Lower East Side - Below Delancey (New York, Roosevelt: apartments, rental, condos)

[RChickenMan]

Good morning, everyone. I'm one of those people moving to NYC and looking for some advice on a neighborhood that I'm looking at. I have my eyes on the LES below Delancey (I'll explain my logic...) More specifically, I'm looking in the near of Forsyth and Broome.

I know that, by now, the area between Houston and Delancey is slowly taking on an East Village feel to it, but I don't really hear too much about the area I'm thinking of, below Delancey. In addition to the area below Delancey being cheaper, I'm attracted to what I consider to be a greater sense of authenticity. That is, while you have a sparse peppering of young professionals such as myself just moving to the city (compared to a massive concentration in the East Village), the neighborhood is more dominated by long-time residents and families. So I guess what I'm saying is that while I do want the trendy bars and restaurants of the East Village to a some degree (but not to the point that they define the character of the neighborhood, like above Delancey, and to an even greater extreme above Houston in the East Village Proper), I also want what I consider to be a more "authentic" neighborhood.

But is it too authentic? Will I feel out of place as a young professional, or will it be the healthy mixture that I'm looking for? What about the crime? Is it safe around the specific intersection I mentioned, i.e. around Sara D. Roosevelt Park roughly between Grand and Delancey? Basically I'm just asking for advice: Given what I've said about what I want out of a New York neighborhood, does the LES below Delancey seem like a fit?

[SeventhFloor]

i think its only authentic in terms of appearance....the neighborhood has changed however. i've hung out around there all hours of the night and have never felt in danger. but my comfort level may be different than yours. nevertheless, i feel its a safe area.

[Minus]

It looks crappy, but it has unmistakably become a trendy area. I suppose it will probably fit the bill, at least as much as any other area would.

[ontheGtrain]

Ya got to love how people want to come to ny to live among long-time residents and families. It is these people who are pushing the real nyers out. The only people who are left are the old folks in rent control and the people in the projects because real nyers can't afford the rent anymore. You want real ny? Move to the outer boroughs or out on the island. Thats where the real nyers are. The yuppies jacking up the rent have pushed everybody, except the 2 above groups mentioned, out of the city.

[drkman]

I thought that area was basically a trendy area. I know I have hung out on Eldridge a couple of times and it seemed like it was basically a nightlife type of area. I don't know how authentic being one block away from Delancey would be but it is more "authentic" then the Lower East Side between Houston and 14th Street, unless you are talking about Avenue D which seems to have remained basically the same through the years.

[MeAndTheCity]

It gets pretty deserted around Chinatown after hours..pretty hard to find a cab. It is a bit grimy but then again not "dangerous" per se. I dated a venture capitalist who lived there..he was paying about 7K for his loft, so it does see its share of yuppies.

[Materialism]

Originally Posted by ontheGtrain

Ya got to love how people want to come to ny to live among long-time residents and families. It is these people who are pushing the real nyers out. The only people who are left are the old folks in rent control and the people in the projects because real nyers can't afford the rent anymore. You want real ny? Move to the outer boroughs or out on the island. Thats where the real nyers are. The yuppies jacking up the rent have pushed everybody, except the 2 above groups mentioned, out of the city.

Well too bad for them. They should have bought instead of rented if they cared so much about their neighborhoods.

Thankfully, landlords and management are starting to harrass these rent controlled leeches.

Manhattan should be for people who can afford Manhattan and I can't wait until they are chased out of the area. Ugh, I'm happy they are starting to catch onto rent controlled thieves and kicking them out of Stuy Town for starters.

I'm so proud of what is becomming of the Lower East Side; decrepit buildings razed for luxury boutiques, luxury apartment buildings, new construction everwhere, cleaner streets, polishing up of the neighborhood, not to mention that rents and property values are now sky high on the LES.

[drkman]

Originally Posted by Materialism

Well too bad for them. They should have bought instead of rented if they cared so much about their neighborhoods.

Thankfully, landlords and management are starting to harrass these rent controlled leeches.

Manhattan should be for people who can afford Manhattan and I can't wait until they are chased out of the area. Ugh, I'm happy they are starting to catch onto rent controlled thieves and kicking them out of Stuy Town for starters.

I'm so proud of what is becomming of the Lower East Side; decrepit buildings razed for luxury boutiques, luxury apartment buildings, new construction everwhere, cleaner streets, polishing up of the neighborhood, not to mention that rents and property values are now sky high on the LES.

Ummm, how could those rent controlled leeches have purchased their apartments? New York City is a renter's city and the majority of properties are rental properties. Every buidling is not a coop or condo and with the housing crisis, economic conditions and tighter lending standards even some people who want to purchase are unable to do so.

In fact there are not that many rent controlled apartments in New York City as far as the housing stock is concerned. 67% of property in New York City is rental property. Of that 67% only about 43,000 units are rent controlled compared to about 1,000,000 that are stabilized and 697,000 that are non regulated. Coops and condos comprise a little under 400,000 units so I fail to see how ownership of an apartment has anything to do with how people feel about their neighborhood (except of course in a financial sense).

[Materialism]

Originally Posted by drkman

Ummm, how could those rent controlled leeches have purchased their apartments? New York City is a renter's city and the majority of properties are rental properties. Every buidling is not a coop or condo and with the housing crisis, economic conditions and tighter lending standards even some people who want to purchase are unable to do so.

In fact there are not that many rent controlled apartments in New York City as far as the housing stock is concerned. 67% of property in New York City is rental property. Of that 67% only about 43,000 units are rent controlled compared to about 1,000,000 that are stabilized and 697,000 that are non regulated. Coops and condos comprise a little under 400,000 units so I fail to see how ownership of an apartment has anything to do with how people feel about their neighborhood (except of course in a financial sense).

Well, I'm quite aware that New York City is a rental city but not everyone in New York rents. They could have easily purchased an apartment in their neighborhoods since they feel so entitled but they didn't so too bad. They rented, and their rents should be adjusted accordingly.

Point is, they shouldn't be bitter that they are being displaced from their neighborhoods.

[saturnfan]

Originally Posted by Materialism

Well, I'm quite aware that New York City is a rental city but not everyone in New York rents. They could have easily purchased an apartment in their neighborhoods since they feel so entitled but they didn't so too bad. They rented, and their rents should be adjusted accordingly.

Point is, they shouldn't be bitter that they are being displaced from their neighborhoods.

We lived in Stuytown in the 70's and 80's. Now live in NC.

Most residents were middle class working stiffs who didn't have the shekels to buy a condo or co-op. They were protected by controls giving their families the unique opportunity to experience Manhattan.

Now, if they really don't use the apt as a primary residence, they should give it up. However, these good folks shouldn't be pressured to give up their homes since they may have nowhere else to go, especially if now retired.

Thank the Lord you have the budget to afford market rents in Manhattan. Do remember, though, that a change in circumstances may take you down from your lofty pedestal and place you among the "unwashed masses".

Hope this never happens to you as it once did to me and pushed me very close to suicide.

Please think of others who are not so fortunate before condemning them.