Battery Park City

I used to love BPC. It was the only place in Manhattan where you could actually go home and find yourself in a haven of peace and quiet. No longer. In the span of a couple of years they opened the statue of liberty to visitors, Built the Pier A house (a series of bars and restaurants in a large b... Read more  I used to love BPC. It was the only place in Manhattan where you could actually go home and find yourself in a haven of peace and quiet. No longer. In the span of a couple of years they opened the statue of liberty to visitors, Built the Pier A house (a series of bars and restaurants in a large building) and the Brookfield mall. Now I find myself trying to weave in and out of masses of tourists on my way to and from home almost daily. Evenings at home used to be full of peace and quiet. Now evenings consist of the sounds of traffic and car horns in the distance even with my windows closed. I used to wake up every morning of the Spring, Summer and much of the Fall with the chirping of various birds. Now I wake up every morning to the sounds of vans backing up and service trucks. Finding parking has become difficult. Outside of Pier A there is a constant barrage of drunk people and employees hanging out at the edge of the trees canopy and just sitting on the edge of it having a smoke like if it was a stoop. And the other day my friend was complaining about one of the drunks catcalling her. "This place is morphing into the Bronx, but the prices remain Battery Park prices!" She said. Though I wouldn't have quite put it that way, I can see her point. Right now as I write this It's 1:20AM and there is a barrage of horns honking outside that have been going on for hours. It's like this on Saturdays now just like the rest of the city. This neighborhood still has very nice water views, but the cost of living is very high even compared to the rest of NYC. A coffee and a croissant egg and cheese sandwich will run you about $9 (not a joke) at one of the local cafes. Not to mention the high taxes and fees of apartments here. When it was an escape from manhattan I figured paying a little more was worth it, but now with the tourists and traffic and characters walking around- it's just becoming like the rest of the city and I hardly see the point of paying so much to live here anymore.  Less

At the southeastern tip of Manhattan lies a wealthy community that is very much ‘the future’ of New York City. Created atop a landfill, it was thriving until the September 11th terrorist attacks on the nearby World Trade Center made it feel like a target and residents began to desert the area in ... Read more  At the southeastern tip of Manhattan lies a wealthy community that is very much ‘the future’ of New York City. Created atop a landfill, it was thriving until the September 11th terrorist attacks on the nearby World Trade Center made it feel like a target and residents began to desert the area in fear and home values plummeted.

Now, 10 years later, BCP is booming again and filled with deep-pocketed individuals and families who have the money to purchase six-figure homes (The median sales price is currently $1,303,998.)

Apartments are high-end, too.

Studios in doormen building average about $2,900, while one-bedrooms in luxury towers can be had for $3,200. This is pretty much in line with most areas of Manhattan. But, if you want more space, prepare to pay a lot more money.

The rent for a 2-bedroom is close to $6,000!

One of great things about this neighborhood is how close it makes you feel to nature. Although the high-rise buildings are extremely urban, there is a magnificent esplanade that allows you to stroll and bicycle along the Hudson River. There are also nearly two dozen tiny ‘pocket parks’ in BPC that mean you don’t have to stay in your ‘ivory tower,’ but can come down to earth to enjoy greenery and frequently changing art installations.

On the downside, this is definitely a tourist destination area. That means that on weekends and during the summer, it is crowded with visitors (including international tourists) and BPC goes from feeling home-y to feeling hyper.

Commuting can be a nightmare, especially in inclement weather. Buses serve the area, but they are slow, particularly at rush hour. You’ll need to walk at least 10 minutes to reach one of the subway lines that serve the area.

Many residents simply take taxis, and that ain’t cheap.  Less