Quick Commute (Union, Yorktown, Yorktown Heights: sales, apartment, leasing)

[Adrienne85]

What are the top commuter towns in the Westchester area
? My husband will be working downtown and we don't want to lose 3 hours a day with him to a commute. We are planning on living in the city but want to have a back up plan. We can afford around 3k for a house/apartment (3 bedrooms).

Thanks!

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

Commuting from Westchester to downtown is not easy or very pleasant. My building is in Wall St. and I drive either down the FDR or West Side HW. 4/5/6 subways in GC in the morning are very crowded and there is no other way to escape. I have a coworker from Yorktown Heights who drives and parks in Harlem and takes the 2/3 at 135th St. Some coworkers told me a more comfortable commute is from Long Island and connecting at Atlantic Terminal - at least the subways won't be packed.

Alternative is for your husband to find a job in midtown.

[Adrienne85]

Originally Posted by Forest_Hills_Daddy

Commuting from Westchester to downtown is not easy or very pleasant. My building is in Wall St. and I drive either down the FDR or West Side HW. 4/5/6 subways in GC in the morning are very crowded and there is no other way to escape. I have a coworker from Yorktown Heights who drives and parks in Harlem and takes the 2/3 at 135th St. Some coworkers told me a more comfortable commute is from Long Island and connecting at Atlantic Terminal - at least the subways won't be packed.

Alternative is for your husband to find a job in midtown.

His office is likely moving to midtown next year but that is not for sure. Trust me, we are hoping Forest Hills works out, but concerned with the low inventory of housing options. Hence this back up plan. Not my first choice for sure.

[Forest_Hills_Daddy]

Originally Posted by Adrienne85

Trust me, we are hoping Forest Hills works out, but concerned with the low inventory of housing options.

Just briefly on this - Check with Kraham Sales & Leasing in Forest Hills. They're in Queens Blvd. and are very knowledgeable about housing options. A lot of apartment rental listings in FH come through them. Alternatively, look at Astoria where one can take the N/Q subway and connect to a downtown subway are Union Square - much easier than connecting at Grand Central. I recommend the area near 31st St. & Ditmars because it's the end of the N/Q line and your SO can easily find a seat. N/Q also runs through midtown so no issues when he gets transferred. The Catholic or Greek parochial schools in Astoria offer preschool from nursery to 8. Might be worth discussing further in the NYC forums.

Also, if interested, post in the LI forums to inquire about areas offering reasonable commute to downtown via Atlantic Terminal (midtown via Penn Station).