Gowanus is a neighborhood in formation, and this is part one in a continuing series that will try and introduce some of the newcomers to our readers.
“I’m not originally from New York City, but I lived in Manhattan on the Upper West Side, and then moved here about six months ago,” said Nick, a recent move-in at 335 Bond Street.
“Prices are crazy everywhere, but especially in Manhattan, and now that my wife and I have a daughter, we wanted to move to a bigger place. It’s not cheap here by any means, but it’s a little more affordable. We love the area, and the neighbors are friendly. It’s a little calmer and quieter than it was in Manhattan. We haven’t been here for too long yet, but the plan is to stay long-term.”
Janet, who moved to Gowanus just under a year ago, used to live in Bay Ridge.
“I moved a few times when I was younger, but my family now lives in Sunset Park, and I moved to Bay Ridge after college,” she told me.
“I liked the Ridge, but it was a very long commute, and you’re pretty far away from everything else. I really liked the neighborhood, but the transportation was frustrating. I also wasn’t very close to a subway station.
Next I spoke to Ryan and Michele, who were walking their two dogs, Penny Pancakes and Barbarella. They’re both originally from other states but moved to Gowanus 12 years ago. While that makes them practically natives, they had interesting observations.
They love the gardens and trees in the neighborhood and said their neighbors are “freaking awesome.” Their complaints were about the lack of parking.
Aaron, who moved to Gowanus five years ago, was similar to Nick in that he moved from Manhattan and liked that it was quieter and calmer in Gowanus. He also said that the neighbors were kind, which just about everyone I spoke to mentioned.
I headed to Whole Foods Market to warm up where I encountered a few newcomers.
“I grew up in Long Island, moved into Manhattan and lived there for a few years, and then when my lease ended, I moved here,” said Jessica, who moved to Gowanus two years ago. “I was really excited about the thought of living in Manhattan, and I’m grateful that I did it, but I was ready for a change. I still have friends in the East Village, and I visit them pretty often.
“I’ve gotten used to living in Gowanus now, and I like it a lot. I’ve met a lot of kind people here, and I feel like it’s a peaceful area. When the weather is warmer, it’s nice to hang out by the water. I know the Gowanus Canal doesn’t have the best reputation, but I love the parks around it. There are some good restaurants in the area, and Whole Foods is super convenient. I’ve been really happy here.”
About the rent
“We moved here a little less than three years ago,” said Maria, who was walking down Bond St. “We moved from Jersey City when our lease ended. One of the reasons we had moved there was because the rent was a little more affordable than in New York, but it has increased a lot. It’s very expensive here too, but our apartment is a little bigger, and I will say that it’s a very nice place to live. The neighbors are very nice, and we like the neighborhood. I’m not sure if there are many places in New York, except maybe in Staten Island, where the rent is truly fair, but there are a lot of benefits to living in New York as well.”
Her two-bedroom apartment costs $5,800 per month. Studios available to rent in Gowanus have rents starting at approximately $3,000 per month, though others are more expensive. Two-bedroom apartments are going for at least $4,250, while three-bedroom apartments are going for $5,500 or more.
“I moved here a little over a year ago after getting a new position with a higher salary,” said Evan, who works in tech and pays $3,300 per month for his one-bedroom apartment. “I had been living with three other friends before, and it was nice because it made our rent much more affordable. I felt like I was ready to have my own place, and I was in a position where it became realistic to do that financially. I had been saving up for a few years before moving here. I think, based on the other one-bedroom apartments I looked at, the rent is fair.”
Next I met Ryan on Second Street.
“I’m not originally from New York, but I moved to the City about five years ago, and then I moved to Gowanus about two years ago,” said Ryan, a data analyst. “I knew when I moved here that it wasn’t going to be cheap, so it’s been what I was expecting. It’s pricey, but I have more space for a similar price to what I had been paying when I was in Manhattan.”
“I’m happy to be here,” Nick said. “It’s home.”
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