Hi, I'm considering two apartments and would appreciate your opinion on the better location, please.

1. 310 E55th (between 1st & 2nd Ave's)(metro-home)
2. 24 East 86th (NY habitat No. 11670)

The 1st looks more attractive and is a little cheaper, but I wonder if the 2nd would not be a better location.

What do you think?
Many thanks

I assume this is to live and not for a visit?

By just looking at the addresses, I'd say #2. You are right next to the park and it is a bit more neighborhood-y and charming up there. #1 is a bit more central for going downtown, but from what I remember of the area (I used to work on E. 49th and 3rd Avenue), there just isn't much around that area. Keep in mind, I lived on the LES when I lived in NYC so I'm a bit more downtown oriented...

Sorry - should have clarified .... I'm just visiting New York for 3 weeks.
First NY trip - from Sydney.

I don't think you could go "wrong" with either. They are both in nice locations, choice #2 is more residential. I think maybe you should think about what you would like to be near? I would pick #1, but that's just me.

I'd second the 86th Street place. If you had been here several times before, I think both would be fine, but you are pretty far east at the 55th Street place, and those are long blocks to walk to get to midtown streets like Fifth or Broadway. The 49th/50th Street crosstown buses are faster than they used to be, but still slow.

86th Street is a busy crosstown artery and there will be more bus options there. In addition, as mentioned, you will be almost next to Central Park, which not only is a nice location, but it makes for a quicker walk to midtown because you can walk along the park unimpeded by traffic crossings.

Yikes. I guess the pet sitting didn't work out? Aren't you supposed to be coming this month??

Giving you more info than you asked for, you've got the address wrong on apt #2. 24 east would put you either b/w Fifth and Madison or Madison and Park yet the website for that apt. says it's near 3rd and the pics bear that out. Looks like a very basic student type apt, not very comfortable to me. But it's near the subway stop, not too far from the park and would put you near most of the museums (the Met, the Guggenheim, the Whitney etc).

The other place (which I can find no photos of....that photo on their home page is NOT this apt) is a residential area that's also steps from the major midtown area. You could walk to MOMA from here and would also be near Rockefeller Center etc.

Curious to know the prices of both of these. If they're anything near $200/night I think it's too much (at least for the place on 86th). 86th st is a big, 2 way street with a crosstown bus. If this apt. faces the front of the building on a low floor it could be noisy.

Based on what I remember you said you liked, I wouldn't pick either location. As I said originally, I think you'd prefer upper westside, Union Square area, Chelsea, the village. If you're still coming this month, I can't believe you couldn't find something great through newyork.craigslist staying in someone's apt while they're away on vacation. Or maybe you'd rather deal with an agent?

I did a quick "ish" search on craigslist and found a fair number of options (not knowing whether they're still available.) I'd also suggest contacting citylightsnewyork.com

Hi McLaurie,
Yes, coming next Friday (12th) but staying with my friend in Chelsea until 17th when she goes home, so thought a change of area might be fun.

The Habitat #11670 does look pretty basic, but I thought the location would be good. The booking slip definitely says "24 East 86th Street". Cost is $160/night.

I've asked Metrohome for pics of their apartments. They're offering a Studio at $129 and a 1BR at $189. Both at the same address. I've asked them to e-mail pics of both, based on your comment. Both were listed on their website with links to pics which looked fine.

I'll have a look on craigslist. I don't mind not going through an Agent, although I guess I thought it might be a bit more secure (in terms of giving ccard details over internet etc.)

Thanks & cheers

If it's near Third the 24 is a typo - it would actually be 240 something. This is a very busy, fairly commercial street - but you are right near the subway - and could easily walk to the museums. Neighborhood has tons of places to eat, bars and cafes.

I would take this over midtwon - but like mclaurie - think you would prefer the West side - much more real NYC (the east side tends to be way more baby stockbrokers and clonish wannabees in matching everything - west side is much more diverse).

Without a doubt, 86th Street. You're on Museum Mile and near a major subway station (Lexington Ave/86th St.).

And with Central Park so close, you're golden.


(Among other things, the 55th Street location is too far east to be convenient to . . . anything, really.)

I've actually lived in both these areas within several blocks and think both have their merits. I don't agree the 55th st. place is inconvenient. It would be near both the 4,5,6 trains and the E train and as I said, is residential yet walking distance to all of midtown.

While of the 2 locations I think the 86th st one would hold more interest for you to do the museums, I don't like the looks of the apt. and I would find it a bit depressing. If you were going to be with your friend and not spend much time there I'd say fine. But on your own I'd go for a nicer apt.

In your shoes I'd contact citylightsnewyork.com and see what they have available. I'd even consider their "hosted" option since you're on your own.

I've had another look on craigslist and without wading through pages and pages I don't see a lot starting on the 17th.

What you also might consider is one of the inn//b and b type places that have apt type rooms.
Jacksbandb.com and
wymanhouse.com
are on the upper westside.

1871house.com is in the east 60s (wonderful spot)

I should also add the Beacon, the Milburne, the Lucerne and the Excelsior are all nice hotels on the upper westside that have apt style suites that would give you the covenience of an apt plus the benefits of a hotel (like daily maid service). You might want to check those out for availability.

I used to live off of E 86th Street - it's an area of highrise residential buildings and chain store shopping. A few blocks away though is the park and a ton of museums. Just to the south along 2nd Ave is all sorts of restaurants and bars.

The 55th St location is near 2nd Avenue, which down here also has lots of bars & restaurants. But not much else of note.

Both are adequate for transportation. I'd choose 86th just for proximity to the park & museums.

Thanks so much everyone - much appreciated. I'll take the 86th Street one for a week for its proximity to lots of things I want to see. It is pretty basic but w.t.h., I can always pretend I'm a teenage student again LOL If I really don't like it, can always move for the 2nd week.

Thanks again!

I'd pick the mid and upper East Side over the Upper West Side.

You'll experience less gruff and less rough-around-the-edges populace in the East Side than you would in the Upper West. Definitely a lot more smiling faces ont he streets and a lot more safer than the Upper WS.

Concerne4uall -

Sorry - you have obvously never visited the upper west side. (Have you ever been to NYC?) It is perfectly safe (as safe as anything but staying inside your own house) - that's why it's filled with multimillion dollar co-ops - and populated by dozens of world famous actors, directors, musicans etc.

As for gruff and rough around the edges populace - can;t imagne what you're tlking about - I have found people on the upper west side (and I have lived on both sides for extended periods of time) much more real and friendly - less pretentious as a rule.

But - perhaps you're one of those people who become terrified if you happen to see anyone who isn;t exactly like you?

(And I don;t mean to belittle those on the east side - most are perfectly nice, polite people - but the general atmosphere is somewhat different - with the west side having more long-term residents - and the east side more "dormatoriums" of semi-upscale young people recently out of school living in groups to get started.)

The UES and UWS are very similar -- some of the blocks are nearly identical.

But the UES does have a higher percentage of post-war residential buildings and therefore attracts a more socio-economic advantaged group of people (not to mention the presence of 5th, Madison & Park Aves.).

The UWS is a great neighborhood, perfectly safe, but it does have some blocks that might appear to be "rough around the edges" simply because the buildings are older etc. and therefore attract a different demographic.

nytraveler,

I wish you would take poster observations, as I do with yours, in message boards less personally.

As a matter of fact, 2 years ago, I moved in the UWS and other than the areas near Central Park W and Columbus Ave (where I presently own a co-op), I hesitate to say that avenues from here on towards the river are as safe and as affluent (other than the 5% that you must be referring to) than the majority of 5th, Park, Madison and most of UWS and Mid-town to Turtle Bay. Just to put my POV in perspective, I moved from the Upeer East Side.

You probably need to brush up on your NYC geography and demographic make-up and let reality set-in, my dear.

concerned4uall -

I have no idea what you mean by your last post. It completely contradicts what you said earlier. And is also internally contradictory.

Are you saying the area is rich(like 5th and Park Aves) - except for Cenral Park West?

Or that the nasty people live on Amsterdam and Broadway?

Most of the east side is not like Fifth and Park Aves - much more - from Third over to the River includes a lot of dormatoriums.

And what does Turtle Bay have to do with either one? (Talk about not knowing geography.)

I think we can all agree that both areas are primarily middle/upper middle class with a leavening of incredible wealth (which by the way IS on Central Park West) - and both are very safe areas of the city - but that they do have a different flavors.