New York Living Solutions

With splendid views of the Verrazano Bridge, it is no wonder why Bay Ridge was once a popular vacation spot for wealthy Manhattanites. The beautifully preserved mansions in the area serve an imprint of a glamorous era during the late 19th century. Now mostly a middle-class area, the neighborhood attracts Italian, Lebanese, Greek and Chinese families; in recent decades, there has also been in influx of Arab and Muslim residents in the area─ a testament to the diversity of New York City. The multicultural influence extends to the international dining experiences along what is now referred to as “Brooklyn’s Gold Coast.” Given the family friendly ambiance, it is not surprising, nor uncommon for multi-generation families to reside in the area.

The northernmost section of Manhattan, the Washington Heights/Inwood area was home to a Native American settlement where the sale of Manhattan was negotiated in 1626, as well as the site of the Revolutionary War Battle of Fort Washington. The early 20th century saw a rapid population of the area as European immigrants who lived in lower Manhattan began to move to the north. The rest of the century saw a continued influx of immigrants from all parts of the globe resulting in the area’s dynamic ethnic diversity. The hilly area has splendid parkland and stunning views of the Hudson River and the Palisades. Enjoy a stroll through shady Fort Tryon Park and Inwood Hill Park. Walk (or bus) up the steep hill to the Cloisters, and you will be transported back to a medieval monastery, surrounded by tapestries, art, and monastic gardens. Bike across the George Washington Bridge for even more spectacular views, or walk to the northernmost point in Manhattan, Spuyten Duyvil, and see the confluence of the Harlem and Hudson Rivers. Also, visit Yeshiva University and its museum. With the area’s thriving commercial district, residents are likely to continue flocking to its newly renovated houses and co-ops.

Populated by mostly Jewish and Italian families during 1960s, in recent decades, Elmhurst has become home-base to a large Asian and Latin immigrant community. Now a prospering working- middle-class neighborhood, apartments, co-ops and multi-family homes adorn the quite streets of the most ethnically diverse zip-code in New York City. Subway lines facilitate access the rest of Queens, or the half hour trip into Midtown Manhattan. Locals frequent the area’s small businesses, or may venture out to the ever-popular Queen’s Center Mall. If shopping is not your diversion of choice, you can enjoy the impressive architecture of places of worship, including colonial era- Christian churches and Thai Buddhist Temples.

Modeled after an English botanical garden; Kew Gardens is a charming residential neighborhood with a mix of Tudor and Colonial style single family homes, mid-rise apartment buildings, co-ops and condos. This middle to upper middle class neighborhood boasts lots of green spaces and a serene ambiance, without any of the urban buzzing synonymous with Manhattan. Local cafés, restaurants, cultural centers and nightlife cater to an eclectic mix of residents, including young professionals, multi-generational Jewish families, and Irish, Russian, Caribbean, South American, Chinese, Indian, Korean and Japanese immigrants.

Williamsburg is a melting pot of residents of various ages, classes and ethnic identities. Although it has recently garnered a reputation as solely a hub for artists and New York hipsters; the neighborhood includes pockets of Puerto Rican, Dominican, German, Italian and Hasidic Jew communities. Williamsburg was once an industrial sector for manufacturing giants like Domino Sugar and Esquire Shoe Polish. The creation of the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903 welcomed a flood of Lower East Side transplants in search of more spacious and affordable housing. The 1970s, 1980s and 1990s marked the rise of Williamsburg’s artistic community, beginning with the opening of local music venues, galleries, performance spaces, cafés, restaurants and shops. Today, in correlation with the neighborhood’s increasing popularity, real estate values have also steadily escalated; yet, residents argue that the price tag is well worth the ambiance.