Battery Park City, a relatively recent addition to the island of Manhattan, is like no other nabe in town. Nestled along the water and dominated by high-rise condo buildings and office towers, the neighborhood sits on 92 acres of soil recovered from the construction of the first World Trade Center. Apartment owners pay to lease the land under their buildings from the state-run Battery Park City Authority, which makes their monthly fees a bit higher than usual.
Though the area was hit hard by the housing crash, more recently it's bounced back. The World Trade Center redevelopment plus high-end stores opening in the Brookfield Place office complex and around Goldman Sachs' headquarters are making over the neighborhood. But what do you really need to know about living here? We spoke with locals to get the skinny.
Neighborhood: From West Street to the Hudson River
Median sale price: $1.05 million
Median rent: $4,675
1. It's the suburbs of Manhattan: "Think of Battery Park City as New York's closest suburb. Yes, you have access to MTA buses and are geographically bolted onto the island of Manhattan, but there is a moat of West Side Highway traffic separating Battery Park City from the rest of the city. Embrace it! Learn to live in your neighborhood and enjoy the quiet tree-lined streets and waterfront access." -Eric, 38, owns a one-bedroom "When people say it is family oriented they are not lying. Children and puppies are everywhere." -Adam, late 20s, owns a one-bedroom
Loading ad...
Above, many of the housing options in Battery Park City are in condo towers like this one, though there are also rental buildings
Loading ad...
Above, the Shake Shack in Battery Park City is blissfully free of lines
Above, the Downtown Alliance, a group that serves Lower Manhattan, offers a free shuttle service.
Loading ad...
Related: