From the UES to Astoria: My dated rental was getting too pricey, and I wanted a nicer lifestyle

With her rent going up by $250 each year, Justine Mrsich decided to look for an updated place where the floors weren’t sloped and the oven opened easily. She landed an amenity-laden building near her boyfriend in very pet-friendly Astoria. Here’s her story as told to Kelly Kreth.

I was born in Southern California and moved to New York City in March 2022 to start a master’s program in strategic communications at Columbia University the following fall.

Most recently, I was living by myself on the Upper East Side with Ducky, the cutest Shih Tzu-Yorkshire Terrier-Poodle mix. My 640-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bath rental was on the sixth floor of a walkup. It had a good-sized living room with room for a couch, small ottoman, and dining table. The bedroom was large enough to fit my queen-sized bed plus an inflatable bed when I had guests and there was a small washer/dryer combo unit that hooked up to the kitchen sink.

[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.]

I found the Upper East Side charming and convenient, especially for pet owners. I loved Carl Schurz Park’s dog runs. The park staff does a fabulous job of maintaining them.

I also loved being near the Metropolitan Museum of Art where you can pay what you want for admission. A shout out to @UESGirls on Instagram for welcoming me to their weekend walks and other events for women in the area. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking a community.

As the associate director of corporate communications at a PR firm, I’m responsible for developing impactful messaging and brand stories. Additionally, as the founder and chair of the Public Relations Society of America’s Hispanic-Latino Affinity Group, I am a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the communications industry and PRSA. 

My commute was 25 minutes via the subway or bus, both were steps from my apartment at 86th Street.

Some highlights of my nabe were Tandoor Oven, the most delicious Indian food; Caledonia Bar, a dark, broody, whisky bar; and Móle Mexican Bar for fabulous margaritas and tasty Mexican food. (This was where I met my very last Tinder date: my handsome Greek boyfriend!)

I also enjoyed going to Ethyl’s Alcohol & Food. The Go-Go dancers on weekends were so fun and the dance floor is great. Five-dollar burgers and disco fries are a must.

Why she decided to move

Initially, my rent was $2,750. It went up at lease renewal time to $3,000. For year three, my rent would have been $3,250, so I decided to move.

I felt the rent was too expensive considering the condition of the apartment. The oven door opened to touch the kitchen sink on the opposite wall, which meant I had to stand on the side to put anything inside. The hardwood floors were sloped in the living room—if you dropped a pen it would roll away from you.

The worst was the bathroom, which didn’t have an electrical outlet, just an extension cord that led in from the kitchen. Then there was the smoke shop below me that sent the smell of pot wafting into my place.

I decided to move to Astoria. My boyfriend already lived there and he had amenities like a gym, roof deck, and 24/7 doorman.

I initially started searching in February to see if I could get a jumpstart on a late March move in, but that was too early. Most places wouldn’t let me tour apartments on that schedule. I connected with Larisa Guerrero, an agent at Sterling 123, and she advised me to see places two weeks out from my move-in, and that worked perfectly.

We toured four apartments in Astoria and I took one of them, a one bedroom on the waterfront. My new rent is $3,000, so I ended up getting more for my money by moving to Astoria and I’m still so close to Manhattan. 

What she likes about her new place

My new place has hardwood floors, tall ceilings, and a wall of windows, which gives me beautiful sunrises and sunsets for my Instagram stories. My floor has the largest terraces in the building that span the length of the apartments—and the doggo just loves sunbathing with me.

The kitchen is large with plenty of cabinet space, a beige stone countertop, tiled floor, and GE stainless steel appliances including a gas range with a griddle (perfect for quesadillas and pancakes!), dishwasher, and built-in microwave. The bathroom has heated floors and a tub I love to relax in after a long week. I also have a washer and dryer in-unit and a dishwasher.

The building has a 24-hour attended lobby, package room, large Matrix fitness center, community room, onsite garage parking, and outdoor pool overlooking the East River and Roosevelt Island. A private shuttle takes residents to and from the subway during the week.

What she thinks of the neighborhood

My building is just minutes from Rainey Park and Socrates Sculpture Park. I’m close to restaurants and a Costco, which makes shopping convenient. I have access to multiple mass transit lines as well as Citi Bike stations.

One thing that’s unusual: Our electricity is billed through Metergy, and renters with the same-size apartments and similar lifestyles seem to be paying very different amounts. Some residents are looking into this, including myself. A daycare for the building’s children was promised but has so far not been delivered. This is unfortunate because parents here were counting on having a daycare downstairs.

The area has several pet-friendly destinations like Château le Woof, a pet-friendly café. Bugsy’s Dog Run in Astoria Park is a popular dog-friendly spot. This dog park has off-leash hours and space for pets to run freely.

Parts of Astoria are industrial, and as a woman, I feel uneasy navigating those spots alone, especially at night, so I often avoid them.

My favorite places for eating out are Sek’end Sun, with an open-air patio and a laid-back vibe; The Last Word, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar on Ditmars Boulevard; and Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, one of NYC’s oldest beer gardens.

My work commute is essentially the same, about 25 mins. I hop on the shuttle or city bus to the subway and it’s a quick ride on the 7 from Queensboro station.

Overall, my quality of life is better. I’m enjoying my patio, outings with my dog, and hanging out at the pool with my boyfriend. I’ve even made new friends in the area. My building hosts Wine Wednesdays and that has helped me meet new friends. I’ve also met a few folks at Chateau Le Woof as well.

Astoria has found a spot in my heart. Eventually, with two incomes, the UES or somewhere else in Manhattan may win me back. But for now, I’m calling Astoria home.

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