From Fidi to Midtown: I wanted an area that was 'buzzing' with things to do

The Financial District, where Srishti shared a rental apartment, felt too quiet at night, so she launched a search for a new place to live, landing an amenity-laden building in Midtown and with two great roommates. Initially, she enjoys her new, buzzy neighborhood, but she’s already feeling her priorities change. Here’s her story as told to Kelly Kreth.

I was born and raised in India and moved to New York in 2022 for grad school at Parsons and then started working in the city in 2023 as a publicist. I rented a two-bedroom duplex in the Financial District with two other people.

The location was terrific, near the New York Stock Exchange and Trinity Church. It was a beautiful building with many amenities and a rooftop to die for. My share of the rent was $2,400 and the rent for the whole apartment was $5,250.

The duplex layout created a lot of privacy; it was almost like living in a studio apartment with my own kitchen space and bath. There was not much to dislike aside from the high rent—and not having laundry in the unit. It was a great place to live for a newcomer because the location had the right NYC vibe. 

[Editor's note: “Transitions” features first-person accounts of what it’s like to move from one NYC neighborhood to another. Have a story to share? Drop us an email. We respect all requests for anonymity.]

It might be surprising to hear, but I would say Downtown is beautiful—even peaceful. Despite my street being a real tourist area, I still felt I could find moments of peace. I particularly enjoyed Stone Street, a pedestrian-only cobblestone street. The street is lined with bars and restaurants that set up outdoor dining and the whole place looks amazing covered in fairy lights. 

The only drawback is the area dies down after 6 p.m. when office workers head home, making it feel a little unsafe as a result of homeless people roaming around, which you would not expect from such a fancy area.

I could catch the 2 and 3 trains were right under my apartment, so commuting was very easy for work and socializing.

I enjoyed visiting Pier 17 and its breathtaking view, as well as restaurants like La Parisienne, which has a quaint European vibe; Tagmo; and Watermark were beautiful to visit, too. Drinks at Route 66 provided a good end to hectic days  

There wasn’t much shopping except for Zara and H&M. The Oculus is basically a mall but still doesn't have that many great shops. Brookfield Place is a high-end mall too but not for every-day shopping since everything was beyond my budget. There was a Target almost a mile away but there was no other grocery store nearby. There was a lot of takeout food available at chains like DIG, Cava, and Joe's Pizza etc., so I’d say there was something for everyone and ordering in was not difficult either.  

Why she wanted to move

I took the apartment in Fidi without even touring it—I hadn’t landed in the U.S. yet—and knew that it would just be temporary. When the time came to search for my next place, I knew I wanted to look at Midtown and the East and West Villages. I eventually moved to the most touristy area possible, 34th and 6th.  

When you’re an international student, moving is THE WORST. Landlords in NYC want renters who earn an annual salary of 40 times the monthly rent, or have a guarantor who makes an absurd amount of money. But God forbid you don’t have family in the U.S. because most landlords will not approve guarantors who live outside the U.S. Thankfully, by this time I was working and earning enough to be spared this misery.

I looked for about two months and viewed nearly 20 units. I mainly searched Facebook Marketplace because I wanted to live with roommates I didn’t know. I try not to live with my friends because I've seen many friendships fail the test of sharing an apartment together. Since I was new to the country, I only had a few close friends and I didn't want to take any risks.

So I found where I wanted to live and worked with an agent in the building's leasing office, who connected me with a room in three-bedroom, one-bath apartment with two other people and I have to say I won the jackpot.

The rent for the three-bedroom unit is $5,200 and my share is $1,550. It is actually a massive one bedroom, one bath turned into a three bedroom.

What she likes about her new place

I absolutely fell in love with the building because it is right next to the Empire State Building and the roof deck had an unrestricted, breathtaking view. The building and apartment have everything that I need—new appliances, cute kitchen, beautiful roof deck, as well as friendly people and a sense of community. There is also a laundry room with a vending machine for late-night cravings and arcade games for when you get bored with doing laundry.

The only drawback is the lack of space in the apartment. Manhattan is known for matchbox-sized apartments, and I am living it. My room is only large enough for a single person, which is why I think I only come home when I have to crash. I spend most of my time at either school, work, or on the rooftop.

Why she loves her new neighborhood

Midtown is BUZZING. It is wonderful for me since I wanted a true NYC experience. Of course, it is loud and touristy but honestly, when you have grocery stores, restaurants, movie theaters, sightseeing, and more just steps away, I don't think you can complain that much.

But the downside is the noise—fire trucks, ambulances, and people. Despite living on the 17th floor, I can hear EVERYTHING and while initially I enjoyed that, eventually I didn't.

Since Koreatown is right next to my place, I liked going to places like Pocha 32. I often run to the Vessel in Hudson Yards and sit on the waterfront at 34th and 12th, taking in the view. The Capital One cafe opened this recently and it’s such an amazing place to get work done. I also found this wonderful Indian place called Patiala that is one of my go-to spots every time I miss home.   

The best part is that 11 subway lines and the Path are right downstairs so I am never worried about getting back home. 

Moving to Midtown was one of the best decisions I ever made. It is easy to make friends—much easier than when I was living in Fidi because most people left the area after work hours.

However, I will likely not stay in this building long term. I feel your home should change with the different phases of your life. As a graduate/student turned young professional, I wanted to live in the most happening area possible. But now that I’ve lived here awhile, I'm shifting to a different mindset and looking to slow down a bit, be close to family, friends, and my partner. For my next move, I will look at slower, more community-like locations.

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