Lyle and I have been having lots of fun over the past few weeks, heading out of town for weddings, a birthday celebration and my epic ladycation. But this weekend we took this community search back to its roots with an inquiry into a neighborhood commutable to our current jobs and offering affordable prices. So over the RFK Bridge we went, to the Bronx.
We chose to explore Riverdale based on the recommendation of many friends. We've heard nothing but good things about the northern most point of New York City and have long been looking forward to the trip. Our commute time would be just over an hour to our respective offices, and with easy access to the George Washington Bridge, it's also a snap to get out of the City and head west into NJ.
Being realistic, we decided not to peruse the multi-million dollar houses of Fieldston. Instead we attended multiple open houses for 2- and 3-bedroom condos. Now, I've said before that I'm still holding on to the prospect of a single family detached house, but in the interest of keeping an open mind, why not check out what a full service building would have to offer?
True, some of the buildings we visited were a little dated, but for $250,000 - $400,000 you can get some serious perks. Many buildings have 24-hour doormen and gym facilities. A couple even have outdoor pools for summer fun. Can't be fooled though, the purchase price doesn't include monthly maintenance fees that can range anywhere from $800 - $1,400. Sounds scary, but up to half of those fees, we were assured, are tax deductible. Lyle and I have lots of questions regarding itemized deductions while owning. Stay tuned next week when I get to the bottom of home ownership and taxes with my favorite accountant... Mom!
4901 Henry Hudson Pkwy, 9J; $349,000 with $1,312/month maintenance
4555 Henry Hudson Pkwy, A508; $365,000 with $1,038/month maintenance
3850 Hudson Manor Terrace, 4-GE; $318,500 with $1,219/month maintenance
4525 Henry Hudson Pkwy, 503; $499,000 with unknown monthly maintenance
4555 Henry Hudson Pkwy, 805; $275,000 with $1,064/month maintenance
Our walk around Riverdale proved a little difficult. It's not exactly as pedestrian friendly as I had expected. Very hilly, not many sidewalks and "the park" along the Hudson River was more like a forest hike than a beautiful river walk. Don't get me wrong, we were impressed, just not as enamored as we would have hoped.
You can tell there is a strong sense of community among its residents. While inside buildings, doormen were chatting with tenants, kids from different units were coming in together after playing outside, heck, we even ran into people on the street who, after seeing the open house flyer in my hand, stopped us to ask how the apartment was.
George, an actor, and Sharon, a physical therapist, have lived in Riverdale for twenty years. On their way to see a classical concert at Wave Hill, they were checking out an apartment or two. George summed up the day. He said, "Riverdale isn't Manhattan. I miss it, the bustle, but I've come to respect it here." He shrugs...