.

Personally I am able to go up to Costco up Vernon Blvd with a friend who has a car. There is a C-Town, which is OK, typical outer boro supermarket, on 21st St and 44th Drive. It's about a 10-15 minute walk. If you have a car there is also a Key Food on McGuinness in Greenpoint, a very short drive away. I have been known to pick up some things near Grand Central and take it the one stop on the subway in a pinch. There's an Amish Market on 45th near 2nd, and a couple of others on 2nd near 48th.

Parking is not quite as easy as it used to be there, but it's still not bad at all by NYC standards. I don't have a car, but I have people visit who do, and nobody has had much trouble finding parking, at least on the weekend and evenings, more than a block or two away at most. My girlfriend drives down from Massachusetts many weekends and we have had little trouble. There's no alternate side on many blocks, and some of the more industrial streets a block or two away are still pretty easy in the evening. I find that, if I'm not able to get a spot right within a block of the building, I do fine down by 47th Ave or 46th Rd, a couple of blocks north.

Otherwise, the rate for the garage in my building is $295 a month, and I don't know if there's availabilty or a wait list, but I think it's available.