InFocus NYC Real Estate Apartment Rentals Company

The East Village extends from East Houston Street to 14th Street, between Fourth Avenue and Lafayette Street and the East River. Home to squatters, the New York punk scene, hippies and bikers for decades, the East Village has boomed in recent years into a community alive with young professionals and students from all over the world mingling with a diverse range of residents.

The available housing consists mainly of walk-up buildings, many of which are now refurbished, and several new residential buildings, including the first to be pre-wired for Internet access (the Info Building at 3rd Street and Avenue A in 1996). The East Village has become home to trendy shops, art galleries, bars and every type of restaurant imaginable. There are also several movie theaters within walking distance including the newly renovated Sunshine Theater on Houston Street. The Lower East Side extends from East Houston Street, down to Canal Street, from the Bowery to the East River and was once home to wave after wave of immigrants -- German, Irish, Italian, Jewish, and later Latino, Vietnamese and Chinese. The area has undergone a gentle gentrification and seems to wow buyers and renters alike. While there are still remnants of Yiddish and Hispanics influences, nowadays it is more of a nexus for starving artists. The housing in the area consists of apartments in walk-up tenement buildings and co-ops located close to the East River. The area has a night life at rec-room-themed bars and fashionable bistros. Residents and visitors also enjoy the abundance of performance art and shopping. Although some of Orchard Street's cheap shops have given way to trendy hair salons and 'members only' techno bars, there are a handful of Kosher shops remaining. Gertel's Bake Shop on Second Avenue, Guss's Pickles on Essex, Katz's Deli on Houston and Kossar's Bialy's on Grand are thriving - and the folks still line up on weekends at Russ & Daughters on Houston Street.

The Financial District encompasses the entire area of Manhattan below Chinatown and Tribeca to the southern tip of the island. Several office buildings in the area have been converted for residential use making what was once a quiet place after the business day a vibrant neighborhood bustling with shops and restaurants that cater to the growing fulltime population.

This is a great location for those wishing to walk to work on Wall Street. Also in the area is Battery Park City, a mixed residential and commercial neighborhood within walking distance to the downtown business district. Battery Park City is a small city within the city with shops, restaurants, and even a marina. The Financial District is home to the South Street Seaport with its beautiful harbor views and many shops and restaurants. Open-air concerts are also held here. At the very tip of the island spectacular views of Governors and Ellis Islands, the Statue of Liberty can be seen. Also within walking distance are the Castle Clinton National Monument and the Jewish Heritage Museum.

Manhattan’s Upper East Side extends from 59th St. to 96th St. east of Fifth Avenue and is known as one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in which to live. The neighborhood consists of stylishly restored old mansions, luxury high rises, stately townhouses and several of the best co-ops/condos in Manhattan.

This district includes access to some of the finest public schools as well as private elite schools such as Dalton and Brealey. Central Park is a simple westward stroll away. Art lovers will find that they can walk to favorite museums such as The Metropolitan, The Guggenheim, The Frick and The Whitney and also visit the famous auction houses of Christie’s and Sotheby’s. Posh boutiques and classy intimate restaurants enhance the area’s elegance. It is sophisticated yet comfortable enough to house many singles and young professionals.

Midtown West, or Clinton, extends from 30th Street to 59th Street at Columbus Circle. It includes the area west of Fifth Avenue to the Hudson River.

This is an up and coming residential area that offers everything from performing to culinary arts. It has long been home to many theater and dance professionals. Living spaces include high-rise condos interspersed with smaller, prewar buildings and huge loft spaces. The classic Midtown West skyline will change dramatically with the completion of the new AOL Warner Center at Columbus Circle in 2003. This complex will be a destination for locals and tourists alike with world-class shopping, award-winning restaurants, movie theaters, a 5-star hotel, 200 luxury apartments and a huge concert hall for Jazz at Lincoln Center. This complex will add to the already famous Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Carnegie Hall and The Broadway Theater District. Spend sunny days walking or cold day ice skating in nearby Central Park, take in a movie at one of the areas many movie theaters or spend the day shopping at the area’s countless clothing stores.

Midtown’s East Side includes two of Manhattan’s most upscale neighborhoods, Sutton Place and Beekman Place. Midtown East extends from the 40’s to the 50’s, east of Fifth Avenue.

Many businesses and consulates are located in the area, making it easy for many residents to walk to work. The famous historical district of Tudor City, Sutton Place Park, the United Nations, and the Roosevelt Island Tram are also located here. The buildings range from lavish sky rises, office towers and grand townhouses to historic brownstones and newer, smaller apartment buildings. Shoppers will not be far from Saks, Tiffany's, Bergdorf's and Bloomingdale's. Countless pharmacies, cleaners, delis and take-out places conveniently line Second Avenue. It is an area that is full of life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Gramercy: Located from 24th St. to Union Square, and from 5th St. to 1st Ave., this chic neighborhood was once home to Edith Wharton, Theodore Roosevelt, and Eugene O’Neill. It now houses mostly young professionals, designers, and artists.

The Gramercy neighborhood is so named as it surrounds the only private park in New York, Gramercy Park, positioned between 20th and 21st streets. One look through Gramercy Parks’ high railings will reveal a spacious garden, and some beautiful statues. One such statue is of actor Edwin Booth in the role of Hamlet. In 1888, Booth founded the influential Players Club at 16 Gramercy Park. Beyond the Players Club, Gramercy is also home to many great restaurants, and shops.

Murray Hill: South of Grand Central Terminal from E 29th to 42nd streets, from 5th Ave. to the East River, Murray Hill is home to many affluent, young families. Locals believe the W hotels on 39th Street brought elegance to the neighborhood.

The area underwent significant development in the 1990’s, and many experts agree that the best values in town can be found here. Convenient to everything, Murray Hill is near such New York landmarks as The Empire State Building, Bryant Park, The Chrysler Building, and three world-famous medical centers. If shopping is your game, Murray Hill is home to great shops like Macy’s at Herald Square, and Lord & Taylor on 5th Ave. and 39th Street.

Chelsea extends from 14th Street to 29th Street, west of Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) to the Hudson River. Chelsea is located nearby the garment center and is in the midst of the flower district.

Apartments in this neighborhood can be found within many walk-up buildings, lovely brownstones, and loft-type structures. There are also some larger buildings on West 14th Street, West 23rd Street and on a few other avenues within the area. Chelsea has undergone a renaissance over the past several years. Many new stores have opened up along Sixth Avenue and an impressive assortment of restaurants can now be found on Eighth Avenue. The area is also home to the Joyce Theater, as well as many noted art galleries, located on the westernmost blocks of the neighborhood.

Flatiron District: Erected in 1902, and located on the south side of Madison Square Park, the Flatiron Building is the city’s first “World’s Tallest” structure, measuring 285 feet.

It also holds the distinction of being the first building completely supported by steel- the basic support of every subsequent skyscraper. Built on Broadway and 5th Ave. at 23rd Street, the building has created a convenient sobriquet for the immediate area, now known as The Flatiron District.

Union Square: As Broadway marches north and west across Manhattan, Union Square sits atop at 14th Street. Known as the center of New York’s theater district in the late 1800’s

Union Square evolved into a left-wing rallying point by the late 1920’s. Today, the Union Square area plays host to one of the world’s premiere Farmer’s Markets, and before Christmas, a craft’s market. Union Square is also home to some of New York’s trendiest restaurants, lining Park Avenue South up to 23rd Street.

Greenwich Village (West Village) extends from Houston Street to 14 Street west of Fourth Avenue and Lafayette Street. However, Greenwich Village proper is now thought of as being the area west of Sixth Avenue and Greenwich Avenue.

The Village has been widely known as a bohemian community of artists and writers since the 1920's, yet it is a neighborhood that never stops evolving and renewing itself. With New York University, Washington Square Park and a busy shopping district at its center, it continues today to be a popular and active place to live. Every turn can bring you to a place rich in the city’s history. Due to the lack of high-rises, the residential streets remain beautiful and elegant with many attractive old brick townhouses and pre-war apartments. There are also many classic condo and co-op buildings in the area. Many families move to this area to take advantage of some of the city’s best schools, not to mention its landmark streets and stylish restaurants and clubs. The area is home to the historic Jefferson Market Library and Garden on Sixth Ave and 9th Street. Fresh foods can be purchased at the Greenmarket at 14th Street, Murray's Cheese Shop and Zito's Bakery on Bleecker. Events in the area include year-round art fairs and Gay Pride Week.

SoHo / Nolita (which stands for South-of- Houston) extends from West Houston to Canal Streets, between Sixth Avenue and the Bowery. Artists began to move into this once drab manufacturing area in the early 1970's, taking over abandoned lofts and buildings and turning them into homes and galleries.

Tribeca (which stands for Triangle-Below-Canal) extends south of Canal Street, down to Barclay Street, between Broadway and the Hudson River.

The area is made up of lofts, once used for light manufacturing and warehouses, which have slowly been converted into luxury rental and loft condo buildings. Although TriBeCa boosts such famous residents as Harvey Keitel, Robert DiNiro and Mariah Carey, it is mostly populated by professionals in their 'forties and up'. Tribeca has many high priced, fashionable restaurants and clubs as well as its share of avant-garde clothing, design shops and galleries. Every top restaurant in town is can be found here. Such famous places as Nobu on Hudson and Montrachet on West Broadway are located in Tribeca. Tribeca is safe, has great schools and is no more than 15 minutes from Midtown.

In recent years, Long Island City has become an increasingly popular place of residence for commuters working in Manhattan. Starting with a master plan for what is now called Queens West in the 1980s, the first building, called Citylights was completed in 1997 along with a waterfront park shortly thereafter.

Since the completion of Citylights the neighborhood began to attract a number of real estate development projects, including two projects by Avalon Bay Communities and a six building development on the former site of a Pepsi Cola Bottling plant by Rockrose Development Corp. Since the adoption of a zoning change in 2001, a number of residential developments have sprouted around Long Island City, outside of the Queens West development.The southern portion of the Queens West, is now being developed by the city of New York and has been re-nenamed Hunters Point South. This project will include affordable housing, a school, retail and community facilities.

Roosevelt Island: In 1637, the Dutch purchased the island from the natives and named it Varckens (Hogs') Island. It was named Manning's Island after captain John Manning between 1666 and 1686, Blackwell's Island between 1686 and 1921, and Welfare Island between 1921 and 1973. s named "Flynn's Island" prior to being renamed Blackwell's Island.)

In 1973, the island was renamed again in anticipation of the building of a major United States Presidential Memorial to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The monument was intended - in part - to make the island more attractive to potential residents and visitors. It was planned as a large three-walled granite room open to the sky and facing the water at the island's southern tip, with the Four Freedoms inscribed on one wall. Owing primarily to the untimely death of the architect, Louis Kahn, the memorial was never built. Some still hope to complete the project despite the construction of a Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in the nation's capital.[4] An alternative proposal involving calling for a large public plaza at the site also has been halted.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the island was developed as a residential community with a number of high-rise apartment buildings. Two long-term medical care facilities of Goldwater Hospital are located at opposite ends of the island. Many foreign diplomats live on Roosevelt Island because of its close proximity to United Nations headquarters on the East Side of Manhattan.

Top

Neighborhood Guides