From Williamsburg to Bed-Stuy: I was tired of the tourists and wanted to live somewhere less hectic
- Blair left a shared two bedroom where she paid $3,250 for $3,800 one bedroom with lots of amenities
- She lives in a new development with a gym, terrace, co-working space, golf simulator, and screening room
Blair on the roof of her new rental building, AtlanticBK.
After living in Williamsburg for five years, Blair felt the area was becoming too touristy, plus it was hard to access via public transportation. Her hunt for an easier commute and a stronger sense of community led her to an amenity-laden building on the border of Bed-Stuy and Prospect Heights. Here’s Blair’s story as told to Kelly Kreth.
I'm originally from Los Angeles and I moved to New York City to attend St. John's University where I studied chemistry. I graduated in 2019 and have called New York home ever since.
I was on the pre-med track St. John's, but over time my passion shifted. When the covid pandemic hit, I leaned heavily into fitness, and that experience ultimately changed the direction of my career. I've been with Orangetheory Fitness for seven years as a sales and operations manager. I’m also a personal trainer at two Brooklyn locations.
Most recently, I lived in Williamsburg for about five years, renting a condo at The Edge. It was a shared, two bedroom, two bath with a balcony overlooking the East River and Manhattan skyline from the 25th floor. The views were incredible but being that high up wasn't good for my anxiety. The rent for the 1,157-square-foot unit was $6,500, which I split equally with a roommate. The building’s gym was old, but there was an indoor pool and basketball court.
[Editor's note: “Transitions” features first-person accounts of what it’s like to move from one NYC neighborhood to another. Have a story to share? Drop us an email. We respect all requests for anonymity.]
One of my favorite things to do in Williamsburg was to walk to Domino Park and watch the boats and jet skis ride by. I also enjoyed grabbing a quick lunch at Café Mogador. Their salmon and Mediterranean salad is delicious, especially with a side of beets. I would usually finish the night with a quick walk to Greenpoint to get ice cream from Caffé Panna. For takeout I was a big fan of Williamsburg Thai and Ako Sushi on Bedford. I also love Fini on Bedford and Roberta’s in Domino Park for pizza.
Living on the waterfront was beautiful, and being surrounded by some of the city's best restaurants and bars was definitely a major perk. At the same time, that was also one of the biggest downsides. On weekends, the neighborhood got so crowded that it sometimes felt like Times Square. Getting where I needed to go on one-way streets was also a challenge, and parking was always a hassle.
Why she decided to move
I never took the subway to work because the route would have required me to go into Manhattan and then back into Brooklyn, which just didn't make sense. I always drove. Depending on the time of day and which studio I was going to, my commute could take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. Then of course I had to find parking. After a while, I was just over it.
Williamsburg is wonderful, but it can be cliquey and touristy. I felt the area was changing, and it was time for me to explore more of Brooklyn and find an area with more of a neighborhood feel.
My roommate was feeling similarly and after living together for several years, we decided it was the right time to have our own places. Eventually, we found friends of friends who were interested in taking over our lease, and once that happened, the rental process moved incredibly fast: Securing new tenants, touring apartments, and signing my new lease happened in just over a week.
During that week I used Zillow to find listings and I toured seven or eight different buildings, most of them in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area. My main priority was finding a place closer to work with nicer amenities. I wanted a modern building with great features and a neighborhood that felt a little less hectic than Williamsburg.
The rental process was super competitive. Every time I entered an apartment, I had a sense that the place could be gone in an hour. It didn’t matter if it was freezing outside or what the weather was like—people were still out there touring apartments and making decisions quickly.
In the end, AtlanticBK checked all the boxes for me. I didn’t know until I toured it that the same developer, Douglaston Development, also did The Edge.
What she likes about her new place
Now I live alone in a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment with a huge terrace on a lower floor, which was one of the main reasons I chose the place. I love having my own space, and the outdoor area has been a great addition to my life. My rent is $3,800. That was the upper end of my budget, but I received two months free as a concession, which made the effective rent more reasonable.
I’m usually finished with work by 2 p.m., and every time I walk through the front doors, I’m greeted by doormen who know me by name. That personal connection makes coming home feel special.
Given my line of work, I spend a lot of time eating, so a typical day after I get home from work often starts with a meal on the outdoor terrace, where I catch up with my neighbor and her dog, who are frequently enjoying their terrace as well. Afterward, I’ll head to the gym—which is much bigger than my last building’s gym—and then take advantage of the outdoor area to stretch and unwind after my workout. Depending on my workload, I might bring my computer to one of the coworking spaces to get some work done, or even take a quick nap when I have the chance. Then, of course, it’s time to eat again!
Most evenings, I’ll take a glass of wine up to the rooftop, which has become one of my favorite places in the building. With 360-degree views of New York City and so many residents enjoying the same ritual, it’s the perfect way to end the day.
My schedule often starts as early as 5 a.m. and can end as late as 9 p.m., so I’m thankful I have an easier commute now. It's less than a 15-minute walk, and if I'm in a hurry, I can hop on a CitiBike and be at work in about three minutes. It's made a huge difference in my day-to-day life.
What she likes about the area
The neighborhood is up-and-coming. There are so many new buildings rising around me. One thing I love—and something that reminds me of my California days—is there are so many block parties in the summer. Almost every weekend one of the streets in the neighborhood is closed to traffic and full of people enjoying music, BBQ, you name it. It’s busy, but not too busy. And I love the diversity of the area.
I love to walk to Prospect Park to meet up with friends, their dogs, and play music, eat snacks, and just have fun.
I do miss the stores in my old Williamsburg neighborhood. It was very convenient to run down the street and find a new outfit for last minute dinner plans.
But the deeper you go into Bed-Stuy, the more you discover hidden gems. There are countless vintage shops, a perfume vendor on the corner, and little storefronts filled with handmade treasures. It feels completely different from the Chanel boutique and luxury shops that have become more common in Williamsburg. What I love most is the sense of discovery. Many of these places don’t even have signs.
I love to get matcha or iced coffee from Canyon Coffee. It is originally from California and this is their first NYC location so it’s a little bit of home. Doris Bar around the corner on Franklin is a cute bar that plays records. I also like C’mon Everybody for a later night vibe with dancing.
Every time I show a girlfriend my walk-in closet, they all have the same reaction: “I need this in my life.” Everyone is amazed by the building’s amenities—the golf simulator, screening room, the co-working spaces, and everything else the building has to offer. At the end of the day, I’m a homebody and everything is here. I’ve especially enjoyed it when friends come over on snow days and we utilize all the amenities.
I’ve already referred a friend of mine to the building. I told her how much I loved it here, and now she’s a resident too, which is amazing.
People say New Yorkers aren’t friendly but to be honest, I feel like I’m surrounded by such helpful, nice people here. Everyone is happy to give you directions, but you have to walk fast!
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