Upper East Side to West 57th Street: Louder, more convenient and more touristy
I rented a studio apartment in the
East 70s near First Avenue for about four years. Then, three years ago, I
bought a one-bedroom on 57th between Ninth and Tenth Avenues.
Personally, the Upper East side
felt a bit too quiet. I didn’t spend my free time there. I always seemed to
leave my neighborhood to meet my friends.
Ideally, I was hoping to buy a
place on the West Side, preferably below 23rd Street. I also looked in Hell’s
Kitchen, but this apartment was in much better condition and was much bigger
than other places I’d seen further downtown.
I generally like the location. It
is loud -- 57th Street and Ninth Avenue are both big, loud streets. It’s more
convenient, though, because I’m only a block and a half from the Time Warner
Center station, which has lot of train options. When I lived on the Upper East Side
I was a good walk from the 4,5 and 6, and those are notoriously difficult trains.
When I bought my place I was
working downtown, but now I work within walking distance of my apartment, so
that’s an added perk. And I find that friends come to my
neighborhood more often now.
I also like being closer to Central
Park, and find I spend more time there. In terms of going out to eat,
there are several Thai restaurants on Ninth Avenue in the high-40s and low-50s
that are reasonably priced and reliable.
I also feel that there’s more
diversity here than on the UES. That was more family oriented; here you see
younger people, families and older couples.
Where I am feels more commercial --
there are definitely a lot of business buildings. Because I’m on the cusp of
Hell’s Kitchen and Columbus Circle, I’m kind of in between a couple of neighborhoods.
That’s good and bad -- it’s good because I get to take advantage of two
neighborhoods, but the downside is that it doesn’t have a “neighborhoody” feel.
Also, when I bought the place I
didn’t think about it, but there’s much more of a touristy feel than I
expected--especially after work and on the weekends--thanks in part to how close I am to the Time Warner Center. During the week, on the workdays, there’s a businessy
feel. It’s definitely a lot more busy
than where I was living previously.
I still go downtown a lot, but I’m
definitely in my neighborhood more than I was on the UES.
I’d like to be further downtown,
but I don’t know that I ever could have gotten as nice -- and as big -- an apartment.
Transitions highlights New Yorkers’ first impressions as they transition from one neighborhood to another. Want to tell us your transition story? Drop us an email.
Related:
East Village to the Upper East Side: Singing the Trader Joe's blues
Escape from the UES: Goodbye douchebaggery, hello Hell's Kitchen
