Anonymous wrote:I live in the UWS. During Covid up until about 18 months ago, the homeless situation was getting pretty bad due to the city using UWS hotels as homeless shelters. They have moved on by now and I would say it’s mostly back to how it was. Keep in mind, above 86th street has never been great. There are a bunch of public housing projects starting on I believe 88/89 so that area gets seedy quickly. If you’re below 85, it’s nice.
PP was correct that crosstown is much harder than uptown/downtown, but if you live near 79th street you can take a bus or cab straight through the park. I walk if I want to go crosstown, walking through the park is really nice and it only takes about 20 minutes (depending on where you are, I live on CPW). I also was deciding between UWS and UES when I was looking to buy, and I chose UWS because I like the vibe more. It’s much more casual, family friendly, and feels like a neighborhood. UES is a lot more bougie feeling, although interestingly the real estate is cheaper. My apartment faces Central Park and is a block from a large number of solid restaurants and bars that I could bring my kids to, and some cute independent shops or mid level stores. A comparable apartment on the UES was near like… The Row, Lanvin, and high end Italian restaurants. I was looking for a neighborhood where I could run out in casual sneakers for a quick Tuesday night dinner without reservations, so UWS was better for me.
Yes! I honestly cannot imagine why people choose the UES. Different strokes for different folks - I get it. But the UWS is a really wonderful place to live. It's thinner than the UES so you are much closer to parks no matter where you live - of course Central Park but Riverside is wonderful. There are a lot of great restaurants where the restaurants on the UES are either overprices crap (EAT I'm looking at you) or fratty places on 2nd. Easier to get downtown (especially Chelsea Piers for the kids or the West Village for a date night). More transportation options. And just a lot easier and closer to necessary amenities - you've got multiple Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Citarella, Fairway, Zabars, etc.