POSTED ON THU, AUGUST 9, 2018 BY CAIT ETHERINGTON

If you can’t bear the idea of living in the dorms for another year, you’re not alone. Unless you happen to go to Columbia where over 90 percent of students live on campus, there’s a high likelihood you’ll be searching for your own apartment at some point during your college years, just like 57 percent of students at NYU and 74 percent at The New School. And if you’re like most students, you’ll be looking for an apartment far from downtown that strikes the right balance between affordability, commutability, and access to services.

To help you make the smartest decision possible, 6sqft has compiled a list of affordable, student-friendly neighborhoods in Manhattan and Brooklyn. By New York City standards, all of these are both safe (e.g., reported fewer than 1.5447 crimes per 1000 people in June 2018) and within reach (e.g., on average, three-bedroom units can still be rented for less than $5,000 per month). Using July 2018 City Realty data on average neighborhood rents, we’ve broken down how much you’ll pay on average to live in a three-bedroom shared unit in each of these neighborhoods. We’ve also provided average commute times to both Union Square, which is easily walkable to NYU, The New School, and Cooper Union, and to the Columbia University campus.

Recommended Manhattan neighborhoods

Morningside Heights

Expect to pay: $1,433 for a room in a shared three-bedroom apartment

Average morning commutes: Union Square: 30 minutes; Columbia: 2 minutes

Pros: If you’re attending Columbia, you’re essentially still on campus; if not, you’re in a neighborhood with a lot of student-friendly services.

Cons: You won’t meet many New Yorkers since Morningside Heights is home to a high percentage of people just like you.

Broadway in Morningside Heights, via Wiki Commons

Morningside Heights, located north of the Upper West Side but south of Harlem and encompassing the Columbia University campus, is the largest student neighborhood in New York City. While not everything in Morningside Heights is owned by Columbia, many buildings, including much of the off-campus housing, is owned by the university. Reportedly, Columbia owns approximately 14.9 million square feet across 232 properties, most of it located in Morningside Heights. Whether you’re attending Columbia or not, however, there is no question that Morningside Heights has a lot to offer students, including relatively affordable rents, access to student-focused services, and decent MTA access. While not the safest neighborhood in the city, Morningside Heights also won’t raise any alarm bells with your parents—it has a relatively low crime rate of only 1.3735 crimes per 1000 residents.

Washington Heights

Expect to pay: $1,002 for a room in a shared three-bedroom apartment

Average morning commutes: Union Square: 35-40 minutes); Columbia: 16 minutes

Pros: You’ll be living in a diverse Upper Manhattan neighborhood and have access to some of the very best tacos in the city.

Cons: You’ll be part of the neighborhood’s ongoing gentrification.

Washington Heights, via Brian Godfrey/Flickr

A predominately Dominican community located above 179th Street, Washington Heights is a diverse, affordable, and relatively safe Manhattan neighborhood (notably, the crime rate that matches that found in the Morningside Heights neighborhood) with a lot to offer students. In fact, in June 2018, a New York Post headline declared “Washington Heights is the New Williamsburg.” Why? Apparently, more millennials now live in Washington Heights than any other city neighborhood with 10 percent of the population (50,103 residents) ages 20 to 34.

Still, the primary reason to move up to Washington Heights is affordability and the generous apartment sizes. While many other neighborhoods have been undergoing heavy gentrification for years, and in the process seen units remodeled, in Washington Heights, it’s often still possible to rent a three bedroom that actually comes with three real bedrooms (e.g., they are big enough to accommodate a bed and other furniture and come with a closet and window to the outdoor world), a separate living room, and separate kitchen. Once you move in, however, don’t miss out by spending all your time at home. Hone up on your Spanish and go out and explore.

Inwood

Expect to pay: $983 for a room in a shared three-bedroom apartment

Average morning commutes: Union Square: 45 minutes; Columbia: 25 minutes

Pros: The rents are affordable, most of the apartments are large, and you’re technically still in Manhattan.

Cons: Commuting downtown may be frustrating and don’t expect to find many espresso bars or yoga studios. The City Council just passed a controversial rezoning that many worry will threaten affordability.

Inwood Hill Park, via FDana/lickr.

Like its southern neighbor, Washington Heights, Inwood is affordable (a room in a shared three-bedroom unit is still less than $1,000 per month on average), home to generously sized apartments, and has a lot of great Latin American restaurants. Unlike Washington Heights, which has already started to be overrun with Millennials looking for great deals, Inwood remains a somewhat older and sleepier neighborhood. While the commute to downtown may be frustrating (to get to a class at NYU, Cooper Union or The New School, you’ll need to give yourself at least an hour), if you’re looking for affordability in Manhattan, you can’t go wrong.  As an added bonus, it is possible to cycle all the way from Inwood down to the West Village along a designated Greenway and if you’re truly sporty, you can even join the Inwood Canoe Club.

Roosevelt Island

Expect to pay: $1,658 for a room in a shared three-bedroom apartment

Average morning commutes: Union Square: 25 minutes; Columbia: 41 minutes

Pros: You’ll be living below 100th Street in Manhattan and get to ride the Roosevelt Island Tram every day.

Cons: It may be a bit weird to live on an island that was historically reserved for prisoners, quarantined smallpox patients, and the insane.

Aerial view of Roosevelt Island, via Schizoform/Flickr

If you’re new to New York City, you may have never even heard about Roosevelt Island, but in fact, there is an island in the middle of the East River and people do live there. There are two primary ways to get on to Roosevelt Island—the Roosevelt Island Tram, which tourists also like to ride just for fun, and the F train, which stops at Roosevelt Island Station and also happens to be the deepest MTA station (it’s located over 100 feet below ground level). While you technically can drive on to the island, few people do.

Once you get there, it’s also full of surprises. Despite the island’s history (for a taste of the island’s past, visit the ruins of the Smallpox Hospital), Roosevelt Island has a lot to offer. In addition to its somewhat affordable rents, since the recent opening of Cornell Tech, the island has started to attract a younger demographic and more student-focused services. While not for everyone, if you happen to be attending Cornell Tech or just want to live somewhere quiet and quirky in Manhattan, Roosevelt Island could be a neighborhood worth exploring.

Recommended Brooklyn neighborhoods

Bushwick

Expect to pay: $968 for a room in a shared three-bedroom apartment

Average morning commutes: Union Square: 35 minutes; Columbia: 1 hour

Pros: You’ll find affordable and relatively large apartments in a neighborhood with a lot of vintage clothing shops, cafes, and after-hours parties.

Cons: In April 2019, the L train is scheduled to be shut down for repairs so depending on your specific location in Bushwick, commuting is about to get a lot worse.

Bushwick, via Wally Gobetz/Flickr

If you think Bushwick is just a place where those who can’t afford Williamsburg now live, think again. As recently reported by the New York Times, in the 2016 election, several polling stations along Bedford Avenue just south of Division in Williamsburg voted predominately Republican. Combine this shocking news with the neighborhood’s soaring rents and flourishing condo culture and suddenly staying on the crowded L-train for a few more stops starts to sound like a great idea. What you’ll find in Bushwick are affordable apartments and lots of Millennial-focused services. Also, if you move to Bushwick now, when you’re old and boring and Bushwick is completely gentrified, you’ll be able to say to your kids, “I lived in Bushwick when it was still gritty and full of artists and musicians.”

Bed-Stuy

Expect to pay: $1,090 for a room in a shared three-bedroom apartment

Average morning commutes: Union Square: 40-50 minutes; Columbia: over 1 hour

Pros: You’ll discover a friendly neighborhood full of brownstones, many with their original features, including fireplaces, still intact.

Cons: Get prepared for a long commute, especially if you need to get uptown.

Bed-Stuy brownstones, via CityRealty

Bedford-Stuyvesant still has a somewhat marred reputation, largely based on its historically high crime rate. Over the past two decades, however, the neighborhood has undergone many changes—violent crime fell by 44 percent between 2000 and 2016 and during the same period, the number of local businesses increased by 73 percent, making it the fourth-fastest-growing business district in the city. If you choose to live in Bed-Stuy, you’ll be choosing to live a racially and economically diverse neighborhood with a lot of beautiful but not necessarily already meticulously restored brownstones, and access to affordable groceries and services. In terms of subway access, the 1,2,3, L, and C lines all run through the neighborhood.

Crown Heights

Expect to pay: $1,099 for a room in a shared three-bedroom apartment

Average morning commutes: Union Square: 35 minutes; Columbia: 1 hour

Pros: You’ll be living in an affordable neighborhood with the city’s best Caribbean cuisine (yes, you’ll soon be skipping Miss Lily’s on Houston and frequenting Gloria’s on Nostrand Avenue instead).

Cons: Prepare for a long commute to any Manhattan campus.

Crown Heights, via CityRealty

Crown Heights was once a middle-class and predominantly Jewish neighborhood. By the 1960s, the demographics of the community had started to shift, with many long-time residents moving out to the suburbs and a new predominately West Indian immigrant community moving in. Today, Crown Heights remains a diverse neighborhood with a high stock of affordable rental units in brownstones and pre-war apartment buildings.  If you live in Crown Heights, get ready to eat some of the city’s best West Indian food and get ready to meet your neighbors. In the summer, it is common for families to drag their lawn chairs, sound systems, and barbeques out on to the sidewalk for spontaneous parties.

Greenpoint

Expect to pay: $1,418 for a room in a shared three-bedroom apartment

Average morning commutes: Union Square: 35-40 minutes; Columbia: 1 hour

Pros: You’ll discover a fun neighborhood known for its live-work artist buildings, Polish delis, donut shop, and futuristic-looking sewage treatment plant.

Cons: The neighborhood is extremely close to Manhattan but not on any major subway lines, which makes commuting surprisingly onerous.

Greenpoint waterfront, via CityRealty

If you grew up in a small town, Greenpoint might look a bit familiar. Notwithstanding the new condos, most of the neighborhood is comprised of two-story buildings covered in vinyl siding. While a few apartments still have original features, many suffered unfortunate renovations in the 1950s to 1980s, which can leave one feeling like they’re living in a neglected suburb. Greenpoint is also one of the city’s most toxic neighborhood and not because it’s home to a huge sewage treatment plant. From the 1950s to 1970s, several local oil refiners leaked millions of gallons of oil into the local water system.

So, why move to Greenpoint? By and large, it remains an affordable neighborhood and one close to the East Village and most other downtown neighborhoods. If you ride a bike, expect your commute to most downtown campuses to run between 25 and 30 minutes. It’s also home to a lot of great coffee shops and bars and more essential amenities such as grocery stores and laundromats. Finally, if you grew up watching Lena Dunham’s “Girls,” this is where the show was set—according to Dunham, her characters were living on Greenpoint’s India Street.

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237 Carroll Street. Apt 4 Carroll Gardens

Price: $4950| Rental | Rooms: 7 | Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 2 | Approx Sq Ft: 1250

Carroll Gardens 3BR 2Bth Filled w Light! This rambling top floor rental has a huge skylight and 6 windows overlooking Carroll Park and the Manhattan sky line. This apartment has been completely renovated with brand new kitchen and lovely large baths. Great closet space and a washer dryer. Only a half block walk to the Carroll St F/G. Close to all the great restaurants and shops in Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill. Available August 22nd.

Call today or send me a message on my contact me page today.

We Have Officially Arrived At A Moment In Housing Nationwide – Yes according to Miller Samuels

Two different markets show the same trend for somewhat different reasons:

• High-cost markets seeing a slowdown in sales due to the uncertainty of the impact of the December 22, 2018, federal tax law as it relates to the housing market.

• The balance of the U.S. market has crossed an affordability threshold after years of rising housing prices, years of chronically short inventory levels, years of nominal wage growth and now…rising mortgage rates. There is buyer fatigue out there and more are starting to take a break from the merry-go-round until more certainty returns. Here’s the relevant news feed on this:

— Southern California home sales crash, a warning sign to the nation [CNBC] — U.S. New-Home Sales Dropped in June [WSJ] — Existing-Home Sales Slide, Thanks to Soaring Prices [Realtor.com]

by Jen Carlson, Gothamist on Jun 7, 2018

Brooklyn Bridge Park will be creeping further up into Brooklyn Heights with its newest addition: a public pool in Squibb Park, which sits between Brooklyn Heights and Brooklyn Bridge Park (behind that large hotel/condo development). Squibb Park is not widely used—it’s a large concrete area furnished with just a few benches and a public bathroom; it’s mostly accessed to get to the pedestrian bridge.

While Squibb Park isn’t technically part of Brooklyn Bridge Park, we’re told that “subject to necessary approvals, NYC Parks intends to enter into an agreement with BBP for the development, operation, and maintenance of a pool and optional related amenities at Squibb Park.”

This morning BBP will publicly announce plans to build a permanent swimming pool in Squibb Park, though not all details have been ironed out yet. Here’s what we do know:

• Like all NYC Parks pools, this pool will be free and open to the public.
• There will be community planning sessions for the purpose of gathering feedback from the public. This input will inform the design of the pool, including size and capacity.
• Will there be an other amenities? “We want the community to help us determine a number of things during the public planning sessions,” a rep for BBP told us, including what type of non-swimming activities should be included, and if there should there be a concession.
• The timeline on construction and opening is unclear, first there will be a fundraising campaign and those aforementioned community planning sessions.
• The current pop-up pool at Pier 2 will close down after this season. This is because Brooklyn Bridge Park will break ground on the Pier 2 Uplands project this fall.
• The new pool’s hours will likely operate under the pop-up pool hours: between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Construction of the pool is estimated to cost between $10-$15 million. One-third of that will be funded by BBP; Midtown Equities and Alloy Development with Monadnock Construction, and DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners have also dedicated funds toward the project; and the remainder will be raised publicly and privately in partnership with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy.

Eric Landau, Brooklyn Bridge Park President, said, “We are always striving to provide the best amenities and activities for park visitors. The temporary pop-up pool has been a much-loved summer attraction and now we are thrilled to announce plans to bring a permanent pool to Brooklyn Bridge Park.”

At the official announcement later this morning, Landau will be joined by Deputy Mayor and BBP Board Chair Alicia Glen, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, AND Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. We will update if any more information becomes available at the press conference.

Update: The pool will likely not open until 2020; community planning sessions will begin later this year.

This is not the first time Squibb Park has gotten a pool; in the 1940s (before it was named Squibb Park) there was a wading pool in the area.

by Brooklyn Bridge Park on Jul 10, 2018

Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) today opened another five acres of parkland on Pier 3, the final pier to be converted to parkland. The opening brings the Park to 90% complete. The most prominent feature of Pier 3 will be its large central lawn protected from the wind and sun by groves of shrubs and trees. Along the north side of the Pier there is an exploratory labyrinth with interactive features. The outer section of the Pier hosts a grove with moveable furniture, including picnic tables and Adirondack chairs clustered to create a variety of seating areas. The surrounding hardscaped area provides space for small events and performances as well as unprogrammed play.

The labyrinth on Pier 3 has hedges of varying sizes to create an exploratory maze of picnic tables, mirrored games, and historic elements salvaged from the park like bollards, cleats, and excavated railroad tracks. Within the maze you will find a walk-in kaleidoscope, an echo game, dance chimes, parabolic reflectors, a conference tube, and interesting seating options, including Gunter Beltzig stone seating.

BBP President Eric Landau was joined by Deputy Mayor and BBP Board Chair Alicia Glen, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, State Senator Brian Kavanagh, Council Member Stephen Levin, and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Executive Director Nancy Webster.

“The opening of Pier 3 is not only a milepost for Brooklyn Bridge Park – it’s a major event for our city. Now 90% complete, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s stunning views, cultural partnerships, and recreational amenities have transformed the industrial waterfront, and offer a global model for urban park development,” said Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen.

“Today is a great day for Brooklyn Bridge Park as we open Pier 3, the last pier to be transformed to parkland,” said Eric Landau, Brooklyn Bridge Park President. “We’re so excited to provide even more space for people to play and relax this summer. With Pier 3’s large central lawn and amazing labyrinth for children of all ages, Brooklyn Bridge Park just keeps getting better!”

There is now even more Brooklyn Bridge Park to enjoy!” said Commissioner Silver. “This beautiful destination park continues to grow and flourish, with exciting new interactive additions and more space to gather and relax. The countless visitors to Brooklyn Bridge Park this summer will surely love all that Pier 3 has to offer.”

“Pier 3 is a dynamic waterfront space that will offer endless opportunities for healthy recreation and relaxation to families from Brooklyn and beyond,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “Brooklyn Bridge Park is a gem that gleams brighter with each exciting acre it adds, building on our borough’s commitment to offer high-quality open space that brings people together from all walks of life.”

Today marks another important milestone in bringing Brooklyn Bridge Park closer to completion. This announcement also heralds yet more outdoor recreation options for Brooklyn residents and visitors to our borough. I applaud BBP on making this stride and thank all those who worked to open yet more space on Pier 3,” said Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez.

“I am thrilled to celebrate the opening of new parkland on Pier 3 in ‪Brooklyn Bridge Park,” said Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon. “Visitors can now enjoy a beautiful lawn, explore the labyrinth, and enjoy the waterfront views around the outer section of the Pier. Thanks to the City of New York and the ‪Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation for continuing to improve and beautify our waterfront.”‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Pier 3 isn’t just five acres of additional parkland for Brooklynites and tourists, and it isn’t just space for events, performances, and play — it’s the project that brings Brooklyn Bridge Park to 90% completion. That is a remarkable achievement,” State Senator Brian Kavanagh said. “Every year, millions of New Yorkers and tourists take advantage of all that the park has to offer. Pier 3 will undoubtedly be another major draw that connects visitors with the East River Waterfront. I’d like to congratulate Brooklyn Bridge Park, the City of New York, my elected colleagues, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, our partners in the community, and everyone who played a part in this great achievement — and I look forward to continuing to work with all stakeholders as the final portions of the park are completed.”

“It’s not a park until children, families, and New Yorkers from all over can come and make it their own — that long awaited day is today,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “I’m excited to join the community in announcing the opening of Pier 3. While Brooklyn may be big, five new acres of open space is an even bigger deal, especially on the scenic waterfront. Just in time for summer, let’s join New Yorkers everywhere and make beautiful memories here at Brooklyn Bridge Park.”

“The center of Brooklyn Bridge Park needs an embracing green space, and with Pier 3 we finally have it. The bowl-like lawn provides a serene interior that I think will draw people in, acting as a complementary counterbalance to the dynamics of river and city. Logs of locust are here and there to sit on and more,” said Michael Van Valkenburgh, President and CEO of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. “My team and I have felt tremendously honored to lead the design of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and we are thrilled to see the final pier of the park finally open to the public.”

“What a great day as Brooklyn Bridge Park opens the last of its magnificent piers. With its inventive play labyrinth, expansive lawn, and flexible program space, Pier 3 promises to be yet another well loved destination in the park. The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy can’t wait to join our neighbors from all over New York City — and the world — who will play, relax, and simply delight in this extraordinary new park space on the waterfront,” said Nancy Webster, Executive Director of Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy.

About Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, known as Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP), is the not-for-profit entity responsible for the planning, construction, maintenance and operation of Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre sustainable waterfront park spanning 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline. As steward of the park, BBP has transformed this previously deteriorated stretch of waterfront into a world-class park where the public can gather, play, relax and enjoy sweeping views of New York Harbor. The self-sustaining park was designed by the award-winning firm of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. and features expansive lawns, rolling hills, waterfront promenades, innovative playgrounds, a greenway, sports facilities and the popular Jane’s Carousel. BBP serves thousands of people on any given seasonal day, who come to picnic, walk their dog, play soccer, jog, bike or roller skate. Brooklyn Bridge Park is a signature public investment for the 21st Century and will be an enduring legacy for the communities, elected officials and public servants who made it happen.

With bidding wars on homes flaring up all over the country, cash offers trump all

as reported by Jeff Andrews May 22, 2018, 1:30pm EDT on Curbed.com

Anyone who has sold a home knows there’s a fair amount of uncertainty in the transaction between receiving an offer and actually closing the sale, which can take as long as 90 days. A buyer’s mortgage application could unexpectedly be denied, or the buyer could walk away from the deal at the last minute, forcing the seller to start the whole process over again by putting the home back on the market.

It’s no wonder then that when armed with an all-cash offer on a home, the offer is 97 percent more likely to be accepted, according to Redfin. Cash offers remove much of the time and uncertainty associated with obtaining a mortgage for the transaction, allowing sellers to move in short order and on coordinated timelines.

With one economist calling this spring “the most competitive housing market in recorded history,” all-cash offers have become a trump card for the wealthy in home-bidding wars that have erupted all over the country. But Ribbon, a startup that launched last week, wants to give the cash-offer advantage to everyone.

Backed by venture capital firms NFX, Bain Capital, Greylock, and NYCA, the startup launched in Charlotte, North Carolina, and represents both home buyers and sellers, and, in short, provides a guaranteed offer to facilitate all-cash home transactions, in exchange for a 1.95 percent fee.

“We’re taking that single value proposition that a lot of these institutions and iBuyers have, which is access to capital, and we’re democratizing that capital for the benefit of consumers instead of using it for corporate profits,” said Ribbon CEO Shaival Shah. “Cash discounts that consumers earn from our program flow directly back to the consumer. Based on our early deal volume, customers are seeing an average of 5 percent savings to the purchase price by using Ribbon.”