What's It Really Like Living and Working in New York City?

Living in the Financial District is that you are living right in the beat of the pulse of the third largest-commercial office market in the United States (behind Chicago and Midtown Manhattan), with compelling historic sites for tourists. It can be pretty comical doing mundane things like carrying your dry cleaning past the New York Stock Exchange in your sweat pants, while other pedestrians are wearing suits or studying New York City maps trying to find where they are. Lower Manhattan is one of the most challenging, yet confusing areas in Manhattan, especially if you are a tourist. If one lives and drives in Lower Manhattan regularly, you will figure out the maze and become intrigued by it.

Everyone says that the Financial District has no supermarket, no movie theaters and is dead at night. That may all be true (though not for long) and I think it is part of the allure for people seeking the quietude of a true residential neighborhood. Today, the UES and UWS are so crowded that I welcome the desolation of Lower Manhattan in the late evening.

Lower Manhattan might provide an interesting living environment for the residential dweller. The slivers of sunlight in the district's core are adequately compensated by the open spaces and captivating water views of Battery Park and the South Street Seaport.

Also, the Financial District is only a short distance to desirable neighborhoods: TriBeCa, Soho, Chinatown, and the East and West Village. In most instances, there is no need, to contemplate traveling beyond 14th Street.

Regarding the supermarket issue, the new Amish Market has created a lively, healthy gourmet market (that delivers) and the proposed Youn Market at 99 John Street will provide a full service supermarket.

The good news is that the work for the Stone Street Historic District has begun. It has been reported that the cobblestone streets of Mill and Stone streets will be closed to automobiles to create a pedestrian mall of restaurants for tourists and residents.

Eric Kaufman for Real Estate Weekly