Living in Battery Park City Reddit

I'm moving to NYC and considering living in Battery Park City. I saw some really great units in the Tribeca Pointe building right at the end of Chambers St. I'd be doing a flex 2 bedroom with a roommate.

I know the general consensus is that BPC is dead at night and not a great place to live because of that, but I'm wondering if that really is a good reason. I mean, when I'm hanging around with friends or whatever it's not like where we go is going to depend on where my apartment is, I'm sure I'll have friends from all over the city, not just my immediate neighborhood. Also, I'm moving from the suburbs of Connecticut, so even if BPC is dead by NYC standards it'll still be a radical change.

The building is pretty close to the subway for work (~.25 miles to 1/2/3 Chambers St. subway and a 25min commute overall). It's a great building with nice amenities. It's got a gym, which was something I was really looking for because I just started a workout routine and I know myself well enough to know that if I had to go out of my way to workout it wouldn't happen. It's right on the west side bike path where I can run and there's a nice park. The views from the room and rooftop are ridiculous.

I am young and excited about the way of life in NYC so I do like the idea of being right in a neighborhood like Soho but I'm not really sure how much of a difference it makes. The northern tip of BPC isn't all that far from places like Tribeca and Soho. Plus, in those neighborhoods I'd be in a tiny, noisy, walk-up apartment.

I know this whole thing reads like I'm trying to validate/rationalize living in BPC for myself but I guess I'm just looking for opinions and thoughts. From what I've seen a lot of people here aren't fans of living in the Fidi/BPC area, but some other people defend it. What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

Hello,

We are a married couple in late 20s, both working in IT, who has just moved from Europe to the US for a couple years.

We're looking for a 1-bedroom apartment under $5500 with somewhat contradictory requirements:

• Quiet, walkable, nice area with a walking access to parks and hopefully waterfronts, something where you can just chill for hours reading books

• In walkable distance to restaurants, bars, fun areas, and all that vibe of NYC

• Modern apartment with a doorman, amenities, gym, pool, in-unit laundry etc

• (Optional, but preferable) < 20-30 minutes of commute to FiDi

The goal is to enjoy the fun side of NYC, but try to avoid the stress about safety, excessive noise (like construction or highways), or lack of nature.

We have a short list of:

• Battery Park City: something like Gateway Plaza offers 2 min access to the water

• FiDi: felt in love with New York by Gehry building

• Chelsea / Greenwich Village: really liked the 507 West Chelsea with a High Line view

We have three approvals from three areas for similar apartments for a similar price, but cannot choose between the areas.

If someone had to choose between these areas, what did (or would) you choose and why? How would our life be different if we choose FiDi vs. Battery Park City? And in general, if anyone knows an area that matches the criteria but is missing in the list, please share.

Thanks <3

I’ve been living in BPC for more than 15 years. I wouldn’t move anywhere else in Manhattan. Lots of green spaces, clean and super safe, with the Hudson River right next to it. Most of the buildings have a good view (I can see mi place in that picture). Yes, there are families, but also single people who work in the FiDi or nearby. Perfect place to own a dog (wonderful walks on the promenade). Cons? Not a lot of restaurants and most of them are so so. There are a few, mostly by Brookfield Place. The main supermarket in the area is Gristedes - aka Grosstitties - which is ridiculously expensive and sells items near or over expiration date. Even worse, the owner is a big Trump supporter. Rents were OK but lately went up like crazy. I would never buy an apartment here because there is a supplemental tax called the PILOT, for the maintenance and security of the park, increasing the expenditures enormously. Also the buildings don’t “own” the land, they lease it from the city (it has to be renewed after a few decades). But it is quieter than other areas, less traffic (still, it is almost impossible to find parking space). I highly recommend this part of Manhattan. Nothing beats taking a coffee in the morning, sitting outside watching the Statue of Liberty, enjoying the greenery.

I'm looking to relocate to NYC for the summer (May - July/Aug). I'm 23, currently in Los Angeles, and working remotely so would like a change of scenery. I've struggled with finding a short term furnished stay in the city that isn't absurdly priced and have narrowed it down to three locations - 2 in FiDi (one on West St, the other further north on John St) and one in Hell's Kitchen (44th & 9th). I'm struggling to decide which area would be best.

I'd love to be able to walk to a restaurant within 5-10 mins in the morning and be somewhere with a good amount of energy. Being that I'm working from home though, I'll be in the apartment *a lot* during the week and would like to make sure it's a nice place (my FiDi options are large and completely renovated while HK spot is dated and smaller). On weekends, I'll be spending a lot less time inside and will be out and about exploring Manhattan and other nearby areas.

Are there any factors you think I should consider when making a decision?