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Since one actually lives on UES, can tell you how some feel about the SAS a few years on, and or plans for expansion of subway service. In a few words they aren't thrilled.
While the SAS has indeed proved a blessing for sleepy Yorkville and the UES in general, it is doing what old timers warned against (and feared) back when first proposed; hastening the change of area.
Yorkville largely was left alone development wise due to lack of subway access. In particular from Second west to East End; that now has changed.
Suddenly all those old tenements and walk-ups that remained frozen in time because new development would never have the rent roll/sales per square foot to justify costs associated with redevelopment, now are in play.
First between 79th and 80th is coming down. Half to one-third of Third between 82nd and 83rd is being redeveloped as well. Then you have the Kent and other things going up above 86th. Those are just the opening salvos.
Leaving aside the East Harlem rezoning scheme, there is a good amount of building stock on UES/Yorkville that is significantly underdeveloped. That is the FAR as currently built leaves quite a lot on the table development wise. Big money has noticed this and you've seen them moving in to buy said buildings.
On another front retail and residential (market rate) rents are going *up*. Access brought by the SAS means landlords are hoping they can get more, and in the process all the old shops and whatever that once gave UES/Yorkville its flavor are vanishing. People can't afford the rents.
I was living in Manhattan when phase one of the Second Avenue Subway was under construction and when it opened up. I was frequently on the UES and in Yorkville itself.
None of that was news to me. However mass transit expansion is important and necessary to the city as a whole, and this is Manhattan we're speaking off. Of course prices were going to go up, and of course the types of retail businesses were going to upgrade.
Before I moved out of NYC to Europe in 2017, I saw huge chunks of blocks being demolished and new expensive buildings sprouting.
As noted the fun is just starting, as now the MTA is working on starting the utility relocation for Phase 2 later this year, with heavy construction to start. And it will eventually go the full length of Manhattan. In the next few years look for the pattern to seriously escalate in East Harlem. Even before the rezoning empty tenements in East Harlem were being purchased.
I was living in Manhattan when phase one of the Second Avenue Subway was under construction and when it opened up. I was frequently on the UES and in Yorkville itself.
None of that was news to me. However mass transit expansion is important and necessary to the city as a whole, and this is Manhattan we're speaking off. Of course prices were going to go up, and of course the types of retail businesses were going to upgrade.
Before I moved out of NYC to Europe in 2017, I saw huge chunks of blocks being demolished and new expensive buildings sprouting.
As noted the fun is just starting, as now the MTA is working on starting the utility relocation for Phase 2 later this year, with heavy construction to start. And it will eventually go the full length of Manhattan. In the next few years look for the pattern to seriously escalate in East Harlem. Even before the rezoning empty tenements in East Harlem were being purchased.
SAS Phases 3 &4 will never happen, well not in the lifetimes of anyone posting in this discussion/alive today. It just isn't possible with current costs per mile MTA spends https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/28/n...ion-costs.html
I've heard about the new construction for a while but I haven't seen any commercial strips around there yet are very visibly gentrifying like you'd see in Brooklyn's "in transition" neighborhoods. But I haven't been there in a few months and I know things can change pretty quickly.
Even the commuters on Metro North can see new shiney apartment buildings in Mott Haven. The old vacant building near East River been demolish they going be high rise buildings going up soon.
The Sad truth.
There are actually people out there who think and live like this.
You may be asking ......which person are you talking about?
I'll leave that one up to the viewer...........
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