Some Questions about NYC

Factual Questions
1

I just got back from a weekend trip to NYC and had a few questions for locals:

Can anyone actually afford to live in Manhattan on a normal (read: under $70,000 a year) salary? Are salaries adjusted upwards to compensate for the high cost of living?

Does it really make sense to own a car?

Are there any gas stations in Manhattan?

Are there any ‘bad’ areas to avoid in Manhattan south of Central Park?

Is there anyway to get into Manhattan from Philadelphia without paying so much? (About $12 via PA pike/Jersey Pike/Lincoln Tunnel)

Is there such a thing as a public bathroom? They seemed far and few between…

Overall, my impression was favorable and I look forward to returning, any advice from residents for a newbie is appreciated.

2

There are gas stations in Manhattan, mostly exiled to the fringes (West of 9th Ave, East of 2nd Ave.) e.g. 34th St & 11th Ave, 61th and 1st.

A few areas of the (far) Lower East Side are kinda crappy, but not so much as in the days of the Tompkins Park Riot (caused in part by the starting of gentrification of the area). Although the Bowery looks a bit seedy (due to some homeless shelters), I never had a problem walking along it at night.
Oh yes, a few blocks here and there in Clinton and Chelsea (Hell’s Kitchen for you old timers) are so-so, mostly in the semi-industrial areas (which Bloomberg wants to upzone in conjunction with a West Side Stadium, 7 Subway extension, Convention Center expansion, and so on.

Well, to get from NY to Philly cost me only a $1 (at Trenton), since I used US 1 (not that fast, but really not that bad either). Philly -> NY is $6 (or $7 cash), since you pay on the way crossing under the Hudson River into Manhattan.

Public restrooms will appear on the street any day now, any day (actually we are pretty close this time, unless Bloomberg and the Council blow it — again).
For now, use Big chain stores, Bars (buy a drink first - customers only you know), some Fast Food places (well, if you buy a coke first, almost all fast food places), libraries (during the day), and everyones favorite, swank hotels…

As a public service announcement, there is more to NYC than Manhattan :stuck_out_tongue:

3

**I just got back from a weekend trip to NYC and had a few questions for locals:

Can anyone actually afford to live in Manhattan on a normal (read: under $70,000 a year) salary? Are salaries adjusted upwards to compensate for the high cost of living?**

New York salaries are generally a bit higher than comparable salaries across the country because of the cost of living difference. However, most people that work in the City don’t live in Manhattan, but one of the outer boroughs or suburbs, which can have lower housing costs (but not necessarily). Also, there are large portions of Manhattan that are relatively affordable and quite nice places to live.

**Does it really make sense to own a car? **

Usually not, unless you have a specific reason to need one. I don’t have one, and most of my friends don’t either. You can get most anywhere by public transportation, and renting a car when necessary can be a lot cheaper than owning one.

Are there any gas stations in Manhattan?

Sure, but not many and not in the center of town. If you drive in the City, you’ll learn them. Besides, it’s much cheaper to buy gas in New Jersey before you cross into the City.

**Are there any ‘bad’ areas to avoid in Manhattan south of Central Park? **

Not really any more.

Is there anyway to get into Manhattan from Philadelphia without paying so much? (About $12 via PA pike/Jersey Pike/Lincoln Tunnel)

I initially thought this was going to be about taking the train. Instead of Amtrak, you can take SEPTA from Philly to Trenton and then connecting New Jersey Transit service from Trenton to New York. Driving, you can probably avoid some of the Turnpike tolls by taking alternate routes, but they can be a lot less direct.

Is there such a thing as a public bathroom? They seemed far and few between…

There are several truly public bathrooms in train stations, Rockefeller Center, public buildings and other locations. Most of the time when we need a public bathroom, we’ll use a store.

**Overall, my impression was favorable and I look forward to returning, any advice from residents for a newbie is appreciated. **

Glad you enjoyed it. Perhaps you want to come for the New York MegaDopefest on MLK Day weekend in January (check MPSIMS for details).

4

Where to find good public bathrooms in NYC.

My favorite one is at FAO Schwartz.

5
6

Well, goddamnit anyway :slight_smile: Bad coding, bad board. Let’s try that again:

It’s tough. Salaries are definitely adjusted upward, but the real-estate market here is insane, and housing prices haven’t decreased much in this recession. I can afford to live in Manhattan only because I once made quite a bit more than I do now, and during that time I bought an apartment. In no way could I afford to live in my neighborhood if I had to pay rent. My mortgage + maintenance combine to less then half of what I could rent out my apartment for - actually, when I include the value of the tax deduction, less then 1/3.

No. I owned one briefly - inherited it from my grandmother. I worked in Newark at the time and garaged it there. Otherwise, a garage in Manhattan costs at least $250/mo., and street parking is a huge pain that inevitably results in tickets/towings. When the car died 10 mo. after I got it, I just donated the remains to charity.

Yes. There’s a really cool one near my apartment, on 10th Ave. between 14th & 15th. But they’re pretty rare, and getting rarer - they take too much space.

Covered above.

Try travelling within PA, then coming in from the west on 78. When I drive from my parents’ in Maryland, I take US 15 to Harrisburg and then 78 - cheaper, and often faster than the Turnpike.

There used to be a guidebook called “Where to Go in New York City.” Now it’s actually pretty easy: the public restrooms are called Starbucks or Barnes & Noble. And yes, we may finally get pay loos - I’m not holding my breath.

7

Yeah, but it’s prolly not worth the extra time and gas. I suppose you could take Route 1 all the way to Fort Lee, NJ, pick up the Pallisades Interstate Parkway, take that to the Bear Mountain Bridge; find your way to the Henry Hudson Parkway, get off in the Bronx, and take the Broadway Bridge into Manhattan. That would cost $1.50 or $2.00 or so.

Barnes & Nobles are usually good for that. Otherwise, most restaurants will let you use the bathroom.

I lived with a car in Manhattan for a few years. It’s pretty manageable if you can be around during the day to move your car for street cleaning. Otherwise, a parking garage is quite expensive. If you need to leave the city and/or haul stuff it’s handy to have a car.

8

Hey!

trips over bum

oh yeah . . .