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My boyfriend and I are considering moving into the Queens, Brooklyn, NYC areas, after we finish our undergraduate degrees, within a year. I'm most likely attending Queens College for graduate school, while he'll be commuting into NYC for his job, gigs, ect (acting, tv production, improv).
We're exploring our options and looking for a place that will satisfy both of our needs. I'm going to school for teaching (elementary and special ed, grades 1-6), so I would prefer a safe neighborhood with a decent school district, that's respectably close to Queens College. He'll be pretty content wherever we are as long as it's a safe neighborhood and an easier commute to NYC.
We currently live on LI, and he absolutely hates the commute to the city. It costs him a fortune to keep his car, for commuting on LI, and then taking the train into the city every other day. Plus, the amount of time to get to his job is about an hour and a half. It's hard to enjoy what the city offers when you're spending your paycheck on just commuting there!
I really like Kew Gardens and Forrest Hills and the both of us like Astoria. Although, I understand that Kew Gardens and Forrest Hills are a bit pricier and we'll be paying off student loans... so... that may not be an option. Unfortunately, I do not know Brooklyn all that well, but as long as it’s a decent commute to the city/Queens College it is on our list!
It's hard to tell now, but maybe within the range of $1,000-$2,000 a month, 1 or 2BR?? The both of us are definitely looking forward to public transportation, since neither of us enjoy driving or paying insurance, gas, fix-ups, ect. Also, the both of us are in our early 20's, so we're young and adventurous! Personally, I do not mind commuting to night life scenes, just as long as our "home" neighborhood is considered safe to be wandering around in the wee hours in the morning.
Any advice from natives, Queens College students, teachers residing in Queens or Brooklyn, ect? To my understanding, there are more teaching jobs available in Brooklyn than Queens? Any input is greatly appreciated, thank you!!!
Last edited by TouchTheSky; 11-09-2008 at 08:53 PM..
Middle Village & Glendale are right next to Forest Hills. The downside is it's a definite "Two Fare Zone" where you'll need to either walk or take the bus to the subway (although with the transfer, it's not really two fares anymore.)
The upside is both are very clean family neighborhoods and the prices are a lot less than Forest Hills.
You can find an apartment in your price range in Forest Hills. While it is a little bit pricier than places like Middle Village and Glendale, it has the advantage of being within walking distance of a subway station that is relatively safe at night. You can also find a decent place in Middle Village near the train station on Metropolitan Ave.
My boyfriend and I are considering moving into the Queens, Brooklyn, NYC areas, after we finish our undergraduate degrees, within a year. I'm most likely attending Queens College for graduate school, while he'll be commuting into NYC for his job, gigs, ect (acting, tv production, improv).
We're exploring our options and looking for a place that will satisfy both of our needs. I'm going to school for teaching (elementary and special ed, grades 1-6), so I would prefer a safe neighborhood with a decent school district, that's respectably close to Queens College. He'll be pretty content wherever we are as long as it's a safe neighborhood and an easier commute to NYC.
We currently live on LI, and he absolutely hates the commute to the city. It costs him a fortune to keep his car, for commuting on LI, and then taking the train into the city every other day. Plus, the amount of time to get to his job is about an hour and a half. It's hard to enjoy what the city offers when you're spending your paycheck on just commuting there!
I really like Kew Gardens and Forrest Hills and the both of us like Astoria. Although, I understand that Kew Gardens and Forrest Hills are a bit pricier and we'll be paying off student loans... so... that may not be an option. Unfortunately, I do not know Brooklyn all that well, but as long as it’s a decent commute to the city/Queens College it is on our list!
It's hard to tell now, but maybe within the range of $1,000-$2,000 a month, 1 or 2BR?? The both of us are definitely looking forward to public transportation, since neither of us enjoy driving or paying insurance, gas, fix-ups, ect. Also, the both of us are in our early 20's, so we're young and adventurous! Personally, I do not mind commuting to night life scenes, just as long as our "home" neighborhood is considered safe to be wandering around in the wee hours in the morning.
Any advice from natives, Queens College students, teachers residing in Queens or Brooklyn, ect? To my understanding, there are more teaching jobs available in Brooklyn than Queens? Any input is greatly appreciated, thank you!!!
Queens: Forest Hills, Middle Village, Woodhaven, Briarwood, Astoria, Jax Heights, West Flushing (Main St Subway Station)
Brooklyn: Bensonhurst, Greenpoint, Marine Park, Sheepshead Bay, Bath Beach, Park Slope
All of these are safe neighborhoods, and yes you're right about the teaching jobs.
Your best bets (pricewise) would be Middle Village & Jackson Heights in Queens, and Park Slope or Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn.
Location: Concrete jungle where dreams are made of.
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I live in Astoria and teach in the Bronx. You have a little edge over everyone else since you'll have a special-ed license, but any job nowadays is hard to come by. Most teachers start off in the poorer areas of Brooklyn and the Bronx, like myself.
Do you have a car? If you do, disregard what I'm about to say.
While Astoria is a great neighborhood, I would not suggest it at all if you're going to QC.. two trains and a bus with over an hour commute will wear you down. You can find decent priced apartments in Kew Gardens.. coming from LI, without the property taxes, you should find a lot of the housing here to be more affordable. You might want to consider the areas of Flushing/Fresh Meadows that are in the vicinity of the school as well.
Why not look in Flushing or the Jamaica area where you can get to Queens College easily and hubby is near the trains to get to Manhattan.
In your price range, you can get a 1-bedroom apartment in Jamaica Estates near the subway and the buses for Queens College.
btw, you will have a significant edge with special ed certification.
Also, there are new schools opening all over NY and principals like new teachers just out of school. They're easier to work with because they're new and just do what they're told. And especially at new schools where they want teachers to learn to do things their way. In addition, turnover is high in NYC Department of Education.
There are folks who have a difficult time being assigned, but that's not true for everybody.
If you do well in school and interview well (that's the main thing) you will have options about where you work.
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