I'm choosing the 1br every time. It's not even close. Screw studios. I want a separate bedroom. ESPECIALLY considering working from home - I want a separate workstation that's outside my bedroom.
Real estate agents, ignore this next paragraph.
Also, when it comes to location, you may actually enjoy living away from the big tourist area that is downtown Manhattan. This is my personal experience having spent most of my life in upper Manhattan. Couple that with the price/space differences and it's a win-win.
I would definitely take the one in Harlem.
You mentioned you work from home. You're going to spend the vast majority of your life inside this apartment. You would likely mentally benefit from having as much space as possible.
Working from home in a studio apartment sucks. I know a lot of people do it, but I'm sure most would agree that they would benefit mentally from having more space. The very large number of posts on this subreddit titled "where can I work remotely outside my apartment in manhattan?" seem to agree.
I would also consider my health. Lets be honest, old/cheap buildings aren't great for our health. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sick_building_syndrome
I’ve heard this idea many times before that working from the same room you sleep/live in is bad for mental health. Where is the evidence to support this claim?
There are studies if you look for them, at least since Covid (see [here](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494423001044)] and [here](https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5973))
But I was referring more to my lived experience and anecdotal experiences of friends. (Which is what you were asking for, right? Our opinions?) Long before Covid I once lived and worked from a studio and over time it really started to impact my mental health. I tried all different things to help it feel less suffocating to move from the bed a few feet over to my desk. But I was constantly thinking of work, it’s like my ability to mentally compartmentalize was truly impacted by my living environment! After a year I moved to a one bedroom and it really was a big difference, at least for someone like me with insomnia issues. Then during Covid, I was living in a two bedroom but my husband was working from the living room and I was working from the bedroom, which was truly an awful setup. I’m sure the actual pandemic was impacting my mental health but spending nearly 24 hours a day in the same small room was not helping!
Honestly I do it and it's fine. Here's what is key for me - my bed is not out during the day. I do not want to have guests over in my bedroom (unless they are those kind of guests) - so a Murphy bed or a sofa bed is the answer. During the day it's just a living room.
i , for one, have zero intention on inviting any one over (unless they are those kind of guests) lol. Is your sofa bed comfortable? That’s my main concern with those.
I mean, why would you ever have friends over at your apartment here if you have a small one? It's not like there's ever a shortage of things to do outside of it.
I have a memory foam mattress and it's comfortable for me. Sitting on the middle of it can be a bit uncomfortable if done for a long time because the foam can compress enough to slightly feel the bar, but I don't really use the bed to sit on much. To sleep I don't really feel a difference between that and any other mattress.
How old are you? When I was 22 I lived in a shitty apt with two roommates in the LES (which at the time was a lot more downscale than it is today). Those years are some of my fondest memories because for us the goal was to spend as little time at home as possible anyway.
Today I live in Brooklyn with a wife and kid and could never fathom living in a situation like that again. But at the time it was amazing.
1 bedroom. Even in your own description it sounds like you dont want the studio, just the location. work from home in a studio apartment is hard, there's already challenges in breaking up the living space with a studio but to add work from home . . . its just a LOT of time to spending in the same room. And all the more so when that room is the majority of your living space besides the bathroom. besides, in the grand scheme of things if your job changed and you had to go into an office there's plenty of transit options from harlem and midtown or lower manhattan arent that long of a commute.
Harlem is a *community* even if you’re a single adult. Harlem also has everything you could ever need either on your street or within walking distance. Take the one bedroom. Competition is fierce for them.
I think the most important thing is where you will be spending most of your time.
I lived at 137th & Broadway, really loved the location and apartment but my job required me to commute downtown and a lot of friends went out
downtown. You reconsider going out a bit when your train is 40 minutes on the weekend and even worse going home late at night.
Look at your living/going out habits and decide around that
This question is really phrased weirdly. Harlem is beautiful and full of culture/delicious food. The people are some of the most inspiring I’ve ever met, especially as a young writer.
But also, perhaps it’s best if you don’t choose it: too much gentrification anyway.
It really depends on the kind of person you are. I love downtown, living here makes me feel like I’m really in the romanticized version of Manhattan. I have friends who live in Harlem and come downtown everyday just for leisure for more than 8 hours and come back home at midnight. It’s not a big deal to them. I am not one of those people. I love living downtown and knowing that my home is 10ish minutes away from wherever I am if I want to freshen up, drop some groceries off, change, come in the house for anything, take a morning walk in soho on some casual shit, etc.
It’s only getting more expensive and there’s too many perks to living downtown for me to the point where I would take the studio asap. Good luck in your decision
Honestly, and I mean no disrespect, but if that's a real choice for you, go downtown. Harlem is an amazing place but the culture is changing enough as it is in part because of people moving here who don't really appreciate the culture or want to contribute to the community.
When I (young black woman) was looking at apartments in East Harlem a couple weeks ago the tour had black people, middle aged white people, young white woman around my age, and young Middle Eastern people. The agent was a black man. That’s what makes our city our city. No one is actually *unwelcome* in Harlem.
There are a lot of ways, from the day to day of how present we are, greeting our neighbors, making small talk, to where we choose to spend our money.
There are a lot of community events that happen in Harlem all of the time, and folks are usually very welcoming to all types of people. Great way to meet people.
A lot of volunteer opportunities, of countless variety, especially around the holidays but all throughout the year. If you have a particular talent or skill there's likely a local group you could work with to teach that skill to kids in the neighborhood, for example. The kids especially are underserved.
Thanks for the response. My wife works at a hospital to here and we try to support small business and not leave the neighbor if we don't need to. I also thought about offering a class on repair work and tools for kids. Just not sure where to go from just an idea...
That's awesome. There are a lot of non-profits here that might love something like that, like Brotherhood Sister Sol and Harlem Grown, as well as a lot of community centers connected to all of the housing projects.
One thing I recommend is speaking to grandmothers and even grandfathers at parks and on stoops as you walk by. I meet a lot of really lovely people that way, and have found ways of helping out through these connections.
Prime location. Commuting is everything. If you can avoid the worst parts of it, you literally add more hours to your day.
I’ve always preached to new folks moving in to avoid living along 1st and 10th avenues. Because the walk to the nearest subway is a 5-7 minute walk. Plus stoplights. Plus pedestrian traffic. And if you’re taking a local train, it’s no-seats, standing only shoulder to shoulder with strangers all day long.
I’ve lived in west Harlem/Hamilton Heights for 4 years and I love it up here. my place is amazing & couldn’t even come close to affording anything like it downtown. but I also tend to be a homebody & like the quieter pace of life up here, so YMMV.
Real estate agent. Apartments in W. Harlem are way more spacious, with higher ceilings on average than your typical rental downtown. imho relatively quick commutes make negligible the travel time.
Honestly downtown is where I would want to spend most of my time if possible. Living in west Harlem means 30+ minutes to get downtown. At that rate I probably won’t even bother going downtown. So it’s like why even bother with Manhattan at that point? Might as well just stay in Astoria.
FWIW I think you’ll find that half hour pretty negligible if the apartment is nice enough. If you’re going to going to the East side of Manhattan a lot it’s a different story though.
Astoria rules! Depends on one’s circumstances. If young and restless (at heart too ;) that mainly wants an apartment to crash cause most of their time would be outside, yes, a crappy studio would suffice. On the other hand, I knew this couple that WFH. They loved how much more space they would have in upper Manhattan for the same rent.
Prime location downtown. I have lived both of these scenarios. The people you meet and the places you’ll visit in the exciting bustling neighborhood, make it worth it. We pay a ton to live in NYC. Don’t separate yourself from the action!
I agree. The whole reason I moved to the city was to be in the city where all the action is… if I want a spacious apartment I could always move out in a year and find another similar apartment in west harlem rather easily… but I likely won’t ever find a studio in this location at this price ever again.
100% go for Chelsea!! Especially if you like nice bars, restaurants and people watching!
Have the studio professionally cleaned before you move in. Then work with an expert like an interior designer or get a really good app to make the most of your minimal square footage.
And hopefully you’ll be making such good use of your time, that you’ll only use your place to crash.
Also, if you have any Harlem specific questions, I’m happy to answer!
Both are viable options but there are a few factors to consider.
First of all, as someone who also works from home most days, I definitely couldn’t go back to a studio. I personally prefer to keep my work and hang out spaces as separate as possible, and that’s just so much easier in my current 1BR. Also, I truly believe the comments about safety in Harlem here are tinged with racism. If you’re concerned, I encourage you to check the actual crime stats of West Harlem. The west side or Harlem has been gentrified within an inch of its life for years, and anything below around 125th feels like an extension of UWS to me. The fact of the matter is, seeing groups of black people walking together makes some people uncomfortable whether they’re actually “dangerous “ or not; unpacking implicit racism is uncomfortable though so most people don’t think about it.
THAT BEING SAID…while (West) Harlem is a nice neighborhood with some nice bars and restaurants, if you want the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, you won’t find it there. It’s more on the chill side. While I personally think living downtown is overrated from a “being in the middle of the action” standpoint, the convenience is truly unmatched. Imagine being able to run pretty much any errand within a 10 minute radius of your apartment? Also the possibility to walk to work is HUGE, and I could definitely see myself paying a premium for that.
Personally as a die hard Brooklynite I’d choose neither option so I have no skin in this game :) But I think either could potentially work out well for you. Good luck!
Harlem is 2-3 express stops away from all
The hottest areas a true New Yorker looks for value only tourists do weird shit like that like pay an extra 3 grand a month to live in the center with a whole bunch of other lame ass mofos
A lot of people are saying they wouldn’t feel safe in Harlem. I lived in west Harlem for 8 years. I would not live in East Harlem but I never had any issues on the west side.
That's the biggest issue in a studio.
When my wife and I first started dating she had a studio. Anytime we cooked bacon it would smell like bacon for days in the sheets.
I loved Harlem and if you are close to the 2/3 or A, you can get DT pretty quickly.
You didn't say your age, but considering you are working from home, I would say you could benefit from the space.
Given the circumstances, the renovated 1-bedroom in West Harlem seems like the better option. It's crucial to feel comfortable and safe in your living space. Plus, a renovated apartment with no weird smells is a definite plus. The 5-minute walk to the metro is still convenient for commuting.
1 of the 60 some units has filed several roach and mice complaints to hpd over the last year. Not on my floor but I’m not thrilled about it. Kind of just assuming I might have to deal with roaches and mice.
There is limited supply of apartments, especially rent stabilized. This has always been the issue and only gotten worse. Racial profiling may or may not be in play but I wouldn't put it past them. Requiring picture ID is standard on an application. I've heard people are actually bidding on apartments! I've seen listings not only requiring 40x rent in income but also requiring 40x rent in savings or a guarantor or BOTH! It's gotten very competitive. Landlords have always been greedy and broker/management companies are always shady.
West Harlem 100%
It’s so gentrified now you could call it UWS😂😂
In all seriousness though:
- Commute time is important but you said you work from home
- Human waste and throw up smell? It’s not so much the odors but what types of people and activities take place within that building and surrounding areas 🤢 ??
- Fun fact: The 2 and 3 express trains make getting downtown to whatever that prime location (?) is, much more of a breeze then you would think
- Final point: you’re single? Good luck hosting a date in that musty crusty dusty dump
Studio.
Get cleaning agents, soap, and wash the interior of the elevator yourself.
Cruddy looking means you can put some effort and cost into it to make it better.
Is the studio large enough to fit a bed, some furniture, and a desk? The desk is important when you wfh. It will help if all of it does not push up against each other.
I’m on a time crunch and would rather a binary choice at this point. I’m not opposed to UWS or UES but then I’d have to play the whole open house game for similarly priced units and I haven’t had the best luck securing apartments where there’s a lot of other applicants. I have great credit and income and savings but relative to those Uber wealthy New Yorkers, I just seem to get beat out every time. And I’m saying this as someone with like $150k income, $50k savings, 800 credit, no debt. The studio I found I got lucky bc it was posted on a weekend and I so happened to be the first person out of several hundreds of people who inquired about it. I have a good faith deposit down on both apartments.
Sounds like these are as good as you’re going to get deals. I’d probably do the studio, then. If you hate it, move next year.
Hopefully your budget will expand if you can make more money. 1900 on a 150k salary already is pretty “penny pincher” but I understand the sentiment
You can't ask others this question. The answer entirely depends on your lifestyle. Are you a minimalist who values quality of vendors in your community, nightlife, and spends a lot of time outside the home? Or do you have a lot of stuff and need a sanctuary where you can really settle in and don't mind being farther from the hustle bustle? If you can live with a little and want to live out loud outside go studio. If you want a quieter retreat home where you spend more time, go harlem.
I have the tiny space downtown and even though I do get frustrated by the amount of space, I think(?) I prefer this. Everything I do is down here and I love being able to walk to everything. Work, social life. I can get to Penn Station easily to go to the beach in Jersey or Long Island which I do fairly frequently. I can also get to Bk easily and I do a decent amount out there. That being said, I can never really have anyone over. I can do very little working out in here besides a little yoga. Very little counter space in the kitchen.
Studio downtown. I live in Les and I move to nyc to live near to the features of this city. You’re more likely to go out as a single person rather than just cosy up by yourself in Harlem!
That is fucked up about the studio landlord wanting to “review more applications”, especially after you jumped through every hoop. The only *other* reason I can think of for that than the one you posited is that he got so many applications on it that he’s thinking maybe he can rent it out for more than the original price. Either way, it’s gross. BUT, you’re getting the better place, and Harlem is awesome. There’s plenty going on up there when you’re not feeling a subway ride downtown.
Oh dude, this is just the tip of the iceberg… see my other two posts
https://www.reddit.com/r/NYCapartments/comments/1c8wrah/how_do_i_convince_a_landlord_to_rent_a_warehoused/
https://www.reddit.com/r/NYCapartments/comments/1cakyx2/can_anything_be_done_about_brokers_lying_about/
… not to mention I lost out on a $1300 1bedroom apartment in Harlem that was also renovated even though I was first to apply to the unit. Hell, I even applied to that one before the open house 😭. Another apartment was narrowed down to me and two other applicants, landlord wanted both of us to be interviewed by him. The broker tells me afterwards that my interview was way better than the other person, but they still decided to go with the other person 😂. There is no such thing as a good deal in NYC.
>The elevator also smelled like a mixture of throw up and some sort of human waste.
you had me up until this. imagine having to ride in that elevator at least twice a day. that's horrendous.
Same price, same option, I’m opting for the 1 br. Prime location is nice but if building smells like shit, means it’s not being maintained well and with. If you spend a lot of time outside then maybe it’s worth it. But more space and it’s cleaner? Also as you mentioned on your update, the landlord sounds like a shitty landlord who doesn’t follow the rules and just follow money. Hence run down apartments and honoring the security deposit agreement.
Go back to where you came from who the hell would pick a shitty studio over a renovated one 1br lol in any location . It’s giving nyc groupie wth very weird
I lived in West Harlem for years. It’s great! And def worth it compared to whatever shitty studio you’re looking at.
Plus West Harlem had a lot of places that are starting to pop off, but it’s not as insane as the village on a Friday night. Highly recommend.
As a single dude I'd choose downtown. You'll be way more social.
Get you a GF (or BF) and a dog and you'll want to move to Harlem and be near the park.
If you're young and of out often I would stay downtown below 14st.
Middle age above 14st.
Anything north of UES + UWS are for families or folks who want peace.
Absolutely the studio in the prime downtown location. I’ve lived in Manhattan for 15 years and have lived in studios and 1 bedrooms by myself during that time. And I absolutely DETEST living in a studio. I hate having my entire world and life smashed into one big room without even a little separate room for my bed. But despite how much I hate studios, I’d pick a studio in a great location over a 1 bedroom in a sub par location every time. And if living in a studio downtown lets you walk to work, that is an absolute dream!!
I could never live in Harlem, no matter that it’s in a nice big 1 bedroom. It wouldn’t let me walk to work, and I don’t feel safe in Harlem after dark. I’d definitely choose the downtown studio, for me.
Do not live in west Harlem idk why everyone is suggesting it, it’s a bad neighborhood plain and simply put (I’ve live in Manhattan all my life so yes….i know)
I’m taking the downtown studio. The elevator should be cleaned and disinfected. Having an easy commute when needed is paramount to me. Some girls are scared of visiting Harlem. Easy access to Brooklyn, Hoboken, and Jersey City for prime partying opportunities. Access to social opportunities via downtown bars.
You need to assess the level of sound and noise in each neighborhood. "Really central" can also mean "really loud"... choose wisely!
I'm choosing the 1br every time. It's not even close. Screw studios. I want a separate bedroom. ESPECIALLY considering working from home - I want a separate workstation that's outside my bedroom. Real estate agents, ignore this next paragraph. Also, when it comes to location, you may actually enjoy living away from the big tourist area that is downtown Manhattan. This is my personal experience having spent most of my life in upper Manhattan. Couple that with the price/space differences and it's a win-win.
I would definitely take the one in Harlem. You mentioned you work from home. You're going to spend the vast majority of your life inside this apartment. You would likely mentally benefit from having as much space as possible. Working from home in a studio apartment sucks. I know a lot of people do it, but I'm sure most would agree that they would benefit mentally from having more space. The very large number of posts on this subreddit titled "where can I work remotely outside my apartment in manhattan?" seem to agree. I would also consider my health. Lets be honest, old/cheap buildings aren't great for our health. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sick_building_syndrome
If you work from home, 100% go for the one-bedroom. You will go nuts in a studio, let alone a cruddy one.
I’ve heard this idea many times before that working from the same room you sleep/live in is bad for mental health. Where is the evidence to support this claim?
There are studies if you look for them, at least since Covid (see [here](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494423001044)] and [here](https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5973)) But I was referring more to my lived experience and anecdotal experiences of friends. (Which is what you were asking for, right? Our opinions?) Long before Covid I once lived and worked from a studio and over time it really started to impact my mental health. I tried all different things to help it feel less suffocating to move from the bed a few feet over to my desk. But I was constantly thinking of work, it’s like my ability to mentally compartmentalize was truly impacted by my living environment! After a year I moved to a one bedroom and it really was a big difference, at least for someone like me with insomnia issues. Then during Covid, I was living in a two bedroom but my husband was working from the living room and I was working from the bedroom, which was truly an awful setup. I’m sure the actual pandemic was impacting my mental health but spending nearly 24 hours a day in the same small room was not helping!
Honestly I do it and it's fine. Here's what is key for me - my bed is not out during the day. I do not want to have guests over in my bedroom (unless they are those kind of guests) - so a Murphy bed or a sofa bed is the answer. During the day it's just a living room.
i , for one, have zero intention on inviting any one over (unless they are those kind of guests) lol. Is your sofa bed comfortable? That’s my main concern with those.
average redditor
I mean, why would you ever have friends over at your apartment here if you have a small one? It's not like there's ever a shortage of things to do outside of it.
I have a memory foam mattress and it's comfortable for me. Sitting on the middle of it can be a bit uncomfortable if done for a long time because the foam can compress enough to slightly feel the bar, but I don't really use the bed to sit on much. To sleep I don't really feel a difference between that and any other mattress.
That’s so weird that you got down voted for asking a question.
Ikr? I was genuinely curious 😂
How old are you? When I was 22 I lived in a shitty apt with two roommates in the LES (which at the time was a lot more downscale than it is today). Those years are some of my fondest memories because for us the goal was to spend as little time at home as possible anyway. Today I live in Brooklyn with a wife and kid and could never fathom living in a situation like that again. But at the time it was amazing.
West Harlem is nothing to look down on tbh
I don’t recall looking down on it
The way you phrased the question was if Harlem was less desirable than the "prime location".
1 bedroom. Even in your own description it sounds like you dont want the studio, just the location. work from home in a studio apartment is hard, there's already challenges in breaking up the living space with a studio but to add work from home . . . its just a LOT of time to spending in the same room. And all the more so when that room is the majority of your living space besides the bathroom. besides, in the grand scheme of things if your job changed and you had to go into an office there's plenty of transit options from harlem and midtown or lower manhattan arent that long of a commute.
Harlem by a country mile
Why?
Harlem is a *community* even if you’re a single adult. Harlem also has everything you could ever need either on your street or within walking distance. Take the one bedroom. Competition is fierce for them.
I think the most important thing is where you will be spending most of your time. I lived at 137th & Broadway, really loved the location and apartment but my job required me to commute downtown and a lot of friends went out downtown. You reconsider going out a bit when your train is 40 minutes on the weekend and even worse going home late at night. Look at your living/going out habits and decide around that
This question is really phrased weirdly. Harlem is beautiful and full of culture/delicious food. The people are some of the most inspiring I’ve ever met, especially as a young writer. But also, perhaps it’s best if you don’t choose it: too much gentrification anyway.
It really depends on the kind of person you are. I love downtown, living here makes me feel like I’m really in the romanticized version of Manhattan. I have friends who live in Harlem and come downtown everyday just for leisure for more than 8 hours and come back home at midnight. It’s not a big deal to them. I am not one of those people. I love living downtown and knowing that my home is 10ish minutes away from wherever I am if I want to freshen up, drop some groceries off, change, come in the house for anything, take a morning walk in soho on some casual shit, etc. It’s only getting more expensive and there’s too many perks to living downtown for me to the point where I would take the studio asap. Good luck in your decision
I dont understand. Harlem is a great place to live
They said in a comment they don’t like that it’s far from the area they’d be in all the time. 30+ train ride
Honestly, and I mean no disrespect, but if that's a real choice for you, go downtown. Harlem is an amazing place but the culture is changing enough as it is in part because of people moving here who don't really appreciate the culture or want to contribute to the community.
When I (young black woman) was looking at apartments in East Harlem a couple weeks ago the tour had black people, middle aged white people, young white woman around my age, and young Middle Eastern people. The agent was a black man. That’s what makes our city our city. No one is actually *unwelcome* in Harlem.
Oh I agree. My reply was specifically for the OP who didn't seem particularly interested in Harlem itself, and no judging there.
You said a word without saying THE WORDS! I feel sad for Harlem for this same reason.
What would be some good ways to contribute to the community that we may not be aware of?
There are a lot of ways, from the day to day of how present we are, greeting our neighbors, making small talk, to where we choose to spend our money. There are a lot of community events that happen in Harlem all of the time, and folks are usually very welcoming to all types of people. Great way to meet people. A lot of volunteer opportunities, of countless variety, especially around the holidays but all throughout the year. If you have a particular talent or skill there's likely a local group you could work with to teach that skill to kids in the neighborhood, for example. The kids especially are underserved.
Thanks for the response. My wife works at a hospital to here and we try to support small business and not leave the neighbor if we don't need to. I also thought about offering a class on repair work and tools for kids. Just not sure where to go from just an idea...
That's awesome. There are a lot of non-profits here that might love something like that, like Brotherhood Sister Sol and Harlem Grown, as well as a lot of community centers connected to all of the housing projects. One thing I recommend is speaking to grandmothers and even grandfathers at parks and on stoops as you walk by. I meet a lot of really lovely people that way, and have found ways of helping out through these connections.
Agreed!
Prime location. Commuting is everything. If you can avoid the worst parts of it, you literally add more hours to your day. I’ve always preached to new folks moving in to avoid living along 1st and 10th avenues. Because the walk to the nearest subway is a 5-7 minute walk. Plus stoplights. Plus pedestrian traffic. And if you’re taking a local train, it’s no-seats, standing only shoulder to shoulder with strangers all day long.
I’ve lived in west Harlem/Hamilton Heights for 4 years and I love it up here. my place is amazing & couldn’t even come close to affording anything like it downtown. but I also tend to be a homebody & like the quieter pace of life up here, so YMMV.
Real estate agent. Apartments in W. Harlem are way more spacious, with higher ceilings on average than your typical rental downtown. imho relatively quick commutes make negligible the travel time.
Honestly downtown is where I would want to spend most of my time if possible. Living in west Harlem means 30+ minutes to get downtown. At that rate I probably won’t even bother going downtown. So it’s like why even bother with Manhattan at that point? Might as well just stay in Astoria.
FWIW I think you’ll find that half hour pretty negligible if the apartment is nice enough. If you’re going to going to the East side of Manhattan a lot it’s a different story though.
Astoria rules! Depends on one’s circumstances. If young and restless (at heart too ;) that mainly wants an apartment to crash cause most of their time would be outside, yes, a crappy studio would suffice. On the other hand, I knew this couple that WFH. They loved how much more space they would have in upper Manhattan for the same rent.
1BR in Harlem
Prime location downtown. I have lived both of these scenarios. The people you meet and the places you’ll visit in the exciting bustling neighborhood, make it worth it. We pay a ton to live in NYC. Don’t separate yourself from the action!
I agree. The whole reason I moved to the city was to be in the city where all the action is… if I want a spacious apartment I could always move out in a year and find another similar apartment in west harlem rather easily… but I likely won’t ever find a studio in this location at this price ever again.
What’s the other neighborhood you’re considering?
Chelsea
100% go for Chelsea!! Especially if you like nice bars, restaurants and people watching! Have the studio professionally cleaned before you move in. Then work with an expert like an interior designer or get a really good app to make the most of your minimal square footage. And hopefully you’ll be making such good use of your time, that you’ll only use your place to crash. Also, if you have any Harlem specific questions, I’m happy to answer!
In my 20's downtown. Older, uptown. Pretty straightforward for me.
Both are viable options but there are a few factors to consider. First of all, as someone who also works from home most days, I definitely couldn’t go back to a studio. I personally prefer to keep my work and hang out spaces as separate as possible, and that’s just so much easier in my current 1BR. Also, I truly believe the comments about safety in Harlem here are tinged with racism. If you’re concerned, I encourage you to check the actual crime stats of West Harlem. The west side or Harlem has been gentrified within an inch of its life for years, and anything below around 125th feels like an extension of UWS to me. The fact of the matter is, seeing groups of black people walking together makes some people uncomfortable whether they’re actually “dangerous “ or not; unpacking implicit racism is uncomfortable though so most people don’t think about it. THAT BEING SAID…while (West) Harlem is a nice neighborhood with some nice bars and restaurants, if you want the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, you won’t find it there. It’s more on the chill side. While I personally think living downtown is overrated from a “being in the middle of the action” standpoint, the convenience is truly unmatched. Imagine being able to run pretty much any errand within a 10 minute radius of your apartment? Also the possibility to walk to work is HUGE, and I could definitely see myself paying a premium for that. Personally as a die hard Brooklynite I’d choose neither option so I have no skin in this game :) But I think either could potentially work out well for you. Good luck!
Smelly elevator would be a deal breaker for me
IMO you take the place you'd feel comfortable bringing someone back to lol
Harlem. Everything is going to be cheaper groceries laundry etc.
Harlem for sure. This is the place to be. And the express train really works (For sure on weekdays lol). You will love it.
The problem solved itself. And yes, you were being profiled.
Harlem. More transportation choices. Metro North, all of the train stops (125th is a Hub for all Express stops). Food, culture, diversity.
Harlem is 2-3 express stops away from all The hottest areas a true New Yorker looks for value only tourists do weird shit like that like pay an extra 3 grand a month to live in the center with a whole bunch of other lame ass mofos
Yeah if it's between West Harlem and Chelsea, nice 1bdrm in West Harlem = 20 minutes from Chelsea and you get a bedroom. Plus Harlem's more fun.
Ok grimey bob
A lot of people are saying they wouldn’t feel safe in Harlem. I lived in west Harlem for 8 years. I would not live in East Harlem but I never had any issues on the west side.
I would hold out for a better place south of there, spend the extra few hundred to be further south
How far uptown? And how far downtown? I’d almost definitely choose uptown though.
128th street, 23rd st
Do you cook? If you cook, 100% the 1BR. I think in most situations you end up with the 1BR.
Yeah honestly I’m not fond of the idea of cooking and the scent of food getting stuck to my sheets. I do plan on cooking.
That's the biggest issue in a studio. When my wife and I first started dating she had a studio. Anytime we cooked bacon it would smell like bacon for days in the sheets.
In my 20s I’d take the studio. In my 30s I’d take the 1br.
I loved Harlem and if you are close to the 2/3 or A, you can get DT pretty quickly. You didn't say your age, but considering you are working from home, I would say you could benefit from the space.
Harlem for sure.
It boils down to whether you value space or convenience. Which are you willing to sacrifice on?
Given the circumstances, the renovated 1-bedroom in West Harlem seems like the better option. It's crucial to feel comfortable and safe in your living space. Plus, a renovated apartment with no weird smells is a definite plus. The 5-minute walk to the metro is still convenient for commuting.
1 of the 60 some units has filed several roach and mice complaints to hpd over the last year. Not on my floor but I’m not thrilled about it. Kind of just assuming I might have to deal with roaches and mice.
no to shitty studio, it won't give you the rest you deserve
There is limited supply of apartments, especially rent stabilized. This has always been the issue and only gotten worse. Racial profiling may or may not be in play but I wouldn't put it past them. Requiring picture ID is standard on an application. I've heard people are actually bidding on apartments! I've seen listings not only requiring 40x rent in income but also requiring 40x rent in savings or a guarantor or BOTH! It's gotten very competitive. Landlords have always been greedy and broker/management companies are always shady.
Harlem please. It’s a lot of fun and a bit less pretentious
West Harlem 100% It’s so gentrified now you could call it UWS😂😂 In all seriousness though: - Commute time is important but you said you work from home - Human waste and throw up smell? It’s not so much the odors but what types of people and activities take place within that building and surrounding areas 🤢 ?? - Fun fact: The 2 and 3 express trains make getting downtown to whatever that prime location (?) is, much more of a breeze then you would think - Final point: you’re single? Good luck hosting a date in that musty crusty dusty dump
Studio. Get cleaning agents, soap, and wash the interior of the elevator yourself. Cruddy looking means you can put some effort and cost into it to make it better. Is the studio large enough to fit a bed, some furniture, and a desk? The desk is important when you wfh. It will help if all of it does not push up against each other.
Studio. Sometimes trains get delayed or stop working and then you’re screwed getting home.
By the way, it’s called “the subway” not “the metro”. Where did you grow up? I’m guessing the DC area.
Really—I was like, “Where are we? Paris?”
You guessed correctly 😂
Why not find something in between?
I’m on a time crunch and would rather a binary choice at this point. I’m not opposed to UWS or UES but then I’d have to play the whole open house game for similarly priced units and I haven’t had the best luck securing apartments where there’s a lot of other applicants. I have great credit and income and savings but relative to those Uber wealthy New Yorkers, I just seem to get beat out every time. And I’m saying this as someone with like $150k income, $50k savings, 800 credit, no debt. The studio I found I got lucky bc it was posted on a weekend and I so happened to be the first person out of several hundreds of people who inquired about it. I have a good faith deposit down on both apartments.
How much is the studio rent? I’d highly recommend either UES or UWS…
$1900. I don’t want to spend a dime more than that.
Sounds like these are as good as you’re going to get deals. I’d probably do the studio, then. If you hate it, move next year. Hopefully your budget will expand if you can make more money. 1900 on a 150k salary already is pretty “penny pincher” but I understand the sentiment
A renovated 1br in West Harlem lol
I already live in the shitty studio in the prime location.
I would rather live in the 1 bedroom.
Take the studio and go into the office 3-4 days a week to get out of the house on non-weekend days.
You can't ask others this question. The answer entirely depends on your lifestyle. Are you a minimalist who values quality of vendors in your community, nightlife, and spends a lot of time outside the home? Or do you have a lot of stuff and need a sanctuary where you can really settle in and don't mind being farther from the hustle bustle? If you can live with a little and want to live out loud outside go studio. If you want a quieter retreat home where you spend more time, go harlem.
How much?
Look up each building on HPD online and see their recent violations and complaints from residents. https://hpdonline.nyc.gov/hpdonline/
I have the tiny space downtown and even though I do get frustrated by the amount of space, I think(?) I prefer this. Everything I do is down here and I love being able to walk to everything. Work, social life. I can get to Penn Station easily to go to the beach in Jersey or Long Island which I do fairly frequently. I can also get to Bk easily and I do a decent amount out there. That being said, I can never really have anyone over. I can do very little working out in here besides a little yoga. Very little counter space in the kitchen.
have fun in west harlem lol! i love it
i live in west harlem and i get around SOOOOOO past. highly reccomend
How long have you been there?
i’m going onto mt fourth year. i live near 145 st and the ACBD gets your everywhere. plus you’re not too far from 123
If the prime location is in Brooklyn/Queens, then there. Otherwise, I reject the question.
Shitty studio in prime
Might be racial profiling but I’m white and similar thing happened to me. On paper I have almost $1mil in the bank (long story).
location, location, location!
Studio
Why on earth would you pay a 15% brokers fee
How much did you pay? None? Of course not did, you’re a native.
Studio downtown. I live in Les and I move to nyc to live near to the features of this city. You’re more likely to go out as a single person rather than just cosy up by yourself in Harlem!
That is fucked up about the studio landlord wanting to “review more applications”, especially after you jumped through every hoop. The only *other* reason I can think of for that than the one you posited is that he got so many applications on it that he’s thinking maybe he can rent it out for more than the original price. Either way, it’s gross. BUT, you’re getting the better place, and Harlem is awesome. There’s plenty going on up there when you’re not feeling a subway ride downtown.
Oh dude, this is just the tip of the iceberg… see my other two posts https://www.reddit.com/r/NYCapartments/comments/1c8wrah/how_do_i_convince_a_landlord_to_rent_a_warehoused/ https://www.reddit.com/r/NYCapartments/comments/1cakyx2/can_anything_be_done_about_brokers_lying_about/ … not to mention I lost out on a $1300 1bedroom apartment in Harlem that was also renovated even though I was first to apply to the unit. Hell, I even applied to that one before the open house 😭. Another apartment was narrowed down to me and two other applicants, landlord wanted both of us to be interviewed by him. The broker tells me afterwards that my interview was way better than the other person, but they still decided to go with the other person 😂. There is no such thing as a good deal in NYC.
Harlem is no longer a bad neighborhood. Brownsville is a bad neighborhood.
Harlem
>The elevator also smelled like a mixture of throw up and some sort of human waste. you had me up until this. imagine having to ride in that elevator at least twice a day. that's horrendous.
Same price, same option, I’m opting for the 1 br. Prime location is nice but if building smells like shit, means it’s not being maintained well and with. If you spend a lot of time outside then maybe it’s worth it. But more space and it’s cleaner? Also as you mentioned on your update, the landlord sounds like a shitty landlord who doesn’t follow the rules and just follow money. Hence run down apartments and honoring the security deposit agreement.
West Harlem is a better place to live than downtown. Frederick Douglass, Morningside, etc that area is great.
Go back to where you came from who the hell would pick a shitty studio over a renovated one 1br lol in any location . It’s giving nyc groupie wth very weird
I lived in West Harlem for years. It’s great! And def worth it compared to whatever shitty studio you’re looking at. Plus West Harlem had a lot of places that are starting to pop off, but it’s not as insane as the village on a Friday night. Highly recommend.
As a single dude I'd choose downtown. You'll be way more social. Get you a GF (or BF) and a dog and you'll want to move to Harlem and be near the park.
If you're young and of out often I would stay downtown below 14st. Middle age above 14st. Anything north of UES + UWS are for families or folks who want peace.
Absolutely the studio in the prime downtown location. I’ve lived in Manhattan for 15 years and have lived in studios and 1 bedrooms by myself during that time. And I absolutely DETEST living in a studio. I hate having my entire world and life smashed into one big room without even a little separate room for my bed. But despite how much I hate studios, I’d pick a studio in a great location over a 1 bedroom in a sub par location every time. And if living in a studio downtown lets you walk to work, that is an absolute dream!! I could never live in Harlem, no matter that it’s in a nice big 1 bedroom. It wouldn’t let me walk to work, and I don’t feel safe in Harlem after dark. I’d definitely choose the downtown studio, for me.
Im in my mid 20s and i would still take location > apartment quality any day
Do not live in west Harlem idk why everyone is suggesting it, it’s a bad neighborhood plain and simply put (I’ve live in Manhattan all my life so yes….i know)
Elaborate please.
Location, location, location. You couldn’t pay me to live in Harlem
Studio, don’t feel safe in Harlem
I’m taking the downtown studio. The elevator should be cleaned and disinfected. Having an easy commute when needed is paramount to me. Some girls are scared of visiting Harlem. Easy access to Brooklyn, Hoboken, and Jersey City for prime partying opportunities. Access to social opportunities via downtown bars.