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What are your other options at this point?
Do you have another living situation available?
Have you already committed to your friend, or is it just being talked about between you two and can be easily dropped. Is Jeff a person you want to live with or are you not that picky about a roommate.
You will probably be happier living either downtown or in Brooklyn but living on the UES will be better than living at home in Ct.
Yorkville is fine, not the best for your age and interests, but fine.
It is the best location for a reverse commute to Greenwich so if you want to take Jeff's requirements into consideration I don't think you have another option.
I currently live with my parents in Connecticut, and made plans a few months back to move to the city with my good friend from college, Jeff (he also lives in CT).
Quick blurb about me: I'm 24, single, work 100% from home. I also play in a band and our gigs are usually downtown (only playing about one big gig a month with rehearsals mixed in-between). I do like going to bars, being social and partying, but I won't be doing that multiple times a week or anything crazy. I like going to the gym, running outside/going for walks (I value green/outdoor space).
Jeff will be reverse-commuting to Greenwich CT, so his only main preference is to live on the Upper East Side so he can take the subway from 86th or 96th to Harlem Metro North Stop and make his commute shorter.
I said I was fine with that, I didn't care so much about specific location. My main priorities are a bigger/nicer space since I'll be working from home every day and don't want to be depressed, and a relatively easy way to get to East Village where most of my band/partying activity will be happening. Upper East Side provides more spacious apartments than what you'd get downtown for the same price, and subway access with 4/5 and Q express lines get downtown in a flash, so it checks both of those boxes. Plus, good green/running/walking space with Central Park and Carl Schurz Park, and East River right there.
I know UES is generally quieter, more family oriented, but I feel like especially as you go east of Lexington into Yorkville there's a lot of people my age, some decent nightlife in the 70s/80s on 2nd, etc. and generally it's a pretty good place to "live" (as opposed to focusing on the "partying" aspect). It's not necessarily my "first choice" but again I don't care that much.
However, when I've been talking to friends lately about my plans with Jeff, a bunch of them have been saying things like "why would you live up there? It's boring/dull/full of old rich people. You're a young musician, you need to live downtown/in East Village. There's no reason to live above 14th street". I then explain that Jeff needs to live there since he commutes north every day while I don't have a commute, to which they respond "well then don't live with him. Find a new roommate".
I've been trying to brush off what these people say, but I'm wondering if they're right now. I don't want to miss out on the "young NYC experience" (even though I'd be partying/hanging out downtown anyway). But Jeff and I have already started touring apartments, so I can't really just tell him I'm out and find a new roommate. It'd be pretty ****ty to bail on him now, and he definitely won't live in the East Village because it would add 15-20 mins each way onto his commute every day.
I had thought I was in a pretty good situation, living with a good friend in Manhattan, easy access to subways/rest of the city, able to come back to a quieter neighborhood after partying/having gigs downtown. But now my head is spinning and I'm worried I'll end up miserable. Should I just keep going with my plans with Jeff, enjoy it the most I can, and if I don't end up liking it I can move when the lease is up?
Your friends don't know what the eff they're talking about.
Yorkville is full of young people, has been for ages. You only have to walk around area day or night to see them all over. Housing is comparatively cheap (but rising), there's Central Park, bars, and other things to do. This or you just take a taxi, Uber, subway, Citibike or whatever to go where you want.
Why do you care what your friends think? Are they paying your bills? No. Do what is best for you and if your friend and you agree on the location, then that's all that matters. I spend a lot of time on the Upper East Side and Yorkville. It's a mix these days in terms of young, old and middle-aged people, with families mixed in.
Your friends don't know what the eff they're talking about.
Yorkville is full of young people, has been for ages. You only have to walk around area day or night to see them all over. Housing is comparatively cheap (but rising), there's Central Park, bars, and other things to do. This or you just take a taxi, Uber, subway, Citibike or whatever to go where you want.
Yah neither do a lot of people on here. It's not quiet. Sure west of park Ave is quiet and older people with wealth. But east of Lexington is busy full of all ages. As someone who does the bar scene on the ues, its plenty busy and filled with 20 year olds.
So finally we agree on something
Yah neither do a lot of people on here. It's not quiet. Sure west of park Ave is quiet and older people with wealth. But east of Lexington is busy full of all ages. As someone who does the bar scene on the ues, its plenty busy and filled with 20 year olds.
So finally we agree on something
Hey thank you for the reply. This is helpful insight. What are your favorite fun bars in that area? I’ve been to Stumble Inn and heard about Dorian’s, but don’t know much beyond that.
Your friends don't know what the eff they're talking about.
Yorkville is full of young people, has been for ages. You only have to walk around area day or night to see them all over. Housing is comparatively cheap (but rising), there's Central Park, bars, and other things to do. This or you just take a taxi, Uber, subway, Citibike or whatever to go where you want.
Both can be true at the same time. There are A LOT of old people in Yorkville/UES.
I'd sign the lease with your friend after you find a space on the UES/Yorkville. Stay for a year, do the commute, check out the neighborhood--spend a bit of time there.
If you don't like the area, you've spent a year there, so move downtown.
Or, as an option, after your year lease is up, check out Astoria, East Williamsburg, Greenpoint or even Sunnyside, Queens.
Yorkville in particular houses (or does in normal times) tons of recent college graduates, due to its relative affordability. You'll be fine. If you find you don't care for it, you can move. Having a good stable roommate situation is valuable in itself.
That does seem to be the case. I've also heard a couple people say the Upper East Side is "up and coming" for younger people, because many families fled to the suburbs during the pandemic and aren't coming back, plus people are getting priced out of downtown. Not sure how much truth this holds, but I'd believe it. Thanks for the reply
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