WOLFE FILM: LIFE IN NEW YORK: FINDING AN APARTMENT

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Well this is the big one.

Where do you live?

How do you find an apartment?

What is it gonna cost?

...well the answer to the last question is "a lot!"

This is one of the most expensive city's in the world to live in. It is over crowded. Space is at a premium. If you want a big luxurious home, then live somewhere else. You live in New York because you don't want to stay in.

You want to be out amongst the people!

But you do need to put some clothes in a closet and shower once in a while, so here is some information to help you out. Here are areas in the 5 boroughs that may offer you some reasonable options regarding apartments.

MANHATTAN

If you are lucky enough to have a nice fat trust fund, then live anywhere you want. But if you are a young struggling filmmaker, writer or actor, and want to live on Manhattan Island, then you are going to more than likely find your first apartment in one of these neighborhoods:

Inwood- The uppermost neighborhood at the northern tip of Manhattan, Inwood is a family-centric area whose main attractions include affordable rent and Inwood Hill Park, which has athletic fields and a barbecue area. It's a 40 minute commute to midtown, though. As of October 2024, the average rent for an apartment in Inwood, New York City is $1,688 per month. This is 8% higher than the national average rent of $1,557 per month.

Washington Heights- adjacent to Inwood, just north of the George Washington Bridge, the neighborhood's community feel and plainspoken demeanor make up for the long commute distance to midtown. Above 110th Street (which 20 years ago was not safe to go to, but now is perfectly fine). As of July 2024, the average rent for an apartment in Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City is $2,612.

Yorkville- On the far east side of the island between 79th and 96th Streets. If you're set on Manhattan, this is one of the cheaper areas; new restaurants and shops are opening regularly; it's safe and quiet (except for the subway construction noise). To outsiders, the Upper East Side has a posh and pricey reputation. But head east from the grand co-ops of Park Avenue and you'll find Yorkville, a micro-neighborhood east of Third Avenue between East 79th and East 96th Streets, that's one of the more affordable in Manhattan. The average rent in Yorkville is $820 per month, with a one-bedroom apartment costing around $820 and a two-bedroom apartment costing around $903

Harlem- Yep, Harlem. A few decades ago, this was not exactly an option for most. But Bill Clinton put his post-presidency offices in Harlem, and ever since the neighborhood has been going up in all areas, safety, nightlife, social activities...and yes rent prices, but in West Harlem you can still find 2 and even sometimes 3 bedrooms for ent. As of July 2024, the average monthly rent for an apartment in Harlem, Manhattan is $3,444. However, the cost of rent can vary depending on the size of the apartment and the location. The further north you go, the cheaper they get. Harlem runs from 110th Street north to the Harlem River. Some parts are safer than others.

East Village- It was called "Alphabet City" when I moved therein the early 90's, and you took your life in your hands east of Avenue B, but now it's been renovated, gentrified and "suped" up into a hip, eclectic downtown enclave. You'll pay a chunk of change for the Manhattan charm- The average monthly rent for an apartment in the East Village, Manhattan, NY is around $4,937. However, the cost of an apartment in the East Village can vary depending on the number of bedrooms- but you get amazing art and nightlife all around you...and Thompkins Square Park to boot. The East Village runs from The Bowery (4th Avenue) east to the East River and from Houston St. north to 14th Street.

Lower East Side (LES)- directly south, adjacent to the East Village is what is known as the Lower East Side. This was where immigrants at the turn of the century all congregated- Irish, Jewish, Italian, Chinese...and their influences and culture are still around. Like the East village it runs from the Bowery east to the river, and from Canal Street north to Houston St. This is where Chinatown, Little Italy are. But it is also where the artists moved when the East village got to expensive, and they made it hip, and then hotels and restaurants followed, and now while still edgy-ish, it is livable for young people. But it's not cheap. As of July 2024, the average monthly rent for an apartment in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City is $5,429

BROOKLYN

It was the logical alternative to Manhattan a few years ago...and so everyone moved there. Now it's getting a little pricey itself. Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Vinegar Hill, Cobble Hill and even the once humble Williamsburg rents have gotten steep, but there are still neighborhoods that have not yet been taken over:

Bedford-Stuyvesant- "Bed-Stuy" (bordered by Bushwick to the north and Clinton Hill to the south) is often talked about for the skyrocketing sale prices of its signature brownstones. But it has become a hugely popular option for renters too, due to its many local wine bars, cafes and eateries. The average monthly rental price for a studio apartment in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York is $3,335 as of July 2024

Bushwick- Another Brooklyn spot with high inventory and relatively low asking rent. It has Williamsburg to the west and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood to the north. Known as an artist's enclave, with some fairly awesome coffee shoppes and bars, Bushwick has become a destination for newly arrived artist types. The +'s are the large population of creative young people living there and the good subway access to the J,M,Z and L lines, and you can still find renovated three bedrooms to rent. The average monthly rent for an apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn is $3,634, which is higher than the national average of $1,739. The average monthly cost for a one-bedroom apartment in Bushwick is around $2,000. The -'s are that there's a bit of a high crime problem. But if you are broke then you have nothing to steal right?

Gowanus- It's prices are starting to get up there but have not hit DUMBO prices just yet. Glamorous it is not- it shares a name with the toxic canal that runs through it (designated a Superfund site) but don't write it off just yet. It is undoubtedly one of Brooklyn's up-and-coming neighborhoods, but has managed to maintain its character--think unused warehouses, an elevated subway track and old factory signs--"within spitting distance of Park Slope and a massive Whole Foods, so yuppies can't be far behind. The average rent for an apartment in Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York is around $4,265 per month, which is almost double the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn as a whole.

as of 2024

QUEENS

Most people coming to New York only know Queens from driving through it from the airports to get to their hotels in Manhattan. And if you ever had someone you know move there, you might as well assume they moved to Outer Mongolia. But as Manhattan and Brooklyn get priced out, the young artists are staring their migration to Queens.

Astoria- "Actoria" (called because so many struggling actors live here) has become a place for the new and financially challenged New Yorker. Apartments as a whole, are pretty large by New York standards, and there are a lot of them, with everything from row houses to co-ops and new condos available to rent. As of October 2024, the average rent for an apartment in Astoria, New York is $2,397 per month Astoria Park is the oldest and largest park in the city. It has amazing views of Manhattan and the bridges, as well as athletic facilities; Greek, Korean, and Eastern European restaurants abound.

Jackson Heights- As a whole Jackson Heights in Queens is a vibrant community with decent schools, good inexpensive places to eat and lots of transportation options. But it is the rental apartments in the historic "garden" district- a planned community for middle-upper class residents in the early 1900's (and where the term "garden apartment" was invented)- that draw people of all economic classes to he neighborhood. The commute to Manhattan is not too bad, as the 7 train runs right through the neighborhood and can get you to midtown in less than an hour. The E,V,F and R trains are also close by. As of October 2024, the average rent in Jackson Heights, New York is $1,990 per month.