Where to live in Yonkers, NY? (taxes, living in, restaurants)

[SAgosto]

My girlfriend just got a job in Times Square. We are currently debating Yonkers as it allows us to take the subway into Manhattan and not deal with Metro North. Aside from the expense of MetroNorth, we have a dog that could probably make bout 10 hours day before needing to be let out. Most places north of Woodlawn would make it difficult to work a typical day and make it back in time. A few questions about Yonkers:

1) How is this in regards to crime? Safety? What areas/streets should we be looking for?
2) How long is it from the #4 train to Grand Central (Round-bout) for a weekday? This train is 24/7? We also didn't want MetroNorth as we didn't want to have to worry about getting left behind and not have a ride back.
3) Taxes. No NYC tax but 10% of your NYS taxed debt? Can anyone confirm?
4) Parking. Is off street parking safe? Are their lots?
5) Grocery markets nearby? Malls? What's the nearest?

I'd love to stay in NY and I'd definately love to be near NY Yankee Stadium so hopefully this is a better choice for us than NJ.

[INeedAChange]

Some parts of Yonkers are incredibly dismal, although I've walked through them during the day (and my doctor is in Yonkers) and nothing has ever happened. At night--I don't know. The McLean Ave. area seems to be pretty nice.

Originally Posted by SAgosto

My girlfriend just got a job in Times Square. We are currently debating Yonkers as it allows us to take the subway into Manhattan and not deal with Metro North. Aside from the expense of MetroNorth, we have a dog that could probably make bout 10 hours day before needing to be let out. Most places north of Woodlawn would make it difficult to work a typical day and make it back in time. A few questions about Yonkers:

1) How is this in regards to crime? Safety? What areas/streets should we be looking for?
2) How long is it from the #4 train to Grand Central (Round-bout) for a weekday? This train is 24/7? We also didn't want MetroNorth as we didn't want to have to worry about getting left behind and not have a ride back.
3) Taxes. No NYC tax but 10% of your NYS taxed debt? Can anyone confirm?
4) Parking. Is off street parking safe? Are their lots?
5) Grocery markets nearby? Malls? What's the nearest?

I'd love to stay in NY and I'd definately love to be near NY Yankee Stadium so hopefully this is a better choice for us than NJ.

[SAgosto]

I guess it's considered not Yonkers but Bronx and I'd hafta pay NYC tax. Man, everywhere I turn, there's a gotcha.

[mead]

Eastern Yonkers is the area you are going to be looking at. Southwestern yonkers is a No-go area unless you like the thought of living in a public housing project. The areas in Yonkers east of the Sprain Brook parkway are very nice though.

The area around McLean ave are quite active with lots of bars and restaurants (specifically of the Irish variety). There are also a lot of Italian people living in the area. Woodlawn in the Bronx is another option. In Woodlawn you can catch the 34 bus to the 4 train and take that down. It is very convienient. It is definitely quicker to take MetroNorth but it will cost you a lot more money, plus Metro North does not run 24/7.

See my PM that I just sent you.

[SAgosto]

Originally Posted by mead

Eastern Yonkers is the area you are going to be looking at. Southwestern yonkers is a No-go area unless you like the thought of living in a public housing project. The areas in Yonkers east of the Sprain Brook parkway are very nice though.

The area around McLean ave are quite active with lots of bars and restaurants (specifically of the Irish variety). There are also a lot of Italian people living in the area. Woodlawn in the Bronx is another option. In Woodlawn you can catch the 34 bus to the 4 train and take that down. It is very convienient. It is definitely quicker to take MetroNorth but it will cost you a lot more money, plus Metro North does not run 24/7.

See my PM that I just sent you.

Thanks. Yea, we are definately considering Woodlawn but the damn subway is way south of Woodlawn and Jerome isn't very nice from what I read.I need to read up on the 34 bus and see when that runs. We specifically like Woodlawn to avoid the NYC tax (Yonkers right?) and for weekend outings past the last train of MetroNorth.

[Viralmd]

The NYC subway, by the way, does NOT go to Yonkers...

[SAgosto]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

The NYC subway, by the way, does NOT go to Yonkers...

I think you misread what I said. The #4 train has a Woodlawn stop. Part of Woodlawn is considered Yonkers. At the time, I did not know that this Woodlawn station was south of the residential area of Woodlawn.

[INeedAChange]

I'm pretty sure Woodlawn is not part of Yonkers--in any event you are going to have to take a bus to get to a subway station from yonkers.

[INeedAChange]

you can park safely off street in Riverdale, FYI. It's often annoying to find a spot, but definitely doable. I've only had the car broken into one time.

[mead]

You mean the 1 train in Kingsbridge? There's no subway in Riverdale.